what is wrong with Americans today? Or is it me?

[horsejody]

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That's the problem. They have no business being on government assistance. My definition of poverty is not somebody that can afford an Ipod or a cell phone. My definition of somebody with an Ipod, cell phone, cable tv, internet, etc. that collects welfare is a thief. It's stealing. I don't actually "hate" anybody, but I will surely call lazy people lazy. And I will surely complain that the deadbeats are draining the life out of our great country. As long as I am a taxpayer burdened by these people, I will openly complain against them.

 

[GrayDragon]

Quote:
I was raised by a single mother. So were many of my friends. We are all doing just fine, thank you very much, and quite a few of us are doing better than our friends who grew up in two parent families. There is no 'traditional' family. There never was. It's a myth. The traditions vary so wildly from place to place and culture to culture that the words 'traditional family' are meaningless. For my friend Lee, tradition means 5 generations, aunts, uncles, and cousins all under the same roof, 5 people to a bedroom. For me, I like a small family and when my kid is old enough to move out I'm going to encourage him to spread his wings and do so.

Quote:
A lot of people recently got laid off through no fault of their own. If it wasn't for social programs like unemployment and welfare, many would be on the streets starving and still others would be turning to crime to pay their way. Thank goodness we have better options.

I'd love to see more 'back to work' programs in place to go with unemployment and welfare, but if the jobs aren't there, they aren't there.

Quote:
Obviously, they are, for as you said, you are raising your own children with these traits. But there have always been scam artists, dishonest chaps, and lazy good for nothings. They aren't a new phenomenon. The first phone call was by Alexander Graham Bell. The second was somebody trying to get an old lady to send him cash for a program that will protect her retirement savings.

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My uncle has a cell phone and a computer and is on assistance. He has the cell phone because I pay for it, the computer because he can make a bit of money now and then using it. He has an ipod because it was a Christmas present, and if he tried to pawn it he'd be lucky to get about fifteen bucks. He has the internet and cable TV because he has a roommate who pays for it.

Go ahead. Call him a thief.

I mean, it's not like he suffers from PTSD and has a permanent limp that limit what jobs he can take because he volunteered to fight for your freedoms or anything.

 

[GrayDragon]

Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.


And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger:

 

[CTChick]

I left home at 14, had my first paying job (special work permit granted) at 10 as a "receptionist" in a veternary hospital and stil managed to graduate high school with honors. Lived with relatives, paid room and board and did chores - worked three jobs (one full, two part) all my young adult life. Bought a condo at 23, new car at 21. No co-signers. Working hard kept me out of trouble and got me where I am today - I own a business (yup, treading water like all the rest of the small business owners I know ...thanks, Walmart and your cheap-ass Chinese imports) and a home.

You can "blame" a lot of factors. I remember (and I'm not that old!) when you had to work to build your credit -- apply for a credit card at Fashion Bug, with a big $50 limit - then pay it off over two months ... slowly, one card at a time, Sears, etc., over the course of a couple of years you had bankable credit with which to buy a car or maybe a home. Now, college kids get credit cards with no one to pay ... whose fault is this? Greedy banks?

Everyone got greedy. Young couples want to buy their homes, not rent -- my "starter" house was a condo but most I know want a 4-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath to start out with! People have bought houses on interest-only loans expecting to flip them and make a profit. Worked well ... for awhile. Heck, there were shows on HGTV talking about doing this very thing, like it was smart business - so where are those house-flippers now??? People used home equity lines to do everything from take vacations to fund their businesses (guilty of that one, here) sadly those homes aren't worth what we paid for them in many cases. How many people have taken drives and seen all the foreclosed properties - grass a mile high - that are EVERYWHERE? How about the state Detroit has been left in - looks like a bombed-out third world nation already, not part of America ... ditto New Orleans, parts of Texas ... how about the Reservations like Pine Ridge in South Dakota which has BELOW third world country stats in teen suicide, infant mortalilty and life expectancy?

I am so grateful to have been raised by grandparents who went through the Depression - because they taught me a LOT. America is still the most amazing country in the world - I remind my kids that there are people lined up all around the world to get in, not many racing to get out - but if things don't turn around, fast, we are headed for disaster. China has bailed us out for the last time, and I have been told those loans were secured using our National parks as collateral.

Nothing is free in this world. Going to come as a shock to many when it's time to finally pay the piper ...

