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Originally Posted by JavaBlack";p="
A lot of people have been chanting that "Poverty is a choice" mantra lately. It's become a staple of the get-rich-quick-scheme industry (which ironically often helps people to waste even more time and money). I think it's also a rationalization that helps otherwise morally decent people accept the ridiculous elitist philosophy of Ayn Rand.
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I hadn't heard of Rand until your post... But I went their site and I agree with the quote on the front page. As for the "get rich quick schemes">> they have been around forever.. And most of them are BS. That is not the choice I am talking about.
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That said, there are some people who indeed choose to be poor. Some of them even rationally.
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Yes... I understand that... People choose professions that they know do not pay well but choose them anyway because it is a passion of theirs... The Church.. Being a teacher... It is no secret that for the most part, these professions are not very well paid.
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But in order to actually choose something, you must have other alternatives, understanding of those alternatives, resources to reach for those alternatives, luck to succeed at those alternatives, and a full understanding of what the actual value is of all alternatives.
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I give people more credit than that... Ask any kid what they want to be when they grow up.... How many will tell you they want to be a broken down loser? So they know they have an alternative! Even from a very young age kids know that America is the "Land of opportunity" >>> Any neighborhood in America has a quick escape hatch.... The Military! That is just one "Alternative" How many kids know that you can get sports scholarships? How many know that you can get Art Scholarships?
If you like to look at people as stupid and ignorant... then your statement will make sense.
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You'll find that many of these things are dependent on one's experiences. If you are born amongst people who don't know alternatives or how to get there, you are around people who don't understand the alternatives, and you are never exposed to them in a realistic fashion... and by the time you arem, you have no hope for them... well, you will not be able to choose them.
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Maybe you misunderstood... I am talking about America.... The United States... Not some third world country that prohibits children from getting an education.
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At the very least we need a strong enough education system to make up for the environmental issues that will affect choices. And even then, I hate to tell you, even if everyone chooses to follow a road out of poverty... some people will still be poor.
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The numbers tell you that! It takes a lot of energy to develop a good attitude and maintain it... It is easy to have a bad or sour attitude... So how do most people make choices? Path of least resistance? Yup.
It take energy to have high ambitions.... and to maintain them... BUT.. that path of least resistance works here too... doesn't it? And Work ethic? It is easy to just get by.
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The fact is that extreme poverty is, in most cases, temporary. Just as we'd like it to be. But there are conditions that will limit choices and everyone will make mistakes.
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Success is built on personal failures... That is a fact... You show me one person that was successful in life to never failed and I will show you a lair!... You want to "Get rich fast"? That is easy too >>> Fail fast... a lot... and learn fast! It is a growth process... it is a constant learning process but you have to maintain your attitude and know that failures are class time... Don't see them as anything but that! Your attitude will affect the other traits that lead to success so your attitude is probably the most important asset you will posses..
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The thing that's rough for us middle classers to get, and must be unfathomable to the rich, is that when you hav very few resources you cannot afford to fail. The only way to success is to take risks. Someone who cannot afford to take risks cannot realistically escape poverty.
Sure, take a few thousand people making risks they can't afford... and a few will achieve them and end up becoming more legendary rags-to-riches stories. The rest will not be given credit for trying.
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Thats your excuse.... "I can't afford to fail" How many times have we heard that ?? We all take risks everyday... some small some big... BUT RISK is NOT what we are talking about!
It is Poverty as a Choice... If you live in Poverty... then you are the sum total of your choices... I guess I could say that you are the sum total of your excuses >>> but that would sound more abrasive... But no less true.
OG