Watching WalMart

[Geo]

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.

 

[Bob]

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.

 

[wrobert]

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.

 

[30ashopper]

Jesus, Geo, really??

 

[Geo]

Really what?

 

[Will B]

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.

 

[Geo]

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.

 

[Will B]

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.

 

[Geo]

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...

 

[Will B]

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!! ;-)