Is it true that it is impossible for a white person to understand poverty, as Be

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   LoliHeyposted 8 years ago

   Is it true that it is impossible for a white person to understand poverty, as Bernie Sanders claims?
   
   Bernie Sanders says that white people cannot understand what it is like to be poor or live in the ghetto.  Does he speak for you?  I bet that he doesn't speak for the homeless white people at the traffic lights carrying signs begging for money.  Aren't they supposed to have White Privilege?  (note my sarcasm).  What do you think?  I guess a better way to phrase this question is, how stupid is Bernie Sanders?  (I'm so sick of Sanders saying stupid stuff!)
   
   

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   savvydatingposted 8 years ago

   He is wrong. Here are some facts: According to Census figures in 2013, "18.9 million whites are poor. That’s 8 million more poor white people than poor black people, and more than 5 million more than those who identify as Latino. A majority of those benefiting from programs like food stamps and Medicaid are white, too."
   So...white people understand poverty too. The biggest problem is that Blacks and Latino's have many, many children out of wedlock (much more than Whites) and as such, are raising children alone. This is what causes most of the poverty. However, the numbers are disproportionate for minorities. But keep in mind, 75% of people are white, in the U.S. Also, according to Census reports, within the past 10 years or more, the U.S. now has an increased populace of a black and white mix.

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   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   
   The answer is a.....RESOUNDING FALSE.  Poverty doesn't  discriminate based upon race.  There are impoverished Caucasians in the United States.  Anyone who is poor regardless of race understands what it is like to be impoverished.  The stereotype that Caucasians are middle class or better is just pure hyperbolic conjecture. It is analogous to saying that Blacks & other non-Caucasians are poor to downright impoverished with no middle nor upper class.   There are poor Caucasians as there are wealthy Blacks & other non-Caucasians.
   
   I don't take stock in what Bernie says.  He is just as divisive or worse a racemonger than Obama is.  Bernie seems to be quite delusional if he believes that only Blacks & other non-Caucasians are poor while Caucasians aren't.

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      savvydatingposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Probably....much to your dismay, Marguerite, once in a while, you and I agree.

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   Express10posted 8 years ago

   I hate it when anyone uses stereotypes because there are always people, often in VAST numbers, who simply do not conform to them in any way. He was pandering like many of the others seeking a nomination. This is wrong not only in and of itself but also because there are people he offended, no matter what their skin color is because they also know he lied/provided misinformation.
   
   Of course it's not impossible for a white or any other person to understand what it's like to be poor. Bernie spoke incorrectly about that and I'm most certain that either his statement was taken out of context or he knew that he was wrong/lying as he was saying it. While it may be true that some white (black, Asian, Indian, etc.) people may not understand what it is like to be poor, this is NOT true amongst all. There are people of all origins who do/can understand what it is like to be poor whether they are or not.

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      Michaela Osieckiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That statement was absolutely taken out of context. I watched the entirety of that segment.

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      Express10posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Michaela, I figured that could be the case. I will certainly be glad when this election is over with.

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   Annsaloposted 8 years ago

   
   
   HE didn't say that. He was quoting a black person who came to him and said it. So it is impossible to answer your question because he is not the one who actually said it. Please don't be fooled by fox news!

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Actually they were his words (Check politifact), though it's obvious to anyone willing to think for half a second that he didn't actually mean white people cant be poor.

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      savvydatingposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The Black Lives Matter group is quite militant. They believe in violence. That is a problem. My point? Don't make Fox News a scapegoat. If this question was actually taken out of context, then your point may be valid---otherwise, it is not.

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      LoliHeyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @savvydating:  Preach!

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   Link10103posted 8 years ago

   What stupid stuff is Sanders saying that you don't like, specifically?
   
   And Im pretty sure, without even reading that much into it mind you, is that he meant white people AS A WHOLE, do not know what poverty is like compared to the black community (In the US). Take a look at a few history books...

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      LoliHeyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      He is wrong.  Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!

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      Link10103posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      So nothing specific? I feel like I should be surprised but I'm really not...

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   Michaela Osieckiposted 8 years ago

   You're a disgusting, upper-middle class, racist, elitist Trump supporter aren't you? I'm inferring this based on a LOT of questions you ask and comments you make here on Hubpages and frankly, I think you're quite the hateful person and after tonight, I will be blocking you.
   
   I am a white homeless person. I grew up in poverty. And yes, I still DO have white privilege because I have never been treated nearly as badly by society as poor black people in this country have. And I see this treatment with my own eyes - around job interviews, at social services, etc. I see that I'm instantly treated better than the black person line before me.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      She was not supporting Sander's comment and does say there are homeless white people.  I've been there too

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      LoliHeyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I am sorry you feel that way.  I have to admit that I respect you and the fact that you are different from me.  I am not a hateful person because I see things differently than you do.

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   LoisRyan13903posted 8 years ago

   Bernie is not getting my vote.  I've been there

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      LoliHeyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      He's not getting mine either.  Between him and Hilary, there is no lesser evil.  They both equally suck.

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   tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

   Numerically, there are twice as many poor whites as poor blacks, and that has been true since the 1960s.
   The difference is that black poverty is the norm for that group, whereas it isn't the norm for whites.

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    bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years ago

    The white people best able to answer that were the immigrants from Europe during the last century.
    The US gave them only entry into the country, and little else. They also went through the great depression.

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    ValKarasposted 8 years ago

    If you want to talk "white", go to Europe where everybody is predominantly white, and ask the older generation who went through 5 years of WW2 devastation, hunger, and misery that makes every American ghetto look like a touristic resort.
    
    As for strictly American poor folks, "poor" has no color. But then again, it's all about being a selective observer, I guess. To some people "seeing is believing"  -  to others  "believing is seeing".

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