Working Poor?

[KillerDog]

Robin Finderson referred to the "working poor" in a post. I have heard this referred to many times...usually as a group who needs special help from government programs. Who are the "working poor" what is their demographic make-up? Why are they both poor and working?

I find this phrase interesting because I have known a lot of poor people in my life, including my own family, but I've never met a "working poor." I've met a lot of lower middle class who are working. I've met a lot of people who make bad financial decisions and struggle to buy necessaries because they spent their money on unnecessary items. I've met a lot of poor people who are "disabled" both real and imaginary disability. I've met a lot of poor people who aren't working but I've never met a "working poor."

[il Padrino Ute]

Robin Finderson referred to the "working poor" in a post. I have heard this referred to many times...usually as a group who needs special help from government programs. Who are the "working poor" what is their demographic make-up? Why are they both poor and working?

I find this phrase interesting because I have known a lot of poor people in my life, including my own family, but I've never met a "working poor." I've met a lot of lower middle class who are working. I've met a lot of people who make bad financial decisions and struggle to buy necessaries because they spent their money on unnecessary items. I've met a lot of poor people who are "disabled" both real and imaginary disability. I've met a lot of poor people who aren't working but I've never met a "working poor."

It's just a term that socialists seem to like to use to prove that capitalism is evil, so they can justify raising taxes on those who have made their lives better.

[Hallelujah]

Robin Finderson referred to the "working poor" in a post. I have heard this referred to many times...usually as a group who needs special help from government programs. Who are the "working poor" what is their demographic make-up? Why are they both poor and working?

I find this phrase interesting because I have known a lot of poor people in my life, including my own family, but I've never met a "working poor." I've met a lot of lower middle class who are working. I've met a lot of people who make bad financial decisions and struggle to buy necessaries because they spent their money on unnecessary items. I've met a lot of poor people who are "disabled" both real and imaginary disability. I've met a lot of poor people who aren't working but I've never met a "working poor."

I would say that someone earning $7 per hour and working their butt off might qualify.

[Eddie]

I would say that someone earning $7 per hour and working their butt off might qualify.

I would agree with this one.

I've run across a number of people who I think would qualify. Mostly they were single moms with kids who have deadbeat dads that contribute nothing in the way of child support while the moms are working minimum wage or near minimum wage jobs.

They are feeling stuck because they know that they could get paid more if they had a better education, but they can't afford to stop working or to pay for the education due to living expenses and child care costs.

Obviously they are in this position due to poor choices on their own part, such as: not using birth control, picking a loser for a boyfriend, etc.

But even if they are now prepared to make good choices, they are feeling pretty stuck. And honestly, they are going no where without some help. I've known some that have taken advantage of subsidized housing, child care, and education and who have gotten themselves in a better situation.

Unfortunately many lose hope after a time and get caught up in drug/alcohol abuse as a means of escape, which ultimately worstens their situation and can lead to child abuse or neglect as well.

[CardiacCoug]

Robin Finderson referred to the "working poor" in a post. I have heard this referred to many times...usually as a group who needs special help from government programs. Who are the "working poor" what is their demographic make-up? Why are they both poor and working?

I find this phrase interesting because I have known a lot of poor people in my life, including my own family, but I've never met a "working poor." I've met a lot of lower middle class who are working. I've met a lot of people who make bad financial decisions and struggle to buy necessaries because they spent their money on unnecessary items. I've met a lot of poor people who are "disabled" both real and imaginary disability. I've met a lot of poor people who aren't working but I've never met a "working poor."

People who are making minimum wage or close to it are working poor. Many of them don't have a job with health benefits, so they need assistance from the government, at least Medicaid.

Make friends with the janitorial staff in your building if you would like to meet some of the working poor.

[JohnnyLingo]

I've been working poor before. $7.50 an hour, working full time, taking 12 credit hours of classes. It sucked.

But then by working hard I moved on to a new stage in life that is far less sucky.

Go America!

They are feeling stuck because they know that they could get paid more if they had a better education, but they can't afford to stop working or to pay for the education due to living expenses and child care costs.

Obviously they are in this position due to poor choices on their own part, such as: not using birth control, picking a loser for a boyfriend, etc.

This is what the PEF is all about, right? Giving people the chance to get an education and improve their lives without putting them in a permanent handout situation?

[I.J. Reilly]

I've been working poor before. $7.50 an hour, working full time, taking 12 credit hours of classes. It sucked.

But then by working hard I moved on to a new stage in life that is far less sucky.

Go America!



This is what the PEF is all about, right? Giving people the chance to get an education and improve their lives without putting them in a permanent handout situation?

The Perpetual Education Fund is a wonderful program that was designed to help exactly the type of people that are being described here. I've seen it abused before but I think that the repayment rate on loans is spectacularly high and it has been a great success.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Perpetual Education Fund is a wonderful program that was designed to help exactly the type of people that are being described here. I've seen it abused before but I think that the repayment rate on loans is spectacularly high and it has been a great success.

The perpetual education fund is a church program that everyone in the church should be proud of. Once I am in a better position financially, it is a church program that I will definitely contribute to.

[KillerDog]

I would say that someone earning $7 per hour and working their butt off might qualify.

$7 an hour jobs are generally held by people collecting social security and kids. If you can find demographic data to the contrary, I'll change my opinion.

[Goatnapper'96]

The perpetual education fund is a church program that everyone in the church should be proud of. Once I am in a better position financially, it is a church program that I will definitely contribute to.

I agree. Hinckley was very apt at redistributing wealth for the genuine betterment of mankind. Faith can be leveraged to improve others lives. In some way the myth of fallibility is an advantage here. Because the cultural belief is that God himself outlined the PEF in a Board Meeting within the Holy of Holies, follow on successors will give it their full support and members of the faith are totally convinced their efforts in its behalf will never fail.

[RobinFinderson]

I agree. Hinckley was very apt at redistributing wealth for the genuine betterment of mankind.

Wouldn't 'betterment of Mormonkind' be more accurate?

[Goatnapper'96]

Wouldn't 'betterment of Mormonkind' be more accurate?

No. When one person is raised from poverty it helps us all. Suddenly they aren't requiring taxes to support them and their kids are statisically less likely to one day become wardens of the state. You are either confused or a real shitty bleeding heart. I will let you choose which one.

[BigPiney]

$7 an hour jobs are generally held by people collecting social security and kids. If you can find demographic data to the contrary, I'll change my opinion.

Why are they collecting kids? That makes no sense. Any why collect both?

[RobinFinderson]

No. When one person is raised from poverty it helps us all. Suddenly they aren't requiring taxes to support them and their kids are statisically less likely to one day become wardens of the state. You are either confused or a real shitty bleeding heart. I will let you choose which one.

Ok... PRIMARILY Mormonkind, and secondarily all other people.

[il Padrino Ute]

I agree. Hinckley was very apt at redistributing wealth for the genuine betterment of mankind. Faith can be leveraged to improve others lives. In some way the myth of fallibility is an advantage here. Because the cultural belief is that God himself outlined the PEF in a Board Meeting within the Holy of Holies, follow on successors will give it their full support and members of the faith are totally convinced their efforts in its behalf will never fail.

Donating to the PEF is not the redistribution of wealth, as the monies collected are given voluntarily.