20 things the poor really do every day

[eridani]

http://benirwin.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/20-things-the-poor-do-every-day/

17. Receive less in subsidized benefits than corporations.
The US government spends around $60 billion on public housing and rental subsidies for low-income families, compared to more than $90 billion on corporate subsidies. Oil companies alone get around $70 billion. And that’s not counting the nearly $60 billion a year in tax breaks corporations enjoy by sheltering profits offshore. Or the $700 billion bailout banks got in 2008.
(Source: Think By Numbers)

18. Get themselves off welfare as soon as possible.
Despite the odds, the vast majority of beneficiaries leave the welfare rolls within five years. Even in the absence of official welfare-to-work programming, most welfare recipients enroll in some form of vocational training. Why? Because they’re desperate to get off welfare.
(Source: US Department of Health and Human Services)

19. Have about the same number of children as everyone else.
No, poor people do not have loads of children just so they can stay on welfare.
(Source: US Department of Health and Human Services)

20. Accomplish one single goal: stay alive.
Poverty in America may not be as dire as poverty in other parts of the world, but many working poor families are nonetheless preoccupied with day-to-day survival. For them, life is not something to be enjoyed so much as endured.

[99Forever]

1. K&R

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. K&R As usual.

[Wounded Bear]

3. A note on subsidies for business/industry...

I've never seen a number quoted for the tax breaks companies get for re-locating, ostensibly to 'create jobs' in the new location. It has to be significant.

It is a well documented tactic of Wal-Mart, to move into an area based on generous tax breaks from the new community. Lost in the shuffle, of course are the losses to local merchants, the suppression of wages in the area, and the loss to the areas left behind.

We're both from Washington, so we know about the attempted leverage large corps (Boeing) will use to pry generous tax breaks and subsidies out of governments at the local and state level.

Bottom line, I think the $90 billion number is woefully understated.

[eridani]

4. I think you're right, but the more conservative number is bad enough n/t

[Wounded Bear]

5. Absolutely true....

but I'd like to see the other number reported, too.

[hootinholler]

10. Those are direct Federal subsidies

What you rightly point out is that States compete to give additional subsidies to either woo or retain large corporations.

[rhett o rick]

6. Good article. Thanks for posting. nm

[Scuba]

8. ...

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. this post is a keeper.

Makes the situation pretty clear.

[Scuba]

14. Thanks Blanche, may you have a high and happy holiday!!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. lol! thanks Scuba! same to you!

Enjoy!

[Matariki]

11. Ah, this was a push back on that incredibly obnoxious 'habits of the rich' bs.

Glad to hear that horrid piece got a lot of negative attention, which it truly deserved.

[MisterP]

12. mercilessly taken apart here

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-facts-about-being-poor-from-rich-person/

[Matariki]

13. Thanks for that!

That was necessary!

[Cha]

16. Mahalo eridani~