Poor is a matter of choice.

1. You seem to have forgotten that McCain married into wealth (and also into politics--Cindy's political connections got him started), so I wouldn't criticize his opponent when it comes to "earning" his money. McCain is no entrepreneur--how do YOU think his net worth became over $40 million? 2. I'd like you to tell people who have worked hard and saved up for retirement all their lives, just to have their employers suddenly decide they're not going to give them their pensions/retirement, and leaving them too old to work, and too broke to afford their medications, that it's their "choice" to be poor. I doubt you'd have the guts to do so in person. "This would give the people on welfare and unemployment even more reason to do nothing and still get money." You can't get Obama's tax cut if you aren't paying taxes, so people on welfare would get no extra money from him. Use your head.

On some points I agree. For those who do nothing and sit on welfare, yes but not everyone on unemployment stays on it. Many actually do search for work instead of faking it. Some find themselves in circumstances beyond their control. The help that's out there is often not made public and has to be found out by word of mouth. Being poor doesn't mean you're worthless if you are trying to make your situation better. It is only when one sits holding out their hand and not doing anything to help themselves.

Hypocrisy. I'm betting you're not poor. Have you tasted what it's like to be desperate for money, food, shelter...before? I'm sure there's a few lazybones about who obliterate themselves in this way....but the poor do not choose to be poor. VERY few people are actually that self-destructive... So, the lady who was duped into a bad marriage by a richer husband and then divorced and left with nothing but two children...chose to be poor. The Dad who works three jobs and is continually screwed by his employers, chose to be poor...because there's hardly any other jobs about. RIGHT. Give me a break.

First of all lets address this issue of Poor being a matter of Choice. Seriously who do you know that would choose to be poor?? I dont think that there would be many that would be poor by choice. We are in no way poor by choice. Yes we are considered poor and my husband works 40+ hours a week. We are a hard working family but as I said are considered poor and it sure isnt by choice. Some things just are as they are and you can only do your best, day by day to move forward and even then sometimes you still just hang on week after week, month after month. AGAIN not by choice. Okay as for McCain do some research, he is so great and yet had an affair with his 2nd wife before marrying her. He also married into money, BIG MONEY! I just guess I dont get people that assume things.

Poor people don't choose to be poor. They work probably 10 times harder than people who make a lot of money (aside from doctors). Almost every single job in America is very important, and we need people to do them. It isn't fair that some people have to work harder than most, and still have nothing to show for it. Obama wants to help the working man, and I'm all for it.

Poor isnt always a matter of choice some people are born into poverty and because of this disadvantaged start find it very difficult to succeed.Others are born into wealth you may want to call me a socialist but i have no problem with a little distributionism especially when the wealth is being distributted from people who have so much they will never be able to utilize all their money in two lifetimes.I have no problem with distributting wealth from people who buy their pets penthouses to live in and feed their cats caviar while people starve for basic necessities.It is these people I would like to see the wealth given to ,those who cannot afford the basics. Dont get me wrong, I do not encourage laziness or people who believe they shouldnt work because they have welfare nor do I have a problem with people spending thier money when they have worked for it but I dont like extravagance however you got that money. Consequently i have no problems with the tax regime being proposed by Obama which seeks to tax the 5 percentile a little more so that the lower 95 % can have a slightly better life especially the extremely destitute.I believe in achieving the greater good and its not like the 5 % will suffer significantly ,the worst case sceneario ,they MAY have to give up their weekend trip to Aspen and when this is viewed against the background of providing a meal for a child in a foster home - isay tax away Obama. My only concern is that the wealth should be given to people who are needy and not greedy or lazy so it would be good if the proper assessment mechanisms are in place to prevent this.

No,No,I just cannot imagine Mr. McCain doing something like that as he is not a user.

No, you don't get it One. Just because choices inadvertently contribute to the circumstances that make you poor does not mean you consciously CHOSE to be poor. Plenty of people make the same choices and turn out just fine. You can call it bad luck, or fate if you'd like -- that's something that shouldn't be offensive. But to say what people did or didn't do, when you're not living their life is arrogant. Yes, everything that happens is the result of the choices people make, but those choices weren't always made by you...or fully made by you...and again, do you think all poor people just sit around and go, "Oh gee, I think I'll just...not have any money. Like ever."?? That's sorta what you're implying. If this isn't what you meant, then I hope you understand that, that's the impression your wording's left...and that's why alot of people are offended. I hope my career choice does me well, as well. Here's hoping, no? *laughs* Choose a better insurance company? They were the most popular and best for our entire state. They showed no sign of what they were going do, and gave us no explanation. It happens. Unless of course, you expect my father to be psychic. Move somewhere with better jobs? We were NEVER rich, and most of our state is rural. It was unlikely for there to be nicer jobs. He's worked for a handful of factory warehouses since then...all different, unrelated, and they're all run by jerks. He does odd jobs, but that doesn't pay as well...and everything is is hospitals, restaraunts, law enforcenment, or groceries...mostly. That's the biggest stuff. You think we had the money to just move fifty-hundred miles aware to some big city with huge corporations? (who, by the way, care even LESS about people than these medium sized businesses my Dad's always worked for) My Mom and Dad got married at the spur of the moment, and even though they were careful, me and my brother were not planned babies. Stuff happens, like I said... They often gave up meals so we could eat. To say our misfortune was our own fault... Plenty of people don't have kids, did the best they could, and are poor. Did children born into poverty choose to be poor? Do you think I chose to be born into this family just so that I could grow up poor? For the record, I really hate gross generalizations. Besides, let me point something else out; everyone may have the CHANCE to succeed here...but not all chances are rested on good odds, and not everyone can afford to take the chance lest it destroy them completely. ...lovely to see I'm not the only one this frustrated with this discussion, Moonlight. The blame game is SO fun, no?

there are a lot of people unemployed and not by their fault.. in the past 2 years my brother has worked 5 different jobs and all three laid him off!! the jobs are not out there and people are having to take unemployment to get by and that doesnt mean they dont work for it.. they just cant find work to work for.. not to mention some people on assistance are also disabled and cannot work.. yes there are some people that dont want to do anything to better themselves but i dont think that we should insult the ones fighting to do better but failing.. some times people cannot get ahead.. even with jobs they live hand to mouth.. poor isnt a choice.. and it should NEVER be assumed that people are choosing to be poor..

Everybody should be able to earn his own living. Which for me means, renting a flat or a house and having money to pay the monthly bills. Sorry, but didn´t Obama said the limit is 200.000 $ a year ? Is it so expensive to live in the US? Here in Germany you only get a minimum rage paid if you are jobless (handycapped have different rules) and you have to go do social work for getting more. So the community gets something back if it gives you money for your living. If you want more, you have to get yourself a better job. And poor isn´t a matter of choice. Being poor doesn´t give you the opportunity to take a good job, if you need money for moving to another district or another country. So being poor can stop you from getting better even if you try. If you cann´t buy the bus ticket for the bus that brings you to the better job- you stay the way you are - poor.

I think one has to be wary of making any generalisations about people being poor. It is true that if one works hard and if one is career orientated, then one usually will get that break to rise up the ladder and better oneself. But that is not always the case, people can do that, are then suddenly laid off, the economic situation is bad all around, they can't get another high paying job and are forced to accept lower paid job. Sometimes personal circumstances drive people into power (eg broken up marriage for instance). Of course there are lazy people out there who seem to be content with a life on benefits. But there are also many other people who have to work all hours that God sends to make ends meet and do their best to raise their families in difficult circumstances. What I find really interesting though in this whole discussion is how this debate mirrors debates that have gone on for centuries: in Tudor and Elizabethan England, back in the 16th century, there were the 'deserving poor' and the 'underserving poor', the poor that were in need of help, and the work-shy that needed harsh treatment to get them off their butts. Seems that nothing changes really: 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose'!

i think it is true, poor is a matter of choice, if you don't do anything to succeed and live without nothing to do, your just making yourself a fool, try to make a living for yourself don't depend on others, do what you have to do to succeed, make your self bc to earn money, money will not come to you , you'll have to find them.

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge. ... "Are there no prisons?" ... "And the Union Workhouses" demanded Scrooge "Are they still in operation?" ... "Many can't go there; and many would rather die." "If they would rather die" said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." -from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Seems that attitude is still alive and well in modern times. There will always be a poor underclass. The solution is neither to blame them for their disadvantage nor take the riches from more well off so that everyone is poor.

obama earn his money from takeing money from people many people hate obama.

I have tried very hard all of my life to work hard and to get money, to get ahead. Now Obama wants to make me and everybody else even poorer, it seems it me. I am glad that I voted for Mccain. Obama has even said that, as i understand him, that it is all right to do late term abortions and to crush the skulls of unborn babies and to tear the arms and legs off of unborn babies. I would like to see obama go to jail for promoting late term abortions.

Obama is not trying to make those on welfare and unemployment richer so that they "have more reason to sit around doing nothing". His plan is to increase the taxes by 3% for the higher paid people and make it easier for the middle and lower income class. Not everyone on unemployment is just sitting around doing nothing!! Many have lost their jobs due to the many layoffs and closings because of our economy!!! These people are looking desperatly for work and many are having a very tough time finding it! Some are accepting much lower wage jobs just to be working at all! As for those on welfare...some are on the system that really could get out and work but not all. Some are on it due some circumstances and it is just a temporary help.