Comments on: There will always be a lower class

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:40:56 +0000

As grim as it is to say, I think there will always be a lower class with the way society works. *sigh.

Cindy

By: rick

rick — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:17:37 +0000

It either doubles the number of wage earners or adds an additional dependent...

Still, I don't see how having two wage earners necessarily allows one to no longer be considered in the lower class.

I am sure that there are thousands of couples who can attest to this fact.

Am I to believe that the lowers class is made up exclusively by the unmarried, divorced and widow(er)s?

It makes no sense.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:58:07 +0000

In reply to rick.

I assume by providing twice as many income earners, but jks will have to defend whether that was what he intended.

By: rick

rick — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:44:34 +0000

"I think he is referring to changing families from single parent to dual parent."

Still, I'm not sure how having two parents brings children into the middle class.

By: Naismith

Naismith — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:48:24 +0000

There is such a huge connection between mental illness and poverty, though. The issue of "lower class" can't really be addressed without comprehensive care that includes mental health.

There was a study a few years ago in NY about a welfare reform program that included many single mothers who were depressed. It was thought that they were depressed BECAUSE OF their grim circumstances. But guess what, when their depression was treated, they lifted themselves out of poverty.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:59:17 +0000

I think he is referring to changing families from single parent to dual parent.

By: rick

rick — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:43:36 +0000

"Marriage would lift more than half of poor children out of poverty."

I don't see the connection here.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:27:11 +0000

Stephen,

Do yo think there is benefit to keeping the poor ignorant of their being poor?

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:59:25 +0000

Interesting, but having grown up poor in America, I'm grateful I was here and not poor in Tanzania (or, quite frankly, middle class, since they basically made the entire middle class poor there).

One thing that was part of growing up is that I did not know that I was poor, did not realize it until college. An important thing that can be changed is attitude and approach.

Ah well, I'm still in favor of moving the bottom upwards even if we are always in a relative position to each other.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:32:43 +0000

Will that improve the standard of living without increasing the cost of living?