Should We Reward Good Students?

[Hantlers]

Thank goodness for those time machines. If poor people didn't have access to them, you comment would come off as uninformed and callous.

It's common sense. If you're not making enough money to properly provide for your children, then don't have them.

Buy condoms. Use birth control pills. Get your tubes tied. Abstain from sex.

I get that "mistakes" happen, but perhaps people should be a little more responsible with their actions.

 

[One Brow]

I get that "mistakes" happen, but perhaps people should be a little more responsible with their actions.

You mean, mistakes like "I couldn't travel the 300 miles to the nearest abortion clinic", "I should not have married that person 15 years ago", or "I should not have assumed that military base would stay open"?

Seriously, you have no idea who forms the working poor. You are embarrassing yourself.

 

[Hantlers]

You mean, mistakes like "I couldn't travel the 300 miles to the nearest abortion clinic", "I should not have married that person 15 years ago", or "I should not have assumed that military base would stay open"?

Seriously, you have no idea who forms the working poor. You are embarrassing yourself.

I don't have any idea who forms the working poor?

I have worked with and managed people who are considered poor. I have seen how they act inside and outside of work. You don't know what I know, or what I don't know...don't assume, Eric.

As for your examples above, they are the minority. Most of these poor people having kids are single, and were single when they had their kids, as well as working the same minimum wage jobs they had when they had the kid. I see it happen over and over.

But please, answer this question. Don't answer it with another question, or try to avoid it like you always do. Should people with minimum wage jobs be having children? Is it responsible to do so? I would like your thoughts on the subject.

 

[One Brow]

I don't have any idea who forms the working poor?

Obviously not, if you think they generally have kids while they are poor.

I have worked with and managed people who are considered poor.

Who hasn't? Every janitor in your building is part of the working poor. Everyone works with poor people. They just don't advertise it.

I have seen how they act inside and outside of work.

Your thinking their is some common way "they act" which you can tie up with a ribbon is more proof that you have no idea whom you are talking about. Your words are sounding like the words of any ordinary bigot.

You don't know what I know, or what I don't know...don't assume, Eric.

As you have before in this thread, when you have no grounds for your argument, you resort to rudeness.

As for your examples above, they are the minority. Most of these poor people having kids are single, and were single when they had their kids, as well as working the same minimum wage jobs they had when they had the kid. I see it happen over and over.

Again, "these poor people".

But please, answer this question. Don't answer it with another question, or try to avoid it like you always do.

I always answer relevant questions. Sometimes people don't like the answers, or that the answers are more complex than they realize.

Should people with minimum wage jobs be having children? Is it responsible to do so? I would like your thoughts on the subject.

That depends on the couple. I was working for minimum wage when my first two kids were born, but that turned out pretty well.

Would you tell someone they have to remain childless, because no one will offer them a better job? If they get pregnant, would you tell them they should have an abortion?

 

[Hantlers]

But, shouldn't we just eliminate poor people entirely? I'm really just talking to annoy you, it amuses me.

On a serious note, I like how you say that I attack people, yet you're the one calling me a bigot. You also couldn't figure out the difference between "there" and "their", but that doesn't really matter.

As for my last question, I don't believe that abortion is ever a good option (unless it is a life or death situation, and even that is tricky). I just think that people in certain tax brackets should be a bit more responsible when it comes to having children if they cannot afford to provide for their kids. I just know that personally, while I would be grateful that their are programs to help people in that situation, if I was in that situation, I would want to do it on my own...so I want to be in a situation where I can afford kids before I have them. Maybe that plan won't work out, but I hope it does.

Just one more thing, props to you for (hopefully) raising your kids well. I'm sure it's not an easy job. However I did notice that you didn't say what type of job your wife had at the time. I imagine that would make a difference in the income your household was bringing in.

 

[moevillini]

...On a serious note, I like how you say that I attack people, yet you're the one calling me a bigot. You also couldn't figure out the difference between "there" and "their", but that doesn't really matter....


