Ohio Cuts Benifits

[sly_wolf 199]

As I read some of the posts and some of the news, I am just amazed at how so many have coping issues around the election. What is wrong with people!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

As I read some of the posts and some of the news, I am just amazed at how so many have coping issues around the election. What is wrong with people!

They're mad. They didn't get their way when they were told they would. They'll get over it.

[sly_wolf 199]

They're mad. They didn't get their way when they were told they would. They'll get over it.

So many angry bitter folks. They should really blame the ones that lost then ..... the GOP. The Goppies need to change their attitude especially if they want to win an election.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

So many angry bitter folks. They should really blame the ones that lost then ..... the GOP. The Goppies need to change their attitude especially if they want to win an election.

They called for a meltdown - guess they didn't realize it would be on their end.

[Teddy B 17,252]

They called for a meltdown - guess they didn't realize it would be on their end.

Evylin, I don't know the extent of your experience with US politics, my wife's was very limited before she moved here. She cannot believe the ridiculous way some of the people act here, on both sides. Nor can she grasp the amount of time and money spent on these elections. Was it a bit of a shock for you witnessing it first hand, or did you know this was the way it is coming in?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm still only going to give you rice, dried beans and some canned vegetables. That's it.

Thanks. Ukrainian women only cook with that kind of thing anyway. Fresh vegetables would be better. There is a delicious Ukrainian dish Alla makes with exactly those ingredients, which means we can use the food stamp money for other things!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Perhaps they didn't think Romney was any better? Perhaps they were tired of Romney lying about the auto bailout and their jobs being in jeopardy? The auto industry was a big issue for Ohio this year and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what tipped the scales in favor of Obama at all.

Perhaps?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Evylin, I don't know the extent of your experience with US politics, my wife's was very limited before she moved here. She cannot believe the ridiculous way some of the people act here, on both sides. Nor can she grasp the amount of time and money spent on these elections. Was it a bit of a shock for you witnessing it first hand, or did you know this was the way it is coming in?

It's definitely been a bit of a shock. I had paid attention to US politics even when I lived in Canada - I just found it interesting. So I knew, from afar, how ugly and ridiculous it could be. But actually being here during an election season has surprised me, ESPECIALLY living in a swing state this year. I'd never experienced anything like it.

It's such a far cry from what politics is like in Canada. Yes, it can get ugly there too and the attack ads are just as silly, but it's not nearly as shoved down your throat as it is here. Not in my experience, anyway.

Perhaps?

Perhaps. Excellent response.

[JohnR! 5,495]

They're mad. They didn't get their way when they were told they would. They'll get over it.

Apparently the unhappy fifth column is growing.... :rofl: :rofl:

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I don't really get this. I got it when it was just the Obamas, but it's lost me since.

[Teddy B 17,252]

It's definitely been a bit of a shock. I had paid attention to US politics even when I lived in Canada - I just found it interesting. So I knew, from afar, how ugly and ridiculous it could be. But actually being here during an election season has surprised me, ESPECIALLY living in a swing state this year. I'd never experienced anything like it.

It's such a far cry from what politics is like in Canada. Yes, it can get ugly there too and the attack ads are just as silly, but it's not nearly as shoved down your throat as it is here. Not in my experience, anyway.

I'm sure being in a swing state multiplied the intensity. My wife is just happy it's over, which seems to be the sentiment of most people.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I'm sure being in a swing state multiplied the intensity. My wife is just happy it's over, which seems to be the sentiment of most people.

Yup. I can listen to the radio on the way to work again. And watch television. And sit down to dinner without being interrupted by phone calls.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Yup. I can listen to the radio on the way to work again. And watch television. And sit down to dinner without being interrupted by phone calls.

Now it's on to the constant barrage of Christmas music and commercials!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Now it's on to the constant barrage of Christmas music and commercials!

I love Christmas so much that I do not care! I'm used to the Christmas stuff being early because in Canada, after Halloween, there's no other major holiday. Here there's still Thanksgiving, so it seems weird.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I just think it's disingenuous for you to put a political face on your personal decision. Really, I do.

The system is different in every state (as you noted). I'm sure the things you are talking about doing wouldn't work in my state, so I guess the system must be more generous in Vermont. And I've been through some tough times in my life over the years. I've never drawn benefits of any kind, but I've looked into it. They aren't as easy to get as you paint it to be. If things are that easy in Vermont, then I'd say the state is an exception to the rule, rather than the norm.

