Tressie Mcmillan Cottom's The Logic Of Stupid Poor People

593 Words2 Pages

"The Logic of Stupid Poor People" is the idea of purchasing high dollar items to make them feel like they are a part of the higher class. Tressie McMillan Cottom, the author of this blog post, feels that most of the lower class is stupid because they make bad financial decisions. In Cottom's essay, she discusses how she grew up with a family that was poor and it was difficult to "make ends meet"; moreover, helping others. Cottom's thesis says, "If you are poor, why do you spend money on useless luxuries rather than trying to survive". The argument that she is trying to get across is that the more responsible way to spend your money could be towards the next electric bill, groceries, or even into the bank in case of an emergency. Cottom mentions that her mother used to spend her money on clothing and accessories for herself as "investments", but it was for her mother's way to show others that she has extra cash to blow, even though she does not. Cottom has the evidence from her own personal experiences; ways that her family made money was taking advantage of welfare, collecting from insurance policies, and extra military payments. The author is making a point why the act of spending …show more content…

Another reason people become poor is that they spend their earnings on their "wants" and not on the necessities. That then leads to the realization that they cannot pay rent/mortgage and are evicted. But for the reason to spend their money the way they want was influenced towards bragging rights and/or the "want" to feel a part of the wealthier. Cottom observed that, "Errol Louis and his belief is held by many people, including African Americans, poor people, and formerly poor people that spending money excessively is not logical." Furthermore, it could be an addiction problem for some

Show More
Related

  • Poor People And Economic Injustice By Barbara Ehrenreich

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    Economic inequality and injustice come in the same hand. Poor people are more likely to experience inequality and injustice. The negative assumptions of poor people are created by the media and politicians. Promoting economic justice by offering people living in poverty some form of social support. Barbara Ehrenreich found in her experiment the workforce for low-wage was difficult. Conley talks about the different types of social inequalities and how they have been unsuccessful.

    Read More

  • Summary Of How Dumb Do They Think We Are

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Johnathan Malesic, in his article “How Dumb Do They Think We Are?” students think that professors are ignorant at not being able to tell if their paper is plagiarized or not. Some students believe that they can get away with plagiarizing a paper, but they do not realize that professors know how to search and locate authors’ work online and identify a plagiarized essay. In the beginning, Malesic talks about how he was completely insulted when he found his first plagiarized paper, but little did he know that this would surely happen again. Other teachers had told him that this would not be the final time; as a matter of fact, they said to expect it to happen almost every time he assigned a paper. Sure enough they were right. He mentions how he wishes that students would use their taught knowledge to do their papers and put an author’s work into their own words. He ends the article with how he believes that a person who plagiarizes a paper is not really a student at all (87).

    Read More

  • Christy Wampole's How To Live Without Irony

    1548 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Christy Wampole’s “How to Live Without Irony” and Richard Taylor’s “The Meaning of Human Existence” both authors argue how humans ought to live a meaningful life. Wampole tackles the argument in a different way than Taylor but they both have similar positions on the meaning. I agree with both authors in some of the ways that we should dictate our lives to justify meaningfulness but I also believe that meaningfulness can differ from person to person. Life is very precious to us; since humans have had the ability to consciously think, we have always questioning our existence. No other animal on the planet has had the luxury of pondering whether or not their life is meaningful.

    Read More

  • The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison by Jeffrey Reiman

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jeffrey Reiman, author of The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison, first published his book in 1979; it is now in its sixth edition, and he has continued to revise it as he keeps up on criminal justice statistics and other trends in the system. Reiman originally wrote his book after teaching for seven years at the School of Justice (formerly the Center for the Administration of Justice), which is a multidisciplinary, criminal justice education program at American University in Washington, D.C. He drew heavily from what he had learned from his colleagues at that university. Reiman is the William Fraser McDowell Professor of Philosophy at American University, where he has taught since 1970. He has written numerous books on political philosophy, criminology, and sociology.

