So then why do cons automatically go straight to "lazy" when talking about poor people? Doesn't the fact that you have to answer "no" to the poll prove that the bull**** about working hard and getting ahead is just that? There is also luck which seems to be a bigger factor than working hard.
Thank you and Megaprogman for addressing this. I was thinking about starting a new thread on this very issue a couple days ago.
We need to distinguish between the "Working Poor", who typically work very hard indeed, and the Welfare Class, who often ARE Lazy.
There is a world of difference between the two. I've spent a lot of time around both types of people, and I've
been "working class poor" during many periods of my life.
Working class poor people generally work very hard indeed. Typically their lack of any great income is due to a lack of higher education or other marketable skills that would lead to higher income. Often their background is such that they are unable to present themselves with a "middle-class social mannerism" to a prospective employer, and that does make a difference in whether you can get a chance at a job in say, sales, instead of working on the loading dock.
Some have the
capacity to do better-paying jobs, but there are circumstances in their life that hold them back. Sales is an avenue where a person of modest education but good social skills and some brains can make good money; a lot of people find sales jobs, however, to be stressful; income is often commission-based and variables beyond your control can really make that a roller-coaster ride. Others have limitations imposed by family obligations, such as a need to stay close to home for the sake of one or more family members (no travelling jobs).
Welfare Poor, that's another kettle of fish entirely. I know these folks pretty well too; I have relatives who qualify. Yes, there are a few who are on welfare because of circumstances largely beyond their control; but the majority are on welfare as a direct result of very bad choices they made in life, or (here we go) yes, sheer laziness.
I'll bet that half the thieves and drug dealers I've known were also on the welfare roll, or else had their live-in woman on welfare.
Not to say they're all bad people, some of them are decent folk overall. Some of them are mentally below average and really do have a hard time keeping a job and keeping their finances halfway straight. Some have actual mental problems that they were born with and are thus not their fault.
All in all though, a large number of them are on welfare because they're either lazy, druggies, drunks, or otherwise have made a lot of bad choices and continue to make bad choices in life.
The "
Working Poor" have my respect and sympathy.
Most of the
Welfare Poor do
not.
G.