It is OK to not care for the poorer classes i.e.: emotionally, financially, etc.

Hello LHati, glad to see we can keep this going and bounce our own ideas off of each other. I am also glad to see that we do share some opinions while still differing on others, this shows that we can find a middle ground while still retaining our beliefs and debating this topic rationally. In regards to the food stamp issue I do believe that some assistance during abnormally difficult times such as: injury, acts of God, death, and so on, warrant some assistance. My focus is on those who remain poor outside of conditions such as these and that it is about survival and not comfort i.e.: pizza over milk. Because we both agree that people should not be demonized for their individuals morals regarding this issue I will focus on the main points we have a disagreement on: 1.My statements regarding "survival of the fittest." 2.The familial cycle of the poor staying poor. 1- In my statement when, I mentioned survival of the fittest, I was not comparing that to the richest. I was comparing that to success in general. It is proven that people who succeed will more often than not have children who succeed and so forth. Not necessarily rich. I fully understand that the $14,000 that is disbursed, in whatever form, does not go to every person exactly nor does it go in the form of cash. However, I will address the article you referenced from nydailynews.com (1) in regards to your points and that should fully develop my point on this matter. I will deliver this segment in a point format to keep it organized: 1.Ms. Fernandes passing cannot be pinned on her overworking a."succumbed to a deadly combination of carbon monoxide and fumes from an overturned gas container that she kept in her 2001 Kia Sportage, cops say." (1) 2.Ms. Fernandes lived in New Jersey which one of the most expensive places to live in the USA. a."Rent is exceptionally high, with the median monthly rent at $1,800." (2) b.Poverty wage is at $5.00 per hour while the Minimum wage is $8.25. (3) Now, lest go back to that $14,000 number; even if that entire sum was not given to a person in say Ms. Fernandes's position they would still find some relief in the form of cuts, credits, food stamps, etc. This additional help, on top of Ms. Fernandes's salary, would be more than enough to support her even in a place as expensive as New Jersey. Why do I bring this up? She should not need to work so many shifts just to live there, which leads me to believe there may be other extenuating circumstances affecting her living conditions. This is true for most of the poor. Why: "researchers note that many people over many years have studied the behavior of poor people in attempting to understand why most don't take steps to pull themselves out of their situation. Quite often, instead of saving and planning for the future, for example, those living in poverty spend all the money they do have on less than necessary items and then borrow money from high interest lenders..." (4) Is this mine or any other persons fault? No, it is their own and they suffer from their own actions. 2- Now my comment that you disagree with: "It is not my responsibility to care for them when their predecessors are the ones who set them up for failure." This comment takes into account the points I made where people who should not have children, for whatever reason i.e.: health, financial, mental, etc., have them creating a cycle of dependency. Is it that child"s fault? No, it isn't, but it is also not my fault. If there needs to be assistance in these types of scenarios then remove the child(ren) and block the responsible parties from any further assistance and simply shift that assistance to the child(ren). You asked me, "But can you honestly say that One poor choice should doom you to live in poverty for the rest of life?" Unfortunately, poverty --as noted in the above reference (4) -- does not stem from simply "one mistake." Reference: 1 http://www.nydailynews.com... 2 http://www.usatoday.com... 3 http://livingwage.mit.edu... 4 http://phys.org...