I have two problems with this premise.
First: You imply that it's ok for certain people to pay NO taxes, yet they benefit from the things our taxes pay for: Police, Fire, Schools, Roads, National Defense, etc., for example. I believe everyone should pay some tax, because everyone uses some service that is provided by the Government.
Second: You state that someone is barely surviving at that income level. My Grandparents raised 6 children on one income (which was as low as $0.90/hour when they were first married). I had the occasion to work with a number of Hispanics this year, and they were making under $25,000/year. Yet they managed to send money home to their families in other countries every week. (I'm not going to argue about sending money out of the country, because that isn't the point of my post.) My point is that people CAN survive on under $25,000/year IF they are willing to LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS.
Living within one's means is something this country has forgotten how to do. If you can't afford a 3000 square foot house with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, then don't buy one. If you can't afford an Escalade with Chrome Rims, then don't buy one. If you can only afford to live in a 2-bedroom apartment with your 4 kids, then so be it. How many of us shared bedrooms with our siblings when we were kids? I certainly did, and my Dad and his 5 brothers all shared bedrooms their whole childhood.
I still buy used cars, shop at the Thrift Store and Garage Sales, and know how to stretch a dollar. I have never bought a brand new TV or couch or piece of furniture in my life, and I'm 50 yrs old. Everything I own is paid for except my two houses. But I am living within my means. That meant renting a room in someone else's house when I was a young professional until I could save enough money to buy my own home.
If people need to scrimp, and save, and share housing to "get by" at a low income level, then SO BE IT. Maybe, just maybe, that will give them incentive to work harder, and to better themselves and move up in the world.
If we continue to bail people out for not paying their fair share, and for not working harder to improve their lot in life, then why on earth would they work harder?? Would you?
I hear you.
My mom raised me through my teen years as a single mom. She never took a dime of charity.
Know what she did when we didn’t have enough money to get by?
She got another job. Most of the time she had three. She took up making wedding and other special occasion cakes on the side to bring in a few more dollars.
My mom *hustled* to feed, shelter and clothe me.
She never allowed someone else to be responsible for her duty as a parent to her child.
Even if that meant living in someone’s basement or out of our car for a few months.
Again - she never asked for or expected ANYONE else to step up and fill the gaps.