The Super-Rich And Everyone Else

[biblical]

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more - Luke 12:48

It is very true, that economic inequality is growing at an alarming rate and that the super-rich or the top-1%, can do much more to spread the wealth, but is the middle class and the working poor doing enough to also spread the wealth?
There is always someone poorer or needier than the official poor or needy. It is always easy and convenient to point out what others should do or are not doing, but rarely do human beings examine themselves, what they are not doing or should be doing.
And in this case, it is comfortable for the middle class and working poor to attack or demonize the super-rich, but is the middle class and the working poor doing it's fair share?

He who is faithful in what is least, is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least, is unjust also in much - Luke 16:10

If the middle class and the working poor are not doing their fair share, with what they have, in spreading the wealth, why should anyone expect them to behave differently if they were at the top, and are their attacks on the super-rich credible or honest?

There are millions of middle class and working poor people, who can easily afford to spare a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar or more, and yet so many homeless people and other poorer people, suffer unnecessary economic hardship?

(1) What if millions of middle class and working poor people, gave a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar or more to one homeless person, once a week?

(2) What if millions of middle class and working poor people, gave a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar or more, to one poorer person, who rummages through filthy trash, searching for 5 cent soda cans and plastic bottles, once a week?

(3) What if millions of middle class and working poor people, dropped a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar or more, in the tips cup, by the cash register, in the coffee shop, deli, pizzeria or eatery?

(4) What if millions of middle class and working poor people, gave a dollar once a year to their local soup kitchen or food bank?

(5) What if thousands of middle class and working poor people, gave a few dollars tip, once in a while, to the overworked and underpaid, home care workers/others, who do hard and unpleasant work, taking care of our sick and old loved ones?

(6) What if thousands of middle class and working poor people, left a few dollars tip, on their bed, for the poorly paid, housekeepers/cleaners, each time they checked out of hotels, motels or inns?

(7) What if thousands of middle class and working poor people, purposely patronized a full service gas stations and car wash places, just so they can modestly tip the poor attendants?

(8) What if ...................?

May God bless us all, as we reach out to others, with whatever we have.


Salvation

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Or the 1% could rent out cheap motels every winter and house the homeless ensuring they don't freeze to death. Or pay off people's bills about to be evicted and become homeless. Or pay medical bills for those for whom it's gonna bankrupt them. Or surprise everyone in low-income neighborhoods, or just on 1 street with a free pizza delivery.

What the 1% could do, is orders of magnitude more than what the other 99% could.

 

[DGS49]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

 

[biblical]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

 

[Chuckt]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

 

[Moonglow]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

Just like God allows the rain to fall on the fields of the wicked and the righteous...

 

[kjw47]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

Most charities = huge paycheck for owner and his family and friends--15% to needy.
Billions have been stolen from donations from the last 3 disasters.
Jesus said---give it to your brother in need---not to charities.
Anywhere big $ is---big corruption is as well.

the top 80 richest have more than the bottom 3 1/2 billion--- this is heartdead sick.

 

[Chuckt]

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

Just like God allows the rain to fall on the fields of the wicked and the righteous...

Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

My boss always complains that the Church wants people to become poor and give away their money so they can't help themselves or other people.

The rich aren't always giving people on the street money because they aren't doing anything to help themselves. It is due to alcoholism or mental illness that they aren't getting better when only putting some of them in a program will help them.

I know people who help the homeless and they do different things to help get people off the street.

 

[biblical]

Whether you recognize it or not, we have institutionalized "charity," and every taxpayer contributes to feeding and housing the poor, sheltering the homeless, paying the unemployed, and treating the injured and diseased. The super-rich (depending on how you define that) are generally paying a King's Ransom in federal, state, and local taxes every year, which - like it or not - pays for the bulk of the Social Safety Net. We've all seen the numbers, the top 10% pay more than half of all the personal income taxes that are paid to the various levels of government. High earners in New York, New Jersey, California, and some other states are paying more than half their gross incomes in taxes, much of which funds what would historically be considered "charity."

But charity starts at home. We are all obliged to help our immediate family members, relatives, friends, fellow-church members, and those in our immediate community through food banks, clothing drives, and whatnot.

