This is one of the reasons that public libraries are so important. It's still true that textbooks are a good investment even for the very poor - $100 is less than 15 hours at minimum wage, and you'll learn more from 35 hours of studying a good textbook than 50 hours of studying a bad one. But part of the crushing burden of poverty is that it prevents you from making good investments. It doesn't matter how much time that $100 investment will save in the future if there's just no way you can spare the money now. So we as a society should be doing whatever we can to give people access to these resources.
part of the crushing burden of poverty is that it prevents you from making good investments
Exactly.
A car might be a better use of your time than three buses. Too bad. You can only afford the buses.
Some strong work boots would be a better investment than these cheap knock-offs. Too bad. I only have enough money for the knock-offs.
Paying my parking tickets would be a lot smarter than ending up in court. Too. Bad. I don't have $30 to pay them.
An underestimated aspect of this is the fuck it factor. So maybe I get the $30 to pay the tickets? So what? It's just going to be something else tomorrow. So, fuck it; I'm having a beer.