...while I would be grateful that their are programs to help people in that situation...

ahem!

intentional irony I'm sure...

 

[Hantlers]

ahem!

intentional irony I'm sure...

Me???

Never.

 

[Stoked]

Obviously not, if you think they generally have kids while they are poor.

Please tell me you are joking.

 

[green]

One Brow, it is a simple concept:

live below your means.

If you do this, then you will have money. Whether you make $1/hr or $1,000. As long as you spend less than you make, you will be ok.

Then guess what? If you do this, then teach your kids to do this, then you will leave something behind for them, and they will take that and keep building upon it. And if that happens for a couple of generations? Bruce ****ing Wayne.

Again, I don't care how much money you make, if you live below your means, you will die with money in your pocket.

Simple concept. Changes lives.

 

[green]

Would you tell someone they have to remain childless, because no one will offer them a better job? If they get pregnant, would you tell them they should have an abortion?

Absolutely not. BUT, I would tell them to live below their means. And if that means east St. Louis, then do it. Work two jobs, move in mom's basement, go to school. Work, work, work. Maybe mom can't stay home. Maybe you can't work 30 hours a week and watch tv. Maybe you work 30 hours a week and do 15 credits at college (I did). Work. Get rid of cell phones, internet, cable tv. Don't eat out. Learn to do some gourmet meals made out of ramen noodles and frozen veggies. It can be done.

The problem is the work part.

 

[VINYLONE]

One Brow, it is a simple concept:

live below your means.

If you do this, then you will have money. Whether you make $1/hr or $1,000. As long as you spend less than you make, you will be ok.

Then guess what? If you do this, then teach your kids to do this, then you will leave something behind for them, and they will take that and keep building upon it. And if that happens for a couple of generations? Bruce ****ing Wayne.

Again, I don't care how much money you make, if you live below your means, you will die with money in your pocket.

Simple concept. Changes lives.

This makes sense and it's an absolute in it's positive effect on the lives of people. Unfortunately, this concept runs counter to what our economy is based on. Consumption. Consumption via financialized debt products. Furthermore, the financial literacy in this country is incredibly low. There are many reasons but the the most important ones, in my opinion, are that these bad financial habits are generational and basic home economic concepts are rarely touched on in school and when they are it's basic and fleeting. But I agree with you.

 

[One Brow]

But, shouldn't we just eliminate poor people entirely? I'm really just talking to annoy you, it amuses me.

OK. I'm easy to annoy, and don't really care if you decide it's fun.

On a serious note, I like how you say that I attack people, yet you're the one calling me a bigot.

That's an interesting step in your thinking. All I did was point out that you were being rude, and that one of your sentences read as if it came from a bigot. You turned those statements into "attack people" and "calling me a bigot". Is that because you read your own intentions into what I said? Anyone can be rude accidentally. Anyone can make a poor choice of words that sounds bigoted. Generally, when these things are unintentional, I apologize for/acknowledge the error and try to do better in the future. Were they intentional on your part?

You also couldn't figure out the difference between "there" and "their", but that doesn't really matter.

You mean, I didn't point out your typo? Why would I bother?

As for my last question, I don't believe that abortion is ever a good option (unless it is a life or death situation, and even that is tricky). I just think that people in certain tax brackets should be a bit more responsible when it comes to having children if they cannot afford to provide for their kids. I just know that personally, while I would be grateful that their are programs to help people in that situation, if I was in that situation, I would want to do it on my own...so I want to be in a situation where I can afford kids before I have them. Maybe that plan won't work out, but I hope it does.

I agree everyone should be responsible. We all prefer not to get government help (or any other help) when we feel we have a choice.

Just one more thing, props to you for (hopefully) raising your kids well. I'm sure it's not an easy job. However I did notice that you didn't say what type of job your wife had at the time. I imagine that would make a difference in the income your household was bringing in.

At the time of my wife's first two pregnancies, I was already working two jobs. Later, we would sometimes each have a job. We both went through different jobs.