The Duggar Family

[Ava]

I'm telling you, one of these kids is going to rebel. If you have 19 kids, surely one of them is going to decide this lifestyle is not for them. Like one of the girls is going to want to wear jeans and go see the Twilight movies ( horrors!) . Let's see how the Duggars handle that.

This is what I keep saying. Statistically speaking, at least one of their kids will probably end up being gay.

 

[figment3258]

I don't see how it's anyone's business how many kids they have. I've seen so many hate pages and nasty webpages for this family. They support their own - it would be different it they were living off taxpayer support like so many others in this country.

Very well said. I just love how so many people judge others. They may not live the way you choose too but that does not mean you need to be nasty towards them. I believe they do live their lives the best way they know how and you can choose to watch their show or not just like every other show on tv move on. Just for the record I love their show and wish them all the best in their lives.

 

[Nayan]

Nope, all of them are entitled to healthcare and a tidy sum for pension. Unlike most Americans, they can choose their own Dr.'s, are covered for any pre-existing conditions and taxpayers pay for their premiums.

 

[leahjade]

Two years of serving in Congress means that we, the taxpayers, are paying for the health insurance for Jim Bob and all his MANY dependents,

That's false - you have to work 10 years in Congress to get life benefits. I notice the only HATE speech allowed in the country any more is against Christians. If people spoke about a minority or gays the way they are allowed to bash Christians, everyone would be outraged.

 

[maroo]

I think they are following a religious life, dictated by the doctrine of their religion. Two years of serving in Congress means that we, the taxpayers, are paying for the health insurance for Jim Bob and all his MANY dependents, and will be for quite a while. Between copays, premiums, and oop, our health insurance costs us $9000 a year before benefits kick in, and that's for a family of 3, NOT 21! I have a hard time buying the "as long as taxpayers aren't supporting them" line! (FWIW, I feel this way about all the health/pension bennies of having served in Congress).

I've read the quiverfull information and strongly disagree with their beliefs and lifestyle. I want more for myself and my child than to follow ANYTHING blindly. If you want to believe in a deity and have faith, your choice. However, I DON"T think these folks are role models for American values, at least not for all Americans!

He didn't serve in Congress. Congress is in Washington, DC.

He was a State Representative in the Arkansas Legislature - big difference. And he served for four years.

He served just like any other State Rep and whatever pension or health insurance benefits would not be considered, by most, to be "supported by the taxpayers."

If they do use the insurance provided to former State officials (and I am not sure they offer it or not) then they would be insured by the State of Arkansas and aside from Josie's health issues, have probably had very low health care costs when compared to other Arkansan's on the same plan. They have fairly healthy kids and seem to be pretty self sufficient healthwise.

 

[maroo]

Nope, all of them are entitled to healthcare and a tidy sum for pension. Unlike most Americans, they can choose their own Dr.'s, are covered for any pre-existing conditions and taxpayers pay for their premiums.

He did not serve in the US Congress.

IF he qualifies for health insurance, then it would be from the Arkansas State Health Plan - not the Federal Plan offered to those serving in Congress.

 

[bettymae1121]

It sounds like you might be in favor of a flat or 'per head' required tax payment - is that the case?

When you look at the tax structure in America - it punishes those who pay their bills on time, those who work for a living, and those who save and invest.

I'm not a 'socialist' but America cannot - and I repeat CANNOT - continue to have a socialist leaning government - and a capitalist economy. The two cannot co-exist and allow the country to continue to function.

I'm all for social safety nets- but I am totally anti social life support. America - and all Americans need to wake up and realize that you can't get "somthin' for nuthin' "

If you make money - you pay taxes - no ifs and or buts about it! That's the only fair way to do have a 'fair' tax system.

Whether the Duggars are a church or not - I don't know - however, I'm sure there are tax and law loopholes that would allow it.

I call BULL on 'family' or 'house' churches. Every family is already a church - that is the domestic church. What it teaches is it's own business - however - if they have files a non-profit and achieved non-profit status - that's a serious problem.

I would be interested to see if the Duggars operate their business affairs as the bible would have them do so.

A little all over the place in this post - but it's so interesting as a sociological topic - that has become so political in this thread!

Not to take the tread off topic, but I'm not in favor of a flat tax. I like having a progresive tax system (the more you make the higher the tax bracket). BUT what I would like to see is all the tax brackets lowered and then an illimination of all tax deductions. Mortgage interest, dependents, charitable contributions, all of it. If two families make the same income and one family has 5 kids and the other has 1 kid, why does the one with 5 kids get to pay less in taxes? Or why does the person that paid off their house pay more in taxes than one that still has 20 years left on the house note?

My idea keeps the progresive tax structure in place (a flat tax or VAT tax is regresive) but it gets rid of most of the personal income tax code. Taxes are easier to file (almost everyone could file on a 1040EZ!) and is soley based on income rather than how many deductions you can come up with. You make money you pay taxes, doesn't matter if you own, rent, or have a mortgage, doesn't matter if you have no kids or ten, doesn't matter if you tithe or make no donations at all. Again, keep in mind in exchange for no deductions, all tax brackets are also lowered, to make up for the lack of deductions.

