[m0rose]

So it's better for the poor to blame the rich and be relieved of the guilt of being poor? It's not one-sided, and to say it is allows for a victim mentality that is harmful to anyone reading this and not thinking critically. I acknowledge that there are myriad reasons for becoming poor. Some people have one horrible tragedy after another heaped upon them to the point where they are destitute, and to those people we need to lend our aid and sincerest sympathy. There are others, however, who are poor because they spend their money foolishly, often times in a unconscious attempt to assuage feelings of depression, anxiety, or lack of agency. These people also deserve our sympathy, but they will never escape their issues without actually realizing they have a problem and seeking help. I fear that comments like this enable those people by re-enforcing their belief that it's a one-sided issue that they have no control over, and to them you're doing a grave disservice.

[49531]

> relieved of the guilt of being poor

That kind of sums it up right there. Most wealthy people in this country didn't become wealthy because they were able to save money while working for $15/hr.

You can't save your way out of poverty, the poor don't want your sympathy, they want dignity. They want a living wage, a pension, and healthcare. We can afford to give it to them, we're just too focused on making more billionaires.