Poverty and Voting

[madman]

As we all, the top 50% of income earners in America pay 96% of the (income) taxes in this country.

 

I have a friend of mine that I drive to work who is surely in the bottom 50%. I was asking him about his political affiliation (he is very uninformed about politics) and he said he didn't really know what either side stands for.

 

From other conversations with him, I gathered some information. I asked him these questions:

 

Do you hate immigrants coming to this country and taking money back to their home country (Mexico)? Do believe that we should drill for oil in America? Do you hate high taxes?

 

All 3 questions he responded yes. I told him he was a conservative. But the final question got me thinking (as well as reading Leave Us Alone). If you were poor, why wouldn't you vote for the Democrats?

Knowing about economics, I understand that lower taxes (even though less entitlement programs) helps the poor more than those programs because of long-term economic growth, lower unemployment, more investment projects, entrepreneur opportunities, etc., and just raises the overall standard of life.

 

But if you were (or are) in that bottom 50%, why would you vote against free money? How do you get a poor person, who is getting handouts from the government, to switch sides?

 

Spoken like a "true Republican". What's Bush done to take care of this problem? He's had two terms to take care of business. I know there are people who abuse the system but there will always be those type of people. No matter how hard they try, some people are going to be poor and need assistance. Heck, with the way the economy is going right now (increasing gas prices, high unemployment, unstable stock market, etc.), some of us may be needing government assistance before it's all said and done.

[rockmom]

Yes it does, as Liberals think they know what is best for everyone.

 

You need socialist health care because you cannot make your own health care decisions.

 

 

They want the masses to accept handouts to become dependent on the government, therefore the government controls you.

 

 

You couldn't be more wrong.

[cch5432]

Some flaws I feel are in your generalization:

 

Poor people are not necessarily looking for a handout.

Poverty doesn't necessarily equate to unenlightend, or ill-informed.

Democrat doesn't equate to "looking for a hand out", or even liberal.

 

I'm not going to go into all details, but my family is below the poverty line (meaning my mom & dad), and that's how we grew up. We never had assistance, but I'm sure we could have qualified. My family votes Democrat. My family doesn't approve of abuse of the system, and we definitely all know some who do.

 

It's disturbing to me, as well, that you used your friend in this sort of experiment, knowing that he was ill-informed. It just seems devious to me.

My wording was very, very poor. What I did not mean to imply was that poor people want a handout necessarily; but rather, if you were being given one, why would you vote against it?

 

As for the poor people aren't as educated, I guess that is a generalization, but I'd say that a good percentage of people in poverty have low levels of education.

 

And I agree, I should not have used him in my experiment. I wasn't trying to, he got me started on all the topics (immigration, drilling for oil, and taxes) and I just summed it up at the end (very vaguely).

[cch5432]

Spoken like a "true Republican". What's Bush done to take care of this problem? He's had two terms to take care of business. I know there are people who abuse the system but there will always be those type of people. No matter how hard they try, some people are going to be poor and need assistance. Heck, with the way the economy is going right now (increasing gas prices, high unemployment, unstable stock market, etc.), some of us may be needing government assistance before it's all said and done.

I am not a "true Republican" but I do not know how to address your post.

[cch5432]

 

Good point. My wording was vague. But the point of my post is that, if you were in poverty, why wouldn't you vote Democrat? And how do we (speaking of conservatives) convince poor people to vote for them?

 

Because I honestly believe that economic ideas that are promoted as conservative are better for the poor, just the effects are more indirect.

I have tripped over my wording too much, I would like to focus on this segment of what I was trying to get across.

[rockmom]

My wording was very, very poor. What I did not mean to imply was that poor people want a handout necessarily; but rather, if you were being given one, why would you vote against it?

I guess that could be asked of just about anyone, really. Or a similar question put to Republicans, for example, about why would you vote against a party that protects the highest income earners from higher taxes. It's kind of a leading question.

 

As for the poor people aren't as educated, I guess that is a generalization, but I'd say that a good percentage of people in poverty have low levels of education.

I would say that as a broad generalization, you would probably be correct in that they have low levels of education. For instance, my father never went past 6th grade, and didn't get his GED until he was 52. However, my father has always been a person who had a thirst for knowledge. His lack of formal education in no way equated to a lack of education. He was, and is, a student. He was the one I went to with my homework questions. He's the one I discuss politics, religion, world and social issues with. He's one of the most intelligent people I know.

