Charity is getting out of hand around here

[loj68]

I dunno about anyone else but I'm so sick of charity and s*** for the so-called "poor" I could about scream. In this country we think people are "poor" cuz they can't afford a thanksgiving spread, a computer, or a christmas tree (yes we have charities around here giving these things free to the poor).

In other countries people live on a piece dirt with a leaf over their head and no clothes and LITERALLY starve to death by thousands every day and we think people are poor and destitute cuz they can't blow $20 on a turkey or a ******* christmas tree? We build houses for people that already have a place to live (Habitat for Humanity) too.......a housing project or subsidized apartment is not too shabby.

I dunno, I guess what we consider to be poor in this country is just so outta whack that we are creating a dependence on this ridiculous amount of charity. There's a few million people in this world who would kill to eat government cheese sandwiches on thanksgiving......not to mention how much food they could get for the $$$ we spend giving away friggin' christmas trees to the poor. When I saw that on the news last night I about blew a fuse.

BTW I was basically forced to paint a "Habitat" house a few years ago and I walked off the site when I saw that inside this house were 2 healthy teenage boys, a wife and a husband...all of whom were more than capable of slapping some paint on that house. Worst of all the kids were in there playing Playstation on a nice 27" TV !!!!!!! How ******' poor could they be? I was so disgusted I left right then. I abstain from all charity work now....and they REALLY push it where I work too....but **** that.....I'll go pass out McDonalds applications but that's as much charity as you'll get from me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on the poor here.....I grew up poor as s*** in the inner city.....my dad pumped gas (showing my age) and my mom did shampoos at the hair place for .25 a piece......and we never needed s*** from anybody......we had a work ethic and a family and we got by.

 

[Dexter]

nice dude

 

[LzrBlu2003MSP]

He's right.....thats all I can say

 

[cbcbd]

I agree.

Well, the standards of living of a country explain the difference between what we consider to be poor and the expectations of other countries.

But I see where you are coming from and I completely agree. If a family has enough $$ for luxury items as a Playstation and are capable of leading a decent life, there's no way they couldn't sacrifice a little more and at least help build their own house, geez!

That's why this country needs their immigrants - they are the ones who know that in this country you can work your ass off in a minimum wage job and after a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and time they can save enough money to hopefully buy a house. In other economies this can't be done very easily - and they won't have charity groups building you houses either.

To quote Apu (when he was trying to act American):
"What do you say we take a relaxed attitude towards work and watch the baseball game? The nye [New York] Mets are my favorite squadron."

 

[NRRfrogmanP5]

true true get a job...and if thats not good enought get anohter one thats what i have to do..along with skool...i give to charities no more

 

[scott42]

Well stated.
I was once on a Habitat for Humanity thing, and the family that we were basically cleaning and repairing the outside of the place for (nothing a non cripple couldn't do) roll up in a NEW CAR, literally laughing all the way...obviously, I was pissed.

I sometimes feel like "poor neighborhoods" and "poor people" are not necessarily "poor" because of a lack of opportunity, or "the man (government, not a racial thing) keeping them down"; its just sheer laziness and a learned dependancy on the system and kindness/gullibility of others.

I kind of disagree with the immigration thing though...I think many of them that come now come because they know they can do nothing and still get by pretty well; whereas in the other countries, they cannot. Granted, a lot still come with the desire and drive to contribute to society, and many do very well.

 

[dominoy2k1]

are you serious? manyof them come because they can get by without doing anything...thats doesnt sound right. people come here(USA) because they have an opportunity to become someone, they dont come to chill. i just totally disagree with that comment sir.

 

[loj68]

yeah, I'm sure there's probably some segment of people who come to this country and "live off the system" but I think the majority come here to work hard because of the opportunity they have here. I work with a significant # of immigrants (mainly from India) and they work REALLY hard and are great people.

 

[122 Vega]

Well come spend a weekend in Portland, the city with the highest homeless rate in the country because it is tolerated here. People hitch hike across the country to beg for money and food here. Every single freeway ramp has several people panhandling with thier little signs. I get people going through my garbage and I live in one of the nicest apartment complexes in Beaverton (suburb of Portland). The homeless will ride the Max (public transport train) from Portland to my area because we have better garbage!

Don't dare offer to help them get a job or find housing, they don't want it. The police won't do anything about it, even though they spit on your car at stoplights if you are "flaunting your stereo" and reminding them of how poor they are. A lot of them get pissed if you offer them change, they "don't have enough pockets to carry people's change, got any cash?"

