Are poor people at fault for their condition?

[Petrolheadia]

I remember one of the forum users (Constantinopolis, I think) stating that no poor person was responsible for their problems.

And I strongly disagree. While not all poor people are at fault - many, and possibly most, are victims of things like employment cuts, illnesses, accidents or disabilities, there are many who can be held responsible after doing things like taking out too many loans to flaunt wealth they did not have, getting into bad business deals, choosing to gamble or just doing nothing to help their situation if they are able to do so.

However, when it comes to support for those people, I am torn.
One part of me says that we should not help those who brought their downfall upon themselves, while the other says we should help all those who are needy.

So, what do you think? Are poor people, or at least some of them, responsible for what is happening to them? Should we help those who are responsible for their poverty?

[Sovaal]

Some yes, some no. Such is life.

[Holy Tedalonia]

I would say tragedy hit some and luck rarely strokes all. I would argue that your decisions in life drastically impact your living situation, and you must be ready to accept the consequences and said actions. I'm not against charity, in fact charity is great, but some people need to accept the fact they might not get charity.

I hold more sympathy for those who are born in poor living conditions, since they didn't put themselves out of it, however my patience can be tested if they have been given ample opportunity and didn't take it.

[Ifreann]

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

[Petrolheadia]

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

It does not take a genius to see why some don't want to help those who only need help due to their own failings.

[Minoa]

It depends on the context, but it is important to discourage people from bad decisions such as excessive gambling or payday loans - some may have been resorting to such practices out of desperation to pay their bills.

A simple yes/no answer would not be sufficient to answer this question.

[Trumptonium1]

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

You don't think persistent gambling and credit cards maxing close to yearly income should be held against them?

[Petrolheadia]

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

You don't think persistent gambling and credit cards maxing close to yearly income should be held against them?

Also, if they were so bad with their own money, there's a high risk they would be no better with taxpayer cash.

[Chestaan]

Vast vast vast vast majority of those who are poor are not poor due to their own "failings". In any case, even if some are poor because of their own actions, that doesn't mean they don't need to be helped.

[Trumptonium1]

You don't think persistent gambling and credit cards maxing close to yearly income should be held against them?

Also, if they were so bad with their own money, there's a high risk they would be no better with taxpayer cash.

Exactly. It's basic psychology - welfare is a moral hazard. It's near-guaranteed and it's not your money and you didn't earn it. You feel less inclined to use it conservatively and look for good value.

[Western-Ukraine]

Few poor people are at fault for reaching that condition to begin with, but it's mostly up to them to uplift themselves or not. Everyone has a chance to escape poverty.

[Ifreann]

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

It does not take a genius to see why some don't want to help those who only need help due to their own failings.

Yes, I'm aware that there are those who delight in seeing people suffer when that suffering is believed to be deserved.

---

I'm sure some people are responsible for their own poverty, but I don't see why their personal failings should be held against them when it comes to helping them out of poverty.

You don't think persistent gambling and credit cards maxing close to yearly income should be held against them?

Not when it comes to helping them out of poverty. Obviously the causes of a person's poverty may inform the best course for helping them out of poverty.

[Krasny-Volny]

I remember one of the forum users (Constantinopolis, I think) stating that no poor person was responsible for their problems.

And I strongly disagree. While not all poor people are at fault - many, and possibly most, are victims of things like employment cuts, illnesses, accidents or disabilities, there are many who can be held responsible after doing things like taking out too many loans to flaunt wealth they did not have, getting into bad business deals, choosing to gamble or just doing nothing to help their situation if they are able to do so.

However, when it comes to support for those people, I am torn.
One part of me says that we should not help those who brought their downfall upon themselves, while the other says we should help all those who are needy.

So, what do you think? Are poor people, or at least some of them, responsible for what is happening to them? Should we help those who are responsible for their poverty?

Folks are not responsible for the situation they were born into.

They are responsible for what they do as an adult to advance themselves.

[Alvecia]

Depends

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

What did poor children do to deserve blame?

[Saiwania]

It is a mixture of yes and no. I find that being poor however, is a positive feedback loop of sorts. It is hard to dig yourself out if you can least afford negative outcomes when being poor by definition, will inherently expose you more to bad outcomes or harsh conditions than being financially stable would.

Some people will have less capability or capacity to spot opportunities or means of making any economic progress. Some people are less ambitious, more apathetic, lazy, or what have you. Some people simply have bad or self destructive habits. Some people just don't adapt well to "how the outside world is."

Poverty in a way is just too complex to solve. There is no one method that'd work 100% of the time in getting people out of economic hardships and not all of us can be rich.

[Krasny-Volny]

Few poor people are at fault for reaching that condition to begin with, but it's mostly up to them to uplift themselves or not. Everyone has a chance to escape poverty.

I'd say it depends on the country.

That is the case in countries with a high degree of social mobility, like the US.

It is less so in countries with almost no social mobility, like Mauritania.

[Zhopgrad]

Here's how you deal with poor people (In my Opinion):
Make jobs and give them a way to make money, they can be anything from fixing roads to taking care of Garbage. People that actually put an effort into these jobs will get promoted into nicer, higher paying jobs, and the lazy people will fix your roads some day.
Direct relief can be given in small amounts if the person has been born into poverty and still is in poverty.

[Holy Tedalonia]

What did poor children do to deserve blame?

I don't recall every poor person being a kid.

[Ifreann]

What did poor children do to deserve blame?

Picked the wrong parents.

[Gospel Power]

Those that didn't study at school, well it's their fault if they are poor

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

What did poor children do to deserve blame?

I don't recall every poor person being a kid.

I don't remember people not including children.

[Saiwania]

Those that didn't study at school, well it's their fault if they are poor

You can have a ton of formal education, but still wind up homeless. People from all walks of life went straight to the very bottom for any number of reasons. Almost no one can be said to truly be safe.

[Holy Tedalonia]

I don't recall every poor person being a kid.

I don't remember people not including children.

Depends on the kid tbh, if he's the sort who killed for food, I'd peg him a murderer before giving him food.

That being said, I do hold more sympathy for those who are born in rough conditions, however my cash isn't unlimited and I can't afford said kids consuming my cash forever. They need to get themselves out of that situation, so they can stand on their own 2 feet.

[Western-Ukraine]

Few poor people are at fault for reaching that condition to begin with, but it's mostly up to them to uplift themselves or not. Everyone has a chance to escape poverty.

I'd say it depends on the country.

That is the case in countries with a high degree of social mobility, like the US.

It is less so in countries with almost no social mobility, like Mauritania.

Indeed it does. Not every poor person has a choice in his life in repressive societies. Most do, however.