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I think an insidious characteristic of the U.S. meritocratic "boot strap" narrative and consequential moralizing of income is that it leads to the denial of one's own poverty and the refusal of government assistance.
My spouse and I struggled for a year before realizing that food banks and pantries are also for people like us, people who have pay checks but are still drowning.
There seems to be this unconscious shame around taking assistance, but denying your poverty will keep you poor.
There seems to be this unconscious shame around taking assistance, but denying your poverty will keep you poor.
The federal poverty line isn't the beginning of poverty. It's the lowest possible income a family can have before the government finally steps in.
If you're paying more than 50% of your income on rent. You're poor. If you take out credit just to buy essentials, you're poor.
If you're paying more than 50% of your income on rent. You're poor. If you take out credit just to buy essentials, you're poor.
If you pay off one form of debt with another, you're poor. If you have less than 2 months of living expenses in your savings, you're poor. If you can't put away 10% of a pay check into savings or investments, you're poor. If you can't go to the dentist or doctor, you're poor.
This is to say THE MAJORITY OF US ARE POOR. This isn't to make you feel bad about your financial situation (that's the meritocratic individualism talking). The things I listed are not extravagant. These are basic signs of financial wellness that are unachievable to most Americans
Take assistance. Vote for assistance. Pull back the veil on the American Dream. If we can't admit our poverty to ourselves, each other, and our communities, how can we expect this issue to be addressed.
The moralization of poverty and the creation of "unbiased" metrics like the poverty line are tools to maintain complacency and stamp out class consciousness.
