20 Broad Assumptions About Poor People Made Using Flawed Dated and Questionable Methodology.

This is a response to this article on Dave Ramsey's site.  Perhaps the sources for his gem are found in his book Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals"? Who knows why he would not include them here? Perhaps if he did we would not buy his book Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals."

My responses are based solely on my own experience as a poor person. I do not pretend to be a spokesperson for the poor as I seem to do OK now. I just remember what it is like.   

"1. 70% of wealthy eat less than 300 junk food calories per day. 97% of poor people eat more than 300 junk food calories per day. 23% of wealthy gamble. 52% of poor people gamble." Because junk food is cheap and available. If you are poor you are more likely to live in an area with a lack of places to find affordable healthy food and you have less time to prepare the healthy food you can get. And if you are poor gambling gives you a chance to imagine being rich.

"2. 80% of wealthy are focused on accomplishing some single goal. Only 12% of the poor do this." See Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It is easy to focus on one goal when you have all your other goals are met. Hard to focus on your new start up when you are worried about rent, food, and getting to work.

"3. 76% of wealthy exercise aerobically four days a week. 23% of poor do this." It is easy to make time when you have time (and the energy.) Most low paying jobs are physically draining. After being on your feet all day 30 minutes of any physical activity is usually not the first thing on your mind.

"4. 63% of wealthy listen to audio books during commute to work vs. 5% of poor people". Such as Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals" possibly available as an audiobook? Audio books require a device to play them and access to a way to get them. That free phone that you got at the county welfare office doesn't do much and Audible and other services require a credit card. Most of the poor are "unbanked" and do not have access to credit. Sure there are libraries and free audiobooks but again, this means time.  

"5. 81% of wealthy maintain a to-do list vs. 19% of poor." #1 Kick a poor person. #2 Foreclose on his house. #3 Write a list complaining about the homeless.

"6. 63% of wealthy parents make their children read two or more non-fiction books a month vs. 3% of poor."  Such as Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals" soon to be released as a graphic novel for young readers?

"7. 70% of wealthy parents make their children volunteer 10 hours or more a month vs. 3% of poor." The wealthy have the privilege of working for free. The poor have to work. Growing up, when I worked, it went into the household budget, not my pocket. 

"8. 80% of wealthy make Happy Birthday calls vs. 11% of poor." Time is money. If you have money you have time. Plus access to a phone with unlimited minutes

"9. 67% of wealthy write down their goals vs. 17% of poor." If you have poor your goal is simple. Food, clothing, shelter. Writing down "don't get evicted" does not help.

"10. 88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons vs. 2% of poor." Such as Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals"?  If your job is intellectual then there is a lot of overlap with work and self improvement. If your job is physical, there is little time to spend reading.

"11. 6% of wealthy say what’s on their mind vs. 69% of poor." Except for Tom Corley and his list of things wrong with poor people.

"12. 79% of wealthy network five hours or more each month vs. 16% of poor." Good for them for having the time and money to "network." If only Burger King would have a cocktail hour so we could all get together and talk about smelling like fry oil when we get home.

"13. 67% of wealthy watch one hour or less of TV every day vs. 23% of poor." Because they are spending so much time "Networking" and exercising and cooking healthy food that they bought from the local organic co-op.

"14. 6% of wealthy watch reality TV vs. 78% of poor." Why would rich people want to watch shows about heartless bastards with a sense of entitlement? They can do that at their "Networking" events.

"15. 44% of wealthy wake up three hours before work starts vs. 3% of poor." It was hard to wake up because my legs were sore from working in the chicken processing plant.

"16. 74% of wealthy teach good daily success habits to their children vs. 1% of poor." Apparently not 'Don't be a dick to poor people.'

"17. 84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity luck vs. 4% of poor." "18. 76% of wealthy believe bad habits create detrimental luck vs. 9% of poor." These two go together. Say I was to make up a word but not define it and then make up a statistic to go with it. What would that make me? Apparently a rich man who sells books to suckers but not Tom Corley and his "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals" as that would be slander.

"19. 86% of wealthy believe in lifelong educational self-improvement vs. 5% of poor." Such as Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals" now available in paperback where ever fine books are sold?

"20. 86% of wealthy love to read vs. 26% of poor." Such as Tom Corley's "Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals" now available in a mental implant where ever mental implants are sold?