The reason the word "poor" has disappeared from our political discourse

[NNN0LHI]

This has been heavily focused grouped. No one wants themselves described as poor. Even the poor think the poor people are someone else.

I know this from first hand experience because I was poor once. How poor? Food stamp poor. Real poor. Took 6 years of being laid off from my job during the 1980's to realize I was poor. Even after years of being poor whenever I heard a politician talk about the poor I was convinced they were talking about someone else. I was just temporarily financially embarrassed. After 6 years of being laid off though I realized I was one of the poor. I must have been a slow learner. But I learned.

I can understand why people who fit the description of poor don't consider themselves poor and why the word doesn't focus group well. No one wants to be considered poor. Even when they are poor. Its a defensive mechanism.

Don

[liberal_at_heart]

1. yes, the new buzz word is middle class

Apparently it is an all encompassing word that means poor, working poor, lower middle class, middle middle class, and upper middle class. You are right. No one likes to think of themselves as poor.

[DollarBillHines]

2. Yep. I once kept $8 in my pocket for two weeks.

I was quite proud of myself, thought I was doing great. I somehow found my way to free food and liquor. None of my friends had any idea how bad off I was, for I had been really rocking before the shit hit the fan.

One time, using accumulated miles, I flew into NYC with $10 and made it to the Upper West Side to hang out with an old flame for a month. I was doing great! That $10 was my life's savings at that point.

Over the years, I've often wondered why I thought that way rather than feeling destitute.

I would like to thank you for putting it into perspective for me, Don. Makes perfect sense, now.
DBH