News-Record.com

Check out this chart:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0202/csmimg/p11a.gif

I was shocked to see my bill for 12-21 to 1-21. It was $217, but we were not here from 12-21 to 1-31 and the heat was on 60 degrees and it has been unseasonably warm with many days where I turned the heat down.

I agree in a time when Exxon reports record profits that what the natural gas companies are doing is outrageous. I understand the economics behind it all, but am thankful for my electric water heater and appliances.

I was glad to hear the president pay lip service to weaning us off foreign oil. As a Republican, I can only hope that they will choose to do something about it the next time there is an energy bill due in Congress.

Our gas bill was $187 for November. Our bill for December was $569. December wasn't that cold, and we keep our temp at 68 degrees. We have gas hot water, but it's a new heater that is the most efficient available. We wash clothes in cold water and take quick showers. Heaven help us if we'd had a lot of ice and snow. We'd all be taking out a second mortgage to pay!!!

"It is a crying shame when people work all their lives, then retire, but cannot make it on what they draw."

This may sound cold but it is the hard truth: anyone who relies soley on Social Security for retirement is a fool. $560 a month isn't enough to live on even with a lower gas bill. What if his car needs a $1000 repair? What if his roof leaks and needs an expensive repair? Life is full of unexpected expenses.

The man should look at himself to blame for not having made wise retirement savings choices. I'm sure a few of you (I know who) will jump all over this, go ahead, but we all have a responsibility to save for retirement and unexpected expenses in life.

"we all have a responsibility to save for retirement and unexpected expenses in life. "

Agreed. However,

Do you know the guy in question? This man had planned and saved too, until he was diagnosed with a rare disease and had to endure $300,000 worth of treatments that his insurance company won't pay for due to a loophole.

Just a thought.

As is the norm for Bush, paying lip service to our dependency on foreign oil is just that, lip service. He is defending the record high profits of the oil companies. We all knew Bush was in their hip pocket, so no surprise.

The oil companies' response to any conservation on our part is to decrease the number of barrels that are exported. They think (and probably rightfully so) this will keep the cost of gas up. I would love to see the oil companies accumulate a glut and be forced to sell for less. But we are a nation who wants what we want at any cost. I cannot see most of the ones who post here as being willing to conserve.

BTW, my thermostat is set on 64 and my last gas bill was almost a thousand dollars. My tank is as big as a little submarine and it was down to less than 30%. The company waits til the price goes up again to refill rather than topping it off at lower prices. My only redeeming grace is I am blessed with a good paying job and am relatively healthy. If I were in the fix the fellow Iris wrote about is in, I would have to sell my house.

We need to have a little more empathy for the elderly who are helpless to do anything about their situation. It is apparent Bush is not going to do anything to alleviate their problems, like get tough with oil companies. What a blow hard.

".....He is defending the record high profits of the oil companies. We all knew Bush was in their hip pocket, so no surprise."

...good answer, but let me post an interpretation on what you REALLY should have said

"It's ALL Bush's fault! Always is....always will be. Don't confuse me with any common sense reasoning here. My mind is made up, and THAT'S THAT!"

I know I'm not the only one getting bored with the constant "Same Old Tired (Bashing Stuff), Different Day".

Would you folks at least TRY to use some other tactic out of the BashBush playbook in the future?

We heat with a wood stove and have access to free wood, for which I am thankful. My children and most of my friends, however, are not so lucky. We are thankful they can afford to heat their homes, but it is a burden nevertheless. February looks to be a colder month. It is sad to think of what will happen to those less fortunate.

Bubba, since you can find no wrong doing on the part of the Bush administration, please let me know what is better since they took power. We have let you know what is worse. If you think this administration is not owned by the oil companies, do some research on their prior "jobs".

One way of looking at this warm weather lately is a sort of divine retribution against the gas/oil companies. :-)

Hey - the Crony corps is always telling us this is just Free Markets at work, competition is the answer.

Just be glad it's a competative market, folks, imagine how high your heating bill would be if a Clinton were in office!

"Bubba, since you can find no wrong doing on the part of the Bush administration...."

Please share with us what part of my post said that, Carol.

We're waiting......

Bubba, I'm waiting for you to tell me why you continue to support Bush & Co. Please tell me something good that has happened in the last years.

"Please tell me something good that has happened in the last years."

Well, for starters, I got married. That was pretty cool.

Second, I cheered when the writ of habeas corpus and due process were effectively urinated upon by those in power. That totally rocked- screw the Magna Carta, baby!

