If you really want to help the poor, you have to go after the businesses that exploit them.
According to a recent article over at Alternet, there are several billion-dollar industries whose sole purpose appears to be exploiting low-income families for profit. And, without some big changes to our United States Congress, scamming poor people for money will remain a lucrative business model.
The author of that recent article, Bill Quigley, listed six examples of these businesses, and explained how each industry preys on vulnerable Americans.
For instance, Mr. Quigley explained how pawn shops make billions of dollars worth of small loans, despite knowing that at least 30 percent of people won't be able to afford to come back and claim their property.
Another way poor people are taken advantage of is through predatory payday loans and car title loans, which lure desperate Americans into taking out loans with interest rates that often exceed 100 percent of the amount they borrowed.
And, as if those industries were not enough of a threat to most low-income Americans, they still have to face the unethical behavior of debt collectors and banking monopolies.
This is why so many Americans get trapped in a cycle of poverty. When you make minimum wage, or near it, it's not uncommon to need a little help paying your bills.
But, if you turn to one of these predatory industries to find that help, you're more likely to end up worse off than you started. If you don't lose your car, your bank account, or your personal belongings to a pawn shop or pay day loan, you will probably still wind up with more debt, less money, and a lower credit score. And, good luck finding your next job or apartment in that scenario.
This is what people mean when they say that the system is rigged, and it's why we need Congress to fight for laws that put people ahead of corporate profits. Let's break this immoral cycle and un-rig the system by casting a vote in November.
-Thom
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