Watching WalMart

Sad? What makes me mad is watching these same people who just used electronic food stamps carry on an unending conversation on their iPhone and, then, go out and pile their stuff that I helped pay for into a Cadillac Escalade, Benz, BMW, or some other high end vehicle.

I'm not saying they're all like that, but I see it way way too often...

If Will sees this then our government is at fault. To get those cards you have to go through a lot of paper and red tape ...so think that those iPhones and Escalades would come up via all of the checking unless the gov. agents are looking the other way.

For the record- the article was about how you can see how much people are struggling these days by watching beginning and end of the month purchase patterns at walmart. Quite telling.

The expressed anger, stereotypes and blanket generalizations of folks less fortunate were provided by our posters. Quite telling.

Nothing new here - not the timing of Wal-mart purchases when the cards activate, not the obliviousness of folks that buying items there is what is causing their own unemployment and lack of jobs, not the frustration of folks who see people using government assistance while displaying signs of seeming extravagance ................

Just the scope changes.

P.S. If you really want to help people, donate to the local food pantries - their shelves are bare.

For the record- the article was about how you can see how much people are struggling these days by watching beginning and end of the month purchase patterns at walmart. Quite telling.

The expressed anger, stereotypes and blanket generalizations of folks less fortunate were provided by our posters. Quite telling.

I can understand underemployed, and that's a problem, but I just don't get unemployed for extended periods. I really don't understand how people get into that situation. I think there's some sort of victim syndrome or something going around, people expect to get the same job they had back, at the same or better pay.

My understanding is there is one job for every seven applicants. So long term unemployment seems understandable to me.

I'm just not sure why the continued generalizing- you know- the talk of victim syndrome.

My understanding is there is one job for every seven applicants. So long term unemployment seems understandable to me.

I'm just not sure why the continued generalizing- you know- the talk of victim syndrome.

If you had to go out a get a job today to put food on the table, do you think you could do it?

I'm presently unemployed. I'm 37. Until recently, I've had a job since I was 12. I've paid into the system since I was 16. So 20 years later I feel no guilt that I am collecting unemployment while I work out my next move. And I have an Iphone.

Lot of self-righteousness going around. Must be contagious. These folks are in an unenviable position. I have more important things to worry about than a few poor people who might be gaming the system, and I have much more important things to do than try to figure out who is and who isn't based on a quick visual.

The rich take full advantage of the legal letter of the law to protect their worth and to maintain their lifestyles. They declare bankruptcy but still take vacations. They lay off their employees but still eat at expensive restaurants and drive fancy cars.

Food Stamp Usage Across the Country - Interactive Map - NYTimes.com perhaps we could recalibrate the relationship with china. free trade should not include the destruction of the middle class.

Wired has a great article in it this month about how companies can switch to making super cheap products, raise the standard of living around the world, and still make huge profits. Within the article it really hits home how well we have it in this country.

Jesus, Geo, really??

Really what?

Sorry for your situation, Geo, and I'm sure you'll come through with flying colors.

I will state that what I said was for the record. I would not say what I said unless I had seen it on more than once. In fact, I see it several times a week. I report what I see and do not make stuff up. You conveniently left out my disclaimer where I said that that they are not all like that.

I'm sorry your situation may have made you hypersensitive to this, but what I am talking about is not something that is new. I have seen this going on since further back than I can remember. There will always be a percentage that abuse the system...and yes, I help pay for it. I have no issues with those who truly need it, and I have more friends than I can count on my hands who are out of work and collecting unemployment.

Hi Will,

I acknowledge that in your last paragraph you made the effort to say "they're not all like this".

And I appreciate your kind words about my situation but-

being unemployed hasn't made me hypersensitive to tired stereotypes and broad generalizations.

Not sure why you or anyone let yourself get mad about people less fortunate who you don't know the full story about.

I think of unemployment and food stamps like I do the FL broken windshield statute. We all pay into a fund. And if we are unfortunate enough to have a broken windshield the fund will cover it. Some people never need it. Some people are repeat offenders.

thanks, Geo. Yet, another civil discussion that others on the political forum can learn from!

I'm not mad about others who are less fortunate. I'm mad about those who clearly abuse the system. There's an ocean of difference between the two.

Let me pose a question, though...

"You" is not you but, rather a hypothetical person...

If you found yourself in a situation where there are long term ramifications and no quick solutions, would you not make lifestyle adjustments in order to maximize your money so you can better provide for your family?

I sure did. A couple years ago the Mrs and I went off the grid because we let ourselves get a little crazy with credit cards. No cards anymore. No charging stuff we couldn't pay for. In about 6 months, we will have zero debt with the exception of our house...zero!
Sure...it was really hard at first, but we adjusted our lifestyle and made sacrifices, and after a while it got a lot easier and left us with far more disposable cash every month.

There are those who are less fortunate for reasons beyond their control. There are those who clearly make poor choices over and over again. That does not move them over into the less fortunate category, though.

Yes. Of course.

I get where u r coming from when you say it makes u mad when folks abuse the system. Where I am coming from is- I don't think it's so easy to tell who abuses the system based on the kind of car one drives or the brand of smartphone they use to surf monster.com...

Yes. Of course.