Oh, and I was right there on the front lines when a fear-mongering executive made a huge power grab, asserting that established US law doesn't apply to him- and the funny thing is that he had folks so scared that the scary brown man halfway across the globe was coming to kill them here in Greensboro, North Cackalackie, that Americans didn't immediately hang him! That, friends, was a hoot- guess you just had to be there.

So, there's three things for you.

I'll answer for Carol;

From http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/archives/2006/02/where_is_the_ou.html#comments
===
"The sky may not be falling ... but for a FACT ... this country has been seized if not hijacked by the Self-Right-eous NeoCon movement."
(yawn)
SOTLBSDD

Posted by: Bubba at February 1, 2006 03:26 PM
===
....tell us again, Mr Rocketfella: What kind of cheese do you want with your whine?
Posted by: Bubba at February 1, 2006 06:18 PM
==

You don't comment much, Bubba, but when you so comment, you don't say much either.

Well, since President Bush is to blame for Global Warming, then I guess you should be thanking him for this warm weather that has kept up from having to keep out heat in as much.

Also, if you think it is hard on the elderly who are living on Social Security now, imagine how hard it will be on people in their 30s now, if they don't have some retirement set up. We are paying Social Security, but there sure isn't going ot be anything left by the time we get there! Kind of off topic, but wanted to get that in.

Some people say alot but it ain't worth reading neither.

The topic is gas bills. That don't matter to some. They'll take any chance to get a jab in on a democrat or republican, whichever one they didn't vote for.

The problem is that we are screwed. The only solution I see is to either stop being so dependant on oil cause quite frankly we have no choice but to pay whatever we're told.

"You don't comment much, Bubba, but when you so
Well, since President Bush is to blame for Global Warming, then I guess you should be thanking him for this warm weather that has kept up from having to keep out heat in as much"

Hello? It's called proof reading. Sorry. Post was meant to say I guess you should all be thanking President Bush for causeing Global Warming, otherwise just think about how high our heating bills would have been.

Bubba, Apparently you flunked mind-reading 101 as you were not even close to portraying the meaning you credited to me. If you are going to interpret my posts, at least have the common courtesy to accurately depict what I have said, not what you said I said.

If I blamed Bush for everything, I would have absolutely no problem saying that outright. But the issue is gas prices. I heard Bush say, just this AM, that he supported the oil companies in their right to make the (exorbitent) profits they make. Then he preaches to the American public about breaking our dependency on foreign oil without committing himself to making suggestions. That is why it is a bunch of lip service, not because you want to skirt the issue with the same old tired rhetoric about bashing Bush anytime anyone says something you disagree with.

We have had since the 70's and actually before, to do something about gas and oil alternatives. Remember the long lines during the Carter administration and how everyone howled about "We gotta find a different fuel". Remember what was done? Let me refresh your memory. NADA, ZIP, NOT A DAMN THING. Guess what, want someone to blame? Look in the mirror, I did. And guess who is to blame? All of us , the same ones who vote the same old tired bunch back into office year after year, who promise to do something about alternative energy. No one ever looked to see if anyone actually did anything. No , we just went to the polls and pulled the lever under the Party we always vote for and that was it. Then we bitch and complain because nothing has been done. Blame Bush all you want since that seems to be the horse in the stable at this time. But by dang, there has been a lot of horses in the stable and none of them have done one diddling thing about alternative energy. If you can name one who actually did I would love to hear about it and just how far it has gone. Our infamous, do-nothing congress( and this one is the worst) has had over 30 plus years to come up with some kind of energy plan but all that has been done is point fingers, play up to what ever funky a-- bunch that might have some money to put in the coffers and that by the way includes all the eco-terrorist who always play the enviroment card when it comes to drilling, re-drilling and nuclear. They want to play political football so they can blame who ever is in power or was in power for doing nothing , promise you the moon and p--- in your cornflakes and do nothing. Get with it folks, all this bull crap political posturing is for the garden. Congress could have, should have and still ain't gonna do nada. No matter what president was/is in power if congress wants to get off the political pot and put forth an energy plan they can and can put the votes together to override any veto the president might want to try.
Instead of wasting time bitching because this president hasn't done anything or won't do anything get on the horn, on the e mails , write, raise holy cane to your congressmen and tell them to STOP PLAYING THEIR SILLY A-- POLITICAL GAMES AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT ENERGY. I have , when are you going to do it. If you say when you get a roundtoit, I have a drawer full of them and will send you one so that excuse won't fly!

That's my dang nickles worth for today. Like or lump it, I don't give a rats butt.

