Groceries on credit?

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

...but more than that, you would develop more compassion. Not pity, not sympathy, but compassion.

The world could use more compassion. Thank you for writing this.

[jacquelynrose]

Its not that I don't have Compassion....I have helped out alot of people but there are those who simply take advantage of everyone else. We do not live in a poor country...how is help not readily available? Remember the definition of poor living on Welfare. I received Child Care assistance briefly...then my Jobs got better...I used to do Housekeeping making $6 an hour. It took me a LONG time to earn how much I do now...but there is always a bottom to get out of...people are not looking at their resources nor opportunities that surround them....The mentality is "This is it, I am poor and I make this money and I can barely survive" I think alot of people have lived those days where they eat nothing but Ramen...I did. I went without before...

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by jacquelynrose

people are not looking at their resources nor opportunities that surround them

I think very often the resources that seem obvious to you and me aren't so obvious to the people that really need them. And there are often other issues to overcome. I work in a very poor area - poorest town in the state. Many of my patients have no transportation. They don't own a car and can't always afford public transportation. Even when they can, that greatly limits their work options.

Many of these folks are single parents. Going to work means arranging safe, dependable, affordable childcare which isn't so easy to find around there.

Many of the folks who are married have spouses who are abusive and/or are involved with drugs and alcohol. That creates a whole other set of obstacles.

I'll be the first to agree that some people are poor by their own doing. But lots of people simply don't have the skills or the knowledge or the self-confidence or the access to resources necessary to elevate their standing. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to poverty in this country.