Keeping people in poverty is intentional. Cold, hungry, anxious and ill people are less of a threat to wealth's status quo.

I have also spent time among the very poor, being one myself. You're right. There is a desperation that is hard to deal with. And those without a social network live in a particular version of a living hell that politicians just don't grasp at all.

Rich person problem is decidingbwhat presents to buy their loved ones for Christmas. Poor person problem is whether to buy one toy or to have food or needed medicine on any given day of the year.

Example of lack of compassion. Person put up stats from an article that the poorest working people in the U.S. make on average $20,000/yr. First commenter tried to point out they thought it was more like $25,000/yr. Like $5000 difference is big money. Sickening.

Capitalism causes this.

Those that don't know what to do with it should give to those that don't know what to do. If people were less egocentric than they are there shouldn't even have to be laws to bring that about. They would do it out of their own free will.

I see a common theme here. For many, isn’t even about the money. It’s about the feeling of abandonment& feeling alone & screwed. This is where we CAN easily help each other. It won’t fix everything, i know. But reach out! If you have extra soup & neighbor doesn’t- share kindness.

I enjoyed hearing about your experience in the nonprofit world and how you had to appeal to the rich. Nonprofits are trying to bridge this gap; in ways it’s the only place where the two sides interact. It’s absolutely toxic and we need something better.

Excellent