how much do 'values' matter when you can't eat?

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Tekime

Member
Jan 14, 2002
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Originally posted by: TheGameIs21
:: GASP ::

I commend you on your dedication to work and taking care of your family. I am of the same mindset. I will work three jobs if that is what it takes to keep my home and feed my family. I have worked 2 full time jobs before just to compensate for being layed off. It all comes down to what you are willing to do for yourself. If you aren't willing to take care of yourself, it shouldn't be the governments responsibility to do it for you.

People say that their situation is directly tied to the current administration. Most of them had 50 - 100 K jobs and bought a 200K house, two 30 K cars, all the newest computer parts, all the newest A/V home systems. Never once looking at a savings account. Never once caring that they can't afford the monthly payments AND eat while buying all this crap. Then when they are laid off... BUSH HAS RUINED ME!!! Comeon... you ruined yourself when you didn't pay attention to common sense.

I commend you too good sir... it's nice to know there are people out there willing to take some responsibility for themselves.

It's not that I don't have a huge amount of pity for those in real hard times, and the toughest part is knowing the kids are paying for their parent's bad decisions. I'm sure you feel the same.. The federal government was formed for things like postal service and building roads though, and now we have millions of people depending on it just to live. I want the future of the US to be a community of proud, hard working, self-sufficient peoples. If we want big brother off our backs, time to stand up on our own two feet so they can't hop on for the ride. ;)
 
Feb 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: Orsorum
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: JacobJ

but the bottom line is that something is seriously wrong when 12 millions households struggle to eat in the United States of America.

Where have you been? That's the New Proud FLL United States of America.

Either you are with us (Fat Rich and Happy) or against us (Poor SOB's struggling to serve the FLL's).

Enjoy

Are you always such a generalizing ass?

Um, YES! :)

Jason
 

TheGameIs21

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2001
1,329
0
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Originally posted by: Tekime
Originally posted by: TheGameIs21
:: GASP ::

I commend you on your dedication to work and taking care of your family. I am of the same mindset. I will work three jobs if that is what it takes to keep my home and feed my family. I have worked 2 full time jobs before just to compensate for being layed off. It all comes down to what you are willing to do for yourself. If you aren't willing to take care of yourself, it shouldn't be the governments responsibility to do it for you.

People say that their situation is directly tied to the current administration. Most of them had 50 - 100 K jobs and bought a 200K house, two 30 K cars, all the newest computer parts, all the newest A/V home systems. Never once looking at a savings account. Never once caring that they can't afford the monthly payments AND eat while buying all this crap. Then when they are laid off... BUSH HAS RUINED ME!!! Comeon... you ruined yourself when you didn't pay attention to common sense.

I commend you too good sir... it's nice to know there are people out there willing to take some responsibility for themselves.

It's not that I don't have a huge amount of pity for those in real hard times, and the toughest part is knowing the kids are paying for their parent's bad decisions. I'm sure you feel the same.. The federal government was formed for things like postal service and building roads though, and now we have millions of people depending on it just to live. I want the future of the US to be a community of proud, hard working, self-sufficient peoples. If we want big brother off our backs, time to stand up on our own two feet so they can't hop on for the ride. ;)

I absolutely agree that there are those that are truly in need to no fault of their own. For those people, you have churches and the United Way (another soapbox) that they can turn to. You and I sound like assholes when we say what we say but it has to be said.
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
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www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
12 Million and growing, horayyy for the good Ol USA, way to go :thumbsup:

12 million out of nearly 3 HUNDRED million ain't bad. Man, is this forum populated by reactionaries looking for a reason to be pissed or what?

Jason

That may be acceptable to ou for a Third World Country but should never be acceptable for right here in the U.S. unless of course you are one of the 50.9% perfectly happy and content in turning the U.S. into a Third World Country.

 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
I agree that the government ought to be the safety net of last resort - not the first place to turn. Having had personal experience with people who are seriously down and out, I can say that in my own experience about 1/4 of them are in real need, while the other 3/4 are unwilling to do everything they can.

The 25% could have everything they need if the government didn't have to also pay the other 75% for being lazy.

The unmotivated 75% have no shame in holding their hands out for everything they can get, using a list of excuses so long that I couldn't even remember them all. You'd think that they would be embarrassed that they leech off of working people, but they don't. They think that some magic takes place, and money appears. They do not understand that the money comes from the people who are out there working.

The excuses I have personally heard include:
- I don't have any way to get to work, but I don't want to move to where there is transportation because I like it here.
- Rehab didn't work because it was a crappy program so I relapsed.
- That job was too hard, so I quit.
- Those (government) programs are there for everyone, so why should I work when I can just take the money? People like you are the suckers.
- I get enough money from the government, I don't need to work.
- I need to stay home with my kids.
- I can't go to the (free) job training courses because it's in the evenings, and I get tired early.
- I quit the construction job because it was too cold working outside.

Well, that's enough of that.

I feel badly for the people who genuinely need help but if they could help themselves by ratting out the millions of freeloaders who take the money and don't qualify. But it's like a little club, where everyone just helps the others to load up on more and more free stuff from the government. One popular gimmick is when the welfare person goes door-to-door to verify household occupants, the residents go down the back alley shuttling different kids into the next home to be visited to inflate the number of people living in each home.
 
