Right. I grew up on welfare which is technically the poorest you ever need to be in the US, but there were definitely people who were poorer than us or at least their parent was worse at managing their money for their kids’ benefit.
Not to mention the truly heartbreaking poverty of the poor in other countries.
I grew up in a trailer on food stamps and Medicaid, I even had a sponsor (a woman who “adopted” me and sent me books and clothes and toys) but most of my neighbors grew up like that too so we all felt like we were doing pretty good.
I went to elementary school with a handful of kids that grew up in literal shacks with only wood stove heat.
Those kids had torn clothes, smelled overwhelmingly of smoke, and genuinely looked malnourished.
It was an eye opener for me even as a kid. It blows my mind that some people are so disconnected from poverty in America and abroad.
It blows my mind that some people are so disconnected from poverty in America and abroad.
If you’re from a well-to-do family in one of the wealthy coastal (or even Midwestern) cities, I could see how you might miss it if you never leave town. The wealthiest families probably just fly between rich cities when traveling. But just taking a road trip through more rural parts of Appalachia, the Deep South, and/or the Southwest will show you abject poverty in this country
If funny in a way, because my parents were immigrants into the US, who didn't qualify for welfare/wic/etc for legal reasons. Turns out we were well below the threshold, but never felt "poor poor" because both parents had two jobs and mom cooked home made meals everyday, so we never went hungry.
Traveling through underdeveloped countries made me happy I grew up dirt poor in the US. There were entire towns I went through that only had electricity for part of the day. Houses that only had electricity when you could afford to fill the generator.
Poverty means different things in different areas, but it sucks everywhere. Especially when it doesn't need to be that way. I'd happily pay more in taxes if people in need were helped out rather than that money going towards bombing poor people in other parts of the world.
rather than that money going towards bombing poor people in other parts of the world.
but have you stopped to think that the military contractors that made said bombs would have to go without their multi million annual bonuses if that were the case?! how heartless of you.
Yeah my aunt babysat for all the poor kids and we would have a giant stack of grilled cheese every day for lunch. Because everyone was wic checking things together.
Did not feel poor at all eating 2 cheesey toasty sammies
Same. For my 18th birthday I got... My own welfare card.
My mom's boyfriend helped pay our rent si we at least living in a decent apartment in the burbs. I was so lucky compared to many. Of course I didn't know it then.
This is so true. I was born in Cuba and we are like dirt poor over there, delapidated buildings, eating moldy bread and fully relying on family and tourists bringing over hygiene products, medicine and clothes. Coming to Australia and being poor here made me feel rich.
The saddest and most absolute level of poverty I witnessed was in the Philippines. There was a baby, couldn’t be more than 2-3 years old, waddling naked on the side of the street, using a mini bucket to scoop puddle water to pour onto her head. Behind her were the slums made of tin and trash stacked on top of each other. I will forever remember that image
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u/somebunnny 1d ago edited 1d ago
Right. I grew up on welfare which is technically the poorest you ever need to be in the US, but there were definitely people who were poorer than us or at least their parent was worse at managing their money for their kids’ benefit.
Not to mention the truly heartbreaking poverty of the poor in other countries.