Yeah, that kid got screwed over. They changed the law that did that though.

My problem is the entitlment society and attitude. I saw a social worker today and she is retiring early because of "the attitude" drives her crazy. IF you dont work with these people you most likely have no idea what we are talking about. She had one woman tell her, "sure I got money to pay for food, but its YOUR job to feed my kids now do your job." -and get my food stamps.

Total trash

2/20/2008 5:00:20 PM

I'm sure the system is abused, but are you for taking it away completely? What about the people who really fall upon hard times and need it? I guess we kick them while they're down and say too bad.

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 5:07 PM. Reason : their they're there]

2/20/2008 5:06:37 PM

I agree that some system needs to exist. But it should be extremely limited in scope and time. If you can't take care of your kids, then turn them over to the state. That would probably cost more per child, but I would like to hope that there are a substantial amount of ghetto mothers who actually work when faced with the loss of their children.

I would even be for a flex system that extends benefits during periods of exceptionally high unemployment.

But in this country, we have a large segment of the population that truly and honestly believes that this government owes them something. They don't owe anybody shit.

The only responsibility the government owes to people is to insure their constitutional rights are properly protected. Now, we could argue all day long about what someone's consitutional rights are or aren't, but I dont' think that anyone would argue that it is your right to get free money from the government for extended period of time because you don't feel like you should have to work.

I wish that this world would stop coddling the weak and make people work for what they want in life. Being poor is not a permanent condition. I know because I grew up in a home where my single mother raised me and my two sisters on less than 17,000 a year and we never once used any government aid out of pride and a conviction to accomplish on your own. My mother made some mistakes, like the mistake of loving my father, but she didn't let that become an excuse.

I can't figure out why there were families like mine who were determined to take care of themselves even though we could have qualified for government assistance and there are others who think that the government owes them a monetary duty.

2/20/2008 5:26:21 PM

Quote :

"as it has already been pointed, the top DOES support the bottom in our society."

No, the machines support everyone. The bottom humans does most of the physical work, though still a trivial percentage.

2/20/2008 10:24:05 PM

Haha. You always crack me up GV.

2/20/2008 10:35:31 PM

Brett, not at all. In a country this rich people should have support. What we cant continue to do is pay for people's mistakes and being irresponsible. If someone needs temp assistance they should get it, however they did get it before our govt started doing it too. Thing called charities.

I think you make people who choose not to work go physically pick up their checks, but before they receive them have to take a BC shot. If they refuse, they get to wait a month. She the idea of only paying for one or two kids sounds nice, however it wont work. Too many bleeding hearts for "the kids", so it will only continue. Gotta address the issue before hand, I think.

2/20/2008 11:23:53 PM

Quote :

"I'm sure the system is abused, but are you for taking it away completely? What about the people who really fall upon hard times and need it? I guess we kick them while they're down and say too bad."

There are many ways to organize charity. Making it an entitlement was not a good organizational strategy, in my opinion.

When it is people voluntarily dispensing their own money charitably they have an incentive to make sure only those that need it get it while the recipients have an incentive to be thankful for receiving it.

2/21/2008 12:56:08 AM

Quote :

""WANTED: Some apathetic self-righteous faggot who thinks and writes a lot of vitriol against Consumerism and the State, but possesses few social or practical skills." Philosophy degrees tend not to end up on the high side of the pay scale in Capitalist systems. Coal Miners and factory workers usually make more money than they do. Supply and demand is a two way street. If nobody wants your skills, your efforts don't "deserve" shit. That's just the nature of Capitalism."

Just curious, but just why would you base an argument around the assumption that I'm some sort of philosophy major? I'm in engineering. I have just as much right to laugh at humanities majors as you do.

My point was not simply that investing money and time should be good pay, but also effort. If a person goes to college just to earn a joke degree, they shouldn't expect to get much out of it once they enter the job market. So, I suppose I agree with you in that regard...

You completely ignored the purpose of that post in regards to the point I was replying to... GV stated that because someone is doing work, they deserve "thanks" and treatment as a "comrade"... even if that work is unskilled labor that could probably be taught to a monkey through pantomime. My point was that not all work is equal, and thus not all work deserves equal compensation.

