TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

RE: 76% Of Teachers Say Kids Come To School Hungry. Here's What's Being Done

Tinydancer · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
We talk about them because there are so many cheaters that even the people who need it honestly are viewed as cheaters just because they're on it. There is so much scorn out there that I hate to see them all lumped into general statements. I have anger towards the people who play the system and I have sympathy for the ones that actually need it. How can you have a conversation about it if you don't discuss both sides? Oh well. I guess scorn makes a better conversation than sympathy so I'll stop talking about it.
Yes, because there is so much PCism about CALLING out users and abusers. If we truly did weed out the users and abusers, then people would feel that their tax money is truly going to help the people who need it. Not so sure why that it is hard to understand?

I understand it completely and I never said you couldn't talk about the abusers of the system. All I did was try to talk about the people who struggle while living on welfare and I was told there was nothing to talk about. I didn't realize we could ONLY TALK ABOUT THE CHEATERS and if there was all this charity out there (there is charity but it's not quite as prolific as you all seem to think) then why are the people I volunteer for struggling so hard to survive? I run a resource hotline and there are still seniors and veterans who can't afford the basic necessities. You remember these people right? No they're not supposed to live in luxury but the edge of poverty is not what they deserve either.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

There are programs out the Ying Yang to help people. You only "deserve" what you have worked for and earned. Sorry, that's the reality of life. I tell my kids, you can have anything you want, as long as you are willing to work to for it.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
There are programs out the Ying Yang to help people. You only "deserve" what you have worked for and earned. Sorry, that's the reality of life. I tell my kids, you can have anything you want, as long as you are willing to work to for it.

Yeah. I don't get where this "deserve" comes in.

I have a lot of respect for veterans--my son is in the military.

However, he signed up for four years at a certain rate of pay and certain benefits. If he decides to re-up, it will be at a certain rate of pay and benefits.

If the government has done what it said it will do in terms of pay and benefits (and later a pension for those who serve a certain length of time)--then THAT is what they deserved/deserve.

Now, the VA is a mess, and certainly that aspect of veterans' benefits needs to be cleaned up and improved. If there are promised payments that have not been made--then they should be (although I don't know that to be the case).

However, just to say that you deserve a lifetime of this or that for serving 4 years is ridiculous. You signed up to serve for what you got.

Again, I have a son in the military, as well as other relatives who have served, so it's not like it's an abstract issue for me.

As far as seniors go--same thing. If they are getting their promised medicare and SS benefits--and they are--then what more do people think they "deserve"? No one said that simply by getting old you deserve a certain standard of living. People still have to plan for themselves. We do have social safety nets--but they are NEVER going to pull someone out of poverty, and I'm not so sure they should. Put some food on their table, help them with medical care, and subsidize their heat bill so they don't die in the winter. Beyond that, I'm not sure why people think we should be so obligated to do more than that. Poor planning on your part does not necessarily mean I have a problem--expect my already outrageous taxes that fund all this crap.

Tinydancer · Guru

Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Tinydancer wrote:
Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.

Name calling...lovely...

flan

huskerbb · Guru

Tinydancer wrote:
Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.

They happen--but those who plan--have a plan for them. Disability insurance, good health insurance, long term care insurance, money in the bank, etc....

Beyond that, I never said we should never help anyone--but there's a difference between putting food on someone's table because they are hungry--and trying to give them a middle class lifestyle because they somehow "deserve" it just for being alive.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.
They happen--but those who plan--have a plan for them. Disability insurance, good health insurance, long term care insurance, money in the bank, etc....

Beyond that, I never said we should never help anyone--but there's a difference between putting food on someone's table because they are hungry--and trying to give them a middle class lifestyle because they somehow "deserve" it just for being alive.

Yup

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Tinydancer wrote:
Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.

Yeah, planning for a "rainy day" used to be taught. Our parents generations learned how to do just that. But, now, I see tons of people "Living Large'. Oh sure, take that trip to Disney. Buy that car! Get that purse. You deserve it Wah, wah! While some of us have spent our lives living WITHIN our means. So, yeah, I am pretty sick to death of the whiners who simply CHOOSE to be irresponsible and expect me and my kids to foot the bill! furious

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You "deserve" nothing. You "deserve" what YOU have worked for with the sweat of your brow.

Tinydancer · Guru

Who said anything about a middle class life style. I understand that only bitching about the cheaters is allowed on this thread so I'll leave you all to it...lol

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Tinydancer wrote:
Who said anything about a middle class life style. I understand that only bitching about the cheaters is allowed on this thread so I'll leave you all to it...lol

Oh, please. The constant Bitching is about having more, more, more. It's never enough. Give me a break, wow.

huskerbb · Guru

Tinydancer wrote:
Who said anything about a middle class life style. I understand that only bitching about the cheaters is allowed on this thread so I'll leave you all to it...lol

You did. You said they "deserve" more than to be just above the poverty level.

Well....

poverty=poor

above the poor is the middle class. Above them are the wealthy or upper class.

BS. They "deserve" no such thing. Again, I'm not opposed to helping someone--but they "deserve", at least in most cases, pretty much what they have.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

That was the point of charity. Giving something to someone to help them who didn't do a thing to EARN it.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
Who said anything about a middle class life style. I understand that only bitching about the cheaters is allowed on this thread so I'll leave you all to it...lol
Oh, please. The constant Bitching is about having more, more, more. It's never enough. Give me a break, wow.

We are SO mean...

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
Yes because catastrophe's and medical hardships don't happen to people who plan. Some people have about as much compassion as a ring worm.
Name calling...lovely...
flan

That is not name-calling and you are purposely dragging **** from thread to thread and trying to cause trouble. I see it, and I'm pointing it out. Knock it off.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Tinydancer wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
We talk about them because there are so many cheaters that even the people who need it honestly are viewed as cheaters just because they're on it. There is so much scorn out there that I hate to see them all lumped into general statements. I have anger towards the people who play the system and I have sympathy for the ones that actually need it. How can you have a conversation about it if you don't discuss both sides? Oh well. I guess scorn makes a better conversation than sympathy so I'll stop talking about it.
Yes, because there is so much PCism about CALLING out users and abusers. If we truly did weed out the users and abusers, then people would feel that their tax money is truly going to help the people who need it. Not so sure why that it is hard to understand?
I understand it completely and I never said you couldn't talk about the abusers of the system. All I did was try to talk about the people who struggle while living on welfare and I was told there was nothing to talk about. I didn't realize we could ONLY TALK ABOUT THE CHEATERS and if there was all this charity out there (there is charity but it's not quite as prolific as you all seem to think) then why are the people I volunteer for struggling so hard to survive? I run a resource hotline and there are still seniors and veterans who can't afford the basic necessities. You remember these people right? No they're not supposed to live in luxury but the edge of poverty is not what they deserve either.

Well, actually, you are trying to say use the people that DON'T abuse the system as some type of argument against bitching about the cheaters.
I have no beef with those that truly need it and don't abuse the system.

HOWEVER, it should not be a way of life for able-bodied, working age people.

And Gaga is right - the word deserve is being misused. And welfare should not be comfortable - otherwise there is no incentive to get off of it.