Sep 12, 2004
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Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
12 Million and growing, horayyy for the good Ol USA, way to go :thumbsup:

12 million out of nearly 3 HUNDRED million ain't bad. Man, is this forum populated by reactionaries looking for a reason to be pissed or what?

Jason

That may be acceptable to ou for a Third World Country but should never be acceptable for right here in the U.S. unless of course you are one of the 50.9% perfectly happy and content in turning the U.S. into a Third World Country.
Looks like the answer to your question, DMA, is a resounding - YES!

 

Jadow

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2003
5,962
2
0
you can feed a family of 4, 2000 calories/day per person for about $6.00. If they're struggling to eat, that means they're wasting money elsewhere.
 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
9,214
1
81
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: illustri
I guess walmart's values matter.

Yeah, and Wal Mart's stores make it a little bit easier for those poor families to *afford* to eat.

Yeah, Wal Mart really helps the poor by putting mom & pop stores out of business and replacing those jobs with minimum-wage jobs, that offer poor benefits, and making everyone a "manager" (e.g. "shipping manager" for the person who puts boxes on shelves in the back) so they can get away with even worse compensation.
 

theblackbox

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2004
1,650
11
81
if you raise minimum wage, more teens will be able to buy rims, stereos and neon lighting for their civics, escorts, and corrolas even faster. the issue of hunger has nothing to do with minimum wage. You can't make everybody work. Some people work real hard and struggle, but they struggle because of their standard of living. They want to live above their means.

Anybody can get a job, it's how you manage the money you make that counts. If you want to live in downtown NY in a high rent apartment, and you can't feed your kids, you got issues.

 

discoman

Junior Member
Nov 23, 2004
2
0
0
Originally posted by: AntiEverything
You don't understand economics, do you. $8/hr would simply put those businesses who pay minimum wage out of business.

Um, no. Inflation would ensue and interest rates would increase. You understand economics, then?
 

RobCur

Banned
Oct 4, 2002
3,076
0
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Originally posted by: TravisT
My grandfather, who lived through the depression, always said that a nice gentleman can become very dangerous when his kids are at home crying because they are hungry and there is no food in the house.

I believe it. It is human nature for men and women to protect their children and do whatever it takes to feed them and care for them. Even if that means robbing someone at gunpoint.

I give 10 percent or even 20 percent if they need it more then I do :( it's not like I need the money anyway, I buy too much useless junk. I feel sorry for them, it isn't right to criticise someone who is poor.


 

RobCur

Banned
Oct 4, 2002
3,076
0
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Originally posted by: ATIuser
Believe me Bush Policies may hurt now but will help in the long run. People who can't find decent paying work start their own businesses. Some of those grow and employ other people and keep the economy running. I voted for Bush not because it was going to help my wallet. Because I knew it was the right thing to do even if it meant I might be worse off finanically.
i hope you are joking because it sounds like you are because no one is happy being poor or homeless. you just contradicted yourself too.

 

JavaMomma

Senior member
Oct 19, 2000
701
0
71
Originally posted by: AntiEverything
Originally posted by: isasir
One of the things in the debates that stuck out to me was Kerry's desire to raise the minimum wage to $8/hr. So while this wasn't a major focus of the elections, this would help alleviate the problem of people feeding themselves (assuming of course they put food high on their priority list of necessities.)

I've come to realize though that a lot of people really just care about themselves (hence "moral values" having such an impact on the election) and as long as these poor people don't harass them for change, they'll just continue on their merry way.

You don't understand economics, do you. $8/hr would simply put those businesses who pay minimum wage out of business.


I am taking 2nd year Economics in University (my arts electives). Anyways, accordering to my textbook this is what happens (I just finished studying this last night).
Assuming that minimum wage workers are less skilled workers then non minimum wage workers. If the price of minimum wage increases then this will cause a "firm to increase its employment of skilled labour from s1 to s2, simultaneously reducing its employment of unskilled labour from u1 to u2." This is simply just a substituion effect.

Say right now mimimum wage is $6 and you can hire a unskilled worker for that price. Or you can hire a skilled worker for $10. We'll assume that for the firm the unskilled worker is better "bang for your buck" so they hire them. Now minimum wage goes up to $8. Well now at this point for the firm has the choice of unskilled for $8 or skilled for $10. The skilled worker now has better "bang" so they move away from unskilled workers towards skilled workers. And the minimum wage workers become unemployed.
 

digiram

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2004
3,991
172
106
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Ahh, billybob and mary sue can't afford to buy Mcdonalds for their every meal so their fat asses, and their 5 fat ass children, don't have to cook in their doublewide with their 60" big screen TV and 6 billion channels. Boo Hoo.

Dem's da same sums of beaches that go to church, have moral values, and voted for bush. Oh, the irony.
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
I had to go to a county office for something once and I still remember the two middle 20's parents there for some welfare thing. Two fat boozing etc parents with two kids in nothing but pampers, no shoes, nothing. Wow those are some tax dollars well spent. Those are your Kerry supporters, with no irony whatsoever.