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Why people are rich and poor: Republicans and Democrats have very different views
Pew Research Center ^ | May 2, 2017 | by SAMANTHA SMITH

Posted on 05/02/2017 1:25:43 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Beyond partisan differences over economic policies, there are stark divisions on a fundamental question: What makes someone rich or poor? Most Republicans link a person’s financial standing to their own hard work – or the lack of it. Most Democrats say that whether someone is rich or poor is more attributable to circumstances beyond their control.

The public overall is about evenly divided over which has more to do with why a person is rich: 45% say it is because he or she worked harder than most people, while 43% say it is because they had more advantages in life than others, according to a survey conducted April 5-11 among 1,501 U.S. adults. Opinion has shifted modestly on this question: In both 2015 and 2014, more attributed a person’s wealth to greater advantages than to a stronger work ethic.

In assessing why some people are poor, 53% think it is because of circumstances beyond their control, while 34% attribute it to a lack of effort. There has been little change in these opinions in recent years, according to a survey in December.

By about three-to-one (66% to 21%), Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say hard work, rather than a person’s advantages, has more to do with why someone is rich. By nearly as wide a margin, Democrats and Democratic leaners say the opposite: 60% say a person is rich because they had more advantages than others, while just 29% say it is because they have worked harder.

(Excerpt) Read more at pewresearch.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: freedom; liberty
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1 posted on 05/02/2017 1:25:43 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Have you ever seen a better example of a self-fulfilling prophesy - on both viewpoints?


2 posted on 05/02/2017 1:27:46 PM PDT by gspurlock (http://www.backyardfence.wordpress.com)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yes. Republicans learn how to succeed fromn watching successful people.

Democrats sit around and are envious of them.

Of course, the UBER rich like Gates, Bloomberg, Soros, Buffett, etc, are a little different.


3 posted on 05/02/2017 1:27:57 PM PDT by ZULU (DUMP THAT POS PAUL RYAN!! HE KILLED OBAMACARE REPEAL AND WILL KILL TAX REFORM!!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What are the Clinton’s worth now? How about the Bush’s? Seems odd, those in Congress come out wealthy regardless of party, while the rest of America was sent into decades of decline debt and death.

Their views are all the same. They get wealthy, while Middle America eats s***.

So there ya have it.


4 posted on 05/02/2017 1:30:06 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I can’t argue with this. It really is one of the fundamental philosophical differences between conservatives and liberals: Can you control your destiny, or not? I personally am glad I am not of of those drifting through life waiting for the next thing to happen.


5 posted on 05/02/2017 1:33:12 PM PDT by beef (Who Killed Kennewick Man?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Consistent hard work.

OF course some people are born into it. Lots of rich kids don’t do as well because they don’t push hard. Trust fund babies.

And of course some people are born into families that are poor.

But the individual has the most influence over their own circumstances, in a large number (not all) of ways that have direct impacts on their own lives.

You cannot motivate people to have inner drive. You can try. Suggest, explain, demostrate, plead, frighten, warn, chastise, incentivize. But you cannot just make them have it. They have to internally want it.

If they dont want to study/learn/train and better themselves and make themselves useful to people to ensure they are a desirable and wanted person other people in society see value in and will reward for that value, that is their personal decision nad the responsibility rests on them.

And if you say these people never had anyone telling them they are good or can do stuff, so what. PLenty of folks do well without cheerleaders, and in fact did well in spite of people telling them they’d NEVER do or amount to anything. I agree a good environmnet where people push and also give support is great, but if you don’t have it - and no one has a perfect one anyway - that doesn’t absolve a person from not trying because people still make it from these situations. They learn the lesson they can do it despite no one thinking they can. Huge good lesson.


6 posted on 05/02/2017 1:35:34 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: gspurlock

If both viewpoints are self fulfilling, then the conservative viewpoint is proved correct.


7 posted on 05/02/2017 1:36:18 PM PDT by beef (Who Killed Kennewick Man?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

When talking circumstances, personal habits, character and poverty with leftists, I always ask - is the Dalai Lama in poverty? Should he be on welfare?

He was born in a mud hut, and has never had any possessions whatsoever, except his robes and his sandals. He’s as poor as it gets.

They answer, “well, no, but...”


8 posted on 05/02/2017 1:37:11 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Just today I came across the mention of someone on Twitter named "Godfrey Elfwick".I did a bit (but not a lot) of research and found evidence to suggest that he might just be a spoof...but I can't be at all sure.It seems distinctly possible that he's real.

