Smart woman you are cheri.
I think it has more to do with a total lack of tolerance for commercial advertising....
If you saw the movie "The Lost Boys", you might remember the boys' grandfather, who didn't own a tv, but subscribed to TV Guide, because "Once you've read the descriptions, you don't need to watch the shows" - that works for me.
I think this bill is the right thing. But they picked a helluva time to incorporate it. I'm not just saying this because the recipients will have a tough time; but we who are not recipients will be close to the recipients when they lose their benefits. So, if cousin Jamima (Jolene) (Selena) loses the welfare to support her 12 babies and her cousin DeJackal (Joe Jim Bob) (Jesus)'s crack habit, then we will be seeing a rise in crime from DeJackal (Joe Jim Bob) (Jesus). We don't need that! Yeah, I have two dogs. One is a yapper, and the other never met a stranger (I know... I love wolfhounds!). I don't like, nor would I ever get, an attack dog... especially pit bulls.
Hawk: you need some updating on those cultural assumptions, ok? Seriously: what do you actually KNOW about who is collecting welfare today, and why? I think the answers would surprise you - if you can get out of your 'comfort zone' long enough to look for them.
My point is, the state made this mess to begin with. Now, all of a sudden, they're going to pull the plug with no plan in site? Maybe they have a plan for THEIR neighborhoods. To me, this is a worse idea than letting the loonies out of the hospitals.
Precisely. The safety net exists for the benefit of society in general, not just the individuals who need it. That there are far more of them is because of a major attitude shift - but whose? Does it seem logical to you that people [in general] have become less responsible, lost the work ethic that's been part of America for over 2oo years?
Or does it seem more credible that profit & greed have been running the show for awhile, aided by corrupt and/or self serving politicians?
Step out of my comfort zone? Honey, my zone is in Dearborn Friggen Heights. You can't get much more diverse. I wouldn't have been caught dead putting a McCain/Palin sign on my lawn, for fear of broken windows, or worse. I'm not lumping the crack-head TRASH in with those who are using it on a temporary basis; because those who are temporary won't be running out of it, according to the law, now would they? People have a hard time. I get it. But 4 years worth? Come on! I think you're not stepping out of YOUR zone, to see some people for what they really are... a waste of air.
The greed has been going on for more than 200 years. I'll tell you what I see. Back when I was a pup, I remembered prices were lower. The lowest I remember gas being was .59. Same with cigs... .59 a pack. Back then, and before, people would stop buying products that were too expensive; or go shopping somewhere else. Prices would come down; with the companies testing the people every so often. But people KNEW what stuff should cost; and they didn't budge very often.
Now, people don't seem to know how to shop. They pick up stuff like zombies, putting it in their cart, and complain how much stuff is. Well, stop buying it, and they'll drop their prices, or go out of business. But no... this is another ME generation. Even in these times, there is poor shopping technique. I blame the generation before, for not teaching it to their kids; and instead, being "friends" with them.
You blame greedy corporations for high prices, and the politicians who profit from them. I blame the zombies who buy and vote without knowledge. If it weren't for the zombie, the other two groups wouldn't have us by the cahones.
Step out of my comfort zone? Honey, my zone is in Dearborn Friggen Heights. You can't get much more diverse. I wouldn't have been caught dead putting a McCain/Palin sign on my lawn, for fear of broken windows, or worse.
I meant the real estate between yer ears - it sounds like the same outrage over welfare 'rangers' [as LOS calls them] that's been expressed for 30 years now. People keep repeating it, forgetting [if they knew] that welfare was reformed back then, to stop that kind of abuse - no one gets a check for being lazy any more. [Unless you're a farm, and you don't grow something - you can still get paid for that.]
I'm not lumping the crack-head TRASH in with those who are using it on a temporary basis; because those who are temporary won't be running out of it, according to the law, now would they? People have a hard time. I get it. But 4 years worth?
Layoffs aren't temporary much anymore - the jobs are just gone, and what's available [part time, low pay, no benefits] isn't enough to support one adult, much less try to save for the future, or buy a house. Sure, folks can work 2 jobs [if they can get the bosses to let them mesh the hrs - good luck with that!] but what is fine short term is no way to live for the forseeable future, is it?
