A cell phone is a luxury, not a right.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomaitheous
If I'm struggling so much that I need help to buy food, I'm damn well not going to keep a cell phone.
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A cell phone is a luxury, not a right.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomaitheous
If I'm struggling so much that I need help to buy food, I'm damn well not going to keep a cell phone.
It depends on the cell phone an Iphone is a luxury. A cheap 15 dollar prepaid phone from the Dollar Store isn't a luxury IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Venture
The more you talk on this, the more your ignorance is shows. I'm not interested in changing this thread into a social economic assistance discussion, but you... *really* have gap in your understanding. Leads me to believe you've probably been middle class (or at least close to it) ... your whole life. Congratulations on that :?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Venture
I love when it people that have never been that poor in there life, comment on such things. It's utterly fantastic.
But that's food assistance, usually the first kind of general financial aid (except maybe education, in the case of college students, though that can often come along with that as well, alog with rent assistance).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Venture
And that's not getting into things like health care, which should be near the top of priorities. (below maintaing food and shelter of course)
There are probably a lot of people who qualify for food stamps (or similar assistance) who don't use it (either from ignorance, personal scruples, or possibly stigma of using it). Although you could argue that this means it applies too broadly, but in th especific case of a cell phone, that doesn't necessarily mean that much, it could be a really low-end plan for onem and if they didn't have access to govt. aid they might not be using that phone. (note that some people don't have land lines either, with cell phones being the main mode of communication)
IMO, cell phone would come ahead of luxuries like cable TV, and maybe internet access (depending on situation), land line phone servise+minimal internet access (above dial up) would probably be ahead of cell phone service though, again depending on situation.
We're in the digital age here, so the number of things many people depend on (and indeed, are often expected to depend on) are much borader than they were even a decade ago. And in that respect, having certain accesibility to technology may come ahead of things liek health care, if one cannot afford it, as those things may be necessary to maintaining one's job. (that would be one major argument for health care assistance)
See, that would be a much more reasonable sign for abuse of such aid, but standard, bottom of the barrel phones (or maybe mid-range ones that came free with the plan, or as an upgrade) would not be. IMO (again this depends greatly on other circumstances, and other differences in other state/regions, let alone countries)Quote:
Originally Posted by Da_Shocker
Yeah, that's definitely more of a slang term for a group. In the strictest terms a capitolist is just someone who beleives in a free market economy, but in those terms, such a person would have to come to the logical conclusion that perfect competition of a free market economy isn't possible in rea-world situation, and thus requires a certain degree of regualtion, even in th emost capitolisitc of economies (again technical definition).Quote:
Originally Posted by Zebbe
I've got an economics teacher wo considers himself a rather strict believer in captiolism, but he also acceps that rather strict regulation is needed in certain aspect of any real-world economy, and with certain comodities, shouldn't be applied to a free market whatsoever, either controlled completely by the government, or heavily regulated, possibly with a public alternative in addition to private firms (like education). In particular, he beleives health care is one such thing that does not fit into a free market properly, with a govt regulated system being better overall, although with it's flaws as well. (such as Canada's system, with long waiting periods for lower priorety medical care -but still high response for emergencies)
Again, an arrangement like the public schools system might work as well. (with a public system, but also allowing private health care, just liek with private schools)
I've seen members on *both* sides of my family sit and abuse the welfare system when they could very well have not.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomaitheous
I've had cousins and aunts sit and collect welfare then go on about how they bought their kids expensive desinger clothes and shoes (who buys their kid baby air jordans?) and then constantly beg for money.
I have an aunt who gets food from a local church. She takes the generic brands that they give her for free, returns them to the store, and uses the money to buy name brand stuff and cigarettes.
You tell me, how exactly am I supposed to feel about things like this? I know not everyone is a system mooch, but its very hard for me, from what I've seen growing up, to think of a big flashy cell phone as anything different than designer clothes scenario.
Most small minded people use the "Egocentric" argument. They saw ONE person abuses the system in their lifetime and automatically believe that everything single poor person does it. They attack the social safety nets (Food Stamps, welfare, student aid, High protein diet for pregnant women aid, Head Start program - so peoples children can get a good breakfast before school starts) yet grudgingly have to agree that they are necessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Venture
This is how easy it is to make the people attack themselves. They never attack Corporate welfare (Obama and Bush gave TRILLIONS TO THE BANKS and Subsidies to other corporate monopolies who drive down wages and lower living standards all the while poisoning us)nor the lazy government worker for not looking into individual cases and they never take action when these important social programs are cut to weaken the middle and lower classes. They live in their own little elitist fantasy world where they can point and judge others while never understanding that some day soon THEY will be in need of these government programs and maybe some day THEY WON'T BE THERE.
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/image...-acc-g-web.jpg
'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon
them. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.
This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,
and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,
for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out
its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye.
Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse.
And abide the end.'
'Have they no refuge or resource.' cried Scrooge.
'Are there no prisons.' said the Spirit, turning on him
for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses.'"
Right on Edge I was amazed at how Obama passed that stimulus bill that gave the banks all that money and nobody didn't make a big deal, but when health care reform came out people sure did raise hell about it.
Why doesn't America just collapse already and embrace the Bisonopolis way of life?
http://cdn.gameist.com/static/conten...nsen/Bison.jpg
"EVERY TUESDAY'S A HOLIDAY!"
We can't print these
http://images.onesite.com/capcom-uni...ison_money.jpg
Giving money to rich people? :z:Quote:
Originally Posted by Da_Shocker
Giving money to benefit everyone, including disgusting poor people and brown people? :furious: