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What's wrong with this picture?
August 20, 2011

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?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; obamadepression; parasites; planners; police; recession; teachers; vanity
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To: maine-iac7

The first time I encountered a homeless person who interupted his conversation to ask for money..I was like..Really dude? Your’e kidding me, right?

I didn’t think of all of the reasons listed on this thread...but I don’t really care.


21 posted on 08/20/2011 9:26:13 PM PDT by berdie
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To: BulletBobCo

A few weeks ago, I went to a supermarket and a seemingly distraught woman asked me for a dollar since “Please. I haven’t eaten all day.” As I entered the market, I mentioned that I might have change after my purchase. Here I was using coupons and who do I see with a cart stacked with meats and other items while chatting on a cell phone in a very confident tone? The crying person who hadn’t eaten all day.


22 posted on 08/20/2011 9:30:05 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement (Obama "acted stupidly.")
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To: BulletBobCo
free government cell phones
23 posted on 08/20/2011 9:35:04 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: Jane Long

In my little town all spring long there was a guy working a corner by a shopping area (Chinese restaurants, Wal-Mart, etc. - lots of traffic). Noticed that whenever he was there, there was a large (lift kit, monster tires), new, 4x4 pickup parked in the corner of the parking lot. Far from any store, but just a dozen yards or so from him. Not sure it was his, but after a few dozen coincidences... If he can afford something that cost 3x what my car cost, and gets 1/2 the gas mileage... Maybe he should be giving me money.


24 posted on 08/20/2011 9:50:59 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obama now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: bushwon
"Are you saying that you don’t see a problem with this picture?"

I see many problems with urban life, suburban life, globalism, and many who believe that frivolous/deleterious services are worth much right now.

"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!"

It was another $10 for a month of service. I only keep it for any emergency that might happen while growing my own potatoes (Yukon Golds and Red Norlands).

My general point is that most of the remaining members of the middle class are probably about to lose their incomes. There will be bond collapses, so that will include local government officials and pensioners. Charlie Chan will not continue to send both products and money forever. Sustainable revenues require much more heavy manufacturing.

And no, I'm not on any kind of welfare. Not lazy, either (manually backfilling the rest of a 460-foot, 6-foot-deep trench with a family member in a climate that would kill most campers). But a whole lot of nonproductive parasites (highly paid troublemakers) are blaming the indigent for their problems now.

I despise contemporary politics and see mostly vain socialists on both sides. Show me one who manufactures or builds useful things without having family members or employees push for any regulations against potential competition. That's a real taxpayer. When there are enough like him, then we'll be justifying some services.

Here's an animal that will survive in my climate (climate that kills cattle during winter).



But I'll be spending about $70 per month (account for battery and other maintenance) on utilities (including heat) due to the kind of study and work that corporate/government snobs don't want to know about--you know, complicated, time consuming, takes too much explanation, isn't included in university programs, etc.


25 posted on 08/20/2011 9:55:22 PM PDT by familyop (Behold the genius in contemporary political speech.)
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To: BulletBobCo

Many of these ‘panhandlers’ are real pros.

If they get a good spot, they can make quite a good income.

Also watch out for the ‘intersection donation’ group. The Firefighters do this work to get donations for burned children. BUT, there are groups that buy crap like sugar candy in long brightly colored straws and sell them for a dollar a piece.

Of course, they aren’t giving the profits to burned children.


26 posted on 08/20/2011 9:56:15 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: BulletBobCo

There is a woman at my freeway entrance ramp who parks her car nearby and then carries a wheelchair to the centerstrip at the red light. When she gets there, she opens up the wheelchair, pulls out her sign, and starts collecting.

Another woman, at my freeway exit ramp three exits down, parks her car two blocks away at Carls Jr and then walks back to it when her day is done. I watched her walk to her car one day and she starts out real mopey and slow and then gradually walks faster as she approaches her car.


27 posted on 08/20/2011 9:58:48 PM PDT by Sam Clements
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To: familyop

Oh I did not think you were on welfare LOL. Sounds like you live out in the plains? I have family waay up north...and I lived in ND. Pretty much need to be self sufficient to survive... I think country needs to become more self-sufficient oh and the established politicians are just elitists for the most part.


28 posted on 08/20/2011 10:06:56 PM PDT by Freedom56v2 ("If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait till it is free"--PJ O'rourke)
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To: bushwon
Sorry, and there are too many people conning others on the street (and the government) for money. Yes. But others are really in need (including yet another chunk of the middle class recently dumped from private sector jobs). But I've also been surrounded by sincerely begging women and children in a poor country (past) and see that coming here. I see in political speech and decisions from both political parties, that default of one kind or another, sooner or later, is inevitable.

There are now serious charges against the first few of many global corporate government big shots in Argentina. Bear that in mind while considering the extortions under false pretenses by local governments around our own country now (both Democrat and Republican counties)--that, and their own "bunker mentality" increasing with stocking up on gear, stocking up on vehicles, and building off-grid power plants, and so on.

