Quote (NetflixAdaptationWidow @ Nov 20 2021 10:18pm)
So then what would you describe as "real poverty" then? Death from starvation? That's a pretty low bar lol
Are you suggesting anything less than living above your means is poverty?
Here in the US it is illegal to deny emergency care. Anybody can go to a county office and get free insurance, food stamps, other financial assistance with proof of income. Parents and disabled folks can apply for public housing and pay basically nothing for rent (I’m talking <100 per month, and if you apply for public housing you apply for many other benefits). It is so easy to have the state pay for everything I know many people who make the conscious decision not to work, instead play the system knowing full well they can get a job virtually anywhere in the village.
I made an argument before and nobody even tried to refute it. There are people living 100% off the state who have the same exact status in their life as I do, I just have a bigger house and more vehicles. They are statistically living in poverty because their income is under the proposed poverty line ($12,000 little more I think). Difference is they do not pay rent, bills, or insurance (yes New York State pays your car insurance), and have almost $1,000 a month in food stamps and almost that much in cash assistance. I am well above the poverty line but I pay for every single thing out of pocket. Coincidentally the taxes on my 1/4 acre property are over $1,000 more each year than the poverty line. Again, I pay for everything out of pocket.
Being actually impoverished would mean you don’t have access to the bare minimum, food shelter and emergency care. There are many examples of countries that do not hand out basic means of survival.
This is without even mentioning how easy it is to take some initiative to pull yourself out of “poverty”. Living without luxury doesn’t mean you are poor.
This post was edited by WickedDarkJuggalos on Nov 20 2021 10:08pm