The belief that poverty is caused by incompetence, laziness or rogue spending
I’m not sure how to reach people that believe this. Been dirt poor, now I’m well off. I know what that looks like. One thing is that so many first-world people think they’ve been poor. Well, poor relative to their previous circumstances, poor vs. their parents, etc.
Those sorts never had to steal napkins from McDonalds to wipe their ass. Never fried plain flour with the last of their oil. Never went hunting nuts for food and didn’t have any salt left. Fuck me, my roommate and I were figuring how to steal a duck or goose off the local college campus.
Can’t afford a washing machine? Go to the local laundromat, spend that money. Spend that time. My fridge has an issue with some sort of fan. I have the leisure time and tools to take it apart, figure it out and buy a new fan. If you’re poor? Oh well. Pay someone a load of money. $20 for me, $200 if you’re poor.
tl;dr: We need to be hammering home the fact that being broke is more expensive than having a little folding money. And just like having some money stacks in your favor, having none stacks against you.
Pay and benefits are awesome. After my wife got the list of rules? "Babe. Do NOT take that job."
Late by 30 seconds, fired 3rd time, no exceptions. (This is in the middle of nowhere on the interstate. She would have to show up 40 minutes early to ensure no traffic issues.)
Can’t enter the store before your shift.
Can’t leave the store during your shift.
You must take a particular path to go to the breakroom.
You cannot go outside.
If anyone spots a tat on your flesh? Fired instantly.
There’s more I’m forgetting. This place thinks because of the good pay and benefits that they own you soul.
And those people are grooming your kids into changing into something else, just like they did to themselves! Think of the children! LOL, it’s some Invasion of the Body Snatchers kinda paranoia.
One thing I hadn’t talked about was the “forcing” of LGBT issues.
When we were seniors ('89), saw a high-school buddy in a 50/50 gay/straight bar. About shit himself when he saw me.
“Please don’t tell anyone Shalafi. 😬”
“I don’t give a shit Sheldon. Let me get some of whatever you’re hitting in that bag!”
Same bar watching my gf dance. Dude pulls up a stool and offers me a drink.
“That’s cool and all, but you should know I’m not gay.”
That man knocked over his barstool jumping backwards. From a 5’8", 120lb., 18-yo twerp.
“Oh shit! I’m SO sorry. I didn’t mean…!”
“We’re all cool! It’s good! I’ll still take that drink though.”
All that to say, if any young folk think gays have it bad now? Let’s hop in the Delorean and take a ride back to the late 80’s. They were deep in the closet. Closeted as in, being out front with your homosexuality meant an ass beating. Hell, no one would even acknowledge Freddie Mercury, Liberace or Elton John as gay. There were “confirmed bachelors” or “light in the loafers”. Delivered meaningfully, “gay” was a deadly insult.
Back on topic; Gays kept that shit on the down-low. And that’s how GenX grew up, even more so our parents, less so the Millennials. They see LGBT folks celebrating themselves, rainbow flags in stores, whatever, as having other people’s lifestyles, “shoved down their throat” or “forced on them”.
Weird take, but I can understand it. Moved to the Deep South and all the religious shit feels like they’re cramming their bullshit into my life. And they’re trying to using legislation! And to circle back, these people think gay rights, or even existence, is being thrust on them via legislation.
tl;dr: I get it. It sucks. Society is quickly growing out of it, but it’s a nice wedge issue for conservatives.
Because it’s not “real” work. You gotta get paid up front and put a limit on changes. You’re either good, or you’re not. Let the market sort it out, but don’t work for free.