Old news. See the dates.

Arming Goldman With Pistols Against Public: Alice Schroeder
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=ahD2WoDAL9h0
Dec 3, 2009
[Title and link only, as no content from Bloomberg is allowed to be posted at FR.]

Intelligent Investing Panel
Going Great Guns
Forbes
David Serchuk, 04.23.09
"Thomas:...But, you know, you could always find another job that would pay all right, and pay slightly above minimum wage, could allow you to at least live and have a home in most communities. And I think that's slowly changed."
[...]
"Forbes: I was in Colorado, and I knew people who had 200, 300 guns. And they'd stash them in various hidden places around their compound. This wasn't all that uncommon out west."
[...]
"Sonders:...we have gone from a couple decades ago being a manufacturing economy to more of a service-oriented, information economy. That has just displaced permanently a lot of workers,..."

All of that to support notorious collusions with foreign communist nations against the USA. We haven't had a nation of slim, muscular, young fathers making $3.80 an hour (Millwright laborer, 1978) for (for example) grinding on steel structurals while being defamed by drunken, womanizing momma's boys with stories about $22 an hour for decades now. Well, okay, the sons and daughters of those momma's boys are running our country through both political parties and using the government as a socialist tool to enforce their social and economic policies.

The unions allowed to continue are those employing the effete members of global corporate families and their suckups (e.g., public school teachers, corporate admin. office employees, social workers, police, regulatory employees, all). Those who aren't union members are still taking too much (e.g., well over $40,000 and benefits for an elementary school teacher in a rural area).

I've watched attempts at new, small business starts shut down in commissioners' meetings by family members and former employees of big developers and big lumber mills. I've seen large herds of cattle confiscated from old ranchers under false allegations by clandestine real estate interests.

I've seen more than enough, as too many other Americans have. That's why we're not buying, until we see better leadership in every level of business, politics and academia.


29 posted on 08/20/2011 10:28:12 PM PDT by familyop (Behold the genius in contemporary political speech.)
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To: bushwon
"Oh I did not think you were on welfare LOL. Sounds like you live out in the plains? I have family waay up north...and I lived in ND. Pretty much need to be self sufficient to survive... I think country needs to become more self-sufficient oh and the established politicians are just elitists for the most part."

Apologies again for being so touchy. I'm at over 9,000 ft. in a high basin on the Range, surrounded by a very sparse population of highly educated people pecking at each other over animal worship and the like. It's sickening, for example, hearing the word, "overgrazed," even Republicans and Democrats alike. I'm over 50 and getting grouchy about them, finally mocking them by saying, "Ubergrazed, ubergrazed!" Can't understand why the don't all head back to their Europe. Danged tree and animal worshippers.

They talk much about work but won't put any fertility into the hard packed soil. They don't like having any neighbors who'll do it, either ("open space," "urban sprawl" and other drooly-lipped canards). And they certainly won't allow any neighbor to manufacture a few units of anything by himself--even on a large, rural property. They only extract "impact fees" and the like.

I would move north to Wyoming. But rumor has it, that hordes of the same kinds of people from the coasts are already moving there fast (bad sign).

That's why I advocate hastening the default. Let 'em spend all they want, while we buy less every year. My technical kids and grandkids will rule over theirs. Give 'em the future that they fear most: technocracy.


30 posted on 08/20/2011 10:45:30 PM PDT by familyop (Behold the genius in contemporary political speech.)
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To: BulletBobCo
You do all realize that the "Universal Access" fee on YOUR cell phone bill is used to provide FREE cell phones to people.
31 posted on 08/20/2011 10:47:15 PM PDT by JrsyJack (a healthy dose of buckshot will probably get you the last word in any argument.)
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To: familyop

Agreed, on all points, we’ve talked on some threads before, and I know I like your style. Here’s the kicker so fe seem to understand, even here on FR:

“pensioners. Charlie Chan will not continue to send both products and money forever. Sustainable revenues require much more heavy manufacturing.”

The U.S. Citizenry has long, (over 60 years now), enjoyed a lifestyle subsidized on the backs of other citizens. As long as we have run a deficit, someone has been sudsidizing us. The greater the deficit, the greater the subsidization. “Charlie Chan” as you put it, is absolutely sick of paying for the freebies our government is giving away. it will abruptly come to a stop, but probably not before a long slide and some large scale international war or two, sadly. China’s not rapidly building up their naval forces for nothing, after all.

But what do I know...


32 posted on 08/20/2011 10:51:53 PM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: BulletBobCo

We probably paid for it!


33 posted on 08/20/2011 10:54:39 PM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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To: familyop

Thank you for reply...agreed, waay too many conning government and other citizens for money...I heard that the EPA has funded murals in the tunnels in Chicago...Murals?!?!? and we are $14 Trillion in debt?!

Sounds like you live in beautiful country tho...you are south of Wyoming...altitude must make it fairly cold... Wyoming is south of 2 of my family. LOL.

But I am in in the socialist state of IL. It has some beautiful areas, but ohhhh the politics and taxes...Ugh...


