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Well, I have to apologize for my insensitivity to all of you who have received food stamps or had to work two jobs or had kids and had to manage a budget.
Evidently I've never been in a bind. Your experience is far more difficult than anything I could ever imagine or have lived through. My ignorance in the face of your difficulty is almost unforgivable. Please do not even think about anyone else or what their history could be. Yours is the most important story. You win, I bow down to your 'bigger victim' sob story.
My post was that this is a life style - my point (and the title) "Teach a man to fish."
Teach people how to take care of themselves, raise them up when they need it, so they won't have to do it again.
Evidently I'm an insensitive boob, an obviously wealthy and entitled Republican who could never understand how the little people live.
In deference to your greater victimhood, I'll just shut up and wait until they decide to stop taking JUST 35% of my income and take 50% so I can better 'help' you.
You don't have to apologize to me because you're insensitive.
I also believe in the "teach a man to fish" theory - I'm just not so fond of the "but make him go out and build a fishing pole, create a lake and then fill it with fish" attitude that people who use that theory seem to possess.
I wasn't apologizing because I'm insensitive. I was apologizing for your perception that I was insensitive.
And exactly why couldn't a man capable of learning how to fish also be capable of creating a fishing pole and an area where fish might congregate? That man would never be hungry again. And every time that man provided a fish for a meal he would be overcome with pride.
Oh, but that's a bad thing, he's supposed to sit on the bank of a stocked pond with a piece of string, a safety pin, and a piece of bamboo and lament his woes, crying out the injustice of the whole thing.
Hmm, not such a bad idea - the fish would get so tired of hearing the same old tripe, they'd go belly up. If he waited long enough they might even wash up onto shore. Lord knows he couldn't wade himself out there to gather them!
Quote:
Originally Posted by natalayjones
You don't have to apologize to me because you're insensitive.
I also believe in the "teach a man to fish" theory - I'm just not so fond of the "but make him go out and build a fishing pole, create a lake and then fill it with fish" attitude that people who use that theory seem to possess.
I wasn't apologizing because I'm insensitive. I was apologizing for your perception that I was insensitive.
And exactly why couldn't a man capable of learning how to fish also be capable of creating a fishing pole and an area where fish might congregate? That man would never be hungry again. And every time that man provided a fish for a meal he would be overcome with pride.
Oh, but that's a bad thing, he's supposed to sit on the bank of a stocked pond with a piece of string, a safety pin, and a piece of bamboo and lament his woes, crying out the injustice of the whole thing.
Hmm, not such a bad idea - the fish would get so tired of hearing the same old tripe, they'd go belly up. If he waited long enough they might even wash up onto shore. Lord knows he couldn't wade himself out there to gather them!
No dear, bless your heart. I wasn't accepting your apology for being insensitive, I was accepting the one for your ignorance.
People always use that teach a man how to fish theory without knowing the meaning. It used to mean "I won't give you what you need but I will assist you by taking you to the place where it is and showing you how to get it yourself". Somehow over time that "I won't give you anything. Why should I? You're an adult; you can figure it by yourself. You don't need any help. You'll either learn or starve."
I've shared my story many times. Young mother in college, unprepared to be laid off, was on assistance for a few months, got another job and moved on with my life. No lifelong dependency, no obese children, no drug addictions, no baby daddy selling bootleg liquor out of my bedroom.
Then people say "well you used the system the way you were supposed to. I'm talking about those other women who just sit home having baby after baby so they can live off public assistance."
And my response to that is “LIAR. You really think that every person on government assistance is some sort of lazy con artist who just wants to figure out ways to live off your tax dollars.” Newsflash: There are more people on govt assistance that were in my situation then the welfare queens that people love to share stories about. You ever wonder why all these people see or know about the same stories? Because the welfare queen has become an urban legend just like knowing someone who knows someone who knew someone who mixed pop rocks with coke. But why don't we get any news coverage? Why aren’t I being represented in the media?
Because all the news does is reinforce the stereotypes that all the narrow minded, prejudiced, ignorant, *******s already believe in. They don’t want to see stories about people Jill who had to apply for food stamps when she was laid off without notice, they want to see LaQuisha who has 4 kids from 5 men and is crying because they cutting her stamps down from $700 to $699 and she don’t know how she gone feed her babies so they can recite tirades about how welfare mothers are ruining the country.
