This is just stupid.

[RightinNYC]

Here's a link with some interesting facts on poverty and/or homelessness. I strongly urge all to read this, especially those who think that most as lazy-assed leeches.

I found this paragraph to be absolutely eye-opening and chilling:

Contrary to popular belief, the homeless is not lazy and dependent exclusively on public welfare. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, on average in the United States, a single worker earning minimum wage would have to work 87 hours each week just to pay for a 2-bedroom apartment with 30% (Federal definition of affordable housing) of his or her income. The rest would be barely sufficient to acquire other necessities such as food and clothing. As a result of low wages, many impoverished workers are forced out of their homes when extenuating circumstances come into play. In fact, up to 40% of the homeless are employed and working.



http://www.freedonation.com/homeless/homeless_stats.php3

Most of the homeless people I know are working. However, their job is handing out flyers on their corner or sweeping a few stoops in between their bottles of georgi and 20 dollar cigars

 

[RightinNYC]

I don't see tiered taxes as unreasonable per se, however it gives politicians a carte blanche invitation to waste money, this requires them to take more in the way of taxes eventually when they will eventually overspend, this becomes unreasonable eventually and then it has to be defended, now comes class warfare and the blame game, it's a nasty cycle really. The way to fix this is either a flat tax or national sales tax(fair tax). Flat taxes would pretty much dictate how much you would pay at the end of the year, period, thus people could determine what they could invest or purchase and it would allow for more market growth, plus, more market growth means more tax dollars paid. National sales taxes are an even better idea, you choose when to pay taxes and how much every time you decide to make a purchase, naturally, people who can better predict their own monetary reserves will develop more confidence and therefore purchase/invest more. I think these are much more reasonable than the progressive tiered tax we follow now.

The system of the national sales tax that makes exclusion for basic necessities is a fantastic idea. www.fairtax.com i believe?

 

[DeeJayH]

How would I feel if stuck at a minimum wage job for ten years? I wouldn't feel anything because I wouldn't be in the situation, I am qualified for about four career opportunities because:
A) I will have a college degree in December.
B) My college job was in the service industry which I did well in.
C) I have an insurance producers license and will probably expand that to financial planning and stocks brokering.
D) Because of C I have practical sales experience and B has helped me to develop people skills.
Why am I saying this you ask? Sounds like bragging doesn't it? But no, I say this as an example of how an average person like myself can better his/her situation just by developing a few skills, by the way, practical work experience and improving people skills are free, for the person willing to do a little introspective thinking. Worst case scenario, I go back to waiting tables and live comfortably.
Given the above example, why can't any American do that?

:applaud

dman straight, except you last sentence should read
why cant MOST americans do that?
there are those truly in need, but the majority are mental disorders who refuse to do what it takes to better their lives
those who sit around ******* and moaning about how they did not win lifes lottery
instead of developing skills that would make them more desirable as an employee
or heres an idea, start their own company

 

[DeeJayH]

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for someone to be making minimum wage for 10 years.

Unless you suck at your job, you can move up. And if your company doesn't offer too many opportunities, change jobs.

I grew up in the shittiest economy in the world, rural upstate NY, and started working at 16, making 5.15 an hour. After 6 months, that was 5.60. Then I got a second job, paying 6.50 an hour. After another year there, my first job went up to 8.50. I got rid of my second job, and through a temp service, found a job making 10 an hour. The temp job turned into a full time w/benefits offer at a salary of 28,000 a year to start, 35,000 in 2 years. In upstate NY, where you can buy a house for 50,000, that's a damn good salary for a 19 year old. Turned it down because I was going back to school, but the offer was there. This was all while in high school, or just with a degree.

If you are willing to work hard enough, there is no such thing as being "stuck" in a job.

Birth control is free at all planned parenthoods, and if you're using a condom as well, odds are you're fine. Regardless, even if worst comes to worst and you get pregnant, and you decide to start a family, see above.

And in those cases, that's why we have social nets. They're all terrible scenarios, but there are programs in place. If kids parents die, they get social security in addition to numerous other benefits. If the breadwinner loses their job, they can get unemployment while finding another job (which shouldn't take long). If the breadwinner abandons them, there's alimony, child support, and abovementioned programs until the adult can find a job.