    Read More

  • The Millionaire Next Door By William Danko And Thomas J. Stanley

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Millionaire Next Door written by William Danko and Thomas J. Stanley illustrates the misconception of high luxury spenders in wealthy neighborhoods are considered wealthy. This clarifies that American’s who drive expensive cars, and live in lavish homes are not millionaires and financially independent. The authors show the typical millionaire are one that is frugal, and disciplined. Their cars are used, and their suits were purchased at a discount. As we read the book from cover to cover are misconceptions start to fade. The typical millionaire is very frugal in all endeavors and finds the best discounts possible. A budget is implemented daily, monthly, and annually for a typical millionaire. They live by the budget and are goal oriented. Living well below their means is crucial for a millionaire, and discovering ways to allocate time and money more efficiently. The typical millionaire next door is different than the majority of America presumes. Let’s first off mention what it is not. The typical millionaire is surprisingly not the individual with the lavish house worth a million dollars, owning multiple expensive cars, a boat, expensive clothes, and ultimately living lavishly. The individual is frugal and often looks for discounts for consumable goods. The book illustrates the typical millionaire in one simple word: frugal. It is shocking to believe that this is true, but it does make sense. To achieve financial independence is inherently more satisfying and important than accumulating wealth. According to the book the majority of these millionaires portray characteristics of being sacrificial, disciplined, persistent and frugal. In the book it states, “Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building. Yet far too often th...

    Read More

  • The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas J. Stanley

    1665 Words  | 4 Pages

    “A Millionaire in Blue Jeans?” One of the most valuable principles is found in the very first chapter. Our authors do a wonderful job at dispelling any delusions we have regarding what a Millionaire looks like. I had long assumed, like many others, that the Millionaires of America were the hyper­consumers and elaborate spenders. In fact, we learn that just the opposite is true. I came to understand that, “Wealth is not the same as income”. (The Millionaire Next Door, p. 1, Stanley & Danko) In many cases, income is not at the forefront of relevancy when determining whether someone will become wealthy. There are several factors involved, but ultimately, if a person spends their entire income, the number value of said income simply doesn’t matter. The old age adage regarding spending less than you make is of much more importance. In the Church, this is referred to as ‘living below our means’. We have often been counseled to exercise restraint regarding our spending habits, and have also been commanded to obtain a level of financially secure by building up our savings, staying out of debt, and living within our means. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, (2006), 114­23) It seems rather silly that a large percentage of our population would be under the assumption that living a large lifestyle, along with the accumulation of fancy things, would somehow equate to wealth. After reading the book, I have come to understand that many of us have an extremely distorted relationship with money, in the assumption that money is to get and spend, while those who are authentic accumulators of wealth understand that money should be invested and stored up as a measure of safety and peace.

    Read More

  • Dally Dally In The Outsiders

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example, Dally is one of the poor greasers from the east side of the city, and Bob is a very rich Soc from the west side of the city. Dally, being a greaser from the east side of the city, has very little material wealth. Ponyboy states about all the greasers, “We’re poorer than the Socs and the middle class” (3). What little money Dally has he earns riding in local rodeos. He does not even own a car, but borrows Buck Merill’s when he needs one. In fact, Dally does not even have a permanent home. Ponyboy states that Dally “lived anywhere he could” (105). Therefore, Dally is an underprivileged greaser with little money and few possessions. On the contrary, Bob Sheldon is one of the extremely rich Socs from the west side of the city. Bob has no reason to work because everything he wants is handed to him by his affluent parents. Ponyboy describes the Socs, Bob’s click, as “the jet set, the West-side rich kids” (2). The Socs all seem to drive around in expensive sports cars and wear costly madras clothing, and Bob is no exception. Randy states that Bob’s parents “‘spoiled him rotten’” (116). Unlike Dally, Bob has everything he wants. Money and material things are not a concern. Clearly, financial circumstances set these two

    Read More

  • Fashion by Anna Mowatt

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    Updating for Today’s Audience: If I were re-writing the play, FASHION, I would mirror Mowatt in her analysis of middle class ‘wanna-bees.’ I would also take a look at how even those in the poorer economic classes have their versions of being “in fashion.” America’s system of capitalism provides a bottomless pit for those who seek wealth, status and belonging in their communities. People in today’s middle class are working anywhere from 40 to 80 hours a week trying to seek more wealth in order to provide a more “comfortable life” for themselves and their family. Many, even though they already possess all the needs to live a comfortable life, are always looking to gain a higher status in society, and have a strong desire to reach the next level of wealth. Even people in the poorer ...