" This may sound cold but it is the hard truth: anyone who relies soley on Social Security for retirement is a fool. "...........................
go read Mat.5 and specifically " Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. "............. hopefully it will speak to you............
you substitute what you believe for the truth.....the truth is not a philosophy, it is a person.
hopefully you will never be in a position where you can only manage on a fixed income ( for if you do you will be criticized by others like yourself ).
calling people fools whom you know nothing about them makes you sound callous and without compassion. it is my understanding that many 'older' folk worked in places that offered no retirement benefits and oftetimes no health benefits - they also lived from friday to friday ( due to low wages ) and hoped for the best. my heart goes out to those you call fool and my prayer is that God will sustain their needs.
i'm unsure if i'm one of those whom you knew would jump on this, but these are my thoughts !
one last thought, dan do you have any relatives or friends that are in the situation similar to the man described in the lte ? if so would you tell them to their face they are fools ??

My gas bill was 77.00 and it was estimated. How do they estimate? I can't wait to compare the actual gas used from two previous statements when I get the next one that was actually read two days ago.

Buz, thanks for speaking for the speechless.

Shalom

"That's my dang nickles worth for today."

I agree with you. Nothing will change, even if we do vote the rats out, not as long as Congresscritters are bankrolled by energy special interests.

So where does that leave us?

"Bubba, I'm waiting for you to tell me why you continue to support Bush & Co. Please tell me something good that has happened in the last years."

Good work, Carol... you certainly understand Liberal Debate Tactic #14: "When you don't want to (or cannot) answer a question, change the subject"

....as for you, Mr. Pocketseller, don't give up your day job. You'll never make it as a forum pundit. Ummm.....you DO have a day job, don't you?

"I heard Bush say, just this AM, that he supported the oil companies in their right to make the (exorbitent)[sic] profits they make."

I have heard this too. Altough it did not come directly from Bush,it was announced by Nancy Pelosi and Teddy Kennedy that indeed Bush supported the high profit margin enjoyed by the oil companies. This will help in his quest to make damn sure that no person over the age of 65 has a heated home and a hot meal every day. The oil that is being imported is needed to fuel his war on the iraqi civilian population and at the same time swell his and Cheney's bank accounts... Win-win!!

I also have it on good authority that Dick Cheney is working with Dennis Hastert to introduce legislation that will ban the meals on wheels program that is being offered to the elderly and poor. If alpo is good enough for fido,then by God it ought to do just fine for grandpa too, thank you very much! This should be no problem for the republicans that have seized and hi-jacked the government to ram this law down their throats.

Buz, I really don't see the relevance of Biblical quotes and someone not saving for their retirement. Can you enlighten me?

Granted I don't know this guy, my point is if this guy worked all his life, he should have had the foresight to save some money for retirement. I realize that sounds cold, but please tell me, are you going to rely totally on SS for income when you retire?

Well Denz, here is what I have written to my representatives and to our Senators. You may dooms day all over it or you can copy and send it . I feel I pretty well told it like it is. I am use to doing that after having dealt with deada--es ,like we seem to have in Congress, in my 30 plus years in the military and government. Was I always well received or well liked? Absolutely not. I was not running a popularity contest then and am not now. My job was to get deada--es off their a-- and get them to move. YES WE THE PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Those we replace after this will know that we are "mad as hell" and are not going to put up with their bull anymore" and not going to put up with their lobbiest buddies. (I'm working on a letter for that one too so hang on)
Here is the letter or e-mail or fax , however you wish to use it.

Dear Congressman (or Senator)__________________:

After listening to the Presidents State of the Union address the other night and hearing him say that we are addicted to oil and that something needs to be done to break the addiction, I am going to say that I agree totally.

However_Senator or Congressman_________________________ , I do not wish to hear words, I want to see action.

This situation has been ongoing since the Carter Administration and before. I am sure that you recall those years? If not please check out the Congressional Record and bring yourself up to date on the matter. That is why I voted for you, to know , understand and take action. It is time to bring this to a screeching halt. It is time to break the addiction and talk is not going to do it. Your processors and members of this distinguished body have done nothing in the past 36 years to alleviate this problem. It is time to stop playing political football with the energy situation, as it seems you fine folks want to do with everything else these days. It is time to stop stalling because a bill is introduced by a member from across the aisle. It is time to work together and get this country back on track and off the "slippery , oily road to destruction.

Here is what I propose that you and those representing the state of North Carolina do within the next 90 days. I submit that you put aside petty politics and put together a bill to support exploration of alternative energy, re-opening of closed oil fields for the time being, and cutting out the pork job that each of you have placed in the upcoming budget and redesignate those moneys for energy. NOT ONE PENNY FOR MAJOR OIL COMPANIES , I don't care what you promised or didn't promise or who's feeling get hurt. They have the money from the excessive profits to fund their own re-opening of fields in this country.