 

 

And I agree, I should not have used him in my experiment. I wasn't trying to, he got me started on all the topics (immigration, drilling for oil, and taxes) and I just summed it up at the end (very vaguely).

 

:thumb: I'm glad you at least see where I'm coming from. I'd be even more disturbed if you saw nothing amiss.

[cch5432]

I guess that could be asked of just about anyone, really. Or a similar question put to Republicans, for example, about why would you vote against a party that protects the highest income earners from higher taxes. It's kind of a leading question.

 

I would say that as a broad generalization, you would probably be correct in that they have low levels of education. For instance, my father never went past 6th grade, and didn't get his GED until he was 52. However, my father has always been a person who had a thirst for knowledge. His lack of formal education in no way equated to a lack of education. He was, and is, a student. He was the one I went to with my homework questions. He's the one I discuss politics, religion, world and social issues with. He's one of the most intelligent people I know.

1. First of all, Republicans don't want special privileges for the rich (in terms of taxing) just equality. Secondly, however, less taxes on the rich allows more economic growth. Thirdly, entitlement programs aren't good for the economy, but how do you explain that to a person who is getting welfare? How do you make their primary goal the good of the country (and what is IMO there long-run good)?

 

2. I would say that your father is the exception to the rule. I could be wrong

[rockmom]

1. First of all, Republicans don't want special privileges for the rich (in terms of taxing) just equality. Secondly, however, less taxes on the rich allows more economic growth. Thirdly, entitlement programs aren't good for the economy, but how do you explain that to a person who is getting welfare? How do you make their primary goal the good of the country (and what is IMO there long-run good)?

All of those points are debatable, IMO. But, this isn't a thread about what Republicans want, so I'll forgo addressing them at this point.

 

2. I would say that your father is the exception to the rule. I could be wrong

 

I know some on both sides of the knowledge factor. I think there are more who are educated in some fashion than you realize.

[halfback20]

Welfare system is broke.

 

Speaking form experience of having family on welfare who deserve it and having some who do not deserve it I'd say 4 in 10 actually work or are disabled and deserve the assistance they get, the rest.................

 

Well I'd say you are wrong.

[Henry521]

All I can say, as someone that has sat at a phone bank for hours before a Presidental election, it is absolutely shocking how many people the night before a National election have zero clue who is actually running for President. All the signs, all the press, all the news discussions don't matter, millions don't care to know what the candidates stand for. Heck, they don't even know who's running. Nine times out of ten I have to tell them who the candidates are. That is sad. What's even worse are the ones that will vote for a candidate because they think he is young and energetic. That they will bring life and energy to the job.:creepy: Please, we're talking world leader here, not Mr. Congeniality.

[rockmom]

All I can say, as someone that has sat at a phone bank for hours before a Presidental election, it is absolutely shocking how many people the night before a National election have zero clue who is actually running for President. All the signs, all the press, all the news discussions don't matter, millions don't care to know what the candidates stand for. Heck, they don't even know who's running. Nine times out of ten I have to tell them who the candidates are. That is sad. What's even worse are the ones that will vote for a candidate because they think he is young and energetic. That they will bring life and energy to the job.:creepy: Please, we're talking world leader here, not Mr. Congeniality.

 

 

Knowing you, I'm feeling confident that I can say this is prevelant in both the Republican and Democratic parties, correct?

[Henry521]

Knowing you, I'm feeling confident that I can say this is prevelant in both the Republican and Democratic parties, correct?

 

I wouldn't know, I can only speak for one party.

[rockmom]

I wouldn't know, I can only speak for one party.

 

 

I'm pretty sure if you were running, your bio wouldn't say Henry521 (D). :lol:

[Henry521]

Knowing you, I'm feeling confident that I can say this is prevelant in both the Republican and Democratic parties, correct?

 

Knowing me, you know which party I'm calling. I'm sure it happens in both which is sad either way you look at it.

[Henry521]

I'm pretty sure if you were running, your bio wouldn't say Henry521 (D). :lol:

 

Unless you make that Henry521 DD:lol::lol: