The One Cause of Poverty That’s Never Considered

[Kfox]

Not if he doesn't pay his workers more generously, otherwise he is just leaching off their effort

More generously than what?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

How much is "more generously"?

And did you ever pay anyone for their work?

Well, the answer could be found by looking as different societies and then ask people how they feel about their life.
So have you ever read such studies?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

More generously than what?

Again that can be answered by comparing different countries. There are other factors in that, but the pay is one of them.

 

[metis]

Well, the answer could be found by looking as different societies and then ask people how they feel about their life.
So have you ever read such studies?

That's so true, and the Scandinavian countries, which use the Nordic Model, largely score the highest on the international happiness index. They generally have less disposable income than some other countries because of higher taxes but they have "cradle to grave" protection in areas of medical care, education, retirement, child & senior daycare, etc.

 

[Lyndon]

America has some of the lowest ,minimum wages in the "civilized" world

 

[Heyo]

So without the government around to keep you in line you'd act in an immoral manner towards your fellow man.

Immoral, I? As another poster put it "You don't know me, so probably better that you stop thinking you do."

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

That's so true, and the Scandinavian countries, which use the Nordic Model, largely score the highest on the international happiness index. They generally have less disposable income than some other countries because of higher taxes but they have "cradle to grave" protection in areas of medical care, education, retirement, child & senior daycare, etc.

In fact some studies suggest that for poor and middle income persons in the USA, if they have to pay to get the same cradle to grave, they have less money available.

 

[Heyo]

More generously than what?

Something in the range the US had in the '70s would be progress. From about that time onward wages in the US have stagnated while productivity went up. All the wealth gained in the time from then went to the top 1 %.

 

[metis]

In fact some studies suggest that for poor and middle income persons in the USA, if they have to pay to get the same cradle to grave, they have less money available.

Exactly.

Once when I was in Amsterdam, I talked with a woman who grew up in New York but has lived in the Netherlands for quite a while now, and she said it's a great place to live because you have no worries about basically being taken care of even if you're poor. Yes, they got their own set of problems, but still it is a far less stressful place to live and raise a family and slip into old age.

 

[Heyo]

In fact some studies suggest that for poor and middle income persons in the USA, if they have to pay to get the same cradle to grave, they have less money available.

A poor person in the US couldn't afford such security. Many of them can't even afford decent healthcare.

 

[Audie]

Exactly.

Once when I was in Amsterdam, I talked with a woman who grew up in New York but has lived in the Netherlands for quite a while now, and she said it's a great place to live because you have no worries about basically being taken care of even if you're poor. Yes, they got their own set of problems, but still it is a far less stressful place to live and raise a family and slip into old age.

Too peaceful for me. Sounds like being a chicken with a
snake proof pen.

 

[metis]

Too peaceful for me. Sounds like being a chicken with a
snake proof pen.

Hey, at my age I like peace, and I'm jealous of my cousins in Sweden minus the Putin scare.

 

[Stevicus]

Here's another example.

MSN

www.msn.com

The interviewer cites Oxfam's statistic that the world's 85 richest individuals own the same wealth as the three and a half billion poorest, leading to O'Leary's response that left both the interviewer and viewers taken aback.

"It's fantastic," he says, "And this is a great thing because it inspires everybody. Gets the motivation to look up to the %1 and say ‘I want to become one of those people,' I'm going to fight hard to get up to the top."

"This is fantastic news and of course, I applaud it."

Kevin O'Leary receives a surprised look from the interviewer, causing him to ask, "What's wrong with that?"

With a puzzled expression, she asks, "Really?" He replies confidently, "Yes, really."

Trying to understand his point, the interviewer asks, "So, are you saying that someone living on a dollar a day in Africa wakes up every morning and thinks, 'I'm going to be Bill Gates'?"

To which Kevin O'Leary replied, "That's the kind of motivation everyone needs."

The interviewer then attempted to sarcastically suggest that Kevin O'Leary's way of thinking is unrealistic for poor people around the world.

"So, you're saying the only thing standing between me and that guy is motivation? I just need to pull up my socks. Oh wait, I don't even have socks..."

With over 2.2 million views, the video has garnered many comments from viewers who overwhelmingly disagreed with Kevin O'Leary​

One user commented that "Kevin is out of touch with reality," but another one had a different perspective, stating, "I don't think it's out of touch, I think it's him actively pushing this narrative to keep poor people working for him and making him money."

Others found the interview to be amusing and appreciated the interviewer's reaction, as she "spoke up" and "called him out" for his statement.

 

[Kfox]

Again that can be answered by comparing different countries. There are other factors in that, but the pay is one of them.

No; I'm not the one claiming pay needs to be more generous. He needs to compare different countries, or whatever to make his case and use that information to answer my question.

 

[Orbit]

No; I'm not the one claiming pay needs to be more generous. He needs to compare different countries, or whatever to make his case and use that information to answer my question.

In major cities of the US, pay does not match (minimum wage) the amount needed to secure housing, food, medical insurance etc. It's not that complicated. Look at Los Angeles and New York housing prices. Rent in rural areas in the middle of nowhere is even high compared to rural area wages.

 

[Kfox]

America has some of the lowest ,minimum wages in the "civilized" world

There are perhaps only a dozen or so state that actually recognize the federal minimum wage, the vast majority of states have higher.

 

[Kfox]

Exactly.

Once when I was in Amsterdam, I talked with a woman who grew up in New York but has lived in the Netherlands for quite a while now, and she said it's a great place to live because you have no worries about basically being taken care of even if you're poor. Yes, they got their own set of problems, but still it is a far less stressful place to live and raise a family and slip into old age.

The USA is pretty much a country of immigrants. How many Immigrants (legal and illegal) Does Amsterdam have compared to the US that hasn't spent their lives adding to the system? I've got a feeling if Amsterdam had as many immigrants migrating to their country as we have migrating to ours, their system of cradle to grave care would not work as well as it does now

 

[Lyndon]

The USA is pretty much a country of immigrants. How many Immigrants (legal and illegal) Does Amsterdam have compared to the US that hasn't spent their lives adding to the system? I've got a feeling if Amsterdam had as many immigrants migrating to their country as we have migrating to ours, their system of cradle to grave care would not work as well as it does now

Europe is flooded with immigrants, goes to show just how out of touch with reality you are with your Americentric vision

 

[Audie]

Hey, at my age I like peace, and I'm jealous of my cousins in Sweden minus the Putin scare.

If peace n quiet is your scene avoid Hong Kong.
A ordinary day here woukd be a national disaster in Sweden

 

[Nakosis]

Immoral, I? As another poster put it "You don't know me, so probably better that you stop thinking you do."

Umm, this is what you said.
Why should I care about legality when I don't depend on the government? And why should I depend on the rich giving me money? No, I'd take it.

Yeah, I think taking what what belongs to someone else without a legal right to is immoral but maybe you don't.
And if it was just hyperbole, so was my response.