half of america lives officially at poverty-level

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fueledbycoffee
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31 May 2013, 8:00 pm

ruveyn wrote:

fueledbycoffee wrote:

I think it's absolutely hilarious, in a very dark way, how deluded some people are about this.

For the guy who talked about poor people smoking... People get addicted to thing. Poor people get addicted more. Nicotine is an anti-depressant, and I seriously doubt that someone working at McDonalds can support a Prozac subscription. It works, and up until recently, it was cheap. Yes, it's much more expensive now. Who's driving that? The upper-middle class and the rich. I have never met a poor person, even a non-smoking poor person, who really cared if someone lit up ten feet away. I've had rich people walk fifty to tell me that my second hand smoke is killing them. The wealthy vote to raise the cigarette tax, the poor, who are still addicts, end up paying.

As far as eating at McDonalds every day... the Dollar Menu is a lifeline to the poor. The food may be crap, but a dollar's a dollar. McDonalds is the cheapest place you can go. And there's those of us who can barely afford that.

I remember when I moved out on my own. There was three of us, one worked at a restaurant, me and the other worked at Walmart. It was a %$$&ty apartment in a %$&*ty part of a %$^&ty town (Our complex got raided almost weekly), but we could afford it, barely. $1200 a month. Many's the night we sat in the dark (Computers, TV, and Electricity bills are evil) passing around a single god%$&* cigarette because that was all we could afford to do. We ate ramen, $0.59 a cup at Big Lots, and whatever the one could swipe from his restaurant. We saved our money. If we had a good month, we would go to Pizza Hut, about the classiest place in town. Sure, not great, but again, we could afford it. Until the end of the year, when the rent went up.

That's how a poor person in America lives, my friend.

Half the people in America make less than the median wage. Isn't that awaful?

ruveyn

I just browsed through the thread, and you've said this in pretty much those same words two or three times. Trouble coming up with an original contribution, or you just always wanted to be a broken record when you grew up?

auntblabby
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31 May 2013, 8:20 pm

at least he didn't say TINSTAAFL.

Raptor
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31 May 2013, 8:25 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:

auntblabby wrote:

at least the communications infrastructure is far more facile than it was back in the day. flash mobs could not have [as readily] existed back then.

To see a flash mob suddenly appear on Wall Street to protest corporate greed would be cool to see.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I can't see that doing any good unless you consider being pummeled and/or gassed by the riot police to be fun.

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auntblabby
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31 May 2013, 8:27 pm

there are way more poor than there are riot police. but it would be far easier to get them all simultaneously organized if only they weren't so busy just trying to keep their heads above water. as terrence davies once said, "the problem with being poor, is that it takes up all of your time. the problem with being rich is that it takes up everybody else’s.”

League_Girl
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01 Jun 2013, 12:39 am

I used to think I was poor until I started reading online about what being poor really is. I just thought it meant not much money and can't do much or afford much. Sure I made very small amount of money back then but I sure wasn't "poor" because I could pay all my bills and afford to go to work and still buy what I like and I didn't have kids and I washed my clothes at my parents house or grandparents because the washer in my home was broken. I could afford to eat but chose not to. I had my parents so I ate their food when they make dinner. I never ate much so I didn't go grocery shopping much. Plus I had low rent and a was on a special phone plan. When you have family that supports you, you aren't really "poor."

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Kraichgauer
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01 Jun 2013, 12:55 am

auntblabby wrote:

why has it not happened more often?

I suppose people still believe enough in the American dream ,that they'll get ahead if they just play by the rules. Or they've been bullied by the right into fearing being called Un-American if they speak up against the corporate powers that said right says represents the true American spirit. Or as Raptor observed, perhaps they fear police retaliation. Or just plain complacency. I'm sure there's a myriad of reasons.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Raptor
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01 Jun 2013, 1:20 am

Kraichgauer wrote:

auntblabby wrote:

why has it not happened more often?

About the only way to speak up against the corporate powers short of a communist revolution is to stop buying their products.
Their money and power comes from the consumer.

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Kraichgauer
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01 Jun 2013, 1:25 am

Raptor wrote:

Kraichgauer wrote:

auntblabby wrote:

why has it not happened more often?

About the only way to speak up against the corporate powers short of a communist revolution is to stop buying their products.
Their money and power comes from the consumer.

The only problem with that is we'd never be able to buy anything. We'd just angrily starve with dirty clothes on, and no vehicle to drive.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

auntblabby
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01 Jun 2013, 1:41 am

^^^
buy everything used. ['cept for toilet paper and soap]. they can't [yet] dip into the used product income stream.

Raptor
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01 Jun 2013, 1:44 am

Kraichgauer wrote:

Raptor wrote:

Kraichgauer wrote:

auntblabby wrote:

why has it not happened more often?

About the only way to speak up against the corporate powers short of a communist revolution is to stop buying their products.
Their money and power comes from the consumer.

The only problem with that is we'd never be able to buy anything. We'd just angrily starve with dirty clothes on, and no vehicle to drive.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

The buying would never come to a complete stop, of course, but it could be slowed way the hell down by making do with less and that would bring about change.
It won't happen, though. People think they just have to have stuff and they'll spend money they can't really afford to spend on new stuff when they could get by with what they have.

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Dillogic
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01 Jun 2013, 2:07 am

A better one then:

You have a roof over your head, usually in the make of a full house or apartment
you have a couple of meals a day
you have a computer or similar device that allows you to access the 'net (substitute for a TV, and you have the same thing)
and you have a set of clothes

When the impoverished have that, you know the word "poverty level" doesn't mean the same thing worldwide.

Kraichgauer
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01 Jun 2013, 2:46 am

auntblabby wrote:

^^^
buy everything used. ['cept for toilet paper and soap]. they can't [yet] dip into the used product income stream.

I actually frequent thrift shops selling used clothes and toys, etc. quite a bit. Though I have no intention of eating used food. :eew:

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Misslizard
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01 Jun 2013, 12:57 pm

I love thrift stores,I have found some REALLY nice clothes at them, awesome vintage t- shirts and antiques.But no second hand undies or shoes that have been worn.Other women are envious of my bargain hunting ability :lol:

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starkid
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01 Jun 2013, 4:13 pm

auntblabby wrote:

^^^
buy everything used. ['cept for toilet paper and soap]. they can't [yet] dip into the used product income stream.

Soap isn't really even necessary. It just strips the skin of useful oils. Water and scrubbing with a washcloth remove sweat, body odor and whatever pollution and dust may be on the skin. The hair can be weaned off of shampoo because the scalp slows down oil production when it isn't being constantly washed away. There are people who don't wash at all with shampoo and have nice-looking, healthy hair. Don't buy white fabrics and there is no need for bleach. If the clothing is stained so badly that soaking and washing with hot water and baking soda won't clean it, rip it up and use rags instead of buying detergent. Odors in the clothing can be removed with baking soda, and not using detergent obviates the need for fabric softener, although vinegar can be used in its place.

The need for toilet paper can be reduced by everyone getting plenty of fiber in the diet. It greatly reduces messy stools. Rags can be used for urination, washed and re-used instead of TP.

ruveyn
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01 Jun 2013, 5:31 pm

starkid wrote:

auntblabby wrote:

^^^
buy everything used. ['cept for toilet paper and soap]. they can't [yet] dip into the used product income stream.

Try getting axel grease off with a wash cloth. Good luck.

ruveyn

Misslizard
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01 Jun 2013, 5:45 pm

^^^ :lol: Or the smell of burnt transmission fluid,or old gasoline.Fast orange works good.

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