Do we owe the poor a better world?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:34:15 -0400

http://gjs.appstate.edu/social-justice-and-human-rights/what-social-justice

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

Martin Luther King Jr.

We all are fortunate/blessed to be relatively well and if we think we are necessarily or inherently better, does this justify wanton disregard for
others?

We might say we pay our taxes and therefore we have done our part
but there are those for whatever reason are dysfunctional. If we can
spend tens of billions on elections wouldn't that be better spent on
people?

We have soup kitchens ran by churches or the state and public organizations and there seems to be the need for more than for food and shelter. What ails the human spirit and especially so for military and first responders are issues that transcend mere judgements.

So the question is do we have responsibility to address needs, whether this be drugs, mental health or crime issues. Remember, no tolerance does not erase need it just sublimates into lawlessness and homeless, suicide and morbidity.

What is Social Justice? | Department of Government and Justice Studies | Appalachian State...

Matthew Robinson, PhDSocial justice is defined as "...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 1:36 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:36:15 -0400

I think we should all work together to make our country a better place, but government entitlements is not the way, IMHO

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 12 at 2015 1:39 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:39:16 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member I remember the words of Christ, you will always have the poor with you. I would not say that "we" own the poor a better world. In many places there is redistribution problem because of many factors including poor infrastructure, inefficient and in some places corrupt government officials and ignorance on the part of some of the poor.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Oct 12 at 2015 1:48 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:48:24 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member - I think we should help those who truly cannot help themselves, however, we should not give handouts to those who could work but refuse to.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 1:52 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:52:20 -0400

My take is the first option. Suffering that includes the pain of unmet expectations and those who are not unrealistic. Life scripts that go awry.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 2:02 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:02:25 -0400

I think we need to take care of those who can not do so themselves. And, I think the best way to to help those than can is to provide them with the tools, education etc. to allow them to succeed and make their lives better.

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Oct 12 at 2015 2:17 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:17:22 -0400

Let me start with...God has my back. I have never been money hungry and I have always given when in need. I worked for 30 + years and can say I am not poor when I have God on my side. I have not seen a paycheck since June 2014 neither have I received my SSI yet or any help from the Veterans. Yet I have God Wife Son and a home to call mine. Being disabled (now) and not being able to help others and work just to do something has been depressing to say the least. I ask for nothing from others and only ask the Government why ....why does it take so long to start my SSI that they took out of my paycheck when I started working (16-17yrs of age). This topic also depends on what others may judge being poor. Some people live to make lots of money but I have always lived to provide for my family. Lottery...could care less just give me enough to pay off my house so my wife and son can have their future if anything ever happened to me. All is good..God has my back...

Have a Blessed Day.
Chuck D

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Oct 12 at 2015 2:25 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:25:38 -0400

I was poor - and it wasn't anyone's problem but my own. Not to mention, it wasn't much of a "problem" at all - it was difficult at times for my wife and I to support and care for 2 children, go to school, buy some groceries, etc - but we did it. No - we did not turn to government assistance programs - we did not want to do that - we wanted to work harder, get smarter, and we did.

Did we think it was "fair" to be poor? Never really thought about it in those terms - was it God preparing us for something bigger? Absolutely!

If everyone took a little more personal accountability to address THEIR own needs instead of waiting for someone else to do it, our "poor" people would be reduced by 80% or maybe more. Yes - we will ALWAYS have people who "need" our help and those are NOT the people I'm talking about - I'm talking about the ones who TAKE help because they can and it's the easy way out.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Oct 12 at 2015 2:38 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:38:36 -0400

I don't know who to attribute this to, but it is certainly the truth: "When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation."

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 2:44 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:44:31 -0400

We owe nothing. Absolutely nothing! but does that mean I don't want to help them? Does that mean I won't die for them? Be very careful with that question. It is an entrapment of emotion. To answer yes, mean you are slave to them, to answer no like they are slave to you. the right word is not owe, is charity. Should we be charitable toward the poor? that is the right question.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 3:20 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:20:02 -0400

I share the sentiment of "help who can't help themselves". When I see folks that truly have met with unfortunate circumstances, my heart goes out to them so much.

HOWEVER, when I see or hear of able-bodied folks scamming the system, it is disheartening. I hear stories from folks that are food shopping in town and witness the infamous pulling the EBT card from their Gucci or Louis Vuitton handbags. As an avid collector of fine couture, I understand the draw yet one needs to work for it. If you are getting government help in order to help stack the funding of your expensive taste, I am sure most agree that is UNSAT.

((And please do not debate me if you know someone that was genuinely gifted a high-end item and just happens to use EBT to support their family, or "maybe that bag is a knock-off". I strictly refer to the no-sh*t scammers.))
:)

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 12 at 2015 4:52 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:52:49 -0400

Certainly I think if we have the means it is in our best interest to do so. However there is a line in in helping the less fortunate - that is providing the resources for individuals that helps while at the same time not being an enabler that prevents them from bettering their lives. Dolling out handouts serves no one other than the inept conscious.

Response by SSgt Karin Mayberry made Oct 12 at 2015 4:55 PM

SSgt Karin Mayberry — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:55:35 -0400

We owe ourselves a better world. Each day we get up we owe it to ourselves to make the world a better place, this is not to the poor or the rich, but to the next generation. Why must it be a class thing or a socio-economic thing? Change must start within us and it can only be implemented once we accept that we are responsible for the change we want to see.

Response by SSgt Karin Mayberry made Oct 12 at 2015 4:56 PM

SSgt Karin Mayberry — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:56:16 -0400

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Oct 12 at 2015 5:09 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 17:09:24 -0400

I think doing a complete revamp on our corrupt overpaid Government, closing our borders to illegal aliens, throwing all the illegal aliens and criminals who arent illegal but come from other countries just as well out, stopping the practice of foreign goods dominating our markets and bring back American industry as well as bringing ALL our soldiers home so that none of our brothers and sisters have to shed a drop of blood for reasons of greed such was the case of bush's administration and now obama's. These things alone would change this country drastically and for the better, we would open up more jobs from all the ones illegals take, things would be American made again which will also increase the economy, crime rates and drug trafficking would drop as the government could no longer help and allow for drugs to be brought into this country just to make these morons richer.... all in all it would be a win win situation...for Americans anyways, isnt that what this country is all about???

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 12 at 2015 6:26 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 18:26:24 -0400

I would ask you all to look up the phrase, "God helps those that helps themselves" and the various places it occurs in the religious arena. We are expected to assist those In need for a short term, but they are expected to make every attempt to work and climb out of poverty. Long term charity breeds poverty and a lifelong poor existence. Those mentally and physically disabled that can not care for themselves ARE our only long term deserve lifetime assistance from the taxpayer.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Dec 4 at 2015 4:48 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 16:48:39 -0500

Get your hate mail ready.

There are no poor in America... not anymore. My Dad grew up in Blue Earth, MN in a house with no electricity, indoor plumbing, and Seven brothers and sisters. Freezing to death in the winter was a real possibility. That's poor.

My Mother-in-law came to America after her husband a Red Cross medic was assassinated in El Salvador. Her three children came a few years later... none could speak English when they got here, One owns a print shop, one is about to retire after 20 years in the Army and three combat tours and two purple hearts. The other I married and we have two great kids.

Now tell me, how can someone be dropped in America with only the clothes on their back, not able to speak English, make it to the middle class in less than a decade with no government assistance... but someone born here, with access to an education, scholarships, government assistance can't?

Ask Colin Powell.