-Poor people are poor by design.

Based on how we define "poor" then yes, it's by design.

We distribute income on a bell curve and the bottom 20% are poor. or whatever % we choose to define it.

There is no mathematical way to escape it.

I know 18 year old idiots who are training for tech jobs that will pay $30/hour when they are out.

My 18 year old is making $22/hr working construction this summer. In Kansas, BTW.

Here is a rough guideline to avoid earning anything near the federal minimum wage

1. Be sober
2. show up on time
3. have a drivers license

Those 3 will assure you of making triple the minimum wage even if you possess no other real skills. I'm guessing you're going to fall short on some of those?

Clownshack...seriously...do you know a single person making the minimum wage....let's assume it's the California minimum wage?

23

I can add, moron.

You haven't posted anything worth responding to, really.

IF your kids are making minimum wage and spending it on starbucks and avocado toast, then...well....your kids are fucked. Truly fucked.

Primarily for having nothing more than minimum skills. Honestly, I can't think of anybody who can only make federal minimum wage.

Next, if after only having barely enough skills to earn only the minimum wage.....they aren't entitled to starbucks or avocado toast.

-You think people in this economy who are struggling or doing so because they're taking too many vacations??

no. That's not what I said.

-How does one "live within their means" when they're not being paid a living wage?

I don't have an answer on how to get poor people to stop being poor.

I simply said the steps to avoid unnecessary debt are the same as they were.

The challenges are real, no doubt and are increasing all the time.

I have 25 and 23 year old daughters living in 2 of the biggest cities in the US. They're managing professional jobs and paying rent and all their expenses.

You want to ask them your stupid questions?

-Having said that I'm not sure I could have done that if I was starting out in today's economy.

I agree that today's economy presents unique challenges to youngsters.

But the steps to avoid the pitfalls of debt are the same steps you took (live within my means...say no to a few trips..)

It's a huge challenge but the choices (good and bad) are still the same.

-It doesn't matter how close to a big city you are. If you're in the county as opposed to a Town or City, you're on your own.

I grew up in rural Kansas. For my entire childhood, our address was "rural route 2" until my folks moved into a town with an actual street address.

What do you mean by "on your own"?

The United States has never kept Cuba from selling their products to the world.

Cuba's problem is because of Cuba.....not the US.

-It seems the worst crime you can commit in this country is being poor.

I've found it's almost the best way to pay for a higher education. All the aid is based on that.

Just be poor....or really rich. In between is hard.

Okay....I'm being a little sarcastic but after the taxes I've paid while paying for a private school education and college for 3 kids...still working on the youngest one.

It adds up. Not calling it "theft" but it sure feels like it at times.

Cash is king.