Posted on 08/20/2011 8:41:08 PM PDT by BulletBobCo
Yesterday my son and I were travelling down the road when he turns to me and tells me that the lady on the corner panhandling is holding a sign with one hand and talking on her smartphone with the other. Am I missing something here?
Why, yes! Only rich people have smart phones. Mine cost $13, pre-activated.
Nope you’re not, unless you gave her money. :-)
Naah! You didn't miss a thing. It's just typical of the world that we live in these days. Panhandling is just a part time job to her.
We have the richest “poor” in the world.
Reminds me of when we used to drive though a low income housing area, on our way to the ballpark. My then 8 year old asked why each house had a huge satellite dish and brand new car in the front yard.
Poor people also have nice cars, microwave ovens and more cable channels than you.
The welfare check alone cannot cover all of that and her club dues and recreational drug expenses...
Well, of course you are. You obviously missed the 2008 "Spread the Wealth" exchange in Toledo between candidate Obama and Joe the Plumber.
I live north of LA. In the past 2 years we have had a huge influx of bums. Bums with cell phones, bums with toddlers, bums with nice cars.
We have the richest “poor” in the world <<
BINGO!...We have a winner!!
We have the only country in the world where being “poor” becomes a life style choice.....
Many years ago, when I first began college, I had an entry level behavioral sciences course. One of our assignments was to violate a folkway or more of society and report back on the reaction. Our professor mentioned a number of possible actions, like talking to folk in elevators, etc.
At some point I recall her telling us the story of a student she had a few years prior who decided to dress in ragged clothes and panhandle for his assignment. She did not see him in class again. She did however run into him somewhere else (it’s been years,a nd I cannot recall where it was she said), but he was wearing a very nice suit. She asked hi how he was since she never saw him again in class.
He proceeded to thank her for giving him the assignment, because his first day panhandling, he made several hundred dollars. He said he had [perfected] his act, and was now pulling in over $600 EACH DAY. She asked alll of us, to not panhandle (as it was illegal anyway where I am from), and that if we chose to do so, to not give up our career track and schooling to become professional panhandlers.
I also remember being raised by my dad, who, when asked for gas money, etc. in parking lots, offered to buy them a gallon or two of gas so they could get to wherever they were going. If he saw a sign that read “Will work for food” or was approached by someone saying that, he would offer them work and then pay them (Not the best idea these days, as criminals will often use the strategy to case your home). To my knowledge, only one or two men ever came and did work for him, and no one ever wanted the gas he was willing to buy them, just the money. Food for thought.
Yes.. what you missed is the government checks she gets..
She may be a republican... a Romney supporter... maybe Perry for sure Juan McLaim..
That happened to me outside a store...and the lady had a child with her. Inside every store they are begging for $$$$$$$$$$ for some charity.
I’m thinking of posting this editorial for the local paper on FR to see what non-locals think of this.
A woman from a nearby town wrote into the paper to let the valley know that he income was too high to qualify foodstamps, but because she owns a home and has an apartment (because she doesn’t want to pay for gas for the commute I guess), and she’s putting her husband through school, that she feels it’s unfair that she does not qualify for food stamps. It’s on a tangent, but it really shows the attitude that some people really have.
“Food Stamp formula unfair”
http://news.hjnews.com/opinion/article_142c7ec0-c867-11e0-8fbc-001cc4c002e0.html
I assumed she was you typical druggie who's parents were providing with a cell phone for emergencies or to keep in touch.
I assumed she was your typical druggie who's parents were providing with a cell phone for emergencies or to keep in touch.
No one is saying only rich have cell phones, but if someone is begging for donations for food, perhaps they should de-activate their phones....Are you saying that you don’t see a problem with this picture?
However, it is not the cost of the phone that is expensive...(Perhaps you received an offer for a $13 smart phone—I have seen free ones offered thru my phone company for a 2-year activation), it is the cost of the monthly access and data charges. IMHO, for most plans that amounts to a sizable sum that could buy a lot of potatoes!
In other words, is a smart phone a need or a want?
the druggies, alcoholics, ‘bi-polars’ etc that collect welfare $$$ and food stamps - also get free cell phones.
True story! A member of my family (I am ashamed to say, she is the only one like this) has not worked in several years. I don’t understand the finer points of govt freebies, but she somehow, without any children, and she is NOT disabled, she qualifies for the following;
“General Assistance” monthly cash (not sure amount)
Food Stamps
A “low income” 1-bdrm apartment. Because her income is zero (they don’t count the “general assistance”), the govt sliding scale gives her this apartment (market value about $500) for $53/month rent. No loans, no work program. It’s hers forever for $53, subsidized by your taxes.
Utilities, because she is below the poverty line, are deep discounted (electricity, phone, etc)
She gets TWO free bus passes, from two different agencies. She sells one and pockets the cash.
All medical care, doctor visits and Rx’s are totally free (California program I believe, not Fed).
Dental is not covered by the State; she goes to a charity of the Catholic Church and gets them to pay for her dental work.
Tuition and books for community college. AND — “Financial Aid” because she is low income so needs money to live on while she is “studying” (these are art classes). The govt assumes a “student” cannot work too (again a Calif program).
Free clothing thru another church giveaway program.
While the rest of my (working or retired) family all just emailed around saying sorry, but we have to be frugal this Christmas, let’s just have very simple gifts...this person just purchased, cash, a new laptop computer and printer. She has a high-quality cell phone and all the usual gizmos folks have today. She goes to movies, restaurants, parties and shopping. She is not dealing drugs, or doing anything illegal, all this is “within the system.”
That is a picture of a real life “poor” person I know.
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