Raise the Hammer

I'd find Proverbs a bit more pointed on the topic of derision toward the poor:

17:5 - "He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker." 29:28 - "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."

And then you have the multiplicity of verses in there directing people to be generous, share their income, consider their plans, forgive debts and don't charge high interest or co-sign with anyone else.

ALL of that said... It's not derisive or mocking to understand reality of what it means to need all economic grouops. Without the rich, middle-income and moderately poor using their money, it's impossible to help the truly poor, whether you're talking about taxes or nonprofits or religious groups.

As I said before, no one group has a monopoly on character, or is inherently any better or worse. Often wealth provides camouflage to big problems . But it's willful myopia to think that certain problems do not attack certain economic groups more, or that being poor involves special virtue.

You can very well be poor and have the character of Mother Teresa and the artistic ability of Picasso, but that won't keep downtown businesses going. I'm intelligent enough to acknowledge that reality about myself and the economic contribution I can make, and I'd hope other people are also picking up on that point.

It doesn't matter that I give about fifteen percent of what I make away, because I also make 'squat.' Without people richer than me giving their money (and time) away as well, a lot of nonprofits that help poor people would have to shut down. It doesn't matter (much) that I spend downtown, because my spending power is also pretty much squat. Without people richer than me spending their money downtown, not a lot of businesses are kept going.

All that to say... discussion about how the city works and how to improve can acknowledge economic realities - and the need for all groups of people in every situation.