If there is no such legislation presented within the next 90 days, I am going to vote you out of office or do my best trying to do so. I may have voted for you before and you may have done a good job on some things but this is the most pressing issue that you face in your career. I will not vote for , or support any representative from this state who does not put forth maximum effort in this endeavor.

This letter is going to every organization that I belong to, every member of my church, in every newspaper and on every blog that I can find. I am going to encourage all those who read this to send the same to their representative.

For every letter or e-mail that you get demanding an end to this crisis will either be a vote for you or against you in the upcoming elections. You and only you can decide.

I do not wish to receive a mushy answer filled with sweetness and promises. I want and I demand action and action starting today.

You may rest assured that I will be keeping a close watch on what action you take in this matter.

Thank you,

mrp

Dan,
Thank goodness you have all the answers for people who ONLY have social security to live on. You are either the most intelligent man on the planet, or the most arrogant and thoughtless. Having followed your threads, I will have to go with the latter.

dan,
" Buz, I really don't see the relevance of Biblical quotes and someone not saving for their retirement. Can you enlighten me? " ........................
the answer is NO "i" cannot enlighten you. do you realize that Jesus spoke more about money than any other subject ? maybe i've confused you with another dan on these blogs. i've spoken with a dan in the past who claims they are Christian (catholic?) and that is to whom i thought i was responding, so if you are not that dan, i apologize and retract...however if you are the same dan i thought, then please explain to me when scripture is not relevant to living the Christian life. you see, to me the scripture is the will of God in book form, left for me ( and you? ) to study to shew we are approved of by the Father. sorry dan i cannot separate parts of my life from God and His teachings, that's just the way it is for me. so if you are comfortable calling another of Gods creatures fools, then have at it, each one will stand before the Lord and give account....have a happy day which ever dan you are ........

If you want cheaper fuel prices, than let the oil and natural gas companies built more refineries and drill for more of both domesticity. Let's start builting nuclear power plant, the rest of the world is, it cleaner and cheaper to produce. We can use coal more efficiently. But first we have to get the enviromentalist out of our way. We need to stop worrying about some mouse or fly or spotted owl or what ever the next thing they find will be harmed. We can be energy depend anytime, when we get a bunch of politicans, the polictical correct and a lot of red tape out of the way.

Yes liberals, I was talking about you.

Yes liberals, I was talking about you.(Bobby)

Bobby, this is the same stuff I was talking about above when I said stuff like this belongs in the garden. You know for fertilizer.
I am sure that if you took time to read a bit rather than just blanket cover all folks on the other side of the political spectrum from you, you would find that many agree with what you said about developing alternative energy, yes nuke and clean buring coal too. Yes the oil companies should use the tons of money they have made to re-open oil fields that have been closed because some dang "weed" is endangered and also to find new sources and places to drill. Yes, there are a group of enviro-nutzoids who scream about anything but whine when they have to pay at the pump. Of course they would have us riding horses until the horse poop started creating a mess and methane , then they would call for stronger govenment controls on horse poop. Sounds sorta like what Congress has been doing for the last 37 years to me anyhow. Either way, until we ALL look in the mirror and point the finger at the one staring back at us for continuing to re-elect the same ones who have done nothing to remedy the situation then we are going to have the same problem. Yelling and screaming and hurling insults to see who can out bullsh-- the other won't solve anything either. It is time for ALL of us, no matter if we ride on the back of a donkey or an elephant, to tell this "do-nothing bunch" to get off the pot or out you go. This coming election is a good time. Either they show some serious movement, and I don't mean sweet mushy love letters to you when you write to complain and tell you how they tried, I mean look at the record, did they vote FOR getting the situation under control or not. If NOT VOTE THEM OUT, ONE AND ALL if that is what it takes.
I have already written my representatives from here in the hills and also our illustrious Senators. I have and will continue to call their office until I get the response I expect and you can bet your sweet that I will be first in line when they all come dancing home to run for re-election. I don't mind looking at them in the eye and saying, I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR YOU THIS TIME, FOR YOU HAVE NOT DONE WHAT I ELECTED YOU TO DO.
So instead of throwing around the barnyard bovine excrement at someone here, put it on your garden soon and tell who every you voted for or even against, to stop with the same BBE and get to work.

Mr.P
I'm with you.

