Poor Whites (SC for sale?)

[dsan]

A colleague has shot this story on poor whites and the first image jumped up out at me, for obvious reasons
http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2010/03/ ... or-whites/


Notice the yellow thing in the background? hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Hloni]

Poor Whites (SC for sale?)

Sies

[dsan]

err why is that bad?

they have a commodity that's attractive to those in a better financial situation. Call me old fashioned but I'm sure 15/20 grand for a old split would go far to feed/house a family in need

[Watercool]

Guys this is shocking, I did not realize that this is so bad in SA. How many of these "camps" are over SA? Have anybody of you (better off) ever thought about doing a food drive to help out these people? I know everybody is pulling tough,but there are still some can goods etc. that you can spare and donate to a cause like this. Some body take the lead on this, I will be happy to help.

[Hloni]

dsan, you have made me day

[Pine]

White poverty is a sad reality in South Africa, often overlooked by most people. But you find it everywhere in the world. Have a look here as well http://www.helpendehand.co.za/wp-conten ... nzille.pdf

I am a member of Solidarity, and they make a lot of effort to help these people with their 'Helping Hand' Project.

[Blitzkrieg]

I used to be heavily involved in relief work in the black townships, especially the infamous itereleng township, but gave it up after it started getting rather heavy, the locals started getting very hostile towards us, vehicles stoned, a school that we had setup was turned into a shebeen etc etc. I mean if someone is trying to help you you'd accept! We never once heard a sincere thanks from the people that we were trying to help, however, I went thrice to one of these poor white areas, we were always greeted and treated warmly! The most touching thing ever was a little white kid running up as we were leaving saying, dankie vir alles meneer. So I will never hesitate to help these folk out!

[buggyfan]

err why is that bad?

they have a commodity that's attractive to those in a better financial situation. Call me old fashioned but I'm sure 15/20 grand for a old split would go far to feed/house a family in need

and when that money is finished ,what then?
where as if the owner actually uses it for odd jobs he can be assured of a daily income!

the area occupied by the squatters belongs to mogale city council,they want to evict the white squatters to munsieville[black location] in order to have the grounds available to set up a fanpark for soccer 2010.the council even went as far as cutting water and electricity ,so now these people are relying on generators to supply them with power aswell .

[buggyfan]

http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/sl ... R2C3ZV#a=1

[ZeroAxe]

the area occupied by the squatters belongs to mogale city council

Dont get me wrong, this is not directed AT you. But for those out there that might not understand the whole picture.... This property of the coucil that the whites have taken, is not the first time that ILLEGAL SETTLERS have taken property of others, whether it belongs to an individual OR the council......

[bugspray]

Poverty doesn't discriminate between colour peepz. Maybe some will be more appreciative of the assistance received, but even if you're not thanked just be happy you helped. But when things get hairy I wouldn't blame somebody from stopping.

Sad reality is that poverty is a slow fight and beating it is hard.

There are enough "camps" spread throughout SA, in Black,Coloured,Indian and White areas. Quite sad hey.

[JamesD]

unfortunately i cant feel sorry for the majority, have you seen the casino's lately? the poorest people walk in and walk out poorer, a lot of them drink and smoke as well. gambling, drinking and smoking wastes most of their income. a few i do feel sorry for. but the majority give the rest a bad rep

[Cyberbeast]

And to make matters worse... usually these same smoking, drinking, poor people have a dozen of children. I don't understand how you can bring a child into the world if you cannot even take care of yourself. The only thing children from these families will want to do one day is drink, smoke and gamble... and so the life cycle continues.

Don't get me wrong. I know that there are people out there that really suffers, but then you also get poor people that could have been better off, but because of the way they live, they continue to suffer.

[Dirk]

Most people here seem to carry the theme:

"There is poverty, and then there is self inflicted poverty."

And you are absolutely right. Stats SA reported 60% unemployment in early 2000, but they had to rectify the statistic by stating, that of those 60% less than 10% actually wanted to find work in the first place.