Quote :

"xenophobic"

...do you even know the definition of that word? ...because it's not applicable to what I said in the least bit. If you think it was some racist statement about the Chinese, it's not. It was simply a reference to the communist state that GV seems to think is the ideal.


[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 1:42 AM. Reason : specifics]

2/21/2008 1:24:53 AM

Quote :

"tromboner950: Just curious, but just why would you base an argument around the assumption that I'm some sort of philosophy major? I'm in engineering. I have just as much right to laugh at humanities majors as you do."

Because it was an easy enough base from which you can extrapolate. Surely you're not going to say I "based my argument" around the assumption that your sister is also a Quantum Physics graduate...

Returning to the point, though, graduating computer science majors already make less than they did when I was your age at State. Don't think your field is above market forces.

I've lived in North Carolina long enough to watch Tobacco and Textiles, the proverbial 'olive tree' industries of North Carolina, lose favor as well. These are all industries people have believed at one time or another to be safe, permanent, and high-grossing.

Quote :

"tromboner950: My point was not simply that investing money and time should be good pay, but also effort."

The capitalist work world will not reward your effort just because you applied it, though. You've got to pick skills that are in demand, not already saturated in your own labor force, and not likely to be replaced or rendered obsolete by advancing technology. Don't forget the billions of brown people around the world who will do your job cheaper than you, too. That's my point.

Further, effort is subordinate in the capitalist model to an even greater power: Results.

Quote :

"tromboner950: GV stated that because someone is doing work, they deserve "thanks" and treatment as a "comrade"... even if that work is unskilled labor that could probably be taught to a monkey through pantomime. My point was that not all work is equal, and thus not all work deserves equal compensation."

Sure. But, why don't they deserve "thanks" or "treatment as a 'comrade?'"

I see no connection between where you started and where you ended up here.

Quote :

"tromboner950: ...do you even know the definition of that word?"

Do you really want to debate the superiority of one definition or another of the same word?

2/21/2008 2:48:43 AM

What are you trying to accomplish? I'm not denying that demand for a job is required (no one is arguing that, to my knowledge), I kind of figured it was one of those naturally assumed things, given our society. I was simply arguing the point that not all work is equal. You're derailing this into a discussion on the market demand of given careers.

Quote :

"Sure. But, why don't they deserve "thanks" or "treatment as a 'comrade?'" I see no connection between where you started and where you ended up here."

Because the jobs they do are simple and can be done by virtually anyone with little or no training. That's what I'm getting at. I'm not saying that all jobs requiring college degrees automatically deserve pay (perhaps I did embellish towards that point, which is my mistake), but that unskilled labor does not deserve higher pay because it requires little training.

I fully realize that demand influences pay as well, but unlike you I also realize that such a fact is completely irrelevant to what is being discussed in this thread.

2/21/2008 3:00:17 AM

Quote :

"What are you trying to accomplish?"

Just this...

Quote :

"(perhaps I did embellish towards that point, which is my mistake)"

I'm done now.

2/21/2008 3:09:55 AM

Quote :

"GoldenViper: Start of this thread: "Poor folk need to bust ass and live as frugally as possible. If they don't, they're lazy bums who deserve whatever they get." End of this thread: "Damn the government for stealing my money! Taxes hurt me. I need every grimy penny!""

Thank you for posting this.

2/21/2008 8:13:04 AM

how did this thread turn into a debate on taxes

2/21/2008 9:38:58 AM

Gamecat's fault. she posts things, then ignores the responses. waste of time trying to establish any reason.

to answer the original question, lazy is not the right word.

I would hazard a guess that most poor people have established a pattern of failing to take advantage of things in life, like schooling, and now pay for it by being "poor." Some have unavoidable problems, but most bring their situations upon themselves through drugs, gambling, alcohol, criminal activity and making babies. I generally have very little sympathy. Even with all of those things against a person, there is nothing stopping you from pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and forging ahead.

