The aphorism "waste not, want not" is a rather destructive concept in America today. Because it implies that poverty is a moral failing. If you're poor, the aphorism says, it's because you're wasteful, and lazy.
I agree with your basic premise that "Waste not, want not" implies that, if you're poor, you must have been wasteful.
I would point out, however, that it's just an aphorism. Read too much into just about any aphorism, and you'll find negative connotations, or blatant falsehoods, or both.
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I would point out, however, that it's just an aphorism. Read too much into just about any aphorism, and you'll find negative connotations, or blatant falsehoods, or both.