It has happened on 3 separate occasions that I know of and could confirm, where white beggars at traffic lights were offered jobs, and promptly denied the opportunity, due to them making more money begging than they would with an honest job.

I have never heard of any adult beggar being offered a permanent job, actually taking it.

The reason for this is rather simple. If you wanted a job, you wouldn't be begging, you'd be out looking for a job.

Having said that though, I've been in the position where I have been un-employed, as was my father and mother.
From personal experience I can state that it's not a nice position to be in, life becomes very difficult very quickly.
The difference between myself and others, that have failed to get out of the situation, is that I cut every possible expense
down to the bone.

Believe it or not, it's the small things that make the difference. If you are a smoker, you should quit, immediately! The R25 spent on a pack of fags can feed a family of 4 for a day. If you are living on your own, renting a place, get a flat mate ASAP!
If you can, terminate your rental and move in with a friend or family member, BUT DON'T BECOME A FREELOADER!
If you can't afford to contribute financially towards the household, be prepared to do the chores around the house.
And don't stop looking for a job, ANY JOB! If you can earn R100 by washing a few cars, then bloody well do it. That R100 is a day well spent, because you now have petrol money to get to your next interview.

Another significant factor, was that I refused to buy anything on credit If I didn't absolutely have too. To date, there have only been two items I purchased on a payment plan bases, my house is one, my previous car the other. Today, I refuse to purchase anything I can not buy cash.

That meant when the hit the fan, I was able to walk away clean and come back smelling like roses, because nobody
could hound me for money.

And then there is probably the most significant factor of all, the one thing that saw me through 12 months of unemployment without so much as a scratch.

I was in the habit of working my budget on half of my income. I.E. Food, rent, car, fuel, electricity ... EVERYTHING. Had to be payed out of 50% of my actual income in any one month. I was rather anal about this! The rest was left in the bank, being saved for exactly the type of emergency it ended up being used for.

Many people would say that I could do it because I earned enough to do it, but that's plain ignorance. When I earned R3000, I lived on R1500. When I earned 10k, I lived on 5... When I earned 15k, I lived on 7.5k.

Today I'm still following that same strategy, although I don't manage 50% anymore.

I've seen what un-employment did to my parents, and that's what set me on this course and although I don't quite manage the 50% barrier, I do my damnedest to get as close as possible. The strategy has saved me once already, I hope it does not need to do so again. But if it does, I know I'll have time and space to take the actions needed in order to keep the things I consider important.

Yes, it requires discipline and a crap load of patience, because you can't go out and get that 80cm Plasma TV you desperately want. You have to save up for it and only then can you have it.

I'll be 34 years old in on the 22nd of April. There are three decisions I've made in life, that have saved me great pain and suffering, while bringing me happiness and peace.

1. I don't concern myself with the Joneses, they have what they have because they live in a perpetual state of dept. It will catch up to them.

2. I married a woman that agrees with the fiscal policies I set in place for myself.

3. I refuse to father children until I'm both financially and emotionally ready, and due to the fact that I'll never be emotionally ready... I refuse to father children, period!

I never intended for this post to get this long... sorry.

[Barry]

OK here goes:

I'm with James & Dirk on this, but will take it further.
I employ about 35 people (at one stage it was about 60). I have long given up on trying to employ and "help" so called poor whites.
The sense of entitlement, rascism, and "I'm-better-than-them" that pervades every encounter I've had beggars belief.
Given that all of these people, by virtue of their skin colour only, had a head start in life due to the previous system should put them ahead (whole other discussion right there, but even if your parents had the benefit of decent education. you should be better off than those that didn't). Their own belief that they are "better" should make them capable of achieving more surely?
I'm sure that many of you will get your backs up at this, but even today being born white in SA puts you at an advantage. Not saying that it is all smooth sailing, only that on balance you'd still be better off, albeit less so than 20 years ago. Not saying that as a whole we haven't gone backwards either.

This is in any event a silly discussion for a car forum, that won't be resolved in a hurry if ever. Go buy the bus.