Anti poverty advocates usually mis-diagnose the problem as "a lack of money" Poverty is NOT a lack of money, it's a lack of PRODUCTIVITY. When children are poor, it's because their parents are unproductive.
I'm sorry Diane if you really want to help these people you have to tell them the truth. And the truth is that many of them are lazy, selfish and carry many other negative traits. If you don't advocate personal responsibility and keep telling them it isn't their own fault you are helping them dig themselves a grave. Diane you are literally throwing away logic and reason ; its shameful! And the story that they don't want to go to the doctors because of rude receptionists doesn't make sense when they have no shame sitting cross-legged all day long on a footpath begging. And comparing facebook terms and conditions with financial loan small print is again plain ridiculous. Keep it real Diane be honest to the people you want to help otherwise you are making their situation worse . If Salvation Army want the public to make more donations they need you to show real leadership skills which involves advocacy for personal responsibility!
Have you ever been to university before? I'm really curious, because you say "many" but there isn't anything to back up your discussion other than your own opinion which is baseless really.
Kevin, you may be right that some poor people are lazy, just as some rich people are. However, I don't have the evidence to say that 'many' are. As Diane demonstrates, most poor people have a very demanding/exhausting 'job. It is dealing with agencies, waiting in line, filling out forms and giving reasons and travelling by public transport waiting for connections... simply 'surviving'. Doubtless too, many lack the education necessary to give them the 'life skills' the rest of us take for granted. I agree that people must take personal responsibility and we should endeavour to ensure our help leads them to become 'self-reliant'. Perhaps, as Diane suggests, consolidating debt and budgeting is a start. Also, providing a basic smart phone and apps to make it easy to contact agencies would also give them more time to look for a job as well as the tool to make contact with prospective employers. Are there any other ways you think we could help them to help themselves?
