a number of poor people use what little money they have on frivolous investments (lottery which in itself is a huge problem because it can be used as way to avoid tax increases and defunding programs) or cope with the day to to day stress of being a working poor person in American does not in the slightest sway my view point on the current economic system, nor do I believe that it's the common cold for everyday inconsistencies or problems a person may have, when itself thrives off of malfunction and disorder.
it should never be about who's more deserving than the other in regards to poor and working people. that's a neoliberal outlook to have in regards to income inequality
and it's not about throwing money at the problem, that's the UBI/Reparations trap that essentially allows the state to wipe it's hands off of any wrong doing or further predatory practices, it's about allocate and establishing networks for resources and opening access to get people on the up and up.
and what you consider "reality" is based on your own limited viewpoint on the possibility of better.
but "we" rather protect and continue to coddle the wealthy
I just got one question for you, do you think by any chance, that some people are poor due to decisions that they make. Like I'm serious, does the person who spends 30 bucks a day in lottery tickets, or the person who drinks a handle of liquor everyday get the same level of compassion as people who truly get screwed over by the system due to lack of economic opportunities and lack of a network of successful contacts and access to resources?
I ask because you always use defending "poor people" as the motivation for your beliefs but you never make the distinction.
In reality only one of those groups can be helped without severely limiting their freedom to live life as they choose. And throwing money at the others is basically like throwing money down a sinkhole and will only make the people who take advantage of them richer much faster.