:applaud

i truly doubt that your avatar is a realistic picture of you
there is no way you are that attractive AND that intelligent :3oops:

 

[Kelzie]

:applaud

i truly doubt that your avatar is a realistic picture of you
there is no way you are that attractive AND that intelligent :3oops:

Or a woman....:lol:

 

[jallman]

Or a woman....:lol:

tee-hee-hee. Wow, caught that one fast, huh? :2wave:

 

[DeeJayH]

Or a woman....:lol:

doh boy :3oops:

 

[Kelzie]

doh boy :3oops:

Don't worry. I'm personally leaning towards the sex change operation theory. RightatNYU has always seemed rather feminine to me.

 

[DeeJayH]

Don't worry. I'm personally leaning towards the sex change operation theory. RightatNYU has always seemed rather feminine to me.

ewwwwwwwwwwwww ralph

 

[galenrox]

:applaud

dman straight, except you last sentence should read
why cant MOST americans do that?
there are those truly in need, but the majority are mental disorders who refuse to do what it takes to better their lives
those who sit around ******* and moaning about how they did not win lifes lottery
instead of developing skills that would make them more desirable as an employee
or heres an idea, start their own company

How about this, there aren't that many jobs, or that many services that need to be provided.
And you are forgetting some very simple laws of economics, namely the natural rate of unemployment. In an economy that has innovation, such as ours, it is required that 4-5% of the labor force be unemployed for a number of reasons (season changes, outdated skills, etc.)
There are only so many waiting jobs, and if you're missing five teeth and smell like ****, chances are none of them are coming your way.

So why don't you get off your damn high horse telling people that you're so much better than them, and thus they deserve to be homeless and not be able to afford to eat, and recognize that if you have a frickin heart AT ALL, and have a conscience AT ALL you'd recognize that why someone is impoverished isn't important AT ALL
I've spent my fair share of time in really crappy neighborhoods, and I'm not gonna pretend for a second that they're all hard working motivated individuals held down by the system. What I am going to say is that I don't care about that, no matter how stupid and lazy they are, they're people, and as a MORAL human being I cannot sit back and say "Screw it, they're lazy, they deserve it." No one deserves to live like they have to, and if you disagree, I'm gonna have to say you're a pretty sick and callous individual.

 

[saffron]

dude, I may be young, but at least I'm not as ignorant as the common citizen. I can give you one reason gay marriage should be legal that is so good that the only reason it isn't going to change your mind is because you don't want to let it. I know what's going to happen, but here goes nothing.

The first, and currently only, famous reference of homosexuality being morally wrong is the Bible. If it weren't for the Bible saying "Thou shalt not lay with a man as with a woman. It is an abomination," I garentee that the only people who would be homophobic would be the Nazis, who hate every aspect of different culture altogether. Even athiests who say they did not get any of their morals from religion know deep down inside that it was religion that taught morals to mankind in the first place. For example, name me one thing that is widely considered morally wrong that I cannot trace back to a religious teaching.

You're probably thinking "I know where this is going. Seperation of church and state." WRONG! Instead, I'm going to entertain this argument that religious cults (that's right. I called them cults) make. For every statement it makes against homosexuality itself, there are numerous statements that teach why gay marriage should be legal. 1) While the Bible does speak of homosexuality being a sin, it also speaks of morals such as tolerance and acceptance. 2) It also speaks of not judging people. It does give mankind the power to decide civil and criminal cases, but it speaks of every crime and what the punishment is, such as death penalty for striking a parent. However, the writers of the Bible leave us no penalty for gay sex or gay marriage. Therefore, we have no power to judge it.

Like I said, you aren't going to believe me, but only because you don't want to believe me. It's carved into your head that gays are the enemy, just as it is carved into Bloods' heads that the Crips are the enemy.