I have seen the lowliest mexican immigrant bricklayer, riding to the jobsite in a van full of other guys, living in a 3 bedroom apartment with 10 people, and speaking little english, bust his ass over a period of time...learned english, earned a promotion as a foreman, got his own place to live and a vehicle and now is by no means rich, but has his family in position to succede in the future. kudos to him. a lot of american lazy-bastards could learn a thing or two from the immigrants.

2/21/2008 10:43:08 AM

Quote :

"a lot of american lazy-bastards could learn a thing or two from the immigrants. "

this can't be emphasized enough. there is ample opportunity for anyone in this country willing to put in the time and effort, you probably aren't going to ever become wealthy (there is that slim chance), but you can become comfortable and position your children to take it to the next level.

2/21/2008 12:06:58 PM

It kinda got lost b.c it was the last post on page 2 but i while i think most people are poor because they are dumb and or lazy, i still think that a small percentage gets fucked over by the system. The classic example is the elimination of financial aid because someone got caught smoking a joint. Thus the gate to success now has a vastly increased barrier to entry.

2/21/2008 12:16:19 PM

Quote :

"The classic example is the elimination of financial aid because someone got caught smoking a joint. Thus the gate to success now has a vastly increased barrier to entry. "

I would have been one that was eliminated, but what about civil responsibility. Everyone knows that smoking pot is illegal, if you know that it could affect your ability to attend college later in life, then maybe it will help some kids to say no.

There are plenty of other avenues other than borrowing to pay for school as well. It's really a function of what you are willing to do to get to where you want to be in life. I joined the military and used the GI Bill.

You could work full time and go to school at night. I worked full time throughout my undergraduate career.

I short, those are excuses and not reasons.

2/21/2008 12:27:48 PM

how can anyone blame the government after they lose their financial aid because they were doing drugs? a person like that is a perfect example of how so many try to pass their own failures off as the "system" holding them down instead of their own stupidity.

2/21/2008 1:48:44 PM

Quote :

"as it has already been pointed, the top DOES support the bottom in our society"

Was this supposed to be a joke? I see it's out of context, but I don't get it.

If me and my colleagues all quit right now, the "top" comes down right with us.

2/21/2008 1:55:51 PM

^So you are at the bottom of society?

Figures.

2/21/2008 2:24:04 PM

^ that made me laugh.

Seriously, anyone who works in this country has economic value, regardless of the job.

Anyone who wants out of poverty can

2/21/2008 2:42:12 PM

Quote :

"^So you are at the bottom of society? Figures. "

Compared to what our managing partners make, I'm damn near the bottom. Either way,

Quote :

"as it has already been pointed, the top DOES support the bottom in our society"

this is retarded

2/21/2008 2:44:51 PM

the solution is to teach birth control, not abstinence

2/21/2008 2:47:13 PM

How in the world can you call it retarded to say that the top doesnt pay for the bottom. In fact, the top pay for just about everything as far as govt goes.

Yes they need workers, but where does the money come from that is given to fund programs for nonworkers and other freebies? Im curious as to what your answer is.

2/21/2008 2:47:42 PM

I think you're curious about answer because of the way you posed your question.

2/21/2008 3:14:57 PM

Quote :

"I would have been one that was eliminated, but what about civil responsibility. Everyone knows that smoking pot is illegal, if you know that it could affect your ability to attend college later in life, then maybe it will help some kids to say no."

Don't even get me started on how fucking stupid our drug policy is. Sorry i am not going to buy this "well jolly, they should have known smoking pot is illegal". Fact is someone who beat his girlfriend for a simple assault charge, got a DUI, or got caught, or got charging for stealing $2000 electronics would steal qualify for financial aid. Whereas as Johnny pot head who maybe was unfortunate to get caught while committing a rather victimless crime and perhaps did not have the money for a big shot lawyer is screwed.

We bitch about welfare moms and poor people not achieving which i agree with yet we do erect these artificial barriers that prevent some people from jumping the gap.



Maybe one day they will eliminate financial aid for anyone that gets caught drinking underage, gets pulled for going over 20 on the highway, or is caught downloading music.

Quote :

"a person like that is a perfect example of how so many try to pass their own failures off as the "system" holding them down instead of their own stupidity."