I think you are just trying to stir the pot. Personally, if there is a way for you to get some relief with your medical expenses, then I say go for it. I don't think it's fair though for you to try and get a political rise out of people. One of two things is going on here - either the benefit system in Vermont is vastly different than much of the US - or you have never been as well off (through the years) as you wanted us all to think. Or, if you've had a change in your health that changes your financial picture, then be a stand up guy and just tell us. There's no shame in that at all.

You talk all the time about your heart attack and I get the impression this was some sort of life changing event for you. I've had my own apocalypse about what's important in life due to seeing someone I love at the mercy of their body. I don't know - maybe you decided it was more important that you have fun in your life and one way you do that is to jerk people around online. Nothing wrong with that I guess, as long as the rest of us are tuned into it.

Vermont has a generous welfare system of course. It is the "bluest state" and the first declared for Obama in both his elections with the highest margin of victory. One of our Senators is a liberal Democrat, the other is a Socialist who will not join the Democrat party because they are too conservative. When the Feds cut heating assistance, the state immeditely jumped in and replaced the funds.

I have never once said this is political and ONLY the people who have supported these programs all along seem to think it is terrible someone is using them. They accuse this of being a political temper tantrum when it is simply a matmatical equation. Each new or expanded benefit makes it easier for more people to replace work with welfare. What do they expect? I CAN do the math.

The people that support these programs accuse people of being lazy or pathetic for using them...and sound just like Republicans with slurs about "poor people"

Even you, one of two liberals who seems to have a clue, devolve into this. Why?

I have laid out the mathmatics of it over and over. For what reason should I work hard to EARN the extra $3000 per month when the government will take money from what YOU earn and GIVE me the $3000? Personal satisfaction? Nice, but not worth $3000 per month. Now if I/we could make $5000 per month more or $6000 per month more...OK, I get it, but right now we cannot. Better to cut back, dive below the maguc number and get all those benefits rolling in. Liberals want it that way and they WON the election so that means the majority of the people in the country agree with me. Right?

I have never said I was wealthy and am not. I did, at one time, run a little game saying I had paid for my heart surgery CASH which drove the liberals completely apoplectic! How DARE anyone pay cash for medical treatment. Sometimes I do that just for fun. Beats the usual ####### for tat "debate" of one liners we see here. That's so boring. Read that whole thread, it is an awesome display of "tantrums". I did later admit it was just a discussion point and it served my purpose, but that seems to get lost. Imagine that. Fact is, y'all think you know so much about my family but you may not know anything. I really do not like the usual posting of biased charts and graphs and one line sound bites. I mush prefer the scenario, the skit, the role playing. Being the devils advocate. Tossing out the scenario, creating a role of the villian, the ####### Dastardly. THEN you get to see the real reactions of "compassionate people" toward their fellow man.

But the liberals, instead of seeing this for what it is...a use of what they "built" (I love that one, "we built that") It MUST be a temper tantrum because Romney lost. I voted for Johnson! I must be pathetic, lazy, going to lose my position as a Sugar Daddy, not wealthy, had a change of health....SOMETHING! ANYTHING... except the truth. The truth is the system carves a hole in the middle class, negates the reason for being middle class, eliminates any return for working above a certain wage and under another...and I am going to jump through the hole. In this state it is a pretty big hole and falls right in the range of the state's average income. Which means people on welfare live about average for this state. To here the politicians tell it, that IS the idea.

Who would have guessed?

Now, benefits vary by state and Vermont is a good one, probably not the best, but probably in the top 5. The only difference is the "sliding scale", the size of the "welfare hole" in the middle class. But it exists in every state. When taxes go up 13% January 1 and who knows how much after that, more people will figure this out and jump through the hole. More people on welfare, more people demanding welfare, more welfare programs approved by Democrats.

This is no different than the illegal alien "problem" Politically created. In 2014 Obamacare is going to add $1.40 per hour to the cost of employing someone full time...legally. The cost of employing an illegal? -0- except less than minimum wage. Employers hire them for economic reasons. The economic reason is politically created but the employers do not care about politics, they care about money. They hire illegals to increase the money in their pocket.

I am doing the same. It is not political on my part but the situation I am taking advantage of is politically created.

I don't expect any of you liberals to understand basic mathmatics, so carry on with discussions of how I am throwing a temper tantrum. When you have a chance, pay attention to what happens to the welfare, medicaid and food stamp numbers over the next couple of years. In the meantime, please continue what doing what is expected of you.

Yup. I can listen to the radio on the way to work again.

Please keep working.