It's very obvious by the way you write that you are uneducated and ignorant. So.............maybe if you went to school and learned something you could get a better job, so that you wouldn't need to be on welfare.

you know......eventually welfare is going to be done away with. In Calif., it has already been cut a lot. The ghetto rats who live off the working people and spend their food stamps on drugs instead of food are now being foced to get a job. And they don't like it one bit. Maybe this will force all of the trash and riff raff out of this state.:2wave:

 

[Kelzie]

It's very obvious by the way you write that you are uneducated and ignorant. So.............maybe if you went to school and learned something you could get a better job, so that you wouldn't need to be on welfare.

you know......eventually welfare is going to be done away with. In Calif., it has already been cut a lot. The ghetto rats who live off the working people and spend their food stamps on drugs instead of food are now being foced to get a job. And they don't like it one bit. Maybe this will force all of the trash and riff raff out of this state.:2wave:

[mod mode]

Be nice.

[/mod mode]

 

[jallman]

It's very obvious by the way you write that you are uneducated and ignorant. So.............maybe if you went to school and learned something you could get a better job, so that you wouldn't need to be on welfare.

you know......eventually welfare is going to be done away with. In Calif., it has already been cut a lot. The ghetto rats who live off the working people and spend their food stamps on drugs instead of food are now being foced to get a job. And they don't like it one bit. Maybe this will force all of the trash and riff raff out of this state.:2wave:

hmmm, where to start with this...lets begin with the personal attacks which were unwarranted and unfounded. I see nothing wrong with what was said nor the way in which it was delivered. However, it seems you cant find fault with the message so instead, you attack the messenger. Tut tut...its a pity when one debases himself before his lower instincts and makes a fool of himself in the process. Here is an idea...debate the issue and let your foul opining about the debator fester inside where the rest of us dont have to deal with it.

On to the whole welfare issue...you know nothing of the poor obviously. Statistics have been shown here on this very thread that you seem to be ignoring...though after your initial attack on stebbins, I am not surprised by your shallowness. I am not a strong supporter of welfare...I tend to think in terms of workfare. However, experience teaches us that a safety net should be there for those in need. Its a pity for you we dont have a program that lends intelligence to the otherwise lacking.

 

[saffron]

I am not surprised by your shallowness.

Practice what you preach.

However, experience teaches us that a safety net should be there for those in need.

I agree with this..

Its a pity for you we dont have a program that lends intelligence to the otherwise lacking.

Oh but we do, it is called education.

I was afraid I had joined a white, trailer park-trash, redneck forum.

:roll:

 

[jallman]

Practice what you preach.

I agree with this..

Oh but we do, it is called education.

I was afraid I had joined a white, trailer park-trash, redneck forum.

:roll:

Education instills knowledge...intelligence is an inherent characteristic...or in the case of some *ahem* a lack of intelligence is an inherent flaw. Welcome to the forum. :ws

 

[LaMidRighter]

How about this, there aren't that many jobs, or that many services that need to be provided.
And you are forgetting some very simple laws of economics, namely the natural rate of unemployment. In an economy that has innovation, such as ours, it is required that 4-5% of the labor force be unemployed for a number of reasons (season changes, outdated skills, etc.)
There are only so many waiting jobs, and if you're missing five teeth and smell like ****, chances are none of them are coming your way.

Natural unemployment does exist and must in any economic system, in that you are correct Galen, however, the unemployment rate at the moment does not justify the welfare roles currently as they are, even with the working poor factored in, the numbers are simply too large right now. As far as the "unnacceptable look,smell" argument, it doesn't fly. I worked in a restaurant as "front of house" for much of my high school/college life and we had a strict dress code, we had to be clean shaven(moustaches allowed only) and with short hair, had to be clean and bathe regularly(understandable and thank god), I did not like cutting my hair and would have rathered be able to have control of that, but I liked being employed more and at my current skills and pay, moving on for a paycut was not worth it, to keep things short. I had to invest time and use self-discipline to remain employed, so why should anyone else get a pass?

So why don't you get off your damn high horse telling people that you're so much better than them, and thus they deserve to be homeless and not be able to afford to eat, and recognize that if you have a frickin heart AT ALL, and have a conscience AT ALL you'd recognize that why someone is impoverished isn't important AT ALL

This is a case of mistaken meaning, when I say that if I can do it anyone can, it is not saying that I am better than them, it is saying that they are just as capable of supporting themselves as I am which in turn is saying they are on my level.