34 posted on 08/20/2011 11:04:51 PM PDT by Freedom56v2 ("If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait till it is free"--PJ O'rourke)
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To: JDW11235
Thank you. I agree with all that you wrote, too--especially on subsidizing. We don't even need something like this subsidized (great system to modify/build for any place with enough sun days).

I recently met a formerly Chinese gentleman, who moved here for school during the '90s (civil engineer--water systems). Yes, I know that he was most likely pre-briefed by the PLA with the rest of the foreign students before coming over and all of that. But he's one of us now. ...even offered to help us with something.

He seemed surprised and excited that we're doing so much manual labor here, and studying methods, codes and more before building each utility. ...and surprised at our preparations to raise hairy goats. He's originally from high country over there, so he'll really be surprised about yaks (only a plan so far for 2-3 years out).

I never cared much for the idea of alternative livestock in the past, but even buffalo ("bison" for fans of worldly linguistic activism) didn't live here at this elevation before (not among animals listed by first western culture explorers). ...not easy keepers, either. And I don't want to mess with domesticated elk. Cattle don't like 80 mph winds at -20 or -30 F, some winters in several feet of snow. And they eat a lot. And agricultural shelters are taxed really high.

Whatever happened to Americans who wanted to do some real work? And what about learning for all of our lives, having courage and building upward? ...neighborliness and the morality of our first forefathers from Europe? I fear that maybe we're about to see some answers to those questions.


35 posted on 08/20/2011 11:33:16 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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To: BulletBobCo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwP2vV6Wm1Y

Michael Douglas knows how to deal with ‘em.


36 posted on 08/20/2011 11:47:43 PM PDT by TruthHound ("He who does not punish evil commands it to be done." --Leonardo da Vinci)
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To: familyop

Great post, and good luck with the animals. I’m hitting the hay soon, but I wanted to respond to one point:

“Whatever happened to Americans who wanted to do some real work?”

I think they/we are still out there/here. I think the problem isn’t that there are so many who are unwilling to work, I think the problem is that not only has the public school system been directed to quash anyone not conforming to the establishment groupthink/socialist dogma, but that the elitists have so thoroughly permeated government (through bribery, blackmail, and buttering up) that there regulation stranglehold on anything and everything quells virtually anyones desire to even try anymore (the true goal of Communism/Socialism is absolute power, and that is only found when everyone else gives up).

When a little girl’s lemonade stand is fined out of existence for not having a license, when a neighbor can’t sell milk to another, when it’s impossible to legally develop your own land because of how it may affect some animal/moss/slug, then there is no true freedom left. We must weed out the regulation and oppression.

I once read that 7 of 12 (MORE THAN HALF!), of all of the workforce in the U.S. is tied to government, whether it be Federal, State, Local, or contracted (several percent are teachers, alone!). Each and every person being paid out in such a system is a person taking wages out of the real economy. We already have more scooping from the bucket than are pouring in (hence a deficit running in trillions, despite the ridiculous taxation—I read the average amount of taxes taken out by income taxes, fees, licensing, etc. of the average American is over 40%). Eventually the number scooping out of the bucket will surpass even those pouring in globally. At that point, the printing will take over full bore.

I see the future as being a bright, but difficult one. The fundamental law of the Universe is “Whatsoever thou sowest, that shalt thou also reap.” Thus until people begin sowing, there will be a dirth of reaping. So far foreigners have been proverbially sowing, but I don’t see it lasting long. Then the spark could really fly.


37 posted on 08/21/2011 12:51:25 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JrsyJack; BulletBobCo

The fee’s on a phone bill can often double the cost of the phone service itself. A friend of mine once had a $13 dollar phone service that was about $35 after taxes (not uncommon.

I recently cancelled the home phone, which was provided over internet. There are no wires involved (To the house, I do realize there are some from the ISP to the service at the switch, central office, etc.)! The cost of the phone service was $20, but the taxes brought the cost to nearly $35 dollars. The taxation in this country has surpassed ridiculous. I have never even heard of someone calling poison control, for example, but tens if not hundreds of millions of lines of telephone service are taxed for it each month!


38 posted on 08/21/2011 12:59:52 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JrsyJack; BulletBobCo

I just wanted to correct my post about the poison control center telephone tax. It varies in existence by state, but my state has it, so this state alone has millions, of tax payments for a service (PCC) that I have never even heard of being used.


39 posted on 08/21/2011 1:04:06 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: UCANSEE2

Yeah, the Giant Pixie Stick people have been panhandling in the parking lot at my local Sam’s Club for a while now. They hit me up and I just say “no thanks, but have a nice day.” So far, no one’s gotten aggressive about it yet.

My new response is going to be “My brother’s dead broke. What makes you think you’ve got a better claim to my money than my own family member?” And yes, my brother is having some tough financial times. Lost his business last year and has tax liens, etc.


40 posted on 08/21/2011 2:36:38 AM PDT by Two Kids' Dad ((((( )))))
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