Sick of the upper class bashing

[ducklite]

The dramatic part is you equating someone needing help with a SAHM with upteen children who sits on her butt all day waiting for the welfare check.

That's not the norm.

There is no middle ground with you.

No, I think there's plenty of people in your "middle ground" who should do more to help themselves. Get a second job, possibly move to an area with a better job market (I know if they have a house in an economically depressed area that's not always feasiable), have one parent work days while the other works nights, find another single mom and share child care, there are a lot of things people can do for themselves if they sit down and think about it.

I think that there are also plenty of people collecting various social services who shouldn't be. If you've got enough money to pay for a trip to WDW, you shouldn't be collecting food stamps, WIC, etc.

Anne

 

[aplejax76]

No, I think there's plenty of people in your "middle ground" who should do more to help themselves. Get a second job, possibly move to an area with a better job market (I know if they have a house in an economically depressed area that's not always feasiable), have one parent work days while the other works nights, find another single mom and share child care, there are a lot of things people can do for themselves if they sit down and think about it.

I think that there are also plenty of people collecting various social services who shouldn't be. If you've got enough money to pay for a trip to WDW, you shouldn't be collecting food stamps, WIC, etc.

Anne

There you go again......I am NOT talking about the ones scamming the system.

Forget it... You are not going to get it. I am beginning to think you do begrudge people less fortunate than you.

 

[Nikel]

The only ones I begrudge are the ones who won't look at the big picture--work an second job, do what it takes to make a positive change in their life. The ones who become complacent or think that they "deserve" a handout. I've said several times that I have no problem with giving people who are working to make positive changes in their lives a hand up.

And sometimes the positive change involves uses those government services that are coming out of our paycheck anyway. When we got pregnant with our dd, my dh was working approx. 70 hours a week at his salaried restaurant management job. He had gotten transferred to a new store with some serious issues and was always there. A second job wasn't an option. And he wasn't making much, right around 25k a year. My mom was watching our ds, so I could work part time. When I got pregnant and had hyperemesis, I hadn't been full time though, so no benefits for me. We couldn't afford for me not to work though. A friend told us about an opening at his company. The catch? A temporary paycut, meaning we couldn't afford to pay for cobra and being uninsured wasn't really an option. Our budget was going to be insanely tight for a couple of months. So we talked about it, and he took the job, and we went on WIC and TennCare. (made too much for food stamps still, but would have gladly taken them if we qualified) By the time she was born 4 months later, his new insurance had kicked in, and we dropped WIC and TennCare. 3 years later, and we're very comfortably living off his income alone. He makes twice what he did at his old job, works less hours, and is actually off on holidays. Oh, and it's a M-F 8-5 job.

 

[ducklite]

There you go again......I am NOT talking about someone scamming the system.

Did I EVER say that anyone collecting any type of benefits was? Of course not. There are plenty of people who should get a temporary hand up--if and only if they've exhausted all possible means of helping themselves.

 

[ford family]

Hey Ducklite, that creeping socialism I mentioned earlier?
I think it's picking up the pace!!

ford family

 

[ducklite]

And sometimes the positive change involves uses those government services that are coming out of our paycheck anyway. When we got pregnant with our dd, my dh was working approx. 70 hours a week at his salaried restaurant management job. He had gotten transferred to a new store with some serious issues and was always there. A second job wasn't an option. And he wasn't making much, right around 25k a year. My mom was watching our ds, so I could work part time. When I got pregnant and had hyperemesis, I hadn't been full time though, so no benefits for me. We couldn't afford for me not to work though. A friend told us about an opening at his company. The catch? A temporary paycut, meaning we couldn't afford to pay for cobra and being uninsured wasn't really an option. Our budget was going to be insanely tight for a couple of months. So we talked about it, and he took the job, and we went on WIC and TennCare. (made too much for food stamps still, but would have gladly taken them if we qualified) By the time she was born 4 months later, his new insurance had kicked in, and we dropped WIC and TennCare. 3 years later, and we're very comfortably living off his income alone. He makes twice what he did at his old job, works less hours, and is actually off on holidays. Oh, and it's a M-F 8-5 job.

This is a perfect example of needing a temporary hand up. But during this time you weren't taking trips to WDW. You weren't milking the system. You used social services for a short period of time to get back on your feet after a temporary setback, you are not likely to ever need social services assistance again, and I don't see a problem with that.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Hey Ducklite, that creeping socialism I mentioned earlier?
I think it's picking up the pace!!

ford family

I have read more and more on these boards that socialism is the way. Scary, huh?

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Hey Ducklite, that creeping socialism I mentioned earlier?
I think it's picking up the pace!!

ford family

I'll admit that I have creeping socialistic beliefs and I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

I'm all for helping out the poor and less fortunate, and I support social programs that do just that.

I do believe that there is abuse in the system, and we need to address the abusers.

 

[Nikel]

This is a perfect example of needing a temporary hand up. But during this time you weren't taking trips to WDW. You weren't milking the system. You used social services for a short period of time to get back on your feet after a temporary setback, you are not likely to ever need social services assistance again, and I don't see a problem with that.