The people who remain in a wretched state can fairly be said to have "fallen between the cracks" of the extremely-costly social safety net. Handing them cash is problematic. Often the people begging on the streets are scammers. Many homeless people are in that condition because of mental problems or substance abuse, and giving them cash solves nothing.

For someone who wants to go beyond what is compulsory, the best course is donating time, goods, and money to known, local churches and charitable institutions, where you can personally confirm that the donations are being given to those most in need and are not wasted.

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

There are many working poor people who hardly make enough, to save anything and live from paycheck to paycheck, and God forbid they lose their job, they won't be able to pay the next rent and other bills, so if they can't find another job soon enough, where do you suspect they may wind up?
And what vice will they be guilty of for taking up residence at local shelters or the streets?

 

[kjw47]

Interesting points and I understand where you are coming from, but why should you worry or care, if someone is a scammer or a genuine person in dire need, when you are only giving them a nickel, a dime or a quarter?
And how can you tell who is a scammer or a person with legitimate needs? True, there are always opportunists in every group of people, but why should the rest suffer because of a few rotten apples among them, when it is only costing the giver a nickel or a dime?
Charities do a lot of good work, but no amount of charities will ever reach everyone in need and when they are in need and where they are in need?
What if you lost a nickel to a scammer? Would that adversely affect your life or anybody's life?

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

There are many working poor people who hardly make enough, to save anything and live from paycheck to paycheck, and God forbid they lose their job, they won't be able to pay the next rent and other bills, so if they can't find another job soon enough, where do you suspect they may wind up?
And what vice will they be guilty of for taking up residence at local shelters or the streets?

The unfortunallity of this world is--- some cause the problems themselves from drunkenness or drug abuse or gambling, etc--some do work and have a hard time making ends meet.

I saw a news show once-- a 16 year old was busted for selling drugs-- on his interview he said--- I make 500 per day--or I can go work for 3.35 an hour. ( that was minimium then)

Choices can be tough on one in this system of things. Whereas men may try to undo this satan ruled system but in reality---the only remaining hope is Gods kingdom--a cure all.

 

[biblical]

Or the 1% could rent out cheap motels every winter and house the homeless ensuring they don't freeze to death. Or pay off people's bills about to be evicted and become homeless. Or pay medical bills for those for whom it's gonna bankrupt them. Or surprise everyone in low-income neighborhoods, or just on 1 street with a free pizza delivery.

What the 1% could do, is orders of magnitude more than what the other 99% could.

You are right that the super-rich can make a very big difference, if they chose to, nevertheless the middle class and the working poor can also help out a lot, because they have far more contact with the homeless and other poorer people than the super-rich, who drive mostly and do less street walking.
The middle class and the working poor are far more likely and more often encounter a homeless person or poorer person, hunting for soda cans through trash cans, because they are in the streets more.
While help from the super-rich can have a greater impact, it may not be available immediately, where as nickels and dimes from the middle class and working poor, can enable a homeless person or some other poorer person to meet his basic needs immediately.
Several nickels and dimes can easily add up for a cup of coffee and a snack.

 

[biblical]

It takes three or four families to support someone.
People are usually homeless because they've picked up other vices and the same reason they break your car window for ten cents is the same reason you shouldn't pay them ten cents. You are supporting their habit.

There are many working poor people who hardly make enough, to save anything and live from paycheck to paycheck, and God forbid they lose their job, they won't be able to pay the next rent and other bills, so if they can't find another job soon enough, where do you suspect they may wind up?
And what vice will they be guilty of for taking up residence at local shelters or the streets?

The unfortunallity of this world is--- some cause the problems themselves from drunkenness or drug abuse or gambling, etc--some do work and have a hard time making ends meet.

I saw a news show once-- a 16 year old was busted for selling drugs-- on his interview he said--- I make 500 per day--or I can go work for 3.35 an hour. ( that was minimium then)

Choices can be tough on one in this system of things. Whereas men may try to undo this satan ruled system but in reality---the only remaining hope is Gods kingdom--a cure all.

