Do the rich have a duty to help the poor in your opinion?

[It'sAutomatic]

Rich and poor should have equality of opportunity. The thing is that this usually requires the rich to pay a lot to make up for what the poor can't afford through taxation. Maybe that's a coerced gift, I don't know. I just know there are places in the world where the upper class is on our standard of living and the poor live awfully due to lack of opportunity. Instead of paying high taxes they pay for walls to keep poor people away. I don't think the USA should become one of those places.

[madpaddy]

I subscribe to the Dennis Miller philosophy: I'm willing to help the helpless, but don't give a rat's behind about the clueless.

[turkey-head]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

Rich and poor should have equality of opportunity. The thing is that this usually requires the rich to pay a lot to make up for what the poor can't afford through taxation. Maybe that's a coerced gift, I don't know. I just know there are places in the world where the upper class is on our standard of living and the poor live awfully due to lack of opportunity. Instead of paying high taxes they pay for walls to keep poor people away. I don't think the USA should become one of those places.

We're already there in much of the country.

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by madpaddy

I subscribe to the Dennis Miller philosophy: I'm willing to help the helpless, but don't give a rat's behind about the clueless.

Many people feel the same way, the problem is progressive believe the clueless are also the helpless. Every problem is always caused by some outside force and no one is ever to blame for their poor life choices.

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

Many people feel the same way, the problem is progressive believe the clueless are also the helpless. Every problem is always caused by some outside force and no one is ever to blame for their poor life choices.

Um, like Hurricane Sandy and the Great Recession?

What you're not understanding is that many people don't always realize they're making poor life choices. Like, say, maybe when they're married and employed, they decide to have a child. How silly of them to not be able to see the future when their job gets shipped overseas.

And then there's the people who are just trying to survive day to day. It's hard enough to do that, leaving very little energy for thinking about tomorrow beyond just packing a lunch.