MP you are right that it si time to get new blood in and the retreads out. Career politicans on both sides need to be voted out. We need people who will actually serve the people and not their special interest, on both sides. This good old boys club needs to be stop by we the people. We should be the term limits for both sides by making sure they are not left in office to get comfortable being there. That way they want forget who the work for. with that I whole heartedly agree with you. We need new blood, not the same old do nothings.

Buz, it's the same 'ol Dan. Yes I am a Christian, but I don't see what that has to do with this guy working his whole life and depending soley on social security to pay his bills in retirement. Sorry bout that but what do we do? Would you like to contact Ms. Newby and offer to help pay the man's bills? Go ahead and put your money where your mouth is. No insult intended, but if you feel so strongly about this and God and his teachings, then help the guy out please.

You still didn't answer my question if you are going to rely on govt. social security to totally finance your retirement. Just curious. I for one do not count on that money being there when I retire, so I will do it on my own.

dan,
in conclusion, i am not counting on ss to finance my lifestyle....i currently manage my own retirement monies. while your approach to those (at least in this thread) less fortunate than yourself is to condemn and name call them for not making better choices, i would rather follow another example given by a carpenter.
you also didn't bother to answer the question i asked " do you have any relatives or friends that are in the situation similar to the man described in the lte ? if so would you tell them to their face they are fools ?? ".... my guess is that it's easier to do this kind of thing concealed behind a keyboard.
and finally, " 1 cor13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;* but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. " sorry dan another bible quote, but think about what paul is saying here. have a great day..........
btw i heard on the news last night, those who signed up for relief to help with energy bills will be receiving about $57.00 per person from n.c. government...anyone have any thoughts ??

"If you want cheaper fuel prices, than let the oil and natural gas companies built more refineries and drill for more of both domesticity."

Wrong. Guess what? They're cutting refinery output to prop up prices....
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/3627131.html

Buz, glad to see you will manage your retirement, I wish this guy had too. I can understand your point, but have to respectfully disagree with you.

I am all for helping people. I give to charities and give to my church, who in turn gives to charities. I support this fully, as well as help from family, friends, neighbors, etc.

I just don't feel it's the govts. (read: me & you the taxpayers)fault or responsibility that this guy is having trouble paying his heating bill. It's not the govts. fault that he didn't save for retirement. Perhaps he could turn to his church or family members. Perhaps he could buy a wood burning stove and not rely on natural gas.

I had trouble paying my bills last month, as several clients were late paying me, which created quite a cash flow problem. Should I turn to the govt. to help pay my bills????

To answer your question, at the moment I don't know anyone who is having trouble paying their gas bill. When my grandma was alive she didn't have a lot of money and sometimes had trouble paying her bills. She turned off the heat, put on a heavy sweater, and used a space heater which she carried around to the room she occupied. Also my parents and us grandchildren chipped in when she needed help. She received my late grandfathers SS checks, but other than that (and Medicare, which my grandfather paid into) she never turned to the govt. to support her.

Bottom line, I'm sick & tired of people turning to the govt. for their every need and want, especially then they make poor decisions which could have been avoided. Reliance on govt. for one's personal well being is not what this country was built on. Having lived in a socialist country, I saw first hand how reliance on govt. creates a selfish entitlement society which zaps personal initiative to achieve.

dan,
fair enough and peace............btw i don't disagree that gov't is not the answer.

Dan, I have heard no one, not even Bobby express such sanctimonious, self-rightous arrogance in so many different threads. If assumptions were water, you'd be drowned by now. You have no idea what this man's circumstances are/were other than what Iris told you. And she didn't say he did not save nor that he relied on the government alone for his retirement income. You have ASSumed all that, like you usually do.

You are riding high in the saddle now but it will not always be that way. For what goes around, comes around. Your attitude regarding the underpriviliged and your lack of empathy for your fellow human beings will come back to haunt you one day. Your unwillingness to concede that you are painting with a mighty broad brush indicates a hardened heart, imo. This IS NOT the teachings of my God.

Yvonne, the only thing sanctimonious is the way someone else is suppose to come bail out someone who is having problems. Its one thing to volunteer your help, its another to demand it from others. Your side want to make sure everyone is to share in the solution. I believe it should be my choose if I want to help. You think it is everyone duty.

I'm sorry for the man in the post, but guess what, it his problem. If you want to help, sent him money out of your pocket.

You have to live by the choices you make. Entitlements were invented during the depression. Before that, people took responibility for their self and loved ones. Now everyone is suppose to be part of it.

I guess WELFARE wasn't lesson enough for some. It inslaved whole families for generations and would still be going on to the way it was if the goverment hadn't come to it sense and reformed it. The same need to still be done to Medicare, Medicade, and Social Security.