Surely you the model citizen always obeys teh law
-65 in the 65
- Waited allllll the way your 21st to drink alcohol
- etc

Quote :

"the solution is to teach birth control, not abstinence"

agreed

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 4:03 PM. Reason : a]

2/21/2008 3:57:26 PM

LOL, terp.

Ok, terp in your opinion where does the money come from to pay for food stamps, welfare, and other handouts that non-workers receive?

I was actually curious if you would answer the question, which you did not, and I think we both know why.

2/21/2008 4:04:28 PM

They come from the money America borrows with their treasury bonds.

2/21/2008 4:08:43 PM

Treasury bonds? LOL

You know the answer,I think you are too chicken shit to say it bc it goes against your BS statement. Facts are a bitch huh.

2/21/2008 5:19:08 PM

Quote :

"she posts things, then ignoresquotes and responds to each of the responses."

2/21/2008 6:19:26 PM

Quote :

"Surely you the model citizen always obeys teh law -65 in the 65 - Waited allllll the way your 21st to drink alcohol - etc"

I am certainly not a "model" citizen if those are your standards. However, I dont do drugs then pass of the consequences of doing so on the government. That is just asinine. Some of us in this world actually take responsibility for our actions.

2/22/2008 8:38:32 AM

Quote :

"Don't even get me started on how fucking stupid our drug policy is. Sorry i am not going to buy this "well jolly, they should have known smoking pot is illegal". Fact is someone who beat his girlfriend for a simple assault charge, got a DUI, or got caught, or got charging for stealing $2000 electronics would steal qualify for financial aid. Whereas as Johnny pot head who maybe was unfortunate to get caught while committing a rather victimless crime and perhaps did not have the money for a big shot lawyer is screwed. "

I never said I liked our drug policy. Hell, I wish everyday that we would legalize all drugs so that those people that enjoy them can do so and those who can't control their consumption can begin to weed themselves out of our society. Legalize all drugs, allow for government spending for treatment (if you revert, you go to debtor's prison), attach a multiplier to all felonies so that if you are caught committing burglary or some other enumerated felony with any mind altering substance in your system, then you get a heavier sentence.

All I was saying was that I don't like people blaming the government for probems that they themselves created and could have prevented. And you are right, if they are going to apply this law to drug offenders, then it should be an across the board application against any who have been convicted of a felony.

2/22/2008 8:46:42 AM

Yeah perhaps people should not do something "illegal" but it is still stupid that in its own self interest the gov't makes such policy as "oh you smoked the doobie; no financial aid." This is an absolutly ridiculous policy. Meanwhile I can go out and beat up my some random slut i'm hooking up with and maybe after serving short sentence or being put on probation I can still get some grants and student loans. Everyone screws up; even Dubya snorted a few lines during the 70's.

Quote :

"And you are right, if they are going to apply this law to drug offenders, then it should be an across the board application against any who have been convicted of a felony."

Possession in NC is not even a misdemeanor. It is a civil infraction for any small amount under 1/2 oz. I am waiting for the day they enact no financial aid if you are caught drinking under age. Probably would save the gov't $texas in aid since 1/2 of students would become inelidgeable.

Quote :

"ttach a multiplier to all felonies so that if you are caught committing burglary or some other enumerated felony with any mind altering substance in your system, then you get a heavier sentence."

I'd agree to that. It is like if you are convicted of rape it is a 2-5 year sentence. However, if you use a weapon and are convicted of rape you get 15-20 years.

[Edited on February 22, 2008 at 9:47 AM. Reason : a]

2/22/2008 9:43:24 AM

Quote :

"DaBird: Gamecat's fault. she posts things, then ignores the responses. waste of time trying to establish any reason."

Is this about me?

If so, I'll go ahead and respond now.

Quote :

"AndyMac: wouldn't not having this safety net ready to catch you make you MORE motivated to be successful? I mean, for actual poor people, it's not an experiment you are running, it's your life."

No.

It's very difficult to get motivated when you've got shit knocking you down all the time and when you feel like there's little chance that you'll actually succeed.



And to the couple of bitches who took fault with my assertion that rich folks don't pay taxes like the rest of us...bite me...wealthy folks are very good at avoiding taxes, and I'm talking about the really wealthy folks...

