I'm depressed about people's poor choices

[Kabluey]

Don't forget the fact that social progress never come from religion. They come from progressives despite overwhelming opposition from religion.

Ending slavery, ending segregation, women suffrage, civil rights, gay rights, environmental awareness, etc. were all ideas brought forth by progressives and strongly opposed by religion. But religion has the habit of making a 180 turn and lie right through their teeth by claiming credit afterwards. I'm willing to bet that after this post, a whole host of religious people will try to say that religion never opposed these progressive ideas. And years from now, religious people will try to make people forget that gay rights are progressing now despite overwhelming religious opposition.

Martin Luther King Junior was religious, as was Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Theresa?

Universal human rights were initiated by clerics in Spain, the British Bill of Rights was initiated by protestants, the women's Christian temperance movement campaigned for women's suffrage.

In fact, churches were instrumental in the Black civil rights movement.

Ultra conservatives just latch on to the rules of religion to justify their bigotry.

 

[Kabluey]

I was being kind... ...Not once but repeatedly.

*cough*bullshit*cough*

 

[blackbeltninja]

The poor don't want your empathy.

They want your cash.

I wonder how often this is true.

Locally, urban legends abound about people who go door to door asking for help because they are homeless/jobless/both but who refuse food when offered and are only willing to accept money... having said that, I have given away fruit, bread and, in one case, 2 cans of Coke to someone who knocked on my door and it all seemed to be well received.

-d-

 

[pat grimshaw]

*cough*bullshit*cough*

*cough*bullshit*cough*

 

[Kabluey]

I wonder how often this is true.

Locally, urban legends abound about people who go door to door asking for help because they are homeless/jobless/both but who refuse food when offered and are only willing to accept money... having said that, I have given away fruit, bread and, in one case, 2 cans of Coke to someone who knocked on my door and it all seemed to be well received.

-d-

I'm with you on that count.
Most people who are anti-charity roll out the single event that proves their prejudices for life - or that of a friend, or something they heard - or if there is no proof, some seem to be happy to make up their own ludicrous tales of greedy wealthy beggars.
It's useful for when tarring all others in similar situations as the same.

The anti-charity bunch begrudge everyone else everything. They begrudge the wealth of the rich, the profit of the seller, the charity given to the poor, the help given to the disadvantaged, the educations of the intelligent, the treatment of the sick and all tax paid to the government.
They're the assholes who can be played like fiddles to decide an election, basically.

 

[sumyungguy]

It depresses me to think that at some point in their lives (probably after a series of events that were out of their control) they simply gave up on trying. My family has had our fair share of poverty so I know how devastating it can be. For example, as a kid I remember there were days when our mother told us to go back to sleep because there was nothing to eat on that day. What mattered was we never stopped trying. And as soon as the opportunity came up, all my brothers and sisters went to college while still trying to learn how to say "hello" in English.

That's the life-long message of bettering yourself as a human being, to always keep trying, to strive to make it better for yourself and to be the best "you" that you can be. But the universe doesn't work that way and often times it will work against you, and that's the reality. You could try 1000 times till the day you die to make things better for yourself, and not make it out of the hole that you've been stuck in all your life. Some people will just always get the shit end of the stick and sometimes it might seem that there's nothing they can do about it. What's important is that you chose to do something about that by lending a hand, and that's all that matters. You made somewhat of a positive impact on this person's life that you chose to help and whether they take your charity for granted or not doesn't matter. Even if this person didn't realize what you've done for them, that doesn't mean other people won't take notice. You helped someone out of the kindness of your heart without asking for anything in return. If anything you should be proud and hold your head up high because you made humanity just a little bit better.

 

[Kulindahr]

Really?...cuz I'm getting depressed that I am getting taxed to death to support people's poor choices via CONTINUOUS and open ended handouts while our infrastructure is falling apart!

No one in this country except those with incomes below 150% of the poverty level is being "taxed to death".