"Your side want to make sure everyone is to share in the solution. I believe it should be my choose if I want to help. You think it is everyone duty.

I'm sorry for the man in the post, but guess what, it his problem. If you want to help, sent him money out of your pocket."

Bobby, are you a native English speaker? Did you graduate from high school? Are you part caveman?

*sorry, couldn't help it- I'm a former English teacher*

Boy Yvonne, who kicked you out of bed this morning? Sorry but you are guilty of the same ASSumptions. How do you know this guy didn't fritter his money away on alcohol or lotto tix? You don't and I don't.

To the contrary, she did say he draws $560/month. He paid into the system and deserves that money, but I'm going to make sure I don't live on $560/month when I retire and everyone else should too.

My point is very clear. I'm sorry the guy is having problems paying his heating bill, but it't not the govts. responsibility to spend my tax money to pay his bills.

I am all for helping out others as I mentioned with charitable donations, friends, family, etc. I have contributed my share and prefer to do it VOLUNTARILY. Look at Bobby's post.

Why aren't you and Buz contacting this woman to see how you can donate to his heating bill? As I said put your money where your mouth is.

Don't worry I won't drown, I'm a good swimmer.

Naw, Denz, he's human with human frailties just like the rest of us. Sometimes his fingers and mine go faster than the eyes and on here, unless you switch over to another vehicle to write before posting , you don't have spell check to catch things.

Did you just disagree with him but have nothing constructive to say? Lighten up, we ain't all english teacher, thank heavens.

Dan, let me paint a personal picture for you.

Neither of my parents graduated from high school. My mother worked her entire life in textiles. The company she worked for offered NO retirement possiblity. She made less than $8,000 per year from 1972-1998. My father worked until he was 60.5 years of age and lost his job in the 1991 Bush I Recession. He never worked full-time again. His unemployment counselor could not believe that he/she (not sure which it was) was dealing with a nearly 61 year old man who had NEVER been unemployed in his life.

Sadly, except for the last year he worked, my father never made $20,000 in a year. Many of those years his salary was less than $15,000. He managed to purchase a house and support a family (5 total). So combined, my parents made less than $20,000 per year for a two-income family! And they also have participated quite extensively (financilly) in the rearing of two grandchildren WITHOUT ANY public assistance!

However, had he put money back from his meager salary; either the house payment, food, utilities, or something else would have had to go. By the way, we only had one automobile until my brother obtained his driver's license and he purchased his own vehicle (mother has never driven). Remember, most of this happened before Ronald Reagan was elected to his second presidency.

So tell me Dan, who do my parent's have to blame for first, their low-paying jobs? Their low Social Security payments? Their high living costs today? Who made the bad choices in their life decisions?

And just another thought, my family has been racked with chronic illness my ENTIRE life. So there was never any extra money for family vacations. We may have taken a few day excurisions to view the Fall foilage in the mountains. However, I NEVER was priviledged enough to even go to a theme park until I was working and earning my own money.

And please do not come back and say that my parent's could have gotten a better education and thereby better jobs. That was not a choice in their lives. And for the record, the first and largest CREDIT bill my parents engaged was the purchase of their first (and only) house! And another point, my father NEVER owned a BRAND NEW vehicle until he was 58.5 years old! That one cost him $12,000. So you see, my parent's have never been frivilous spenders. Yet, they too are in situations somewhat like the person described in by the LTE writer. My father WILL NOT accept "public assistance." However, my brother and I do what is necessary to fill in the gaps when necessary.

So Dan, how do you respond to this situation? Where were the poor choices made? Who made them?

Shalom

Darryl, I appreciate your story, thanks for sharing it. You underscore my point completely. Your parents should be commended for raising you (and your siblings I would assume) to be responsible adults. (I will point out that personally if I had a $20K income I would not choose to have 5 kids, but it seems they managed nonetheless.) I stopped at 2 kids.

"My father WILL NOT accept "public assistance." However, my brother and I do what is necessary to fill in the gaps when necessary."

This is EXACTLY my point and I respect your father, you, and your brother tremendously for this. Your father has the pride to work for what he has, even if it is not alot, and not rely on the govt. for handouts. Too many people today are no longer of this mindset & rely on the govt. for their every need and/or desire. You and your brother do have a responsibility to care for your parents and I will do the same for my parents. See how it works?

Thanks again Darryl and kudos to your parents. Are they still living? I believe your parents didn't make any poor choices. Were there any opportunities to advance either jobwise within the textile industry (manager for example) or any education opportunities available?

