When it's destitution as far as the eye can see timid sheep will become lions.
We really have no true “poor,” it will be the ones having trouble paying their smart phone payments that will riot.
60% seems like a benefit rather than a problem.....
welcome to the Obama economy !
My teenage son and I were watching people come to the food pantry driving nice SUVs and with cell phones and jewelry. He made an astute observation:
“The only difference between poor and middle class in who pays for everything.”
Cloward meet Piven
Some of those with “bare essentials” include 50 inch HDTV, cable/fast internet; unlimited smart phones, two vehilcles in the double garage of their two story house.
Perhaps I’m missing something, or just from another generation. But what exactly do people think “bare essentials” represents?
When you say this to me...it means that I’ve got just enough money in my pocket for a loaf of white bread (the cheapest stuff possible) and ten slices of cheap bologna meat. I’ll sip tap water from some park fountain for liquid refreshment.
Once you have a cellphone on you, have sufficient funds to buy beer or French water from the Alps, and wear a pair of $70 tennis shoes...we are beyond bare essentials.
Maybe some people are pretending they are bare essential-types, but frankly, I don’t see too many of these folks.
Bingo! That is the threshold—”nothing more to lose”
They are talking proportion.
Yes, I would expect a poor person to spend proportionally more on food and housing than a rich person?
There is little to no logic in the argument as presented.
The comparison should have been decade to decade with the same class group.
So tell me why do Obama and Co. want more (a lot more) unskilled/less educated illegals to come here again?
Ping.
Things are tough here, we’ve never been so close to the limit before.
These stats are meaningless if not trended. What were the corresponding numbers five, ten, fifty years ago??
Yea, I’m sure everyone remembers Hillary Clinton telling us how she was just “getting by”. It’s rough out there - but it’s hardest on the honest, hard working that are trying to be independent.
Two things...1) I’ve traveled in Africa several times...most recently last year.At least two thirds of Africans would sell their souls to live like our “poor” live....2) can we assume that the other 40% is spent on crack?
BKMK FOR TODAY
I must not be clear on the concept. Assuming that the poor don’t pay income tax, once their bare essentials of food and shelter are paid for, what important needs are not met by the remaining 40%?
I’m not saying there aren’t important needs above the bare essentials, but these needs should be itemized and ranked by whether they are absolutely necessary (transportation—whether public or private)—or elective such as the mythological $200 sneakers.
If you’ve got 40% left over after bare essentials you ain’t that poor.