Who thinks...

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I hesitate to tell you this ... because you're not gonna believe it but ...

... there are no "poor" people in the United States today ... excepting a small percentage of the small percentage who have disabling physical or mental handicaps.

No one is poor who has indoor plumbing, sanitary water, electricity, wholesome food, adequate shelter, warm clothing, access to impartial justice, access to advanced medical care, access to education, access to libraries, police protection, fire protection, and the right to vote ... all of which virtually 100% of Americans have.

Not to mention such luxuries as refrigerators, radios, telephones, and televisions which nearly all Americans have ... and bicycles, automobiles, and computers which overwhelming percentages have. Over 70% ... and rising ... of all Americans own the dwelling unit in which they live ... something unprecedented in human history.

You may know where there's an "other" America ... but it doesn't currently exist on the North American continent.

Don't get out much do you? Ever notice the people sleeping in boxes on the street or the ones who crash in empty buildings to stay warm? They aren't all drug addicts! Ever traveled much in rural West Virginia and the other Appalachian states...get off the highways and hit the dirt roads, you'll find folks living in shacks with no electric or heat except from the wood stove in the corner. Vote? Many can't read or write...vote for what? Check out the subways, the large city sewer systems...you'll be surprised what you'll find...there are people living there and they have nothing, zero, zip, nada aside from the clothes on their back and a few things they can carry...sorry my man, your emperor has no clothes!

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Don't get out much do you? Ever notice the people sleeping in boxes on the street or the ones who crash in empty buildings to stay warm? They aren't all drug addicts! Ever traveled much in rural West Virginia and the other Appalachian states...get off the highways and hit the dirt roads, you'll find folks living in shacks with no electric or heat except from the wood stove in the corner. Vote? Many can't read or write...vote for what? Check out the subways, the large city sewer systems...you'll be surprised what you'll find...there are people living there and they have nothing, zero, zip, nada aside from the clothes on their back and a few things they can carry...sorry my man, your emperor has no clothes!

My opinion is somewhere in the middle. I think that there are jobs for anyone that wants to work. I see signs all over town saying "Now Hiring" and "Help Wanted" and that type of thing. Granted many of these jobs are not great jobs. Many of them only pay $8.00 and $9.00 an hour. For someone to really support themselves on that kind of income, they really need two jobs if they live in an expensive city like Los Angeles. I know a guy who is a doorman at a high-rise condominium. He makes about $9 an hour. He has another job too. I think his other job is as a security guard or something like that. This guy is not the brightest guy in the world. He's not really capable of having a better job. Anyway, he works 80 hours a week. I guess between the two jobs he makes about $35,000 a year. This guy is around 50 years old. He doesn't have a college education. He works a lot of hours and he doesn't make much money but he doesn't have it so bad. He rents an apartment, he has a car, he has a television, he has a VCR, he goes on a little vacation every year. This is a guy whose IQ is probably 90 and he is not well educated. Yet his standard of living is still probably higher than 90% of the people in the world. I think he even has a cell phone.

Anyway, the point is that there are plenty of jobs out there for people that want to work. They may not be great jobs but an $8 an hour job is better than nothing.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

My opinion is somewhere in the middle. I think that there are jobs for anyone that wants to work. I see signs all over town saying "Now Hiring" and "Help Wanted" and that type of thing. Granted many of these jobs are not great jobs. Many of them only pay $8.00 and $9.00 an hour. For someone to really support themselves on that kind of income, they really need two jobs if they live in an expensive city like Los Angeles. I know a guy who is a doorman at a high-rise condominium. He makes about $9 an hour. He has another job too. I think his other job is as a security guard or something like that. This guy is not the brightest guy in the world. He's not really capable of having a better job. Anyway, he works 80 hours a week. I guess between the two jobs he makes about $35,000 a year. This guy is around 50 years old. He doesn't have a college education. He works a lot of hours and he doesn't make much money but he doesn't have it so bad. He rents an apartment, he has a car, he has a television, he has a VCR, he goes on a little vacation every year. This is a guy whose IQ is probably 90 and he is not well educated. Yet his standard of living is still probably higher than 90% of the people in the world. I think he even has a cell phone.

Anyway, the point is that there are plenty of jobs out there for people that want to work. They may not be great jobs but an $8 an hour job is better than nothing.

Well, I've been looking for a job for 77 days as of today, still looking! I have a Master's Degree, 35 years of experience in my field and my IQ...well, it's above 90. I could work at McD's or Walmart but I'd actually lose money by doing so. My point is that saying there is a job for everybody that wants one is far too simplistic an answer...if you are a single parent with 3 kids, you will pay more for child care than you can make at many jobs, if you don't drive or have a car and can't use mass transit, you are restricted to walking distance, if you have a criminal record (and we incarcerate so many folks in this country), getting any job can be difficult. Many folks have few if any marketable skills, they can't socialize well etc etc. Point is that every situation is different as is every person...it's fine to say, "just get a job" but there are so many difficulties involved.