Again...99% of us vs. that 1%.



So there we go. I've wrapped up my responses to this thread. I hope you see why I didn't bother before.

2/22/2008 10:05:48 PM

Quote :

"wouldn't not having this safety net ready to catch you make you MORE motivated to be successful?"

False question; no free society has ever existed without a safety net, even if it was just giving up your children to the church and making a fresh start in another city or region. The question is not whether we should have a safety net or not; the question has always been whether the safety net should be provided by Government Beurocrats or by Civil Society through charities, family structures, and religious associations.

Quote :

"It's very difficult to get motivated when you've got shit knocking you down all the time and when you feel like there's little chance that you'll actually succeed."

Succeed at doing what? If you feel like there is little chance that you will succeed, then you are trying to do too much. Check your priorities, humble yourself, and do what you can. Motivation should not be necessary to satisfy your most basic priorities.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 12:39 AM. Reason : .,.]

2/23/2008 12:37:25 AM

Quote :

"False question; no free society has ever existed without a safety net, even if it was just giving up your children to the church and making a fresh start in another city or region. The question is not whether we should have a safety net or not; the question has always been whether the safety net should be provided by Government Beurocrats or by Civil Society through charities, family structures, and religious associations."

I already know you're a "practical" dude. In a discussion about single mothers, you weighed the financial benefit of a boyfriend's income against his possible abuse of the mother and her children. And you didn't come out with a definite preference.

Quote :

"Succeed at doing what? If you feel like there is little chance that you will succeed, then you are trying to do too much. Check your priorities, humble yourself, and do what you can. Motivation should not be necessary to satisfy your most basic priorities."

I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here. Could you be more specific? I can try for exact scenarios if you'd like.

I mean, what are the most basic priorities?

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 3:41 AM. Reason : sss]

2/23/2008 3:19:30 AM

i dont know if bridget is poor but she is definitely fat and i've noticed a lot of times that fat people are generally poor, and they cant afford to eat good stuff

2/23/2008 3:46:39 AM

^In the past, I would have agreed with you--that was one of my arguments about class and weight. But I've been to Walmart recently, and GOD DAMN, you can fill an entire cart up with good shit for less than thirty dollars. It is CHEAP to eat healthy or otherwise.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 3:55 AM. Reason : And don't call me fat or poor unless you have a point to make. Bitch.]

2/23/2008 3:54:45 AM

you are not really esgargs are you?

2/23/2008 3:58:55 AM

Quote :

"I already know you're a "practical" dude. In a discussion about single mothers, you weighed the financial benefit of a boyfriend's income against his possible abuse of the mother and her children. And you didn't come out with a definite preference."

I might, depends on the abuse. This is real life, and things are rarely as they should be. If she loves him and is willing to overlook his transgressions in exchange for financial security then who are we to disagree. That said, if he is the father then she does not need to live with him to get financial support, that is what child support is for.

Quote :

"I mean, what are the most basic priorities?"

A subleased room out of a three bedroom apartment in a bad neighborhood, money for the carpool to work, and time off during the week to maintain a day-care cooperative (one-day a week, so if six mothers convince their bosses to let each of them off a different day of the work week then any day of the week one of the mothers performs day-care for the other five. My cousin is part of one, and she is an engineer at IBM and could afford state licensed daycare if she chose, but so she would work saturday her boss gave her a choice of one week-day off every week and she and six other working mothers, all happily married, jumped as the opportunity to save $700 each every month for day-care).

This would be the most basic living I can think of. Even minimum wage would fund such a lifestyle with a monthly surplus for entertainment, a small used car, and extra living space. Since even a job at walmart pays $9 an hour, she could even think of getting her own place. This is all assuming no child-support is forthcoming.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 9:41 AM. Reason : .,.]

2/23/2008 9:38:53 AM

Quote :

"And to the couple of bitches who took fault with my assertion that rich folks don't pay taxes like the rest of us...bite me...wealthy folks are very good at avoiding taxes, and I'm talking about the really wealthy folks... Again...99% of us vs. that 1%. "

Ah, what a compelling arguement. complete with a "bite me" and class warfare.

