Rick Perry announces candidacy, promises to go Godzilla on Washington DC

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

POVERTY? POVERTY?

Man, you need to take a damn look around at what "poverty" really is.

And you need to take a damn look around you at what it's really like in America to go to work, day after day after day after day, just to struggle for your daily bread.

This is the US. Our "poverty" isn't supposed to look like poverty in Calcutta. Unless that's what your hoping for.

[natty bumppo 297]

Balconies and window ledges will yield enough veg to supplement a teeny food budget?

Look, I am all for doing what it takes to "make do". But I think it's nonsensical to come up with industrious ways a person can tolerate poverty. It really sounds like crying "let them eat cake".

"Go buy yourself a pot and seeds at the Dollar Store. Me, I'm getting my organic veg at the Farmers Market"

anything produced off the small plot is one less thing needed to purchase. also could give some degree of accomplishment.

who said anything about "industrious ways a person can tolerate poverty" ... the post was about ways to eat and reduce food costs ... and can be used if a person is in poverty ... or richer than Croesus

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

They work up to the max, then go on unemployment.

Pardon? I really don't understand what you are saying.

Depends on the state. Those programs are administered by the states and local government.

That's true. But minimum wage x 40 x 52 is above the US poverty level for one person. So no benefits in any state that I know of.

anything produced off the small plot is one less thing needed to purchase. also could give some degree of accomplishment.

who said anything about "industrious ways a person can tolerate poverty" ... the post was about ways to eat and reduce food costs ... and can be used if a person is in poverty ... or richer than Croesus

That's true.

I was speaking more generally and not directly at you with my comment about tolerating poverty.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Pardon? I really don't understand what you are saying.

That's true. But minimum wage x 40 x 52 is above the US poverty level for one person. So no benefits in any state that I know of.

Those are means tested programs. I thought you knew that. It's called gaming the system.

You work three, or four months, until you get close to making the amount that would cause you to lose the benefit, then ask to get laid off. Even better now that you can collect UI for 99 weeks.

Edited August 14, 2011 by Crusty Old Perv

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Those are means tested programs. I thought you knew that. It's called gaming the system.

You work three, or four months, until you get close to making the amount that would cause you to lose the benefit, then ask to get laid off. Even better now that you can collect UI for 99 weeks.

I don't believe UI goes beyond 6 months for new claims.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't believe UI goes beyond 6 months for new claims.

http://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/Federal_Unemployment_Insurance_Extensions.htm

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

http://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/Federal_Unemployment_Insurance_Extensions.htm

So given this latest round of extensions, someone opening a claim today, August 14, would only draw for 26 weeks.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So given this latest round of extensions, someone opening a claim today, August 14, would only draw for 26 weeks.

Right, unless Congress extends the extensions again.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Right, unless Congress extends the extensions again.

*shrugs*

I didn't think we were talking about "gamers" anyway. I thought we were talking about an economy which would consist mostly of minimum wage work, and how to survive in it. The honest, hard-working way.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

*shrugs*

I didn't think we were talking about "gamers" anyway. I thought we were talking about an economy which would consist mostly of minimum wage work, and how to survive in it. The honest, hard-working way.

Maybe I am jaded, but all I see are gamers. The ones that are serious about working don't stay minimum wage very long. If you are willing, the raises come fairly fast, at least for the first couple of years.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Maybe I am jaded, but all I see are gamers. The ones that are serious about working don't stay minimum wage very long. If you are willing, the raises come fairly fast, at least for the first couple of years.

That's possible. But in this economy IF you get a raise, it's probably going to be smaller AND not as often.

Why should you be jaded? (I'll add I am not just asking you, but the collective, so to speak). It's pretty easy to speculate about the motives and/or work ethic of the "gamers" when we aren't one of them. Really. It's very easy to say "if I were unemployed I'd plant tomatoes in a flower pot to raise food" when your own larder is full. It's easy to say we could live on minimum wage when we are just speculating about that kind of lifestyle.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That's possible. But in this economy IF you get a raise, it's probably going to be smaller AND not as often.

Why should you be jaded? (I'll add I am not just asking you, but the collective, so to speak). It's pretty easy to speculate about the motives and/or work ethic of the "gamers" when we aren't one of them. Really. It's very easy to say "if I were unemployed I'd plant tomatoes in a flower pot to raise food" when your own larder is full. It's easy to say we could live on minimum wage when we are just speculating about that kind of lifestyle.

I lot of us have been there, leaving friends and/or family behind that still live that lifestyle. Well, maybe not a lot of us, but enough to know of what we speak. Sometimes it's like getting in the water for the first time in a long time: You know you won't like it at first, but it gets better once you get wet. Some folks just don't want to bathe no matter what, and those are the gamers.

[^_^ 5,021]

*cough* *cough*

Report slurs, don't respond to them.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

anything produced off the small plot is one less thing needed to purchase. also could give some degree of accomplishment.

who said anything about "industrious ways a person can tolerate poverty" ... the post was about ways to eat and reduce food costs ... and can be used if a person is in poverty ... or richer than Croesus

Nice reference! Self-sustaining agriculture, Victory Gardens, are still viable. Perhaps it won't feed many for very long but it will help to some extent and that's what counts.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Post containing racial slur has been removed. You know better.