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Well, I've been looking for a job for 77 days as of today, still looking! I have a Master's Degree, 35 years of experience in my field and my IQ...well, it's above 90. I could work at McD's or Walmart but I'd actually lose money by doing so. My point is that saying there is a job for everybody that wants one is far too simplistic an answer...

I ... and just about everyone I've ever known in the business world ... have been in that position on a few occasions ... and every time ... things worked out ... for myself and everyone else I've known ... for the better.

This is still the United States of America ... and at present ... in the second half of 2006 ... it is more prosperous ... and offers more opportunity ... than any country at any time in history.

Keep showing up ... and using your noodle ... and pursuing what you enjoy ... you'll be surprised at how quickly and decisively things can turn around.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I ... and just about everyone I've ever known in the business world ... have been in that position on a few occasions ... and every time ... things worked out ... for myself and everyone else I've known ... for the better.

This is still the United States of America ... and at present ... in the second half of 2006 ... it is more prosperous ... and offers more opportunity ... than any country at any time in history.

Keep showing up ... and using your noodle ... and pursuing what you enjoy ... you'll be surprised at how quickly and decisively things can turn around.

Let me ask you a question. Government investigations found that the oil companies were not doing anything wrong in regards to gas prices. Have you noticed that gas prices are going down in your area right now? Now, has any major thing happened as to why gas prices have been going down? I know that they found the new oil reserve in Texas, but that won't be operatable for many years. I know the real reason that gas prices are going down. It is all common sense. Elections are coming up in November. The government is playing with us. I guarantee that gas prices will go back up right after the elections are over with. When the gas prices do go back up after the elections, there will be your proof that the government is playing and toying with it's citizens in certain aspects.

Thankyou BB! I have proof! So I REALLY was right! I have found the proof that I needed from townhall.com that tells us that the goverment is playing with it's citizens. Try ignoring this are arguing that it is just a mere coincidence that this would be brought up in a Republican website! Thank you so much for allowing me to broaden my horizens!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/C...president_bush

"Look for the dominant issues leading up to the November election to be the war, taxes, education and the economy. No one at the White House wants to say it publicly, but gas prices continue to fall, and the president might wonder why, when gasoline was $3.50 a gallon, it was on the front page, but now that prices have dropped 80 cents or more in some places, one doesn't see as much attention given to it."

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Let me ask you a question. Government investigations found that the oil companies were not doing anything wrong in regards to gas prices. Have you noticed that gas prices are going down in your area right now? Now, has any major thing happened as to why gas prices have been going down? I know that they found the new oil reserve in Texas, but that won't be operatable for many years. I know the real reason that gas prices are going down. It is all common sense. Elections are coming up in November. The government is playing with us. I guarantee that gas prices will go back up right after the elections are over with. When the gas prices do go back up after the elections, there will be your proof that the government is playing and toying with it's citizens in certain aspects.

Thankyou BB! I have proof! So I REALLY was right! I have found the proof that I needed from townhall.com that tells us that the goverment is playing with it's citizens. Try ignoring this are arguing that it is just a mere coincidence that this would be brought up in a Republican website! Thank you so much for allowing me to broaden my horizens!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/C...president_bush

"Look for the dominant issues leading up to the November election to be the war, taxes, education and the economy. No one at the White House wants to say it publicly, but gas prices continue to fall, and the president might wonder why, when gasoline was $3.50 a gallon, it was on the front page, but now that prices have dropped 80 cents or more in some places, one doesn't see as much attention given to it."

KR: I'm sorry, but that paragraph doesn't prove a thing...much less the Administrations' playing the public!

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Let me ask you a question. Government investigations found that the oil companies were not doing anything wrong in regards to gas prices. Have you noticed that gas prices are going down in your area right now? Now, has any major thing happened as to why gas prices have been going down? I know that they found the new oil reserve in Texas, but that won't be operatable for many years. I know the real reason that gas prices are going down. It is all common sense. Elections are coming up in November. The government is playing with us. I guarantee that gas prices will go back up right after the elections are over with. When the gas prices do go back up after the elections, there will be your proof that the government is playing and toying with it's citizens in certain aspects.

