Poverty is a demanding, stressful, depressive & often violent state. No one seeks it (Charles Blow)

[kpete]

Poverty Is Not a State of Mind
by:
Charles M. Blow

..........................................




“Indeed, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest survey of consumer expenditure found that the poorest fifth of America’s households contributed an average of 4.3 percent of their incomes to charitable organizations in 2007. The richest fifth gave at less than half that rate, 2.1 percent.”

Yes, those with the least give the most, and yet people like Ryan and Bush find them lacking.

Poverty is a demanding, stressful, depressive and often violent state. No one seeks it; they are born or thrust into it. In poverty, the whole of your life becomes an exercise in coping and correcting, searching for a way up and out, while focusing today on filling the pots and the plates, maintaining a roof and some warmth, and dreading the new challenge tomorrow may bring.

We should extend the conversation about tackling poverty, but that conversation should not be governed by the belief that poverty in resources is synonymous with poverty of values.


Way More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/opinion/blow-poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind.html?hpw&rref=opinion&_r=1

[historylovr]

1. K & R

And thanks for posting this.

[LeftishBrit]

2. k&r

[daleanime]

3. K&R....

[Orrex]

4. Those lazy parasites had better be setting aside $1000/month for retirement

Bunch o' slackers.

[CrispyQ]

5. I think a lot of the meanness of our culture is derived from the fact that

most people are one small disaster away from being totally fucked financially. I've been there & it's a crappy way to live. It causes unbelievable stress.

[theHandpuppet]

6. kpete, I posted my opinion of a poverty-related article this morning

to Appalachian Group...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1272184

The tone of the article really upset me when I read it yesterday and I'm still upset about it. I thought perhaps I was just overreacting but I just can't shake the feeling that once again an accusing portrait of the poor was being painted, one that blamed their misery on "moral failures".

If you get a chance I would appreciate it if you'd read it and offer your opinion on whether I'm overreacting or not.