I get where u r coming from when you say it makes u mad when folks abuse the system. Where I am coming from is- I don't think it's so easy to tell who abuses the system based on the kind of car one drives or the brand of smartphone they use to surf monster.com...

I'll buy that for a dollar! We have reached consensus!

Folks...that is how a civil discussion is carried out in here!

Live and learn!! ;-)

Yes, one shouldn't generalize, but seriously - if you are driving a car worth more a certain amount (like 50K) you shouldn't be eligible for some things.

You should sell the car or cancel the lease, and get one a fraction of its value so you can buy your own food.

True. And, if your government has to give your company billions of dollars so that it doesn't go bankrupt, you should probably forego your million dollar bonuses and at least act like you're remotely grateful for the help.

Lots of things don't make sense.

Geo's point is that some of these people are newly (and, they believe, temporarily) dependent on government assistance. If you don't have the $4K in the bank to go buy a good used car (and it wouldn't be real good, for $4K) you certainly can't qualify for a used car loan if you're unemployed. You also can't touch your phone service, or change apartments, because everyone is going to run a credit check if you try to do ANYTHING, and then you're toast.

I saw an interesting news story a couple of months ago about a woman who runs a food bank in southeastern Louisiana - she said that right after the oil spill, she was startled by the change in client?le. The new food bank clients, she said, looked like they were on the way to their kids soccer game. The newly poor still have their nice clothes and nice cars and still look pretty much like they did three months ago when everything was rosy.

I know that some people abuse the system - but why can't we concentrate on eliminating the waste, instead of saying that all of the assistance recipients are deadbeats?

True. And, if your government has to give your company billions of dollars so that it doesn't go bankrupt, you should probably forego your million dollar bonuses and at least act like you're remotely grateful for the help.

Part of the problem, we shouldn't be giving company's billions of dollars, that sets the standard.

Lots of things don't make sense.

Geo's point is that some of these people are newly (and, they believe, temporarily) dependent on government assistance. If you don't have the $4K in the bank to go buy a good used car (and it wouldn't be real good, for $4K) you certainly can't qualify for a used car loan if you're unemployed. You also can't touch your phone service, or change apartments, because everyone is going to run a credit check if you try to do ANYTHING, and then you're toast.

I saw an interesting news story a couple of months ago about a woman who runs a food bank in southeastern Louisiana - she said that right after the oil spill, she was startled by the change in client?le. The new food bank clients, she said, looked like they were on the way to their kids soccer game. The newly poor still have their nice clothes and nice cars and still look pretty much like they did three months ago when everything was rosy.

I know that some people abuse the system - but why can't we concentrate on eliminating the waste, instead of saying that all of the assistance recipients are deadbeats?

Seems to me to be more of a problem with pride and a lack of long term planning. If you lose your job, you should have savings to fall back on to make the mortgage payment. If you don't, and you lose your house and need to rent, or you lose the car lease because you can't make the payment, and you find yourself facing a move, need to rent, put food on the table, you go get a job so you have employment. The options should include working at McDonalds or Subway, working as a waiter or busboy, working two low end jobs, whatever.

The minimum wage is currently 7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week at that rate is enough to put food on the table and rent a cheap apartment. I lived off less income than that for most of my twenties. It's not that hard. I could do it again if I had to.

True. And, if your government has to give your company billions of dollars so that it doesn't go bankrupt, you should probably forego your million dollar bonuses and at least act like you're remotely grateful for the help.

Lots of things don't make sense.

Geo's point is that some of these people are newly (and, they believe, temporarily) dependent on government assistance. If you don't have the $4K in the bank to go buy a good used car (and it wouldn't be real good, for $4K) you certainly can't qualify for a used car loan if you're unemployed. You also can't touch your phone service, or change apartments, because everyone is going to run a credit check if you try to do ANYTHING, and then you're toast.

I saw an interesting news story a couple of months ago about a woman who runs a food bank in southeastern Louisiana - she said that right after the oil spill, she was startled by the change in client?le. The new food bank clients, she said, looked like they were on the way to their kids soccer game. The newly poor still have their nice clothes and nice cars and still look pretty much like they did three months ago when everything was rosy.

I know that some people abuse the system - but why can't we concentrate on eliminating the waste, instead of saying that all of the assistance recipients are deadbeats?

Good question. I've often wondered the same thing.

Seems to me to be more of a problem with pride and a lack of long term planning. If you lose your job, you should have savings to fall back on to make the mortgage payment. If you don't, and you lose your house and need to rent, or you lose the car lease because you can't make the payment, and you find yourself facing a move, need to rent, put food on the table, you go get a job so you have employment. The options should include working at McDonalds or Subway, working as a waiter or busboy, working two low end jobs, whatever.

The minimum wage is currently 7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week at that rate is enough to put food on the table and rent a cheap apartment. I lived off less income than that for most of my twenties. It's not that hard. I could do it again if I had to.

Pride and keeping up appearances is definitely a factor for some, but due to the length of this recession/downturn I am finding that even the people who did plan ahead have exhausted their safety nets & reserves.

I don't think anyone has a problem w/ these programs being used as intended - as a temporary helping hand for people having a problem - for me it's the long term use that is the issue.

P.S. Forget McDonalds, the real money is in babysitting!

One day you're flipping houses, the next day you're flipping burgers.