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Their budget was absurd for a family living on 2k a month. $300 cell phones, $100 internet ...
But that wasn't even what bothered me the most. It was the author's description of the utter lack of parenting being provided to the children. They had one child with recurring stomach problems who was allowed to prepare ramen noodles with loads of hot sauce for himself any time of the day or night that he wanted. They can't afford wholesome food, but gave the children a puppy ... who was promptly dropped and injured in the first few minutes of the story. They routinely load the children into their car and drive off to the local pill mill to load up on various opioids. Everything about this family's daily life is so dysfunctional and detrimental that it's a wonder they've survived this long. Just a toxic situation all the way around.
It's learned helplessness. Trust me, people who are trapped in this state of mind do things that make no sense.
And yet here I am with a DH that has multiple health issues, a stroke and short term memory issues and I'm fighting to get him disability! A man who worked since he was 18... 31 years of working and yet he can't get help from the money he paid in....
It's learned helplessness. Trust me, people who are trapped in this state of mind do things that make no sense.
I have a distant family member in this situation. SEVEN children from FOUR fathers. Hasn't worked a day since she was 18. Lives off a combination of social benefits in a trailer out in the middle of nowhere. Three of her kids had their own kids before they were even 18. In addition to her kids left in the house, she's raising a couple of her grandkids now, with family members raising a couple others. Life revolves around visits to social services offices in a never-ending spate of interviews to squeeze additional funds for a variety of "disabilities".
She was a very good student with great prospects who went down the wrong path starting with her first child at 16. Even the early support of her parents couldn't right her ship. One child after another resulted in morbid obesity that became the reason why she can't work and needs help. Then one by one the kids were put through the system with one learning disability after another, resulting in lots of gov't handouts. She just had her seventh child at age 42.
Nothing she does makes sense and it's not due to any actual disability. Her "job" has simply become gaming the system.
The government has to stop incentivizing poverty. This is the story of liberalism.
It would seem however that a higher percent of the people living like this are located in red states. The family in the article is from Missouri and the deep south and Appalachia are also cited as problem areas. Why aren't these states doing more to help these people break the cycle? Isn't it the conservative mantra that solving problems is best performed by local jurisdictions?
It sounds to me like they we're hoping for the boys to be disabled.
How on earth can society stop this pattern from keep repeating from one generation to the next?
"This month, reality was a $600 electricity bill that included late payments. An additional $350 for the mortgage, $45 for water, $300 for cellphones. Then $98 for cable television, $35 for Internet service, $315 for furniture bought on credit, $35 for car insurance and $60 for life insurance.
Kathy sat with a notepad that said “Live Like Your Life Depends On It” and did the math. Their monthly checks totaled $2,005 — $1,128 less than when the twins received benefits — and bills would consume all of it except $167. There wouldn’t be enough to whittle down her payday loans. Or to settle up with the school for her granddaughter’s cheerleading. Or to pay her lawyer for a divorce from her fourth husband."
$300/month for cell phones plus another $133/month for cable TV and internet, and $315/month to pay off the furniture, then there are the payday loans. Almost half their monthly checks are gone and they've not paid the mortgage, utilities, or bought any food yet. No wonder they are $600 behind on the electricity.
Location: Born & Raised DC > Carolinas > Seattle > Denver
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There are people in both parties that abuse the gov't assistance programs. Millions of democrats and millions of republicans.
Once we can all agree and get past that part, we could actually attempt to fix the problem.
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