However, the facts dont support you statement. As Ive pointed out earlier the rich pay more than thier share in taxes. Yes, they do things to protect their money from an ever increasing govt and people, like you, who feel they dont deserve their own money.

So if you are on some kind of govt assistance, thank a rich person. And stop looking at your govt to provide you with a better life, go out and get one.

2/23/2008 12:13:09 PM

Something tells me that ^ you, and Bridget, are operating on different opinions of "rich". because the word isn't well defined in this context.

Some people define that as around 77-80k a year.
Some people define it as around a quarter mill a year or more.

I PROMISE you there is a HUGE difference between which "section" of the rich can afford to deal with a lot of tax shelters and which cant.

Democrats define rich really low, Republicans (as a party) tend to define it really high.

Either way, the people between the democrat definition of "average" and the republican definition of "average" get screwed on a pretty routine basis.

Too rich to qualify for most anything , not rich enough for it not to hurt like hell when the government takes over 30% of your pay between state/fed/medicare/social security and you're working 50+ hours a week to subsidize somebody else's HDTV. And certainly not rich enough to be involved with most kinds of tax shelters and such.

2/23/2008 2:40:50 PM

Quote :

"Too rich to qualify for most anything , not rich enough for it not to hurt like hell when the government takes over 30% of your pay between state/fed/medicare/social security and you're working 50+ hours a week to subsidize somebody else's HDTV."

yeah no shit. its the war on the middle class.

i have a friend who got 4K grant money every year he was in college b.c his parents were divorced and his mom who was his primary guardian had virtually no income. Thus he "qualified" for financial need. In reality his mom parents were loaded and as a 50 yr old woman lived in on daddy's allowence ; had a new 08 maxima; and lived in a 250K in the neighborhood next to mine.

Meanwhile i got $0 financial aid eventhough my parents paid for $0 in my tuition even though FAFSA somehow comes up with $11K as being my parents contributions like they have no mortgages, life goals, or dependants to take care of.

Pretty much in our society if you are in the income stratosphere top 1~2 % you have the capital to effectively flat out evade taxes or find loopholes to shelter your income from taxes. Not to mention use your wealth to "influence" politicians to do you favors. Meanwhile the bottom 1/3 if they choose (granted some working class and working poor have enough pride and honor to not want to live on the system) can sit around getting handouts or work while paying minimal taxes and receiving subsidizations. This is because it is politically incorrect to not help the poor and it makes politicians look like they care.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 4:21 PM. Reason : l]

2/23/2008 4:17:31 PM

^ Trust me, I know. My parents landed there due to inheritances coming in a couple years in a row. They didnt really have jobs with those incomes and wound up having to use the inheritance when harder times fell again. Now I'm middle class myself by income. There's no real way out other than winning the lotto (not likely) or loosing my job and becoming a welfare mooch.

I dont mind hard work (that's what got me where I am), but I do mind the fact that I feel like i'm busting my ass constantly to get nowhere fast while uncle sam takes 1/3 of it away from me.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 5:56 PM. Reason : .]

2/23/2008 5:55:06 PM

that's a good read, but as stated, probation or child support payments would have totally fucked him. i started a smiliar project about 2 years ago with a couple of differences. (actually some were mentioned by the interviewer)

not to take away from what he did, cause thats impressive, but heres some words (thats ok in soap box, right?) about how one or 2 mistakes could have made what he did impossible

when i got back to nc, i had a warrant waiting on me, so i immediately got to NC and met the cops and went to jail to get it over with and see where i stood. at first they set a $50,000 dollar bond since i had just come in from seattle, but, my attorney got it knocked down to 10k, and i got out for 1500.

after i plead guilty to what i did, i had a huge probation/treatment/legal bill due every month (more than what most college kids pay in rent and their part of utilities) -- UPDATE: 16 months into the 18 months of probation, i actually just finished paying it off, and am waiting for her to call and tell me i'm done and finally "free" again. so counting only my money and nothing to do with "contacts/family", i was hurting. and i had to find a way to take care of myself... i went so far as to pretend to myself that i had no one to call for money if i needed it, just to get me inspired to make as much as i could on my own.