Or maybe they should just move to the Dakotas for a job? [Not so easy for the single moms, though.]
Come on! I think you're not stepping out of YOUR zone, to see some people for what they really are... a waste of air.
I know they are out there, [my brother is a great example: can't work because he'd rather drink] but they are not the majority of people who collect benefits. Those people were working, till the job went south, and they're not finding anything to replace it. And that's not for lack of trying, it's because you can't find what doesn't exist.
The greed has been going on for more than 200 years. I'll tell you what I see. Back when I was a pup, I remembered prices were lower. The lowest I remember gas being was .59. Same with cigs... .59 a pack. Back then, and before, people would stop buying products that were too expensive; or go shopping somewhere else. Prices would come down; with the companies testing the people every so often. But people KNEW what stuff should cost; and they didn't budge very often.
Now, people don't seem to know how to shop. They pick up stuff like zombies, putting it in their cart, and complain how much stuff is. Well, stop buying it, and they'll drop their prices, or go out of business. But no... this is another ME generation. Even in these times, there is poor shopping technique. I blame the generation before, for not teaching it to their kids; and instead, being "friends" with them.
I agree that people don't use much critical thinking, but I'd blame it on the tremendous increase in first, watching tv, followed [inevitably] by an enormous increase in advertising. Sophisticated advertising, and quite effective, too. It's nearly impossible to avoid - I know, because I keep trying.
You blame greedy corporations for high prices, and the politicians who profit from them. I blame the zombies who buy and vote without knowledge. If it weren't for the zombie, the other two groups wouldn't have us by the cahones.
I believe you just made my point: accepting what you hear [without taking the trouble to learn whether it's accurate] is not what smart folks do.
So, did you check on who is collecting welfare these days?
I believe you just made my point: accepting what you hear [without taking the trouble to learn whether it's accurate] is not what smart folks do.
So, did you check on who is collecting welfare these days?
Likewise... Did you?
Of course I did. I was bothered by the many comments disparaging people as lazy, but I wasn't sure they were wrong - it just seemed like it, when the news every day was about more mass layoffs. What I found is that the old thinking hasn't changed, while the reality has. I even posted an article on 10 Welfare Myths, but people don't like to change their minds.
Everything I state is opinion, unless I choose to back it up with an article (basically, someone else's opinion). The government doesn't have a census on who is worthless and who isn't.
But there are facts to prove that people worked for years before being 'laid off', then looked for work for a long time, as opposed to people who never even tried to find work. And quotes from personnel mgrs saying they won't hire anyone who is currently unemployed, too - WTH?!
Also a few facts about the availability [or more precisely the lack of] child care and transportation that people can't get around.
Those aren't opinions - they're facts.
I only know that our poor are richer than a lot of people who would be considered wealthy in their own countries. And I know our poor complain about the wealthy. What part of "pursuit of happiness" don't they understand? Do they think pursuit is the same as "give them"?
The wealthy, for the most part, got wealthy because they worked hard.
Maybe. But I know that many got wealthy because they were lucky, or have/had 'connections', or no ethical/moral compunctions, too - it's not always the result of hard work, as those who enjoy it would like us to think.
If you're poor, there's a reason. It could be as simple as laziness. It could be as complicated as no one wanting to spend good money on what you're offering. It's nothing personal, just business. If one area doesn't want to pay you what you THINK you're worth,
That's where the problem is: not what I think I'm worth, but what the decision makers think. For the past 20 or so years, their thinking has been that I'm worth less, while they themselves are worth more. And that 'reasonable profit' is an oxymoron - it must increase, always, even if it means putting people out of work altogether - whatever it takes.
you have to go somewhere else.
A society whose members are forced to keep 'moving' in order to earn a living is not a stable or healthy society, IMO. We need family and community, as well as money.
My wife is finding that out right now. But ultimately, YOU have control over your own destiny. If you fail at life, you only have yourself to blame.
Great philosophy - but it isn't doing much to help.
PS Hope your wife has good luck, looking for a job. I just wish everyone who wants a job could find one. Instead of needing 2, just to scrape by.