WalletPop

Why is it that everyone always seems to blames the President for all the problems we have. Do you not blame the Governor for your state? I live in Michigan and everyone wants to blame Bush for all the jobs lost to Mexico... but we forget that Bush did not sign NAFTA. We are in the place that we are for many different reasons. Many have nothing to do with President Bush. He unfortunately does not control the price of gas and food. He also has no control as to wether or not you pay your Mortgage payment. Stop blaming the President for all your problems. Do like alot of us have done. Cut the cable, cut the cell phones, stop eating out. I am in no better place that most but I take responsibility for my choices and I choose to cut out the things my family does not NEED. I thank God that Bush has strong broad shoulders that can handle all that he has to in a day. Could you?

One makes $40,000 a year here in the USA and is still eligible for food stamps? This is not an issue of need. Those who have always been poor have always been in need, but have not always availed themselves to government help because they didn't feel they needed it.

When I graduated from college in 1983 as a married student, our combined income was $13000 a year. Rent, food, car, insurance, and student loans were all monthly expenses. BUT, we paid all of our expenses, paid off our school loan in one year, and NEVER received money from the government OR the school in the form of scholarship. We worked as students to pay our school bills and living expenses. And none of my parents, relatives or friends ever paid a dime on my college tuition.

It is not a matter of how much one has...it has always been a matter of how much one spends that makes the difference between poverty and plenty.

Well said. The majority voted for Bush now they will live with him for a long time. Vote Democratic this time!

I always love how people feel the need to blame BUSH. I think we all forget that the president is simply a puppet.

As far as the gas....people do not have to drive around in large SUV's and trucks. I have a small little car. I drive 100 miles a day and spend less in one week than most in one fill of an SUV. Cost of living is always going up. We can choose to accept it, or we can cry about it. Gas will once again come down. It will not matter if there is a Republican or a Democrat in office. Stupid Hillary Clinton wants to add an excess tax to the fuel companies. All that will do is drive fuel up to cover the excess taxes. I do think that Bush has some stakes in the fuel, obviouslly. But, how about eliminating to ability to trade it as a commodity??

As fas as the comment about taking our children into war...that really irritates me that people say that. Here is the deal. Military men CHOOSE thier profession. They know the risk of being in the military. The moment they choose to enlist, they can be sent overseas. It is no different that being an electrician for instance. Or a pilot. You know you can be electrocuted or drive a plane into the ground. But we all choose our professions. I do not feel sorry for people who choose to enlist knowing they could go over sea. People may get pissed about me saying this, but whatever. It is an occupational hazard. Period. They get paid well, the support families off it.

People should have also known that instead of taking interest only arms, they should have settled for traditional mortgages. People get into white elephants they know they could not afford. The housing market is shot because stupid people fell for it.

How about people stop trying to keep up with the Jones's and instead live within thier means. That way they could afford thier gas and mortgages. Stop spending $100.00 a month on nails, and $600.00 on purses, and get over yourselves. Stop blaiming BUSH.

Arlene ,
I agree , We can stop this. 90% of the people are not rich. So . we just push are weight, First , stop buying from the 2 largest oil companies . That will lower prices , Flood your congressman with mail . Just nobody vote this year. Stop paying taxes.
It will never happen. So We stay poor , Thats all . Glad to see people involved , but get used to your statis or find a way to get rich
Pete

Bush and his cronies do NOT CARE about you and me. THEY have millions in their bank accounts and never have to worry about anything. They are POLITICIANS so NO they don't think about us. You have to be a liar and a thief to make it in politics. They are all for one and thats THEMSELVES. Always has been and always will be that way.

You comment is so typical. Can you seriously believe that the government takes from the poor to give to the rich? That is the most off-base thing I've ever heard. Do you know how many people in our country pay NO taxes? People who still get the benefits of our roads, our public schools, and everything else that our taxes pay for. Guess where those taxes are relocated .... to what you would consider the "rich" in our country. How can you say that the "rich" (which is actually a significant portion of the middle class) do not give back to our country? They support this country with their ever increasing taxes. If you're sad over what has happened to America, you should consider your mindset, because that's what is wrong with America today - people who believe that the government is here to take care of them and to provide for them when they are willing to give nothing back. America is a place where you can succeed if you are willing to work for that success, and, you're right, it's sad that people like yourself believe that after those people have worked hard to achieve their own American dreams what they have worked for should be taken away.

Sue,
You hit the nail on the head. When I grew up nobody really had any money. Most people were hard working and money really was not an issue because if you did not have the money to buy something you just did not buy it. We had a roof over are heads and my mother always had a home cooked meal when we came home from school. We ate at the dinner table as a family each night. Then the credit card was invented and people bought things they could not afford. Nobody uses basic mathematics today. If you only make X amount of dollars a year you can not exceed that amount so you don't create a financial problem. Most people today lack common sense.

I Like you way of thinking!

Well what about those of us "Brats" that have cut out cable and everything else except the basics and still have to decide between gas for work or food? I have to.

I am sick of people saying "cut back on..." and smart asses who say "go get a job", and the best "go to school". I have nothing more to cut back ON...I am about to LOSE my home, and it is NOT expensive. I can't GET a job for more than minimum wage, you know - that HUGE $5.15 an hour? - and oh, by the way I AM back in school and hope I can make it through with a roof over my head. I can't get the student loans if I am HOMELESS, and I can't PAY for school if I can't even eat. Thanks for letting me know how to get through all this. Oh, and by the way, I am SINGLE and 61 years old (and a 4.0 GPA).

lol you have no idea what you are talking about when you are over the age of 50 worked your whole life to get laid off or have the business close wtf are ya going to do we lived good till 1 year ago our world has fallen apart you young ones look around you . My husband and I have given up ALL our extras and stand to loose the place we live our car and everything else we worked for our whole life . NO ONE is out there to help people like us and then if you have like we do things like empazema that limits what you do you have to apply for SSI or SSD and then it's a 6 to 9 month wait oh boy well I have lost and you sit there and think you have all the answers .....NOT.....walk a month in our shoes and see how good you do.
talk is cheap .
We went from earning 50,000 a year to 0 and not because we decied not to work or cut back stupid people should just stay to themselves because you really haven't a clue

It's easy for some people to say "get a job", but if the jobs are all going overseas (and not just the manufacturing jobs either -- talk to any programmers or tech support people who are actually in the U.S. lately?) it's very hard to get a job. As far as going back to school, you need money to do that, as well as money to buy gas to go on job interviews. There are a lot of people in this country who would love to work who cannot find a job. I have a friend who has been temping for a year and a half because he cannot find permanent work.