And 90% of them are Vietanm Vets (claim to be at least) but they don't know what unit or what years they were there, and can't talk about it cause they were Special Forces/Navy Seal/CIA. Funny thing is that they would have been 8-10 years old in 1975...PTSD they claim, gimmee money. I'd give'em money if I got a good war story.

But that would be expoitation of the unfortunate plight of the homeless.

Britt

 

[loj68]

word....they give a bad name to the people that actually need help like REAL vets, disabled, mentally ill, handicapped, etc. Those are the people who really need it.

 

[chino]

Find a charity that donates to something YOU believe in easy as that. Don't donate time/money to something stupid and it will go away.

Yeah Portland is pretty bad. Same city that pays bums to advertise instead of beg and hands out needles to addicts. Bangup job you guys are doing you goddamn hippies!

I went to school in Austin and if you have ever been one of those people who ALWAYS gives panhandlers money, go to Austin for a week and you will never do it again. The drag is littered with people begging. Seems sad and all til you think about it. Most of them are 23-28 years old. They are mostly college dropouts that got addicted to drugs and/or got cutoff by their parents. You can't convince me that "Stoney" the dreadlocked white kid in the dirty Bob Marley shirt had a tough upbringing!

One last thing; Try this little experiment and see what happens. Give a panhandler food. You will be suprised how many react negatively, especially younger ones!

 

[scott42]

dominoy2k1- I was not in any way referring to the majority. I did say "Granted, a lot (editk, MOST) still come with the desire and drive to contribute to society, and many do very well." Its very prevelant in the book "The Millionaire Next Door" that the highest percentage of self made millionaires are children of immigrants, most whom came with nothing.
I do believe that most peoples intentions are good, and motivated. I've just noticed that many discover Matthew Lesko and fools like that who basically manipulate the system for a living.
Sorry to inadvertantly ruffle your feathers. I do believe in people coming here to make better lives, I just hope that they all do it by contributing, not through parasidic methods. I'm figuring we agree once we understand each others context. I said I disagree with the immigrant thing, because I think we have plenty here now working hard to try and make it. Our system/society can only handle so many at any given time. I think the population is a bit saturated now. I'm not always the best at elaborating what i'm thinking.

 

[changedman]

$13000 poverty line. below that is considered 'poor'

unfortunately other countries their poverty line is like $.01

 

[loj68]

$13000 poverty line. below that is considered 'poor'

unfortunately other countries their poverty line is like $.01

ha ha....word man. My parents still have their 1st W-2 from the year they got married and I was a baby in 1972.....combined they made $5k. damn.................

 

[ZoomZoomH]

there's nothing wrong with getting the most out of the system.

more power to those that work the system to get all its worth.

being honest abe will only make life more miserable than it needs to be.

blame the legislators that made the rules, not those that are smart enough to take advantage of it.

 

[Turbo Matty P]

I own page 2.....just for reference

I'm a very compassionate person. I'm always trying to help people out and do the right thing. Here's whats happened to me.

Saw a man and woman stopping people in the parking lot of the grocery store begging for money. The man walked over to me and asked if I would like to buy some motor oil. I didn't ask him why or how much. I said, "what weight is it?". He looked at me and said 20W50. It's for our car over there, but we've run out of gas and have nothing else. Oil is no good to us if the car won't run. I gave him $20 for the oil. he handed it to my wife. I then helped push his car across the street to the gas station. My wife steered (leaving the oil in the backseat for them). We got them to the gas station and when the guy went in to pay for the gas I was pumping I swipped my card and paid for it. I felt really good about myself for being so generous and helpful. This man needed gas and oil, I gave him both. I didn't think twice. Then he comes out of the gas station with a case of beer that he bought with my $20 since he didn't have to pay for the gas. I was crushed. My wife was furious. she started yelling at the couple and had to be yanked away.

I feel cheated just like I'm sure you felt seeing the playstation and TV. Will I stop TRYING to help people.....never. It's what makes me who I am. I wouldn't ever give up on people....I wouldn't want them giving up on me.

 

[scott42]

I would have punched that guy in the face. Rich or poor, he was an inconsiderate ****.

 

[loj68]

I would have punched that guy in the face. Rich or poor, he was an inconsiderate ****.

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about. I'll never try to help people who don't even try to help themselves.

 

[cbcbd]

So did you take the oil that you bought from him?

 

[chino]

It just amazes me the gall that some people have. The guy in Mattys story JEEEZ!! No wonder he is in the situation he is in. **** em.