What is poverty in America

Big difference between a pay as you go basic cell phone and a smart phone.

Even Gov Jerry Brown (D) cut the number of cell phones given out to state workers in half when he was trying to get the state budget under contol.

You actually know poor people with iPhones? Why is it so important to you to find abuses and use those to discount the real suffering many experience every day? Does it make ypu feel better about yourself? Your politics? Your lack of pwersonal action?

chickaree wrote: You actually know poor people with iPhones? Why is it so important to you to find abuses and use those to discount the real suffering many experience every day? Does it make ypu feel better about yourself? Your politics? Your lack of pwersonal action?

Yes, I do know poor people with I-Phones, people living in foreclosed homes who haven't made payments in months, people with medical bills they can't pay, one to the tune of 80K. I once was one of those poor people. Imagine starting a marriage with both of you out of work for six months. And we never went on food stamps or any other aid. I remember living without heat in a apartment being glad our neighbors on either side did have heat.

...and did you go out and buy your iPhone after the calamity or was it a phone you had when times were good connected to a contract that would be more expensive to cancel and replace then to continue? Many formerly comfortable people now find themselves in desperTe straits due to layoffs, health problems, death or divorce. Are they evil for keeping the trappings of their former lives rather than throwing them away and spending more money to replace them with suitably humble accessories in order to be worthy of your pity and charity? Such arrogance! I pray for patience but I fall short.

I still don't have an I-Phone because I can't justify the cost. Just like why I am still driving a 10 year old car. I could afford newer and better, but I like having enough savings to take the bumps in the road life throws you. Just like I didn't buy the biggest house I could make payments on. And not spending beyond my means allows me to voluntarily donate to causes and charities I believe in and have researched instead of the Lefty model which says you should pay up against your will and we will hand out your money not according to what's best, but who is the better lobbyist.

One of my favorite is the home my uncle, a retired prison chaplain runs for recent ex-cons. It gives them a place to live and 3 squares a day while they get back on their feet. And if they can't get jobs, they are doing work for other charities.
All done without federal, state, or local taxes.

"we will hand out your money not according to what's best, but who is the better lobbyist." Sorry, that's the Rightie model...

I believe in helping the poor - which is why I've been to the shelter, the food bank, the Mountain Ute reservation, and the Navajo reservation. In addition to time served, our church gives 10 percent of the operating budget to targeted outreaches in those areas.

We also support a crisis pregnancy center (which overlaps with the women's shelter), and maintain a deacon's fund - which is designed primarily to help members in need.

In some shape or form, I give about $1000 to "welfare" initiatives annually (both direct and indirect giving - not including my tax dollars). Don't lecture me on supporting the poor.

That giving does not count "World Vision" support - which supports genuine poverty, and an assortment of other organizations that I happen to support.

Our own family has dealt with a bout of unemployment (I've since learned to invest in and market myself). We've had to go to a crisis center to secure funds for our family - just to pay the utility bill.

I've been there. My family has been there. I have no interest in writing off the poor. At the same time, I don't have much empathy for the idea that we need to make the poor rich!

The safety net in America is (far) more than what most people have.

People come to America because they see the relative wealth that even our poor enjoy.

So when people pound on their chest to champion bringing more to the poor ---- I'm not really in the choir shouting "Amen."

God forbid we give them "more". More food, more shelter, more health, more education- all that just makes them- gasp- self sufficient.

bailey bud wrote: Don't lecture me on supporting the poor.

I don't remember anyone here lecturing YOU on supporting the poor. Why don't you wait until you ARE before you protest.

LadyJazzer wrote: "we will hand out your money not according to what's best, but who is the better lobbyist." Sorry, that's the Rightie model...

Not exactly. Strange that I want my money to go to ex-cons who are getting their life together instead of cowboy poets like your hero Harry Reid wants. Or a Woodstock museum like Hilary earmarked for her state.
Dem sheep: all stimulus is good stimulus, we don't care where it goes!