Until you know all the details, you can't be sure people are milking the system.

Last fall, my younger brother graduated with his technical degree. My mom and stepdad had lost their house a few months earlier, and they were living in low-income housing. My stepdad had become disabled, which is what caused them to lose the house. They were also on a few other assistance programs. Yet when my brother's graduation came, they took a weekend trip 4 hours away, stayed in a $150/night hotel for 2 nights, and went out for a nice celebration dinner. By your standards (on numerous social services programs and taking a vacation), they were milking the system. And to the average outsider, it probably looked that way. However, my dh and I paid all of their expenses. But you (or any other person on the outside judging them) would have no way of knowing that.

 

[hydster]

You can call me a socialist or whatever but I am all FOR helping ANYONE in need *even the slackers and the moochers* and would much rather help them rather than fund 190 billion dollars for a war for just the year 2008 that was waged by an egotistical ****** that is currently in power!

If me wanting to help my fellow citizens makes me socialist then so be it!

 

[arminnie]

The dramatic part is you equating someone needing help with a SAHM with upteen children who sits on her butt all day waiting for the welfare check.

That's not the norm.

Sadly it is the norm in some places.

 

[cardaway]

Sadly it is the norm in some places.

It's the norm more than people want to admit, and then they cry foul to the ones who say enough is enough.

And they continue to have more children and take more WDW trips.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'm normally not this snarky but this little guy pretty much sums up my feelings on this thread-

 

[TCPluto]

I know the threads you're talking about. I guess I just don't see it that way. I think people's attitudes have a lot more to do with how they are perceived than simply their financial status.

There-in lies the rub. Good call...

 

[CheshireVal]

THAT'S a McMansion? Oh my goodness, in my neck of the woods, something that size is a starter home. And FWIW, the 1800 - 1900 era Victorian mansions in our downtown area are closer together than that.

Exactly what is the definition besides a large house on a small lot? How large a house? What is the minimum sq. footage to be determined a McMansion? What size is the lot? Is it determined by price, ie: above poster made mention of $550,000 ?

The new style of McMansions here are craftsman style homes built in old neighborhoods. They tear down the trees and the 1000 sq foot 1950s bungalows/ranches and throw up these huge monstrosities with no trees, no land, and sitting on top of each other practically.

I do agree that the other picture posted by someone is more of a "conventional" McMansion. We have plenty of those, too, but they tend to be confined to their own subdivisions rather than cropping up in already established ones.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Sadly it is the norm in some places.

Hello, do we know the same people in the same system? I think so.

 

[bigmerle1966]

The new style of McMansions here are craftsman style homes built in old neighborhoods. They tear down the trees and the 1000 sq foot 1950s bungalows/ranches and throw up these huge monstrosities with no trees, no land, and sitting on top of each other practically.

I do agree that the other picture posted by someone is more of a "conventional" McMansion. We have plenty of those, too, but they tend to be confined to their own subdivisions rather than cropping up in already established ones.

Or in the back yard of the bungalow! We are seeing more and more of that around here. There are some beautiful neighborhoods with nice older home that sit back off of the street on hugh lots with big old trees that are having these big houses being built right behind them. And if the lot is big enough, more than one.

 

[TCPluto]

Oh please. Maybe people get tired of those who seem to brag about what they have all the time. It's not what they have, but the flaunting of it.

Some people have a fit if certain people say they bought a can of peas at the grocery store. I don't live in a huge home home, I don't drive a "luxury car," and I certainly don't have all sorts of electronic gizmo's.

The last purchase I made was a "Doogie Dooley" to dump the dog crap I scoop up each day into--now there's a real luxury item.

I don't have a "Coach Girlie," a cleaning lady, or any number of things that people come onto these boards and talk about. So if you're addressing that comment to me, I think you need to look elsewhere.

Anne

Truly, you can't see yourself in MJ's comments??

 

[ducklite]

Until you know all the details, you can't be sure people are milking the system.

Last fall, my younger brother graduated with his technical degree. My mom and stepdad had lost their house a few months earlier, and they were living in low-income housing. My stepdad had become disabled, which is what caused them to lose the house. They were also on a few other assistance programs. Yet when my brother's graduation came, they took a weekend trip 4 hours away, stayed in a $150/night hotel for 2 nights, and went out for a nice celebration dinner. By your standards (on numerous social services programs and taking a vacation), they were milking the system. And to the average outsider, it probably looked that way. However, my dh and I paid all of their expenses. But you (or any other person on the outside judging them) would have no way of knowing that.

FYI--I was referring to several DIS'ers who have admittedly collected various social service benefits while planning regular trips to WDW that they were paying for.

I'm sorry your parents were going through hard times, and I'm glad that you were able to help them see your brother graduate.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Truly, you can't see yourself in MJ's comments??

I've stated that my house is under 3000 s/f feet and I drive a freaking Saturn. If that means I'm flaunting anything, than I imagine so are half the DIS.

Anne