I've spent my fair share of time in really crappy neighborhoods, and I'm not gonna pretend for a second that they're all hard working motivated individuals held down by the system. What I am going to say is that I don't care about that, no matter how stupid and lazy they are, they're people, and as a MORAL human being I cannot sit back and say "Screw it, they're lazy, they deserve it." No one deserves to live like they have to, and if you disagree, I'm gonna have to say you're a pretty sick and callous individual.

You are free to the opinion that those who do not try to contribute still need sympathy, but I disagree. Naturally there are people who have serious disabilities(my grandfather on mom's side was, he was injured by a crane in a bridge building accident) and cannot help themselves, it is understandable that they need help, no doubt, but when someone is of the mentality that they can't get all they want from employment so they will just sit home and draw a state sponsored check they deserve no help or sympathy, period.

 

[DeeJayH]

How about this, there aren't that many jobs, or that many services that need to be provided.
And you are forgetting some very simple laws of economics, namely the natural rate of unemployment. In an economy that has innovation, such as ours, it is required that 4-5% of the labor force be unemployed for a number of reasons (season changes, outdated skills, etc.)
There are only so many waiting jobs, and if you're missing five teeth and smell like ****, chances are none of them are coming your way.

So why don't you get off your damn high horse telling people that you're so much better than them, and thus they deserve to be homeless and not be able to afford to eat, and recognize that if you have a frickin heart AT ALL, and have a conscience AT ALL you'd recognize that why someone is impoverished isn't important AT ALL
I've spent my fair share of time in really crappy neighborhoods, and I'm not gonna pretend for a second that they're all hard working motivated individuals held down by the system. What I am going to say is that I don't care about that, no matter how stupid and lazy they are, they're people, and as a MORAL human being I cannot sit back and say "Screw it, they're lazy, they deserve it." No one deserves to live like they have to, and if you disagree, I'm gonna have to say you're a pretty sick and callous individual.

not sure what happened, but you responded to my post, not LaMidRighter

to the needy i lend a hand
to the rest i say SCREW THEM, they are sub human, they are leeches
And just so you know, i sleep like a baby

 

[RightinNYC]

:applaud

i truly doubt that your avatar is a realistic picture of you
there is no way you are that attractive AND that intelligent :3oops:

hey big boy, you sure know how to flatter a girl....

 

[RightinNYC]

Don't worry. I'm personally leaning towards the sex change operation theory. RightatNYU has always seemed rather feminine to me.

I need to get the operation if i want to get with you, right? I mean, all vegan socialists are rug munchers...

 

[Kelzie]

I need to get the operation if i want to get with you, right? I mean, all vegan socialists are rug munchers...

I am outraged. I am going to lodge a complaint, I am personally going to ban you. I am...well, there is probably a greater percentage.:lol: But not for this vegan socialist. A fireman. That's what you need to be. Or a soccer player. And Irish. Or Australian. Or English. Mmmm.... <3

 

[RightinNYC]

I am outraged. I am going to lodge a complaint, I am personally going to ban you. I am...well, there is probably a greater percentage.:lol: But not for this vegan socialist. A fireman. That's what you need to be. Or a soccer player. And Irish. Or Australian. Or English. Mmmm.... <3

Does 2/5 work? I do a great australian accent too...

 

[Kelzie]

Does 2/5 work? I do a great australian accent too...

I dunno...which two?

 

[RightinNYC]

I dunno...which two?

Irish soccer player...I might be part english too, I don't know about 1/4 of my heritage, and rumor has it he was english...

 

[Kelzie]

Irish soccer player...I might be part english too, I don't know about 1/4 of my heritage, and rumor has it he was english...

I was really going more for the accents...but I have been known to make exceptions...actually since I have never dated an english, irish, or australian, it would be more accurate to say I always make exceptions. :mrgreen:

I like your new sig too.

 

[RightinNYC]

I was really going more for the accents...but I have been known to make exceptions...actually since I have never dated an english, irish, or australian, it would be more accurate to say I always make exceptions. :mrgreen:

I like your new sig too.

I spent a lot of this summer with an Aussie girl over here on "'oliday" so I got to be quite good at the accent...

And I liked it a lot. One of the most eloquent declarations of my shittitude I've ever read.