Re: roberta, through the streets

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (RSt) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
>> I'm no fan of bloated gov't, but even if that's true, that 20% is
> still plenty enough to keep hundreds of registered well-paid lobbyists
> busy. Government is one of the biggest employers in this country, if
> not the biggest, with some of the best pay and benefits, and
> employment keeps the economy buzzing.  Are there really many who
> don't take advantage of whatever gov't benefits they find they're
> entitiled to that will help them along, be it unemployment benefits,
> business write-offs, whatever, and don't the majority pay those taxes
> come deadline, drive on the right side of the road, conform enough to
> stay in the mainstream flow playing by most of the rules, just going
> along cuz it's easier that way.>>

   You are absolutely right - government IS bloated, overfed,
overstaffed, and bleeding into every part of our lives.
   Everyone knowz that my husband is disabled - he is schizophrenic,
and does not do well when he has too much time on his hands without
someone around. That limits me to working at home or cutting down on
the time I spend away from home.  Fine- I can live with that.
   His Social Security caseworker calls me and offers me a few
options, she sez:  "Now, if you were to stop earning any money and
stay at home with him full time, you could receive a caregiver's
allowance (about $500 a month...) and you would also qualify to
receive an SSI check in addition to the other  entitlements.  You
would then qualify for food stamps and Medicaid as well."
   ?!? Come on! Talk about incentives to be lazy...if only I would
stop trying to make a living, they would take care of everything for
me, and I wouldn't have to worry about working anymore - how very nice
of them.  The idea of this sickens me, and makes me wonder just how
many out there are actually letting the government control their lives
like this.  Now they pop up with this new Medicare entitlement (which,
by the way, is about totally worthless, and I'm pissed that they spent
so much time and money cooking it up...)
   Here's why I don't feel so sorry for the people in the original
post:
   I knew there was trouble (with George) after I had been married for
a few years. We already had one child- no way I was going to have
another one when I knew I wouldn't be able to depend on him to help me
earn a stable living.  I made sure we bought a property that would
support us should the need arise (with game, fish, fresh water, plenty
of wood, and that would provide me with a way to make a living, etc.)
So you could say that 20 years ago, I was planning for the time that
the shit hit the fan, and it eventually did.  I honestly can't find a
good reason that other people can't do the same to some extent. In a
lot of ways I got lucky, but above all, I saw what my responsibilities
were going to be, and took care of them ahead of time. Now at 39 yrs.
old, the kid is in college, my business is prosperous, and I can take
care of the family in just about any circumstance. (Unless the Jeep
breaks down, and then I may be up the creek for a day or two - no
backup vehicle right now...not good.)
   The whole thing is, it took long years of hard work, sacrifice, and
planning to make sure that we would be able to get by, and it worked.
   So many want instant gratification, quick lawsuit money, more
government entitlements and subsidized housing to support the families
that they didn't plan for.  They consider it the government's job to
oversee their kids' education, and can't even help with the kids'
homework once they pass the 7th grade because they spent their spare
time watching Springer rather than bettering themselves. Just because
you're not in school doesn't mean your education should be over.
   I swear, if you choose to be poor, be poor in AMERICA.
   No offense intended with my little rant, but if anyone IS offended,
they need to examine how they have taken responsibility for
themselves.
Jen
(back to hunting the evergreens for the weekend...)
PS, Alan - Saw "The Core" and thought it was a bunch of hokey crap -
until I looked into it a little further.  I don't think candles will
do anyone much good!