You may have heard random facts here and there about things like this, but the Heritage Foundation actually commissions studies into asking the question “what exactly do ‘poor’ people have”? Interesting enough in themselves, it adds an even more telling layer when you look at separate studies over t…

I’ve been sitting here, thinking about the best possible way to thoroughly answer each and every statement. I gave up because it isn’t really an argument at all. It’s someone lamenting that they’re poor. I don’t think it takes a lot of brain power to see that if you’re ‘poor’ (scare quotes), you do…

I think BP and JJ are miscommunicating - I’m in agreement with both. The bullshit stats used by political parties and academia to talk about US “poverty” are just that: bullshit. Nevertheless, BP has a point that the conditions under which we are allowed to enjoy our “wealth” are very tentative. BP,…

By necessaries I understand not only the commodities which are indispensably necessary for the support of life, but whatever the custom of the country renders it indecent for creditable people, even of the lowest order, to be without. A linen shirt, for example, is, strictly speaking, not a necessar…

Excuse me for not saying legitimate power, that is, legal power that is backed by the state. I think poverty is a notion of a lack of individual economic power. But what are those scallywags complaining about anyway? Haven’t you had quite enough to eat? Shoo-shoo now poor person. Go eat your microw…

And what is it the “middle class” have that these supposed “poor people” don’t have? That’s a large point the study illuminates. Increases in wealth lead to decreases in the gap between “wealthy” and “poor”. Just look at the list. These people who are called “poor” people have essentially everythin…

Except of course for power. Those below the poverty threshold have considerably more debt and less welath than the middle class. It’s all a gradation, and you won’t find me arguing for class determinism or anything strictly defined in terms of class. However, these measures do represent something. B…

Right. Cuz the middle class has so much “power”. But on top of that, according to you, the poor make up 80% of the population. I find it hard to believe such a super majority is lacking in power. That would certainly be preferable to having to listen to you whine about about how “poor” you are…ev…

“Right. Cuz the middle class has so much “power”. But on top of that, according to you, the poor make up 80% of the population. I find it hard to believe such a super majority is lacking in power.” No doubt I gaffed on the numbers, and admitted it quite openly. I don’t recall claiming the middle cl…

Yes, that’s precisely what you’re doing. Huh? I can assure you the perpetual existence of “rapscallions” such as yourself, who will find the sqeaky board on the deck of the Queen Mary, is thoroughly figured into my analysis of society. What this fact that selfish whiners will always exist has to …

What exactly is poverty?

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John_James August 23, 2011, 3:01am 11

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What exactly is poverty?

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