06-01-2022, 10:50 AM
"Responsible poverty is an endless cycle of no. No, you can’t have that. You can’t do that, can’t afford that, can’t eat that, can’t choose that. This is off-limits, & that is not for you, & this over here is meant for different kinds of people………."
"I think the reason for this is that people are less moralistic about the vices themselves than they are about the cost of the vices. The logic is that if you’ve got excess money & throw it away on booze & cigarettes, then that’s your business. But if you’re poor, then that’s a sin & a shame.
Because if you’re poor, rich people assume you’re on welfare, or you’re getting food stamps or some other social services. Once you take a penny from the government, a morality clause goes into effect, where you’re never allowed to have anything that you might actually enjoy. It’s the hair shirt of welfare.
I have trouble understanding why taking a few grand a year in food stamps is somehow magically different than taking trillions as a bailout.
America spent $76.4 billion on food stamps for 2013, compared with trillions, possibly hundreds of those, for the banks………….."
"What really riles me is the idea that poor people are somehow inherently more selfish when we have children. There are plenty of rich people who have kids for exactly the same reasons I just described – because they want someone who will love them unconditionally, & with whom they can share that kind of all encompassing love. But somehow, because they have money, rich people are entitled to feel that way without being derided……………."
"Are these irresponsible parents who deserve to have their kids taken away - or even to have the threat of that held over their heads? No. They’re just poor people who love their kids & who are doing the best they can for them with limited resources. So lets stop saying that poor people are irresponsible parents & start admitting that society doesn’t seem to believe that if you are poor you are entitled to be a parent at all…………"
"Because our lives seem so unstable, poor people are often seen as being basically incompetent at managing their lives. That is, it’s assumed that we’re not unstable because we’re poor, but rather that we’re poor because we’re unstable. So let’s talk about just how fucking impossible it is to keep your life from spiralling out of control when you have no financial cushion whatsoever…….."
"In the long term, it makes way more sense to buy a good toaster. But if the good toaster is $30 right now & the crappiest toaster of them all is ten, it doesn’t matter how many times I have to replace it. Ten bucks it is, because I don’t have any extra tens…….."
"For the love of god, please stop telling us that outrageous salaries are justified because some people are just worth that much. You guys can totally pretend that anyone can possibly earn thousands of dollars every minute. Just stop demanding that we pretend with you, that’s all. You guys are supergood at excluding us from conversations. Maybe make that one of them……"
"Sex. You really need to start using condoms or something. Your STD rates are pretty much the same as ours. Its hard to listen to you guys on
public health issues when you’re getting the clap as often as we are….."
"You cannot cut access to birth control & then act surprised when people get pregnant. I am fairly certain that few wealthy people walk around with that infamous cheap aspirin between their knees. Poor people are allowed to fuck sometimes too! And we do! Because we’re human! Just like you!"
Linda Tirado, Hand to mouth, the truth about being poor in a wealthy world.
"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
Will Rogers
"I think the reason for this is that people are less moralistic about the vices themselves than they are about the cost of the vices. The logic is that if you’ve got excess money & throw it away on booze & cigarettes, then that’s your business. But if you’re poor, then that’s a sin & a shame.
Because if you’re poor, rich people assume you’re on welfare, or you’re getting food stamps or some other social services. Once you take a penny from the government, a morality clause goes into effect, where you’re never allowed to have anything that you might actually enjoy. It’s the hair shirt of welfare.
I have trouble understanding why taking a few grand a year in food stamps is somehow magically different than taking trillions as a bailout.
America spent $76.4 billion on food stamps for 2013, compared with trillions, possibly hundreds of those, for the banks………….."
"What really riles me is the idea that poor people are somehow inherently more selfish when we have children. There are plenty of rich people who have kids for exactly the same reasons I just described – because they want someone who will love them unconditionally, & with whom they can share that kind of all encompassing love. But somehow, because they have money, rich people are entitled to feel that way without being derided……………."
"Are these irresponsible parents who deserve to have their kids taken away - or even to have the threat of that held over their heads? No. They’re just poor people who love their kids & who are doing the best they can for them with limited resources. So lets stop saying that poor people are irresponsible parents & start admitting that society doesn’t seem to believe that if you are poor you are entitled to be a parent at all…………"
"Because our lives seem so unstable, poor people are often seen as being basically incompetent at managing their lives. That is, it’s assumed that we’re not unstable because we’re poor, but rather that we’re poor because we’re unstable. So let’s talk about just how fucking impossible it is to keep your life from spiralling out of control when you have no financial cushion whatsoever…….."
"In the long term, it makes way more sense to buy a good toaster. But if the good toaster is $30 right now & the crappiest toaster of them all is ten, it doesn’t matter how many times I have to replace it. Ten bucks it is, because I don’t have any extra tens…….."
"For the love of god, please stop telling us that outrageous salaries are justified because some people are just worth that much. You guys can totally pretend that anyone can possibly earn thousands of dollars every minute. Just stop demanding that we pretend with you, that’s all. You guys are supergood at excluding us from conversations. Maybe make that one of them……"
"Sex. You really need to start using condoms or something. Your STD rates are pretty much the same as ours. Its hard to listen to you guys on
public health issues when you’re getting the clap as often as we are….."
"You cannot cut access to birth control & then act surprised when people get pregnant. I am fairly certain that few wealthy people walk around with that infamous cheap aspirin between their knees. Poor people are allowed to fuck sometimes too! And we do! Because we’re human! Just like you!"
Linda Tirado, Hand to mouth, the truth about being poor in a wealthy world.
"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
Will Rogers
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)