I understand what you mean. However, you're using "behind my back" as a loose example as though we are talking about gossip and personal preferences regarding respect. Not everyone with professional and personal experience with impoverished populations considers "talked to" versus "talked about" to be distinct (or an important distinction) when discussing such topics. That's just another difference in opinions.

The discussion was originally directed at the irony of a specific photo. That's only as personal and based on the individual as you perceive it to be. I don't perceive it to be as such but you do. I still get what you're saying eventhough I disagree in this context.

WOW

LOL @ the bolded for so many different reasons. :D

I know. Since when is Republican synonymous with cold-hearted a-hole that doesn't believe in giving back to charity? I'm a Republican and I give tons of money to charity. In fact, I'm a sucker when it comes to giving. All you have to do is approach me and ask. That's why my fiance was afraid to move to a semi-big city with me because he knew that anyone who would ask would get something from me. I take real offense to that statement that because you vote Democrat, you must be "doing your part" AOII. I'm really disappointed in your assumptions-and I usually agree with much of what you say.

Wow for what? If you haven't figured out that life isn't fair at this point, you will have a pretty miserable life wringing your hands in misery. Shit happens. And I stand by my earlier part of the post, too. You may have a different ideology, but I don't agree with independents who ride the fence. :D (Does a big grin make that feel better?)

I'm not talking about giving to charity with the democratic comment, als. That's why I made those two distinct ways that I put my money where my mouth is. I'm talking about supporting welfare programs through taxes. Read the whole comment stream between PIKA and I. We were discussing my tax cut thanks to the Republicans. I said that the tax cut for the top 2% was ridiculous, which is why I commented that I do my part about the tax issue by voting Democratic. It's hard to keep up when you come in at the end of a discussion.

And I understand where you're coming from.

We're cool and all that. ;)

This revelation and reality is okay coming from you, a self-professed Democrat and liberal (I assume). But, when it comes from others, who have not professed their affiliations, it is considered judging.

Life ain't fair--that photo is ironic and poor folks need to try to sell flat screen TVs--if folks don't like that reality, it's okay because life ain't fair. LOL. Amen!

Always cool. :)

I think your early comment about how people need to remove heads from anuses before they judge is by far the most assholish thing said on the whole thread -- in the attitude sense, not just the literal sense. Lots of people posting comments to the original article have said horrible (often racist) things about poor people, but no one on this thread has done that.

Damn straight, I'm judging, and I don't believe my head is anywhere near my butt. I'm judging everyone who spends beyond their means and expects others to help pay for the consequences. When that happens, I will offer both help and my thoughts about the situation. You can disagree with my thoughts, but telling me to get my head out of my butt is a personal insult. You ought to be able to focus on the substance of the disagreement instead.

We don't know the whole story about this one individual, but we know there are a lot of people out there, rich and poor, making stupid and careless financial choices that end up costing careful people money. (Wall Street, I'm looking at you.) I care about that. It IS my business when it costs me money.

Those of us from whichever party who support both government and charitable support for the needy ought to be concerned about publicity given to people with giant flat screens and XBoxes who can't pay for basic necessities. Why? Because it LOOKS terrible. Photos like this convince people to vote against government aid and withhold charity aid. So what's the story behind the picture? Is this woman typical of those who seek heating subsidies in Macon? Or is she exceptional, and the editors decided to use the picture to send a message to the contrary and undermine the subsidy program? That's what I'm more worried about. My guess, based on my own community work, is that this particular woman may well be irresponsible and wasteful, but that most of the recipients aren't, and thanks to the photo, they will all be tarred with the same brush. That's why I don't think it's a full response to say, "It's none of our business whether people taking government assistance have expensive luxuries in their home!" The response has to consider, knowing that lots of readers DO think that it's their business, why was this photo selected?
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Actually, saying that no one saves is quite a broad statement. I save every month b/c I see what happens when you don't. I have very little debt and what debt I do have I can pay off if I needed to immediately (0% interest credit card). I deal with people everyday that say they have absolutely no way of paying me yet have nicely manicured nails, a coach purse and an iphone. Sometimes after they tell me they will have to sign a promise to pay for services (which less than 1% come back and pay) they need to go get something to eat while"Fluffy" is getting treated-HELLO, you obviously have some money if you are going to dinner. If my dog were ill or I needed to pay for heat I would pawn whatever I needed-many people won't give it a second thought. I see people taking advantage of the system everyday.
BTW my TV is from 1992-works great!

BTW AOII Angel do you work with the general public? or is it mainly through insurance/referral? Just curious.

And I am tired of people expecting things for free and when they don't get what they want acting like asshats (was that the word used earlier?).

Those damn couch purses!

oops fixed it

If I wasn't so dumb with computers, I would put up a graphic of people standing and clapping. I pretty much liked everything you had to say. Thank you!

So since I don't buy into the mainstream political bull-shit/brainwashing I'm a fence-sitter? Sorry, but I vote for candidates, not political parties ;)

I think you're disagreeing with me just to disagree with me because you think I'm a evil GOP'er who wants to dismantle welfare. I'm not and I don't but as a member of the elite 52% of Americans that pay income taxes I have a right to question and criticize how my money is being spent.

And the wow comment was for the irony of the "life isn't fair" comment (given the article and subsequent posts) and how you criticize me for judging when you've done nothing but judge in this thread.