On Sep 14, 6:57*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:17:56 -0700, "Steve B"

wrote:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09...ative-think-ta...

What's the point of this article?
Poor people have a couple thousand dollars of possessions, counting
cars. *Maybe less, depending on whether they scrounge well.
They can come up with 50 bucks a month to get cable TV.
So what?
I'd guess they have to pay their electric and gas bills too.
Do they have insurance for their cars?
House insurance if they have one?
Medical insurance, or do they go to the E-room?
How many are "working poor?"

I always figure it's their toys - especially cable TV - that keeps
poor people in the U.S. from *really* realizing they are poor.
Keeps them just busy enough not to dwell on the fact they are poor.
The poor of other cultures handle it their own way, not needing
"material" goods to entertain them.
Irish, Poles and Russians socialize and drink a lot.
Much more alcoholism I think. *Not sure though.
My wife is originally from Poland and I hear about alcoholics all the
time.

But these are all mechanisms to keep the poor from rioting or turning
to crime because of their condition.
If it ever got to where the poor couldn't afford cable TV, the
government and Wall Street would provide them free cable.
Maintain the status quo.

I don't even know any poor people.
Steve just mentioned somebody who is poor and was looking for a place
to live.
Wonder is she has an Xbox.

--Vic

Prior to X box, religion was the opiate of the masses.
Maybe still is in America.