 

[Kulindahr]

I vote with him ^^^.

I think 90% + of the people asking for hand outs are there because they WANT to be.
Why actually WORK when you can just ask for money?

Have you ever been even close to being in that situation? An awful lot of them would far rather have a regular job -- because having a regular job to show up at every day is far easier than having to scrape for mere survival every day.

 

[Kulindahr]

The beggar's father was also a beggar.

If the beggar has a son— he will be a beggar.

Ignorant bullshit.

- - - Updated - - -

That's a bit harsh isn't it?

Considering...

No.

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Passing the buck

Whatever the problem is; people will always find someone else to blame

And like the saying about being paranoid, that doesn't mean that quite often someone else actually is to blame.

 

[Kulindahr]

BUT, your internet service is more important than the medication for diabetes.

How quick to show ignorance by condemning without evidence.

 

[Kulindahr]

Ah, yes I do.

Being arrogant and ignorant doesn't bestow the right to be rude and jump to conclusions.

 

[Kulindahr]

Just as a FYI, I am a democrat.

Given your eagerness to condemn people based on ignorance, you're in the wrong party.

 

[Kulindahr]

It might be a better world if the disenfranchised were running it, but I doubt it. Poverty isn't a virtue any more than wealth is.

I suspect that the people in the middle are best at running things, because they can see both ends of the spectrum from where they are.

 

[Kulindahr]

Some guy in the Bible said TWO THOUSAND YEARS ago that the poor will always be with us. Our great-grandchildren will be saying the poor will always be with us.

If the GOP gets its way here in America, that will continue to be true.

 

[Kulindahr]

The two inevitably go hand in hand.
Wherever you seeing failing infrastructure you'll find homeless people.

When one system is failing, so is the other. They're byproducts of extended periods of dysfunctional leadership.

THis just showed up in my quote... Odd.

But also true, very true.

So please, don't be too quick to judge the poor guy you see on the street. You don't know where he came from. And you don't know how close you are to that exact situation. Just be thankful and pray that it doesn't happen to you.

I met a homeless guy on the streets in Portland and bought him a meal. Before it was over, he'd recited at length from old English literature and argued chemistry with me. Turned out he had college degrees, and things went sour for him when the market crashed just as he'd finished fixing up two houses to resell.

You never know.

 

[Kulindahr]

The poor don't want your empathy.

They want your cash.

Rarely.

 

[Kulindahr]

Don't forget the fact that social progress never come from religion. They come from progressives despite overwhelming opposition from religion.

Ending slavery, ending segregation, women suffrage, civil rights, gay rights, environmental awareness, etc. were all ideas brought forth by progressives and strongly opposed by religion. But religion has the habit of making a 180 turn and lie right through their teeth by claiming credit afterwards. I'm willing to bet that after this post, a whole host of religious people will try to say that religion never opposed these progressive ideas. And years from now, religious people will try to make people forget that gay rights are progressing now despite overwhelming religious opposition.

Actually the fight against slavery in the US grew from opposition to in in England, which began with the Quakers.

They'd be surprised to hear they weren't religious.

 

[Kulindahr]

No, they stole my cash. I was being kind to the poor and they stole my cash. Not once but repeatedly.

That says FAR more about you than about poor people.

 

[peeonme]

Some guy in the Bible said TWO THOUSAND YEARS ago that the poor will always be with us. Our great-grandchildren will be saying the poor will always be with us.

This guy whom you refer to was Jesus of Nazareth, he was at the time rebuking Judas Iscariot for suddenly having an interest in the poor, fact was that he "held the purse" he was the treasurer of the group and scripture says that he wanted the money.

Jesus was pointing out that indeed the poor are there and that one can help them any time that they wish, Jesus was not saying that it was a lost cause and just give up because we can't win.

When we help one out of poverty the system is set up so the empty spot can be fill by a new victim of life's circumstances, it is an on going fight.