In my research I found this.If it's real (rather than a joke) we're in bigger trouble than I thought (and I'm the Eternal Pessimist).


9 posted on 05/02/2017 1:39:23 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Republicans say people are rich – and poor – because of their own efforts; Democrats more likely to point to a person's circumstances and advantages

Big surprise. You get rich through being lucky! Well, according to dems and women.

10 posted on 05/02/2017 1:44:44 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Civil Rights movement compared content of their character to skin color and chose the latter)
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To: Secret Agent Man

>>OF course some people are born into it. Lots of rich kids don’t do as well because they don’t push hard. Trust fund babies.<<

Just compare Ivanka Trump to chelsea hubble clinton. Ivanka used her starting sport to do a LOT. chelsea just sat like a bump and let it all flow to her without doing a thing.


11 posted on 05/02/2017 1:46:13 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Civil Rights movement compared content of their character to skin color and chose the latter)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I would say it is a bit of both.


12 posted on 05/02/2017 1:50:56 PM PDT by expat2
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To: ZULU
Who said that the poor will always be with us but I wont?

And that was a couple of thousand years ago.

13 posted on 05/02/2017 1:55:54 PM PDT by x_plus_one ( I pray Gods eyes may once again gaze upon me and remind me that I am still His child.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Poor people have poor ways. Politics seldom enter into the equation.

Except that many poor people vote democrat only to ensure they stay on the poor plantation.


14 posted on 05/02/2017 2:01:56 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

If the Vietnamese boat people can come here largely broke and not knowing the language or culture, then become successful within a generation or so, anyone can do it.

A great many poor people simply don’t have the drive, the discipline and the willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to get on the path to long-term success. Some have a longer road than others, but all can get there if they truly want it and are willing to work hard for it.

Or one can wait until a successful republican dies and then marry his widow, but not everyone can be John Kerry.


15 posted on 05/02/2017 2:06:21 PM PDT by Two Kids' Dad (((( ))))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I actually disagree with both sides.

To me... most poor people are not poor because they “dont work hard enough”. Actually just the opposite is true, most people people (that work) actually work MUCH harder jobs.

The difference is... how they SPEND and SAVE, and how hard they WORKED in school.

No matter how much money you make... if you dont know how to spend your money responsibly and save... you will ALWAYS be broke.

If you don’t work hard in school ... you will spend the rest of your life working HARDER in your job.


16 posted on 05/02/2017 2:18:16 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Make America Great Again !)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Poor democrats & liberals. Always blaming their failures on “circumstances”.

I created my own circumstances. Paid my own way through college, while working full-time on a commission sales job.

Interviewed like crazy and worked all sorts of weird jobs before I found my niche and now I’m living the “dream” so to speak.

If I would have their loser mentality, I’d still be putting produce out for Sam’s club.

Your limits are only limited by YOU!


17 posted on 05/02/2017 2:32:17 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
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To: TexasFreeper2009

I agree. Save your money to purchase assets that produce net cash.


18 posted on 05/02/2017 2:35:03 PM PDT by Darteaus94025 (Can't have a Liberal without a Lie)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Elfwick is a...commentating comedian...or something like that. He posts wild crap to get liberals to grab it and run with some point hes making that they dont understand. Like much of the alt-right humor, it seems you have to be a millenial or younger to “get it”.


19 posted on 05/02/2017 2:48:30 PM PDT by gnarledmaw (Hive minded liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives elect servants.)
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To: Darteaus94025

Most people and even most middle class people could be millionaires... IF, they only knew how to spend their money properly.

It only takes about $100 a week.

If you start saving just that TINY amount when you are in your early to mid 20’s and do it until you reach retirement age (65ish) you will be a millionaire.

That’s about $14 dollars a day...

Think about all the things you WASTE money on... I bet a lot of people spend that on over priced coffee!

Now imagine what someone with a drug addiction, or alcohol addiction or even just cigarettes must waste ...

That fancy haircut... that 60 inch plasma, that shinny rims that spin, the newest phone, ect, ect, ect.

Most people I know... eat OUT at restaurants 2-3 times a DAY !!!

WTH people!!!

You DO realize that when you eat out... you are basically declaring ... I am SO RICH I can afford my own chef and wait staff!

Freaking PACK A LUNCH ! and be a millionaire !


20 posted on 05/02/2017 2:57:05 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Make America Great Again !)
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