    Read More

  • Eighner Style Analysis

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...stic things in order to live a better, more sound, and overall healthier life. Juxtaposition makes the audience want to follow through with the purpose. Exemplification causes the audience to realize the extent of their materialistic nature. A definition of the average homeless person’s terms allows him to build his ethos and consequently allow the audience to believe and follow his purpose. A majority of people are a part of the middle class, and this majority tends to judge the poor for their lifestyle whether it be through Dumpster diving or begging on the streets. However, as proven by the essay, these people have no right to do so because the poor do, in reality, have a greater sense of self than these middle-class people, similar to the rich. The middle-class citizens must no longer act the victim; instead, they should be working on becoming more sentimental.

    Read More

  • Cyranos De Bergerac Wealth

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    This idea is represented in fictional works as well, such as in the play “Cyrano de Bergerac,” written by Edmund Rostand. Social classes play a major role in the book, specifically as the main character Cyrano is faced with the chance to rise to power with ease. He rejected this opportunity, because he preferred to be “Blessed with an eye for looking at/ things as they really are,…go[ing] along any road under [his] moon, /careless of glory, indifferent to the boon/or bane of fortune, without hope, without fear” (Rostand 70). The fact that Cyrano was entirely capable of rising to aristocracy and still turned down the offer demonstrates that, even in an age where social classes were more strongly emphasized than today, becoming rich did not guarantee that life would be a walk in the park. He hoped to be indifferent to the “bane of fortune” and the burdens it causes, which portrays the concept of riches in a negative light. Living a life of minimal luxuries means living without hope and fear, because it eliminates the need to obsessively worry about losing the wealth and position of power that has been attained. The simplicity of this kind of lifestyle allows for more freedom of decision and opportunity. It could be claimed that the daily struggles of the poor make their lives the more demanding ones, but the struggle to make it through each day is

    Read More

  • Analysis of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    These two are the reasons why people in the middle and lower class get stuck in the “Rat Race”, which is the continuous cycle of earning money and spending it on expenses. You should ignore these emotions of fear and desire, which control you and your thoughts.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Logic Of Stupid Poor People

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Logic of Stupid Poor People by Tressie McMillan, she states, “Why do poor people make stupid, illogical decisions to buy status symbols?” (538). Poor is not only a status but a state of mind. Money may be short, but there can be happiness when making the most of what has been earned. Some people just have expensive taste and want what they want. Maybe they saved to buy that $2500 handbag, maybe it was on sale or maybe it was given to her. How can anyone know? Poor people buy status symbols to elevate their status in their own community and in turn feel better about themselves. Equality is relative. She says, “First they insist on being poor when it is so easy to not be poor.” (536). The poor are mostly poor because they are

    Read More

  • Robert Reich's Why The Rich Are Getting Richer

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    A problem America is experiencing is the economic growth, it is a problem because the wealth growth is only affecting the rich. It is as simple as this, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Robert Reich points this out in his text, Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer. This has been a problem recurring since the industrial revolution, because of the labor groups being stuck in that position. Also, the mergers, and lawyers cycle around their money through lawsuits, and takeovers. Reich uses metaphors in his text about the fall of economy, and he uses boats. There are three boats that are being represented by different economic standing. The reason why Americans are having such troubling economic standings

    Read More

  • How Does Money Buy Happiness Essay

    764 Words  | 2 Pages

    ..., a person who earns $25,000 is happier than a person who makes $125,000 and an employee who makes $500,000 is only slightly happier than someone who makes $55,000. Lastly, there are more important things in life that and make you happy, for example, friends. They don’t come with a price tag, and if they do, you definitely need new friends. Money won’t make you happy since good times can’t be bought. You don’t need a fancy vacation to have a good time; it’s just a matter of who you spend it with. Over the years, humans have blown the value of money way out of proportion. People make it seem like if you’re not filthy rich, then you won’t live a good life but it’s not true. You can lack money and yet still live a perfect, happy life.

    Read More

  • Making the Right Choice

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thompson, Derek. Your Brain on Poverty: Why Poor People Seem to Make Bad Decisions. 22 Nov 2013. Web. 19 Feb 2014.

    Read More

More about Tressie Mcmillan Cottom's The Logic Of Stupid Poor People

Open Document