But continue on with your sarcasm and jokes. Everytime I see a post from someone claiming that ALL people on food stamps act this way or do this or do that and how you had to eat rice every day while your neighbors on food stamps down the block ate lobster, and how every time you see a person using a food stamp card they are buying 50 pounbds of candy or they brought something for a nickel and used the change to buy beer, I laugh because it just reminds me that there's one person in the world that I'm better than.
I just retired, a week ago, from a job in the "helping professions." If you folks only knew how many, many, many people I have met this last year who have told me that a year ago they looked down their noses at anyone getting food stamps or welfare....or any other kind of help. They had their "piece of the pie" that they had worked and sacrificed for and figured that anyone who hadn't got their own was just lazy. Now their "piece of the pie" is all gone...their job is now being done in China, their house is in foreclosure, the only job they can get is working at the 7-11 store....and they are working there and getting food stamps so that they can at least feed their family. A lot of these so called "libertarians" are one paycheck away from needing help themselves but they think that if they can convince themselves that it only happens to lazy people then they won't have to be afraid. Someday they may be very glad that a lot of us so called "socialist" or "liberals" have fought to keep the safety net in place because it may be the only thing that saves their family.
Evidently there is only one opionion that is acceptable here and sarcasm and discussion are not encouraged.
So here we go:
Food stamps rock and everyone who uses them should receive MORE!!!
If you've never been on food stamps, you are not entitled to an opinion!
If you do offer an opinion that might be perceived as harsh, you're ignorant.
So stop worrying about accountability, education, or training - let's just keep offering more social programs that keep people suckling at the government teat.
Just don't come complaining to me when the teat runs dry!
I just retired, a week ago, from a job in the "helping professions." If you folks only knew how many, many, many people I have met this last year who have told me that a year ago they looked down their noses at anyone getting food stamps or welfare....or any other kind of help. They had their "piece of the pie" that they had worked and sacrificed for and figured that anyone who hadn't got their own was just lazy. Now their "piece of the pie" is all gone...their job is now being done in China, their house is in foreclosure, the only job they can get is working at the 7-11 store....and they are working there and getting food stamps so that they can at least feed their family. A lot of these so called "libertarians" are one paycheck away from needing help themselves but they think that if they can convince themselves that it only happens to lazy people then they won't have to be afraid. Someday they may be very glad that a lot of us so called "socialist" or "liberals" have fought to keep the safety net in place because it may be the only thing that saves their family.
Amen. And maybe the humbling of some of these ignorant, holier than thou, self important people who think they are personally paying for my food stamps and have time to complain about it while this country's spending for war is totally out of control will be an upside to our economic collapse.
I thought food stamps were to supplement buying groceries, not be the sole source of food? I think that now is the time to plant home vegetable gardens. In Boston, there are several community garden plots for residents to grow their own vegetables.
Otherwise, I've stood in line behind people paying with food stamps, and I've never ever seen those people choosing their groceries wisely. I'm a big fan of marked down dented cans, sale price vegetables, and meat with extra coupons because those packages need to be sold that day. Or going to Costco with another family and splitting up bulk items. Meat is still cheaper than buying vegetables. Americans eat too much meat. And tap water is free. Skip the soda and juice drinks. Whole chickens are cheaper than buying cut up sections.
And some people need to think hard before having children. If you can't afford them, then don't have them or offer them up for adoption. If you can afford to feed them, then you also can't afford to help them into college. Adoption is a good option. I know many people with adopted children and they are good happy loving family units.
every word of it true, but a whole lota people don't wana hear it.
Evidently there is only one opionion that is acceptable here and sarcasm and discussion are not encouraged.
So here we go:
Food stamps rock and everyone who uses them should receive MORE!!!
If you've never been on food stamps, you are not entitled to an opinion!
If you do offer an opinion that might be perceived as harsh, you're ignorant.
So stop worrying about accountability, education, or training - let's just keep offering more social programs that keep people suckling at the government teat.
Just don't come complaining to me when the teat runs dry!
Every time you post, you prove my point even further.
If you had bothered to actually read any of my posts I've said that I believe the food stamp program needs to be restructured. They need to have time limits, just like with unemployment. They need to have restricted items, just like with WIC. They need to have access to programs that will help them acquire education or training, so that they can get better paying jobs.
What they don't need is people who feel the need to prove their superiority as a human being by looking down on others.