i also had a huge hacking felony trial looming over my head for 4 years. and as you all know, convicted felons dont get hired. but what i didnt think about was that they wont hire potential convicted felons either, becuase if it goes to trial and you lose, they have to fire you, and thats a waste of their money. so i ended up working for 10 bucks an hour as a test scorer at this boring ass job that made me wanna shoot myself and going to outpatient drug meetings, and gave most of that money to the place that ran the meetings, or my probation officer. lucky for me, i had tons of family who kept me in side jobs and stuff, and then eventually had one approach me about the job of a lifetime. so i did get lucky, but i was never lazy.

so while i think that's a great story, and it does show that a lot of people just claim to be in a trap while they sit around and do nothing about it. it also shows the importance of saving and not living beyond your means.

BUT, like the interviewer implied, i think if he had baggage from NC with him, he couldnt have done it so quickly. also, its very obvious that his credit score mattered a whole lot, unless he happened to hit the renters market lately where 6 homes on every block are for sale, and he found someone to rent to him without a credit check.

to conclude, without getting really into my business, because it did end up just fine, and honestly it did because of "contacts" that he didnt use... i think it is possible, and i totally commend him for showing that. but based on his story, if he had something as simple as a felony charge looming, probation, child support, or even nonsuper credit, i dont think he would have met his goal without some luck. cause there are tons of traps out there that can snare a poor person. no matter how hard you work. i know that even though i was busting my ass to make my life better, if i didnt get lucky on certain things, i could easily still be poor and grading tests for 10 bucks an hour, without wasting a penny, and not seeing a penny at the end of the month.

shits hard yo. they need a third book, through the ideas of someone who is caught up in their past mistakes (for the sake of the non-understanding people, we won't call it the trap)

2/23/2008 8:23:33 PM

Quote :

"shits hard yo. they need a third book, through the ideas of someone who is caught up in their past mistakes (for the sake of the non-understanding people, we won't call it the trap) "

That's true, but people like that aren't usually able to write books, until they actually make up for their mistakes, and by then, it'll just be another story of someone who worked hard and made it

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 8:35 PM. Reason : ]

2/23/2008 8:34:34 PM

hahaha, very true. (that quote should have said "Through the eyes" - in case no one was able to figure that out. im bad with the typos)

although i would love to write a book about my life and put it out at some point (may be why i write so much about my life on here, all my stories and trials and etc), i don't think i'll have time to do it until later in life. some of that is due to time available, some is due to the fact that theres no ending yet. books gonna suck unless we find out what ends up happening to the hero. do i drop dead at 30, right after i dig myself out of the hole i put myself in while i was in my 20s? do i have kids? do i grow old and alone? my book would suck if we didnt know what happened to the hero!

now, with all that said, i still think the guy had an interesting concept, and i can't blame him because theres a reasonable chance he didn't know about the harsher realities that are out there.

i can, however, blame him for his use of going above and beyond, making such a huge attempt to lie to people about his backstory. once again, there's an off chance that he had no idea, but my making up a sad story as to why he is alone out there, he is playing off the feelings of the people he met. which could have a big effect on getting an otherwise "bad" person into an apartment i'm renting out or something. its like those things at taco bell that ask you to donate a dollar to starving kids, when youre at the drive through spending 6 bucks on crap for yourself.

a good backstory lie and the power of guilt can take you pretty far. hell, that can replace a lot of the luxuries he left at home. but anyways. neat story, but i won't be picking this one up.

2/23/2008 10:07:41 PM

^^^My mother heard him interviewed, and he admitted that he caught a lot of good breaks. So not only was he working from a spotless slate, he was also very lucky. He also stressed the good advice that he got and took along the way.

^I kinda felt like he stressed his backstory on purpose. Like, he was making the point that people are sympathetic, and if you open up a bit and let folks feel like they know you, they'll help you out more.

Some punk with an attitude problem who misses work is more likely to get fired than the kid with the good heart who missed work cause he got caught up with his drunk mother and abusive stepdad...but the punk and the kid are still the same person.

2/24/2008 2:14:59 AM

"With respect to the two words 'general welfare', I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."

I agree with James Madison on this one.

2/24/2008 11:19:24 AM