IntenseDebate - Thatslife4u

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 0 replies · 0 points

I am sorry to hear of the situation your friend is in. I find it a startling and unfortunate fact that so many are in that same position. They are good people. They work hard and they are really trying, but just can’t seem to get ahead. I asked a question below and I am wondering for the lower wage people if the unemployment is better than those that earn a higher wage and have to go on unemployment. From your personal thoughts, that would support that unemployment is more sufficient for those earning less wages.

You right, the workers are in such a tough spot these days. It’s a sad reality to learn the new 2010 poverty statistics. We are one of the most industrialized nations and yet we can’t even provide for our own citizens. I sincerely hope you and your friend’s situation start to take a turn for the better.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 0 replies · +1 points

You are right. My step-father was an engineer, but the company went under and he was on unemployment and only received a tiny fraction of what he would have been making with his regular wages. It was not even enough to cover his necessity bills. I am not sure if this is different for those making lower wages and what unemployment is based on. I do wonder if someone is making lower yearly wages close to that poverty line if the unemployment would be more of a sufficient income?

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 1 reply · +1 points

You might be interested to do some research in this subject. High school education is affordable because it is a requirement of the government. College education is not affordable “per the government”, but statistically our society is requiring more of those degrees for higher wages. Twenty years ago someone could get a position that a degree was not needed, but today that same position requires a degree as a minimum requirement. There are state and government grants that help college students, but a majority of students make their way through college by student loans and walk out of college with large debts. Then children under the age of 22, even if they do not live with their parents, nor a dependent, are considered a “dependent” on that college education. So if their parents make a sufficient income to disqualify them for a pell grant, even if they refuse to support the child or pay any towards college, the student is penalized for this and not eligible for a pell grant and only student loans.

Here are some links that might broaden your view:
http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-3/value.htm http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/moneymatters/a/edan...

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 0 replies · +5 points

Kudos to you for speaking up. You’re right, when poverty is mentioned people fail to look past what they consider obvious factors. They are many people in your position and it is very easy for people to blame the victims. It’s a difficult pill to swallow when we realize that the “American Dream” we all have been brought up and told to believe in, is rather a state of mind and really is not open to everyone, no matter how much they strive to succeed in life.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 3 replies · +2 points

Many people don’t get an education not because they don’t want to, but because they can’t afford it. They have to work to pay the bills and going to college would be an added (very expensive) cost. People that struggle within our system do not always make bad decisions. It’s very easy for us to point fingers at people and say, “You should have done this and you wouldn’t be in your situation now would you”, but that is a very easy answer rather than digging a little deeper and discovering the factors that have led to hardship.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Poverty figures releas... · 4 replies · +7 points

An interesting fact is there are people that work 40+ hours a week and are considered in poverty. Most people think “poverty” is those people that don’t work, receive government aid and “lazy”. This results in a blaming the victim scenario. There is inequality built into our nation’s system. During this recession many small businesses closed their doors, many are unemployed and there is underemployment, but if you look at the statistics of large corporations their profit margins are not decreasing. “Big” corporations benefit in some ways during a recession because there is a larger pool of people that are willing to work harder on small wages. ‘Most’ people on welfare and receiving aid do not sit around on their duffs just receiving an endless supply of money. There are many people that are just above that poverty line and do not qualify for any type of assistance, but they are cast into a grey area in our nation. We always hear of the middle class on TV, in articles and the speeches of politicians, but the “working class” rarely is mentioned, some of which, are considered at or below the poverty line.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Local veterans asking ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I highly recommend you read the book, “Silent Spring” by Carson. You might have a different perspective than your current one after reading it.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Notre Dame students ro... · 1 reply · +3 points

The replies to this post make it sounds as if the victims are responsible for this before they didn’t lock the door to prevent it and they are responsible for their misfortune. I agree that locking the door may have deterred the robbers, but it is not a guarantee that would have solved the problem (the problem here being there was a robbery and not that they didn’t lock the doors). The robbers – if they want in—could have knocked on the door, waited for someone to come to the door and then forced their way in.

If this story would have been an elderly lady would the replies been the same as they are now, or is it because it states, “ND students” that there is harshness?

Regardless of who the victims are, they are still victims and it is my hope that police are able to find those that committed the crime.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - 13-year-old Etna Green... · 0 replies · +22 points

Wow. I am very sorry to hear this has happened and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the family.

14 years ago @ WSBT South Bend - Y... - Judge grants restraini... · 0 replies · +1 points

Sounds to me like this woman is having an issue with psychotic mental issues (schizophrenia perhaps?). Hopefully she gets the help she needs and DiCaprio can continue his life without worry about this woman interfering.

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