I grew up in challenging circumstances. To this day I don't feel comfortable without having cash on me and the farther I go from home, the more cash I need on me to feel secure.
Progressives have effectively outlawed true poverty. Our nation went through a half-century or so in which wages and standards of living were almost universally increasing.
The new "poor" includes cell phones, ipads, cars, and air conditioners. The government subsidizes poverty and makes it costly to make the sacrifices that would enable one to better themselves.
One motivator of doing the right things is the fear of the chicken coop. Who has that fear today?
The other barrier to self-improvement are those who perpetuate the idea that "acting white" is somehow a sacrifice of self, rather than a recognition that education and hard work are the keys to personal progress.
From David Copperfield: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.”
Living within your means is not just a good idea, it's the law (of personal economics).
I agree with much of what you had to say there. I am trying to address the person who is trying to be productive and make it on their own. Yes, the government does step in and help. As you pointed out, and I agree, I think it destroys personal initiative in the process.
My current wife and I knew of a couple years ago who were both on government programs. One day the lady started listing what they were receiving in the way of government support.
By the time she was finished, she revealed that she and her husband were getting more money for free, than my wife and I were getting for working hard for 80 hours every two weeks.
Since that time they are off government services, but it was astounding to find out how much folks on government services get.