He/she who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him/her for what he/she has done - Proverbs 19:17

There is no doubt, that alcohol, drug and gambling addictions have contributed to some cases of homelessness, but that represents a small fraction of the total homeless population.
Should the majority be stigmatized or demonized by the vices of the few among their group?
Given the current growing unemployment nationally, isn't there a greater chance that many people who never abused alcohol, drugs or gambling, could find themselves living in homelessville?

If a man/woman shuts his/her ears to the cry of the poor, he/she too will cry out and not be answered - Proverbs 21:13

 

[Clement]

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. - Ps. 37

 

[kjw47]

There are many working poor people who hardly make enough, to save anything and live from paycheck to paycheck, and God forbid they lose their job, they won't be able to pay the next rent and other bills, so if they can't find another job soon enough, where do you suspect they may wind up?
And what vice will they be guilty of for taking up residence at local shelters or the streets?

The unfortunallity of this world is--- some cause the problems themselves from drunkenness or drug abuse or gambling, etc--some do work and have a hard time making ends meet.

I saw a news show once-- a 16 year old was busted for selling drugs-- on his interview he said--- I make 500 per day--or I can go work for 3.35 an hour. ( that was minimium then)

Choices can be tough on one in this system of things. Whereas men may try to undo this satan ruled system but in reality---the only remaining hope is Gods kingdom--a cure all.

He/she who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him/her for what he/she has done - Proverbs 19:17

There is no doubt, that alcohol, drug and gambling addictions have contributed to some cases of homelessness, but that represents a small fraction of the total homeless population.
Should the majority be stigmatized or demonized by the vices of the few among their group?
Given the current growing unemployment nationally, isn't there a greater chance that many people who never abused alcohol, drugs or gambling, could find themselves living in homelessville?

If a man/woman shuts his/her ears to the cry of the poor, he/she too will cry out and not be answered - Proverbs 21:13

I agree, not all get in the same boat by the same path.
Yes more and more will become homeless.

The growth--politicians and stock mArkets speak of work like this---- 20 years for prices to double--then 10 years for prices to double--then 5 years( we are here) for prices to double--then 2 1/2 years-etc----- soon= disaster for most.

 

[editec]

I post the following as a REMINDER to my chums who imagine that they are leftists or something.

The 1% are NOT the enemy. The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy

The leaders of OWS who turned the above into the mantra of OWS need to have their idiotic asses kicked for doing the SAME THIOUGHT CRIME to innocent wealthy people that the RIGHT WINGING MORONS do to poor people

Grow the fuck up, my leftist chums.

 

[kjw47]

I post the following as a REMINDER to my chums who imagine that they are leftists or something.

The 1% are NOT the enemy. The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy

The leaders of OWS who turned the above into the mantra of OWS need to have their idiotic asses kicked for doing the SAME THIOUGHT CRIME to innocent wealthy people that the RIGHT WINGING MORONS do to poor people

Grow the fuck up, my leftist chums.

For a rich man to enter Gods kingdom would be like putting a camel through the eye of a needle.( God didn't even say this about murderers or paedophiles--just richmen.)

 

[PredFan]

Fuck the poor. They never gave me anything, in fact no one ever gave me anything. I got it all myself. I was poor once and I got out of it without anyones help. They can too.

 

[Barb]

What ifs 1-7 and then some are already DONE by the middle class and working poor. MANY of the abject poor and unemployed volunteer at the places that have helped them.

 

[jillian]

Fuck the poor. They never gave me anything, in fact no one ever gave me anything. I got it all myself. I was poor once and I got out of it without anyones help. They can too.

really?

you didn't go to public school?

drive on public roads?

your parents never got social security or medicare/Medicaid?

okie dokie....

 

[biblical]

I post the following as a REMINDER to my chums who imagine that they are leftists or something.

The 1% are NOT the enemy. The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy.The 1% are NOT the enemy

The leaders of OWS who turned the above into the mantra of OWS need to have their idiotic asses kicked for doing the SAME THIOUGHT CRIME to innocent wealthy people that the RIGHT WINGING MORONS do to poor people

Grow the fuck up, my leftist chums.

Who said the 1% are the enemy? Did you read the original post on this thread? There is nothing in the original post that says the 1% are the enemy. Both the 1% , middle class and working poor need one another as allies in creating a better and more humane society. Neither group can afford to do without the others.
Please read the original post in any thread, before raving and ranting!