How much poverty is a choice?

With all the class warfare crap being advanced by the left, I was wondering how much "poverty" is a choice?
Last night I was called to Church for an "emergency" charity case. This couple with 3 small kids was facing having their utilities shut off if their past due heating & water bill weren't paid. They were referred to us by a local organization and were told to bring copies of their bills & pay check stubs so that their "need" could be assessed . He worked as a janitor, she didn't work. Their bills included a $174 cell phone bill & $155 cable tv bill! We paid their utility bill & water bill, for the sake of the kids, but spent time counselling them on priorities.

So what percentage of "poor" do you think are poor because of their choices?

 

I see your charity comes at a price. Judge, judge, judge. Condemn, condemn, condemn. That's certainly the Christian thing to do.

 

His judging of the poor is at least consistent. Every single time he tells one of these stories, the story reeks with judgment. I guess that is what passes as "Christian" these days.

 

I had a bit of respect for you, but that post lost it all. Now just who is judging whom?

 

You call it being judgmental? I call it problem solving. Are you willing to take money out of your pocket to help someone who isn't willing to help themselves? I believe throwing money at this situation without counselling is nothing more than enabling and that would be an irresponsible use of our committee's resources.
Now, since you've weighed in, how much poverty do you think is self-imposed?

 

Matt.7 Judge not, that ye be not judged

 

So, exactly what part of what I posted was judgmental?

 

UHMMMM!

Oh! And then there is your own objection to your statements;

You aren't hypocritical, are you?

 

Thinking about it, doesn't this just sound like Obamanomics versus sanity. Obama and the left want to spend and the money will appear somehow. The right only wants to spend what is available.

 

Riiiiiiiiight there.....and there.....and there....

Again, you reek of a judgmental attitude. Christians? Bring back the lions. Now that is problem solving.

 

Look what you are doing. You cast a dispertion, can't back it up then start with the insults.
Once again, I dare you to show how any aspect of my post that was judgmental. I dare you.

 

Is the only thing you guys can do is ham-handedly try and reverse arguments? Because you're pathetic at it. I underlined every judgmental statement and you refuse to acknowledge them or you choose to redefine them as something other than what they actually are which is highly judgmental. We can see it. If you can't, it has more to do with you than anything else.

 

Oh, so now relating the facts has become judgmental? It must be quite an interesting world you live in.
Emergency? It was. They faced having their utilities shut off if we couldn't help! So, fact
Need? When we talk with people requesting help it is called a "need assesment". So, fact
She didn't work? Again, fact
Their bills? Again, fact
So, please tell me, if you consider these facts judgmental how would you have related it differently?

Oh yeah, and how much poverty do you think is voluntary?

 

I know you won't believe this but yes I am. What do you want, let them starve? Put them humanely down? Bring back work houses?

I know this will sound like liberal nonsense to you, but I believe that if one is hungry they should be fed; if they are ill they should be treated; if they are homeless they should be housed. The circumstances are irrelevant.
We are our brothers' keepers and this is the proper work of a decent man.

 

How did you get any of that from what I posted?

 

Well, we did exactly that but we took it one step further. We tried to show him how he could avoid finding himself in that position again. How does that not make sense?

 

I realize I didn't answer your question. My response is little to none. I would ask have you ever lived in poverty? My father was crippled by polio when I was three and I grew up on the Social Security dole. It's not nearly as fun as the right wingers seem to think. There have been numerous studies indicating that being on welfare has no effect on people's attitudes toward work, but I'm not sure who funded these so you may take them as you will. Mainly I simply don't share the generally negative view of mankind that your tone indicates you have.

 

Again, what was negative about what I posted? The vague "tone" and "attitude" you & moen keep repeating just doesn't cut it.
And yes, I grew up poor on a farm in central KY. We raised most of our food so I was never hungry but we didn't have much money & we certainly didn't have any luxuries.

 

Zero, poverty is nothing anyone would choose for themselves. It is counterintuitive to want to be hungry, lack adequate shelter, lack good medical services, and all the other factors that go along with being poor. Sometimes opportunities just are available to everyone. Someone has to be at the bottom of the capitalism ladder because that is what capitalism does. And you judge them for filling that role even though you worship capitalism.

 

You two are serious? I don't have a $174 cell phone bill (or cell phone) because I cannot afford it. I don't have a $155 cable TV bill because I cannot afford it. I do pay my utility bills, however. It sounds to me like I need to change my mores. If I get an expensive cell phone. all encompassing cable TV, a new car, and all the other extras I have dreamt of, you two and BO will pay for it all, right? Somehow, I would sooner expect David to pay than any liberal.