At the end of the day, I'll have a lot more respect for the woman who applied for food stamps while looking for a job in order to feed her baby then the one who let her pride tell her they didn't need them and sent her child to bed hungry at night. But I guess the general consensus on this thread is "she shouldn't have had a baby in the first place if she was going to need my tax dollars to feed it."
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree and move on.
Because all the news does is reinforce the stereotypes that all the narrow minded, prejudiced, ignorant, *******s already believe in. They don’t want to see stories about people Jill who had to apply for food stamps when she was laid off without notice, they want to see LaQuisha who has 4 kids from 5 men and is crying because they cutting her stamps down from $700 to $699 and she don’t know how she gone feed her babies so they can recite tirades about how welfare mothers are ruining the country.
But continue on with your sarcasm and jokes. Everytime I see a post from someone claiming that ALL people on food stamps act this way or do this or do that and how you had to eat rice every day while your neighbors on food stamps down the block ate lobster, and how every time you see a person using a food stamp card they are buying 50 pounbds of candy or they brought something for a nickel and used the change to buy beer, I laugh because it just reminds me that there's one person in the world that I'm better than.
Stereotypes happen through personal observations. And what I have seen is not a figment of my imagination. And I know that if I ever saw someone using food stamps and with a smart grocery shopping selection, I would certainly do a double take and take notice of this rare event. But no, in my nearly fifty years on this planet, I have yet to see a smart food stamp recipient grocery shopper. And I have shopped in many supermarkets that were located in less affluent neighborhoods. Also when I stand in line at the checkout counters, to pass the time, I always look at what else everyone has gathered in their baskets and carts. And I also chat with my fellow shoppers. If someone has a container of ice cream, and I don't, I will jokingly tell them how jealous I am of what they are buying. Or if someone has scored a coup and scored some avocados in the sale rack, I will congratulate them. So yes, I am always very nosy about what's going on in the checkout line.
And yes, I do know that there must be some wise uses for food stamps, but going by my own personal experiences, I can only conclude that the majority of food stamp recipients didn't take and pass Home Ec classes during their grade school years.
Even without food stamps, most American families shop atrociously and have too many sweets and sodas in their shopping carts. And I am sad that the typical American child is subjected to tons of fried chicken nuggets and fingers, and french fries all throughout their childhood. While I had fries as a kid, my parents never fed us fried bits of boneless reshaped chicken pieces. We got adult quality food, but just in smaller portions. We weren't fussy kids and always ate our vegetables. We never dreamed of being difficult with our parents and refusing the meal in front of us. Kids are so spoilt these days.
Stereotypes happen through personal observations. And what I have seen is not a figment of my imagination. And I know that if I ever saw someone using food stamps and with a smart grocery shopping selection, I would certainly do a double take and take notice of this rare event. But no, in my nearly fifty years on this planet, I have yet to see a smart food stamp recipient grocery shopper. And I have shopped in many supermarkets that were located in less affluent neighborhoods. Also when I stand in line at the checkout counters, to pass the time, I always look at what else everyone has gathered in their baskets and carts. And I also chat with my fellow shoppers. If someone has a container of ice cream, and I don't, I will jokingly tell them how jealous I am of what they are buying. Or if someone has scored a coup and scored some avocados in the sale rack, I will congratulate them. So yes, I am always very nosy about what's going on in the checkout line.
And yes, I do know that there must be some wise uses for food stamps, but going by my own personal experiences, I can only conclude that the majority of food stamp recipients didn't take and pass Home Ec classes during their grade school years.
Even without food stamps, most American families shop atrociously and have too many sweets and sodas in their shopping carts. And I am sad that the typical American child is subjected to tons of fried chicken nuggets and fingers, and french fries all throughout their childhood. While I had fries as a kid, my parents never fed us fried bits of boneless reshaped chicken pieces. We got adult quality food, but just in smaller portions. We weren't fussy kids and always ate our vegetables. We never dreamed of being difficult with our parents and refusing the meal in front of us. Kids are so spoilt these days.
This brings up a really good point.
All the whiners who snoop on others grocery purchases, and get upset about the crap people buy with what the snoopers assume are food stamps, are shopping at stores that sell crap.
Maybe if they were not supporting retailers who sell crap food, and instead shopped at stores that refuse to sell garbage, like Whole Foods Market, they would be able to snoop on people they think are using food stamps, but see them buying healthy and nutritious food.
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Uncle
