How much poverty is a choice?

But you have an internet connection and a computer and you collect coins? Hum? Me thinks you're a liar.

 

So these folks who spend roughly $330/mo on fancy cell phones and big cable tv bills, resulting in an inability to keep their light, heat & water on aren't making a decision to live that way?

 

I wouldn't presuppose their needs and neither should you.

 

Nothing in David's post is even close to "judge, judge, judge" or "condemn, condemn, condemn". You whacko liberals should get your heads on straight.

 

Really? Not even this statement?

 

I don't have a cell phone at all. So what? I don't expect to live as I do. Implication and tone certainly do cut it. These are basics of human information and your dancing around the subject without making outright statements fools no one except maybe yourself. Mental health professionals and police detectives do this all the time. SOP.

 

David, you might consider posting the address of the church (preferably a PO Box) so that anyone here can donate anonymously to the family's cable bill and cell phone bill. I'm sure no one here wants to see the family go without a cell phone or cable.

 

If you feel free to say 'whacko liberals,' why should I take you seriously at all? How about this...I know you are but what am I? Just trying to reach your level.

 

That's certainly true. Conservatives DO give more to charity than liberals:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730&page=1#.TzrV-7h7R8E

 

Whacko liberals are whacko liberals. I didn't make them that way.

 

Yes invest in coins. I sell a lot more than I keep - and I make money doing so. Not a lot, but some. As for the rest of your palaver, you can think all you want, but with your batting record, I would sooner you think it a lie than the truth.

 

A fool lies to himself and thinks that others believe his lies. A wise man tells the truth and doesn't waste his time listening to fools. I think I've wasted enough time here today.

 

Feel free to waste as little time here as you desire.

 

Oh! But your fellow liberals feel that you are passing judgement by saying that. And you wonder why we are $15T in debt?

 

Have you noticed our resident libs have conveniently refused to address this part of my post?

 

If you go to any organisation for help regarding your debt then it is only right that they look at your finances and point out ways of saving cash
"Do you really need the cable TV" "Do you really need to spend so much on your phone calls" If they did not then they would not be doing there job right.
Regardless of how you might want to read Davids post he is correct in what he and his church did or are they expected to simply hand out cash? Remember if they do that then they will not be able to help anyone in the end.
Sure it might seem highhanded to some but it has to be done

 

I think you were doing good until this point.

Did you ask why she didn't work or did you just assume the reason? This is where the crux of the problem lies which I will relate in the end.

Yes, be bills may have been excessive. The cable bills most likely completely unnecessary. However, I know poor people that have cable and use the Internet for school and/or work. You can usually get a cheaper bill by combining Television and Internet. Most cable companies will not just give you Internet access. You have to combine cable and Internet to get service.
The cell phone maybe not depending on situation. What are the other situations in the case which may be relevant.

IMO, this is where things went from fact to judgment. You didn't provide any other information which may have explained. The mother doesn't work and you didn't give enough information to determine why. Was she disabled? Was one of the children special needs? Did her husbands work schedule preclude her being able to work. Childcare is very expensive and often outweighs any income from the parent. For example. child care costs for people to keep your children overnight are so high that the wife working would have actually sunk them deeper. Even day care can run between $150 and $250 a week.

Finally, is poverty sometimes voluntary. Sure it is. I know several homeless people who have no desire to do anything to get themselves off the street. It isn't a majority though. I can't tell you in this case because you didn't give enough information to make a decision. You just through a few facts into the mix and then made a judgement call for the conclusion.

 

Okay, so I'll ask you since the other two can't answer, what was judgmental in anything I've posted here?