But that is tax policy, which is a different thread.

I don't think this family are bad people. On the whole their kids are happy and healthy and many parents with fewer children do a much worse job. It's not how I would choose to live, but if this is what they want to do, so be it. I just don't buy the line of "they do it without the help of the government". Free health care for life from the state rep job (if AK gives free health care for life to former reps that is) and a low (and possibly non existant) tax bill...sounds like government assistance to me. Jim Bob earned this benfit by being elected and serving, but it's still goverment paid for health care. They are taking advantage of perfectly legal deductions and benifits, not saying they shouldn't, but lets not pretend here.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Bettymae, I see your point. As long as you look at all the people inyoir life in that way. Govt assistance in the form of tax exemtions and refunds, home rebates, student aid assistance, obviously wic recipients. Many people receive some sort of aid but font consider themselves as dependent on govt aid.

 

[bettymae1121]

Bettymae, I see your point. As long as you look at all the people inyoir life in that way. Govt assistance in the form of tax exemtions and refunds, home rebates, student aid assistance, obviously wic recipients. Many people receive some sort of aid but font consider themselves as dependent on govt aid.

Sure, it's all government assistance. Which isn't always a bad thing, by the way. WIC for example gives food assistance to low income women with young children, who the heck can argue with that? Home purchase rebates to try to jump start a housing slump, not necessiarily a bad idea either. I'm just saying lets call a spade a spade, that's all.

 

[Sparx]

To answer the original topic, the Dugger family is paid (at least, but probably more) $25,000 per episode of their television show. They have had 77 episodes to date.

I wouldn't be in debt either.

 

[Justsyd2]

That's almost 2 Mil. So perhaps all of this "living beneath our means" stuff is just for the show?

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

How many shows per season? Living below their means may just mean they are saving for the future? We live beneath our means to save for retiremen.t

 

[Sparx]

Also, the poverty line for a family of 20 (19 kids - 1 who got married + 2 parents =20) is $81,530.00 according to the 2009/2010 calculation. However, if someone were to calculate a Duggar specific poverty line, considering they don't pay property taxes/a mortgage, theirs might be much lower considering the poverty line is calculated by assuming the cost of a non-farm family's food costs for a year and multiplying it by three (on the assumption we spend a third of our income on food) because they would be spending a larger fraction of their money on food since they pay fewer bills than the average family of the same size. Either way, with their TLC check, they're well above it.

 

[Sparx]

How many shows per season? Living below their means may just mean they are saving for the future? We live beneath our means to save for retiremen.t

I believe the industry average is 20-24 episodes per season.

 

[Justsyd2]

Which is a cool tax-free $600,000. I think they're doing ok!

 

[CdnCarrie]

But they don't really spend that kind of time with them. Mostly, the little ones are taken care of by the older ones. Mom may be the homeschool director, but she is NOT indivdually instructing all of them. She has said that the older ones often teach the younger ones. Just running a household that big takes up a tremendous amount of time and energy, easily as much as a 9-5. Those kids are not getting constant Mommy and Daddy time, but are being left with what amounts to childcare. It just happens to be thier older siblings doing it.

I have 1 DD6 and we get plenty of quality time, even though I work full time and she has 3 days a week of dance because I go out of my way to make sure it happens. You don't have to be with your child all day every day to be an active and involved parent, and I believe it benefits her to get out an experience some of the world outside of our home far more than it would to be shut up away from the world the way the Duggar children are.

Where do you get that at all? You can't make that assumption from a few minutes of edited television?

Michelle is home all day most days with the children. They appear to have a lot of time with her.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

We have 9 people in our family and it is expensive. We don't make that much but we do have good salaries that are spent and saved.

They do pay property tax in the majority of their property. It is an urban legend that they don't pay, lol.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I don't see everyone chipping in. The girls cook, do the laundry, take care of the children, homeschool the younger children and care for younger brothers and sisters. That is not chipping in, that is taking on the entire burden of caring for the family. They never have the opportunity to spend time alone or develop their own interests or think about a life that doesn't involve church work or having multiple children with a man they barely know who is chosen for them by their parents. Not a life I would chose for my children, but then I would rather let them choose their own path and allow them time to be children before they have to be adults.

Really? In the episode where JB's father passed away one of the girls sets up a slide show dedicated to her grandfather. JB commented how that daughter was interested in graphic arts and was very good at it.

And they have 4 year old boys cleaning bathrooms. So everyone is chipping in to help.

 

[leahjade]

I've read the quiverfull information and strongly disagree with their beliefs and lifestyle. I want more for myself and my child than to follow ANYTHING blindly. If you want to believe in a deity and have faith, your choice. However, I DON"T think these folks are role models for American values

They are not forcing you to adopt their lifestyle. If anyone ridiculed the way Muslims dress or their believes, they would be called intolerant and bigoted so I don't understand why this family isn't entitled to the same respect. I don't agree with all their beliefs but I rarely have ever seen such hatred towards a family as I see towards the Duggars.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

People want to believe their way is the only way. That is why the Duggars bother people. I've never seen a perfect family nor have I seen the perfect way to raise children that guarantees happiness and health for everyone.