Thankyou BB! I have proof! So I REALLY was right! I have found the proof that I needed from townhall.com that tells us that the goverment is playing with it's citizens. Try ignoring this are arguing that it is just a mere coincidence that this would be brought up in a Republican website! Thank you so much for allowing me to broaden my horizens!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/C...president_bush

"Look for the dominant issues leading up to the November election to be the war, taxes, education and the economy. No one at the White House wants to say it publicly, but gas prices continue to fall, and the president might wonder why, when gasoline was $3.50 a gallon, it was on the front page, but now that prices have dropped 80 cents or more in some places, one doesn't see as much attention given to it."

I don't know where you got your first quote ... but your second one from Cal Thomas ... has him questioning the hypocrisy of the leftist media who headline rising gasoline prices ... but ignore falling ones.

In any case ... I don't understand the connection between your post and my response to Somerfrost.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I don't know where you got your first quote ... but your second one from Cal Thomas ... has him questioning the hypocrisy of the leftist media who headline rising gasoline prices ... but ignore falling ones.

In any case ... I don't understand the connection between your post and my response to Somerfrost.

Jessica misuderstood the quote. She thought that Thomas was insinuating that the White House was respnsible for the drop in oil prices. That's not what he was saying. He was saying that the white House is frustrated that when gasoline was $3.50 a gallon, it was all over the papers. Now that it's $2.70 a gallon, that's not metioned in the papers. So they're frustrated that they are sort of blamed when the price goes up, but they don't get any credit when the price goes down. The truth of the matter is that oil is a commodity that is traded all over the world. Our governmnet has no control over oil prices at all.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I don't know where you got your first quote ... but your second one from Cal Thomas ... has him questioning the hypocrisy of the leftist media who headline rising gasoline prices ... but ignore falling ones.

In any case ... I don't understand the connection between your post and my response to Somerfrost.

The first quote I made up myself. You told me in an earlier post to go check out a right wing website so I did.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Let me ask you a question. Government investigations found that the oil companies were not doing anything wrong in regards to gas prices. Have you noticed that gas prices are going down in your area right now? Now, has any major thing happened as to why gas prices have been going down? I know that they found the new oil reserve in Texas, but that won't be operatable for many years. I know the real reason that gas prices are going down. It is all common sense. Elections are coming up in November. The government is playing with us. I guarantee that gas prices will go back up right after the elections are over with. When the gas prices do go back up after the elections, there will be your proof that the government is playing and toying with it's citizens in certain aspects.

Thankyou BB! I have proof! So I REALLY was right! I have found the proof that I needed from townhall.com that tells us that the goverment is playing with it's citizens. Try ignoring this are arguing that it is just a mere coincidence that this would be brought up in a Republican website! Thank you so much for allowing me to broaden my horizens!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/C...president_bush

"Look for the dominant issues leading up to the November election to be the war, taxes, education and the economy. No one at the White House wants to say it publicly, but gas prices continue to fall, and the president might wonder why, when gasoline was $3.50 a gallon, it was on the front page, but now that prices have dropped 80 cents or more in some places, one doesn't see as much attention given to it."

Jessica, I can tell you why gasoline prices are going down. It's no great mystery. You're going to feel pretty silly when I tell you the answer. Gas prices are coming down because the price of oil has been coming way down. Our government has no control over the price of oil. It is a commodity that trades all over the world. Our govenrment does not set the price of oil. There is a futures market for oil and every other commodity. The price of oil has been going straight up, but it's just like anything else. It's like any other commodity. It's also like the stock market and the real estate market. It goes up and it goes down. Oil recently got up to an all-time high of $77 a barrel. Now it is finally starting to come down. It has dropped down to $63 a barrel. That's a 20% drop. That's why gasoline prices are coming way down. When the price of oil comes down, the price of gasoline will drop. It's that simple.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Jessica, I can tell you why gasoline prices are going down. It's no great mystery. You're going to feel pretty silly when I tell you the answer. Gas prices are coming down because the price of oil has been coming way down. Our government has no control over the price of oil. It is a commodity that trades all over the world. Our govenrment does not set the price of oil. There is a futures market for oil and every other commodity. The price of oil has been going straight up, but it's just like anything else. It's like any other commodity. It's also like the stock market and the real estate market. It goes up and it goes down. Oil recently got up to an all-time high of $77 a barrel. Now it is finally starting to come down. It has dropped down to $63 a barrel. That's a 20% drop. That's why gasoline prices are coming way down. When the price of oil comes down, the price of gasoline will drop. It's that simple.

Thank you, Rupert. I was wondering when the logic was going to come... I work in Investments and you are completely correct.

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Ever notice the people sleeping in boxes on the street or the ones who crash in empty buildings to stay warm? They aren't all drug addicts!

You're correct ...

... most of them are winos.