Darryl,
You will never get an answer from Dan on your scenario, as in this case and many more, his dog don't hunt. It is pure rhetorical gibberish---with the Horatio Algers (real and fictional) thrown in to demonstrate his point.

To Dan and those like him, they believe everyone is responsible for their condition----under their line of thinking, those mal nourished sub saharan Africans should quit their whining, start walking to the nearest industrialized country, get a job with excellent benefits, and retire on what they amassed. Maybe several of them could write a book about how they overcame abject poverty, go on Oprah, and make Dan feel vindicated.

Uhhh, Deac...you're out in liberal la la land as usual pal. We are discussing people right here in the US of A, not people in Africa. This country, contrary to the beliefs of you and your ilk, offers great opportunities unlike most African countries. You don't see immigrants flocking to Africa do you? Most people in Africa don't own a car, much less a $12,000 car. Apples to oranges my friend.

I gave Darryl a straight answer, his mom & dad had pride to take care of their family to the best of their ability, didn't want govt. handouts, and the should be applauded for that. I know that goes against your grain, run to the govt. instead!!!!! Go wash some clothes in you washer if you want some spin.

Denz, sorry if my post upset you. I guess if the most you can come up with is the way I type, you must not have found anything wrong with what I said. Sorry, but I do have some college in my ed. But I was never lazy enough to want to be an English teacher. Now if you want to trade non-productive barbs, then I guess we can. Most teacher are arrogate toward us common people, so I guess it just comes natural for you.

I guess your solution is for everyone to have a safety net, that someone else has to pay for. I personal don't believe in them, nor want to be forced to pay for them.

"Denz, sorry if my post upset you"

Upset me? Ha! I was laughing at you. I read your post with Tanto's accent from the Lone Ranger, and couldn't help it. You should hear the flak my stepdaughter catches!

"Most teacher are arrogate toward us common people,"

And I bet you wonder why, don't you?

As for attacking your points, here goes:

"I guess WELFARE wasn't lesson enough for some. It inslaved whole families for generations"

Where is the personal responsibility here? It's not weakness on part of those on the dole, it's the fault of the system now? Huh? People were powerless to get off it, right? Personal responsibility in, personal responsibility out- please do try to keep it consistent.

"nd would still be going on to the way it was if the goverment hadn't come to it sense and reformed it"

Dang straight. Remind me who presided over the biggest overhaul of our entitlement culture in recent years? Yep, Bill Clinton, that dang LIEburul.

Look- I'm sick to death of hearing crap from conservatives about the welfare state, and the problems with entitlements. Waaaaah!! Waaahh! Our welfare system is broken! Whatever shall we do?

Conservatives/Republicans run the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. If you want change, demand it. Sh!t or get off the pot already. Folks like you clamor for it, but your conservative leaders don't do it? Why? Because they'd get voted out of office so fast it wouldn't be funny.

Fix the problem already! The fact that the conservatives haven't fixed the problem in the last 6 years just goes to show that they're no better than the Dems, a bunch of spineless wusses that can't bring themselves to do what needs to be done.

And don't misinterpret me: Our entitlement system is broken and in bad need of a fix. What are you gonna do?

Now, any retort from my proving you wrong with my February 3, 2006 10:12 AM post? Any comment?

"I guess if the most you can come up with is the way I type, you must not have found anything wrong with what I said. "

Oh, and as an afterthough, for you to say that in a thread where mrproduce bluntly called you out, stating that your prose belonged in the garden due to its manure-like qualities is pretty rich. Also loamy.

And that's also funny.

The CEO's at Piedmont Natural Gas are laughing their gas off at you left wing misfits..Blaming Bush for high prices is just a avenue for "Bush Haters" to go down again..my bill has been being around $300.00, for Dec.'05 it jumped to $600.00..PNG are the ones to blame..DUH

"Remind me who presided over the biggest overhaul of our entitlement culture in recent years? Yep, Bill Clinton, that dang LIEburul".

Slick Willie presided over NOTHING. Welfare reform was shoved down his throat by the new republican congress and willie knew if he was to have a snowball's chance in hell of getting reelected,he had better sign it.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0502/0502welfarereform.htm

BTW,Mr.english teacher, that's TONTO-not TANTO.

Bobby,it is a sure sign of lieburul frustration when they start picking peanuts out of s#!t by correcting typos.

Fun to watch !!

Bobby: "Most teacher are arrogate toward us common people,"

Denz: "And I bet you wonder why, don't you?"

I know why. Can't speak for most teachers, but the ivory tower liberal elitists like Denz are arrogant towards us common people. To bad dis blog dont have no spellur an gramur chekur fur us dum cunsurvtaves.