Laura

 

[nop169]

Just wanted to clarify that I do not "HATE" anyone.... I do believe that the current systems need to be grossly overhauled but that was not the original intent of my rant. I do not think less of someone who is on public aid who deserves help or is struggling after being laid off. Nor do I believe that I am special in my intrest or choice of lifestyle - it is my choice to live as I do (by the way we live a simple, frugal lifestyle also - not for love of money - but for the love of a simple sustaining renewable lifestyle) and because we can only afford to "splurge" on certain things which at this time is my youngest daughter's schooling. We do have some pets & horses & poultry - more than we have to have - but that is the pleasure we utilize rather than a gym membership or movies or cable/satalite tv. But the original intent of the rant is more to the mindset of people & the sheer overwhelming number who seem to have the "handout/you owe me mentality". I agree with the majority of you in sentiment of the current systems in place & of those who abuse it. Let me state that my family (thank you God) has never had to be on public assistance but I do not believe it is because we are smarter - it is because that was not an option for us - our option was to cut back expenses & find another job! I personally (maybe a man thing?) would be mortified & humiliated to have to be on public assistance. Not because of what people would think but because I could not take care of my family which is MY responsibility.
After reading all the responses I am heartened that many of you share my frustration - & for those of you who misunderstood - it is not frustration for those in true need but rather the oppression (unfair taxes/insurance/med insurance) of those of us who are willing to work for what we want.
Many of your responses made me smile - GO ANNE - and many identified with me - THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT & thoughts & prayers for my family & business! Many agree that change is needed... so how do we initiate change? Is there a way to expedite these feelings other than traditional senator writting? What are our options? For me - one of the frustrations is that I have nowhere to turn or vent (except for you wonderful people here!!). Many of you also agree that FAMILY, LIFESTYLE, EDUCATION are all failing our children - how do we change this?
The reason I am writting these thoughts now is because after being encouraged by all of you - I still feel remorse, empathy & fear for our country's children & our society as a whole. So what do we do now? Or are we able to do anything?
Lastly - just so you understand me better - let me tell you that we do DO our part to help/change/preserve our way of life & values. Not only through our neighborhood children & selfsustaining lifestyle but also through our children. All 3 of my children are adopted in flesh although they are birth by heart! My 2 oldest were taken in at age 16 & 18. My baby formally adopted at birth. My "sons" number about 14 from age 16 to 24 - all boys from our store experience. Most from broken homes - all fed, counciled & loved by my family when they show up needing whatever they need. My youngest daughter is my pride & joy - is 11 and is bi-racial - so please understand that I do not simply sit around & grump - we have tried to do our part. Thanks for allowing me to rant & please pray for our country!

 

[FarmerChick]

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This part I don't understand. If your DH is truly hurt, can apply for disability because medically he should----then why isn't he?

for me personally, just cause the system is abused by others, etc......it would never stop me from getting disability if medically I required it.

and if he did he could save your long hours of work also. Disability if needed should be taken. If you need disability and you choose to complain, then it is your personal business and you really should not be complaining in public about how hard you have to work. If true disability is needed, apply for it and ease your burden.

not judging, I probably don't understand the reasoning why if disability is needed and required for his health, why wouldn't he do it? I am sure there is more to the story I don't understand.

to work longer in pain to ruin your health for your older years is not something I would be willing to do. if you paid into your govt benefits then why not reap this lifeline of disability payments when it is truly and solely needed for one's health?

 

[Wifezilla]

the original intent of the rant is more to the mindset of people & the sheer overwhelming number who seem to have the "handout/you owe me mentality".

Exactly. And you may also notice that any criticism of people with that mind set will cause others to accuse you of starving widows and children, being mean and greedy, and no doubt and kicking puppies and kittens in your spare time. ::insert eye roll here::::​

 

[FarmerChick]

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I agree wtih your post

but this is nothing new----all virtues are thru the centuries, good people and bad people...good values and cruddy values.

we see it more cause of the internet, international media, in your face politically correct issues.

being a global world now...we see it all.....a few decades ago we didn't. therefore we didn't realize just how icky the true world is and how wonderful it can be also.

 

[19Dawn76]

It amazes me how people miss the point or spirit of something and pick out things to get upset. No one on this thread had said that people that are truely disabled should not be on welfare or assistance. No one said that single parent families are doomed to fail or even that they were not as good as 2 parent familys. No one said that those that have recently lost their jobs should not be able to ask for assistance. I think the abuse of the welfare system has been what the gripe is about.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Thank you for the reminder to pray! I completely agree with your rant, and I am very grateful for the discussion herein. Helped me clarify where I'm at with this.

So, thank you for the reminder to pray! WILL DO!