This forum's getting too heated, so here's a more lighthearted mystery

[janeannwho]

Originally Posted by newtoli

Donna Ricco only makes the black and white dress she wore on the View, and it was bought off the rack. The designer didn't even know until someone told her... Her clothing is actually very affordable, that dress retails for something like $99, I recognize the designer from Black|White Market and Nordstrom.

Everyone is spending their gas tax holiday money for the dress?

[prim2007]

Originally Posted by lilypad

Don't know that it is so affordable to the millions who receive welfare checks. Hopefully they are spending their money more wisely to feed all those kids.

You do know you can be on welfare with just one kid, just checking.

Originally Posted by lilypad

I make very good money and would not consider $99 inexpensive. But do try to live simply and not attempt to keep up with those "Obamas".

Anyone that shops regularly at Macys or a Nordstrom (or similar dept store) has probably spent $99 on an outfit so it's a very modest price for a candidate's wife. I liked the b/w dress and I would like it even if Cindy wore it. I think that's probably how buyers see it.

[lilypad]

I believe one can be on welfare with just oneself even. But suspect that is the exception, not the rule. The Welfare Queens usually have 4-6 kiddies tagging along behind them....just my observation.

Since I am such a penny pincher by nature, and have no unwanted children (just one way to stay off welfare) I rarely frequent the department stores. I was just in Boston and visited Macy's, may have gotten several blouses on sale. Just not into consumerism, but maybe is for another thread. I do think people get into much financial trouble and debt by allowing themselves to be influenced by the media. Is a hard addiction to break.

Not sure how a $99 dress got such importance here, I don't care one way or another. But would definitely look twice before spending that amount, and am quite close to Michelle's tax bracket. Even though I do dress well, just look for bargains where I can.

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by lilypad

I believe one can be on welfare with just oneself even. But suspect that is the exception, not the rule. The Welfare Queens usually have 4-6 kiddies tagging along behind them....just my observation.

Welfare to Work: Myths

Myth: Welfare Encourages Out-of- Wedlock Births and Large Families

Fact: The Average Welfare Family Is No Bigger Than the Average Nonwelfare Family

The belief that single women are promiscuous and have large families to receive increased benefits has no basis in extant research, and single-parent families are not only a phenomenon of the poor (McFate, 1995). In fact, the average family size of welfare recipients has decreased from four in 1969 to 2.8 in 1994 (Staff of House Committee on Ways and Means, 1996). In 1994, 43 percent of welfare families consisted of one child, and 30 percent consisted of two children. Thus, the average welfare family is no larger than the average nonrecipient's family, and despite considerable public concern that welfare encourages out-of-wedlock births, a growing body of empirical evidence indicates that welfare benefits are not a significant incentive for childbearing (Wilcox, Robbennolt, O'Keeffe, & Pynchon, 1997).