Poor families' 'safety net' is wearing thinner

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/24/8 | Tom Abate

[Glacier Honey]

“Safety nets are there to stop the fall. The person falling is supposed to get back on her feet and not just lay on the net though.”

or lay on their backs....

[17th Miss Regt]

All of their kids have cell phones, i-pods, TV in all rooms, either cable or satellite TV, play station, WII and Nintendo.

I will absolutely guarantee that the kids are both functional illiterates and innumerates. They are fully prepared to start at the bottom of the economic totem pole and to remain there their entire lives.