How come most Americans are poor?

[malG]

I'm Australian and here we get subsidised college tuition, free healthcare and great social security. I know of many people on the dole for most of their lives. Interestingly, our taxes are quite low when compared to most G8 countries. I thought America is a rich country, how come most Americans are poor?

 

[Chaotic42]

Define poor.

If you're talking about in debt, I believe that a lot of it is because instead of trying to make something of their lives and live responsibly, they pop out a few kids, take out an outrageous mortgage, and buy a couple of cars that they can't afford.

Now if you're talking living in the projects, well, it's way too late at night to get into that one. :beer:

 

[tasmanian]

Americans arnt poor. Their low income. Most of America is middle class and brings in 40k+ a year.

 

[Mr Incognito]

We all like to think America is a rich country, we kind of just ignore the poor.

 

[Mrfrog840]

americans are poor only because they care what other people think. If no one cared what other people thought, and only lived for themselves instead of making themselves look better, everyone would be much wealthier

 

[Mo0o]

Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

 

[mugs]

The US isn't a third world country just because it isn't a socialist country... most Americans are not poor.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us.

We do spend an assload on defense (or offense as the case may be). As much as the next 14 countries combined or something like that. That's enough to make everyone else wonder what we're up to.

 

[Albatross]

americans are poor because they are not socialists? :laugh:

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

I think we've got to. It's the fear of our military that keeps other countries from attacking us. True, it would be difficult to mount an invasion of the US from Europe or Asia, but a strong military will make people think twice about messing with our interests.

Of course, this only applies to people who have a reasonable fear of death. We've got to re-tool for the kind of non-conventional combat that we're going to keep seeing more and more of.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

I think we've got to. It's the fear of our military that keeps other countries from attacking us. True, it would be difficult to mount an invasion of the US from Europe or Asia, but a strong military will make people think twice about messing with our interests.

Of course, this only applies to people who have a reasonable fear of death. We've got to re-tool for the kind of non-conventional combat that we're going to keep seeing more and more of.

Yeah. We also give the most in terms of aid i think

 

[malG]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
We also give the most in terms of aid i think

The Israeli government is the largest recipient of US financial aid in the world, receiving over one-third of total US aid to foreign countries, even though Israel?s population comprises just .001% of the world?s population and has one the world?s highest per capita incomes.

Why so much aid to Israel and why not help poor Americans?

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Most Americans are "poor" because they insist on living beyond their means. They want instant gratification when it comes to expensive purchases. Buy now, pay later with interest!

 

[Mrfrog840]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Most Americans are "poor" because they insist on living beyond their means. They want instant gratification when it comes to expensive purchases. Buy now, pay later with interest!

should be at the top with that answer..

Couldn't agree more

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: malG
Why so much aid to Israel and why not help poor Americans?

Probably because Israel is an ally in a very resource-rich but hostile area. We really need someone to come along and push for the development of fuel-cell technology and fusion power. Then we can pull out of the Middle East and let them be.

Melatonin must be kicking in.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: malG

Originally posted by: Mo0o
We also give the most in terms of aid i think

The Israeli government is the largest recipient of US financial aid in the world, receiving over one-third of total US aid to foreign countries, even though Israel?s population comprises just .001% of the world?s population and has one the world?s highest per capita incomes.

Why so much aid to Israel and why not help poor Americans?

He means private donations, not gov't donations.

unrelated to your post: are you retarded?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

The federal government spends way more on entitlement programs than on defense.

And we don't spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. We spend a lot of money on national defense because after WWII, we were one of two super powers up to the 90s. We are spending less on national defense now but it is still an important part of being a super power.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

I think we've got to. It's the fear of our military that keeps other countries from attacking us. True, it would be difficult to mount an invasion of the US from Europe or Asia, but a strong military will make people think twice about messing with our interests.

Of course, this only applies to people who have a reasonable fear of death. We've got to re-tool for the kind of non-conventional combat that we're going to keep seeing more and more of.

Yeah. We also give the most in terms of aid i think

As a percentage of our GDP, I believe we're pretty near the bottom of the list of industrialized nations.

 

[Queasy]

BTW, poor compared to what? Even poor Americans enjoy a standard of living much higher than the rest of the world...including Europe.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: Queasy
BTW, poor compared to what? Even poor Americans enjoy a standard of living much higher than the rest of the world...including Europe.

We have the best-fed poor people on the planet.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Because we spend a lot of money on national defense because everyone hates us. Not to mention Australia isn't as diverse as the United States, less conflict of interest within the nation

I think we've got to. It's the fear of our military that keeps other countries from attacking us. True, it would be difficult to mount an invasion of the US from Europe or Asia, but a strong military will make people think twice about messing with our interests.

Of course, this only applies to people who have a reasonable fear of death. We've got to re-tool for the kind of non-conventional combat that we're going to keep seeing more and more of.

Yeah. We also give the most in terms of aid i think

As a percentage of our GDP, I believe we're pretty near the bottom of the list of industrialized nations.

We give a lot via private donations though. I believe more than anyone else but don't quote me on that.

 

[KingofCamelot]

Originally posted by: malG

Originally posted by: Mo0o
We also give the most in terms of aid i think

Why so much aid to Israel and why not help poor Americans?

Cause Israelis are a bunch of Jews surrounded by hostile Arab countries? I think they can use all the extra help they can get.

Also, poor Americans aren't going to get any of the foreign aid funds so pointing out which countries get those funds has nothing to do with the main argument.

 

[malG]

Here's another example of Australian government generosity which is unheard of in America; we get $4k for each newborn and get a sizeable allowance to take care of the child till they're 16!

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: malG
Here's another example of Australian government generosity which is unheard of in America; we get $4k for each newborn and get a sizeable allowance to take care of the child till they're 16!

Yeah, but you're still paying for it. The government doesn't just come up with money out of nowhere. It's wealth redistribution. Why should I have to pay more money just because you decided that you wanted another kid?

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: malG
Here's another example of Australian government generosity which is unheard of in America; we get $4k for each newborn and get a sizeable allowance to take care of the child till they're 16!

So when someone takes your money and doles it out to someone else, they're being generous?