Poverty Breeds Character or Contempt

* Regarding your recent poverty series: I live in Orange County and certainly do not see poverty as a sign of personal weakness. I came to the United States 21 years ago with $40 to my name. My wife-to-be had nothing. For the first three years we lived in a 400-square-foot trailer. By choosing not to have children during that time, we were able to save up for a down payment on a condo. Last year I had the privilege of paying $128,000 in taxes (more than President Clinton) on a substantial income from my own business.

I am grateful for having been poor and being forced to work for everything I own. It built character, morals and self-esteem. I never accepted a handout nor do I believe in “giving” unconditionally. Lending somebody a helping hand, now that is a different story.

IVAR SCHOENMEYR

San Juan Capistrano

* I completely agree on how today’s society has been raised to ignore the problems with the poor and the homeless. It is disturbing to me to know that “we” as a nation can carry on with our daily lives and not even notice the growing problems with the poor and the homeless. Furthermore, I strongly disagree with how we as a country can be so internationally involved with other countries’ problems and yet we can’t even take care of our own. There needs to be some kind of drastic change or reform to occur in order for us to resolve the problems with the poor and the homeless. We need to have this change occur quickly before these problems overwhelm our society.

GREG UNDERHILL

Irvine

* Orange County continues to be a land of contradiction. The new Republican Congress, whose ideological constituents view Orange County as a West Coast Mecca, proclaim that private charity will pick up the slack after the modern welfare state and its evils of waste are pared to the bone.

The paring has already begun, and Orange County residents in large number, according to The Times’ poll, perceive the poor (including the working poor) as morally deficient and deserving of their lot. Hence [they] are willing to contribute a whopping 14 cents annually per capita to private charity.

Since the social safety net is being slashed by a guillotine-blade-like meanness and so few are willing to proffer either bread or cake to the needy, I would suggest that the icon for Orange County airport should appropriately be changed from John Wayne to Marie Antoinette.

RON TERRANOVA

Huntington Beach

* I’m appalled at the ignorance displayed by some readers toward poverty among immigrants. I guess the people in a conservative county would rather place all blame upon the poor individual rather than the institutional discrimination allowed by the federal and state government. Where are poor people supposed to work when all manufacturing jobs are going to other countries for cheaper labor? Fast-food jobs are prevalent in our society, but $4.25 isn’t enough to get out of poverty. Racism and discrimination in our society also lead to poverty.

DEEPAK LALL

Irvine