Lawmakers Find $21 a Week Doesn't Buy a Lot of Groceries

[Tom Earp]

There are many more programs today than ever before to aid students.

It used to be you had certain grades, then you qualified for scholarships and if you did not, you paid for it yourself if you could afford to go to college.

Today scholarships abound for sports, band, cheer leading and even being a cowboy.

There are also loans or grants given by the colleges. If you keep your grades and stay in school, it is free payable only if leave school or do not keep GPA up. I saw a report a while back that should college grants that covered 1/2 - 2/3s of the yealy cost.

If college is not your place, there are vocational schools to learn a trade.

I grew up poor and had a choice, work my senior year, save money, go to college, or get a job and buy a car. I opted for college, the first in my entire family to attend college. There I washed, mopped and waxed floors for extra money.

I found out years later that my folks house $19.00 a month and were strapped for it each month with both working full time jobs. I did not know we were poor, I just figured we were like everyone else in the neighbor hood and lived with it.

So if some whine about not getting into the Law School they wanted and had to opt for a lesser one, what a shame or if someone wanted to go to a more prestigious college and couldn't, to sad.

There are programs out there for people in need if they look for them. But the problem is today is so many people use it because that is there job, not working and depleting the funds for those who do.

Do I agree with Kevin on many points, yes I do. I know people who live on the streets and want nothing more. They do not want jobs!

For the poster who opted not to have kids, there is nothing wrong with that. When I graduated from college, I was middle management for RH Macy and made $550.00 a month and my then wife made $350.00 a month. Seemed like a lot of money in the late 60's but it really wasn't but costs were cheaper then compared to now.

If some people want to find out, then they should ask and not cry about not having a job. I see help wanted signs all of the time and no takers? Why?

Next time you ae in a fast food eatery, check out the cash registars, they have pix of the products so the people do not have to read and everything is automated so they can look to see how much change is to be given back.

[AKA_Monet]

I don't think anyone here thinks that no hard work should not be instituted when one truly desires something. At least I am not saying that and if my posts conveyed that message, I never intended it to be.

What I am saying is many poor people do not know these resources exist even after speaking to those options. Yes, there will have to "extra credit" or volunteer time. And yes, there are some who choose not do that. And there are also some that make their matters worse than where they started...

If one absolutely does not have any funds to make it, how will they know to go to a library first, then review it without guidance or assistance and then fall under a deadline?

Yes, we need standards and rules for people to follow. And yes, you may be a model or mentor to follow. But, do those less fortunate know that about you?

And the one thing I find about poor people, they don't like to be reminded of it. Why live in that humilation? And should that be something one should be ashamed about? And ultimately, so what? And how do you think one who is poor gets that way? Is poverty a choice?

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

There are many more programs today than ever before to aid students.

It used to be you had certain grades, then you qualified for scholarships and if you did not, you paid for it yourself if you could afford to go to college.

Today scholarships abound for sports, band, cheer leading and even being a cowboy.

There are also loans or grants given by the colleges. If you keep your grades and stay in school, it is free payable only if leave school or do not keep GPA up. I saw a report a while back that should college grants that covered 1/2 - 2/3s of the yealy cost.

If college is not your place, there are vocational schools to learn a trade.

I grew up poor and had a choice, work my senior year, save money, go to college, or get a job and buy a car. I opted for college, the first in my entire family to attend college. There I washed, mopped and waxed floors for extra money.

I found out years later that my folks house $19.00 a month and were strapped for it each month with both working full time jobs. I did not know we were poor, I just figured we were like everyone else in the neighbor hood and lived with it.

So if some whine about not getting into the Law School they wanted and had to opt for a lesser one, what a shame or if someone wanted to go to a more prestigious college and couldn't, to sad.

There are programs out there for people in need if they look for them. But the problem is today is so many people use it because that is there job, not working and depleting the funds for those who do.

Do I agree with Kevin on many points, yes I do. I know people who live on the streets and want nothing more. They do not want jobs!

For the poster who opted not to have kids, there is nothing wrong with that. When I graduated from college, I was middle management for RH Macy and made $550.00 a month and my then wife made $350.00 a month. Seemed like a lot of money in the late 60's but it really wasn't but costs were cheaper then compared to now.

If some people want to find out, then they should ask and not cry about not having a job. I see help wanted signs all of the time and no takers? Why?

Next time you ae in a fast food eatery, check out the cash registars, they have pix of the products so the people do not have to read and everything is automated so they can look to see how much change is to be given back.