I would have to say substance abuse, unplanned pregnancies are the two biggest reasons people are in poverty, that and maybe poor economic education a third. Does anyone have some stats?

Last time I went from being unemployed to employed it cost me about $400 to get a new job, through emails, resumes, research, phone calls, interview clothing.

I'll grant you that I probably could have done more with less, but there is certainly a cost to get a job, if you take any job, not necessarily, but the job you are qualified for and want, there is most certainly a cost, most of it is intangible too I would imagine.

Others I'm sure have had to spend more, still others less.

I would have to say substance abuse, unplanned pregnancies are the two biggest reasons people are in poverty, that and maybe poor economic education a third. Does anyone have some stats?

I posted them once a long time ago and people in real poverty definitely had a significant % of substance abusers and unwed mothers (or both).

It costs nothing to get a job other than time. It may cost some money to get a better job. But teenagers have been getting jobs for years without spending hundreds of dollars.

"real poverty definitely had a significant %substance abusers and unwed mothers (or both)"

Agree.

But teenagers have been getting jobs for years without spending hundreds of dollars.

Agree.

However, the statement that is cost nothing to get a job is sorta "stupid" in itself.

Flippin burgers doesn't keep you above the poverty level. No matter how many you flip.

However, the statement that is cost nothing to get a job is sorta "stupid" in itself. Flippin burgers doesn't keep you above the poverty level. No matter how many you flip.

How do you define poverty then? Burger flippers here get up to $9 an hour. That's $18k per year. Hardly poverty level.

Statistically, the persistently poor are stupid - in general.

Well, statistics fail in the case of my mother.

She would be, statistically....poor, for the last...oh, 6-7 years. She's below the poverty line, and she's not stupid.

That's one case where statisticas "in general," fail.

She would be, statistically....poor, for the last...oh, 6-7 years. She's below the poverty line, and she's not stupid. That's one case where statisticas "in general," fail.

Why is she poor then? Does she have a job? What is that job?

 

"Burger flippers here get up to $9 an hour." Must be nice, where I come from the flippers don't make no $9.00 an hour, they make $6.00 with 10 cent raises. Hardly living the good life.

I guess when you figure as the governemnt does, a family of four surviving on two incomes of 18k a year, paying for medical expenses, a mortgage, saving for college, retirment, house upkeep/car upkeep, food, insurances, that 18k a year, don't buy what it used to. Considering there hasn't been a minimum wage increase in over or about a decade, you can tell congress has no problem looking the other way for the worker on the very bottom end of the employment scale.

I'm not making excuses or knocking the system. Fact is if you want a better job, all you need to do is get qualified, and move up, network, actively look for another job while working at one, keep moving up the ladder.

If working for others isn't for you, then work for yourself, be your own boss, most people can't do that but it's entry level and much more satisfying to do that. It can also pay much better as time goes by.

My comment was that getting any job isn't always free, any job you are qualified for, that requires a skill and an interview where you should look sharp, is going to cost you something. If you want to work a drive thru at BK, well that might not cost you much if anything to get that job, but anyone can get that job.

Occupations beyond entry level require some investment of both time and money.

Why is she poor then? Does she have a job? What is that job?

She brings home 140 $ a week, 580$ a month. She gets 16-17 hours a week.

Oh, forgot to add the rest.

She works as an ECS clerk at UPS. No insurance as she is part time, just her check...

"Burger flippers here get up to $9 an hour." Must be nice, where I come from the flippers don't make no $9.00 an hour, they make $6.00 with 10 cent raises. Hardly living the good life.

Where do you come from? It's been some years since I've seen a McDonalds or Burger King application that didn't pay at least $8 (and $9 is more typical these days). And I make a point to look when I see it when I travel because this issue comes up so often.

SilentPoet: She brings home 140 $ a week, 580$ a month. She gets 16-17 hours a week.

What is the reason why she is only working less than half-time?

Your mother lives in poverty because she is not working. So the question is why she isn't working. Is she disabled?

I guess when you figure as the governemnt does, a family of four surviving on two incomes of 18k a year, paying for medical expenses, a mortgage, saving for college, retirment, house upkeep/car upkeep, food, insurances, that 18k a year, don't buy what it used to. Considering there hasn't been a minimum wage increase in over or about a decade, you can tell congress has no problem looking the other way for the worker on the very bottom end of the employment scale.

The problem is that many people can't make the distinction between what is a necessity and what is a nice to have.

Here are things we are not entitled to:

1. Owning your own home
2. Owning your own car
3. Saving for college
4. Having healthcare insurance

A lot of people consider not being able to afford those things as being the same as being in poverty. Being in poverty is (supposedly) about not being able to pay for food, clothing, and shelter.

12 years ago, my income was less than $10,000 and amazingly I didn't starve. I had to have roommates to help pay for rent. I couldn't eat out. I couldn't go out and drink. I couldn't go to the movies. I coudln't buy music or rent movies (let alone buy movies). I couldn't afford cable. But I survived and didn't think much of it. OH, and I didn't have health insurance either.

Why? Because I was just starting out. And when you just start out, you don't have the skills.  Being poor at 21 is pretty normal in an egalitarian society.  If you're still poor at 35, you should ask yourself why.

 

Your mother lives in poverty because she is not working. So the question is why she isn't working. Is she disabled?

Eh, she's working but she's not working? How do you figure?

She hurt her back pretty bad a while back, classified as partially disabled, and 58 years old. There have been few who have hired her. Her current job, and one before that being the only ones since she lost her medical job (long story, not one to account here - i will leave it at: stuff happened, she disagreed with her boss based on ethics, so she lost her job and was pretty much black balled.)

What is the reason why she is only working less than half-time?

As far as I know that is what the job entails. She's been sending in applications to numerous jobs, but no reply.

Silent, let me point something out to you, if she is a UPS employee and she does not have insurance then she's stupid (not my intention to insult her). I work for UPS, part-time, but thru an agency so I don't have insurance. But every person in that company that is a UPS employee has insurance and 95% of them are part timers, only some supervisors and managers are full-time so you got something wrong in your story.

Heres more details. While most people in UPS are in a Union (Teamsters) some, like my Department and most manager positions, are not part of the Union. Still the insurance for Union people is one of the best and the one for non union is almost as good. Again, I don't have insurance cause I am not a UPS employee, I work thru an agency, but that will change in January.

BTW, places like UPS as a new part timer, and fast food were not meant as jobs to raise a family. I remember the times when most fast food employees were teens. I worked at a KFC where 90% of those who worked with me were teens. I was a teen myself and was not looking to live off of KFC, I just needed money for myself.

Silent, let me point something out to you, if she is a UPS employee and she does not have insurance then she's stupid (not my intention to insult her). I work for UPS, part-time, but thru an agency so I don't have insurance. But every person in that company that is a UPS employee has insurance and 95% of them are part timers, only some supervisors and managers are full-time so you got something wrong in your story.

This is what I am told, I will check with her.