Dan, allow me to state some clarifications for you: First, "support a family (5 total)." means that there were FIVE people total in the family, NOT five children; Second, my parents are still living; Third, there were no advancement opportunities available for my parents because they are people who speak the truth in life (not accepted by most company's/supervisors).

And remember, my father draws a lower SS earning because he HAD to start drawing when he was 62 because he was unable to obtain full-time employment (remember I noted he lost his full-time job with the Bush I recession). Due to that, his monthly income alone is some $200 LESS!

And part of the reason for him being unable to obtain full-time employment was due to his medical condition (4 heart attacks, quadruple by-pass). Not many company's want a 60+ year old heart patient as an employee. You know Dan, those people run up the company's insurance rates. For that matter, so do I being a hypertensive insulin-dependent diabetic. So you see, there is just a sampling of the chronic medical problems my family has faced.

So, if it is believed that "your parents didn't make any poor choices." why are they having to live as they do? Who is to blame? Please answer this question (and those from the noted post) in a plain unobtuse way for me and those who read this blog.

Shalom

Darryl, was I being obtuse? That word reminds me of the film The Shawshank Redemption, when Tim Robbins said the warden was being obtuse and then suffered a month in a dark hole in the prison.

I was actually being complimentary of your parents if you didn't notice that. Honestly.

I have no idea why your parents are having to live as they do, but I don't feel anyone is to blame, especially not them. They have done the best they can. I have always wondered why some people live healthy & wealthy till 100 and why an innocent baby dies hours after birth. That is something that only God knows so you may have to ask him.

I am curious as to what your solution is for your parents dilemma.

"but the ivory tower liberal elitists like Denz are arrogant towards us common people."

Nope, not at all. I'm arrogant towards folks whose prose seems to indicate that they are bumbling oafs. I have yet to see any indication otherwise. At least most of the other folks around here get their verb tenses right. That's why Denzien ask Bobby if Bobby part caveman. Bobby type like caveman, so maybe Bobby caveman!

Neo- yep, Tonto it is. My bad. I must have been thinking about Japanese cutlery last night.

As for convincing me that Clinton wasn't responsible for welfare reform, you're going to have to direct me to a source that is not completely batsh!t insane with right-wing lunacy.

Hint: what phrase was often used in Clintons' 1992 Democratic National Convention acceptance address?

Answer, beacuase you're not gonna reply: he promised to "end welfare as we know it."

Try again, hoss.

Dan,
You just got your head handed to you--AGAIN!

Go get a quick shot of Hannity or some Oxycontin from Rush, and call me in the morning.

Denzein,not trying to convince you of anything my friend. You have your opinions, I have mine. And mine is Slick willie reluctantly signed the welfare reform bill only after Dick Morris told him to do so in order to save his political hide. Morris has repeated this many times over on the news show. As for slick willie's promise to "end welfare as we know it" at the 1992 dnc speech, why did he not "end welfare as we know it" in 1992? Hmmmmm??? Why wait for the republicans to take over congress first? Hmmmm???? It would have been soooo much smoother sailing through congress with the democRATS in control,don't you think???

Believe what you want, hoss.

Oh,and enjoy the kool aid.

You too,world traveler.

"As for slick willie's promise to "end welfare as we know it" at the 1992 dnc speech, why did he not "end welfare as we know it" in 1992? Hmmmmm??? Why wait for the republicans to take over congress first? Hmmmm????"

Not relevant. He signed it, over much objection from the left. Your point, as stated above,

" Slick Willie presided over NOTHING. Welfare reform was shoved down his throat"

Is patently false. Really, sir, that's reaching.

One more time: Fix the problem already, Republicans!

Put up or shut up.

You've got the Presidency and majorities in both houses- yet do nothing.

Put up or shut up.

"Not relevent".

Revelent indeed! You TRIED to portray slick willie as the ONE who revamped the welfare system and when I pointed out,and correctly so, that it was the new republican congress that 'ended welfare as we know it', you went off on a 'mini-rant' against the republicans. "He signed it". Yes,he did in order to get reelected. If not for that even the inept Bob Dole would have cleaned his plow. imo, of course!!

"You've got the presidency and majority in both houses".
I have neither. If it were ME in charge you liberals WOULD have something to piss and moan about!

Thank bush, he is all for Exxon and others making hugh profits.

Neo,
Your hardened feelings on so many things is very scary. I looked up the word liberal on Websters and I can say without doubt, I am a liberal.
I also looked up myopic, and that, my friend, describes your politics.