Review this generalization

Ms. Haiku

I've read a few threads on this board, and there is an implied generalization that doesn't make sense to me:

poor=not working.

Just because someone is poor or barely getting by does not mean the person is not working. I don't know the statistics, but I would guess that a majority of people of working age, no matter the economic status, work.

gimmesometruth27

hence the term "working poor". many poor people are working menial jobs with no benefits and some have to work multiple part time jobs to make the rent. so poor does not always mean lazy or not working. it is simply a lack of resourses/money regardless of work status.

Gern Blansten

that is the typical right wing view of "poor"....they want to be poor, they are lazy and they don't want to work

there are tons of jobs available for these people but they don't want them...they like being poor

I employ a typical 50 year old woman who has a 17 year old daughter.....her health insurance (for her and daughter) is around $800/month or $9,600/year

I provide this benefit to her but imagine if I didn't....she wouldn't be able to afford it....that is about equal to her house payment each month

Cosmo

From what i have witnessed...
Some people see the poor, not as less fortunate, but, as lazy and wicked. They are poor because they are lazy and know they will be taken care of by those whom work.
Except at Christmas...
They are transformed into 'the Needy Families' or 'Those Less Fortunate Than Us'. We pass the hat around, collecting money to adopt a family from a list compilesd by a government agency. We buy toys and clothing for the kids, gift cards from the Super Market for food and a Costco sized box 'o Pampers for the baby. We feel good... because look what good people we are by helping this poor 23 year old mother of 3 this holiday season. Merry Christmas and God Bless her and her children... until...
...
January. When she reverts back to a stupid whore that needs to keep her legs together and get a goddamn job so she'll quit leeching off of us.
...
Does she change... or does our perspective of her change? My guess is... she's the same.
...
A generalization on my part? Nope, more like a sampling.
This happens in my office every year. i hear the complaints all year long about the poor and welfare and taxes. But somehow... magically... at Christmas... the poor become reverred as someone we need to cars for... someone who needs and deserves our helping hand.
and believe me... I've called a few people on this.