Hungry? So BEG!

BobF said:
We should all try to keep our expenses in control over our lives and hopefully have sufficient to face retirement in good financial shape. I am not a rich person, but I do have home and care paid for. I have enough in the bank to buy my health insurances per these new rules of Obama care. And I also do buy other insurances that cover beyond the doctors and drugs that must be purchased.
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Good for you Bob but women are often not in the same position. Having taken time out from paid work to care for family members, and not just the children, and having been paid lower wages than men, their retirement incomes are often very meagre. I'm enough of feminist to say that this isn't fair and some adjustment in their favour is warranted.

Women aren't the only disadvantaged group either.
 

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QuickSilver said:
yep!!

View attachment 20703
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Not sure what that chart is showing as the chart I am posting shows much different proportions and where it is spent.

Department of Agriculture is not the biggest group but larger of the smaller groups and fifth down from the largest group, and military, Department of Defense, is not the biggest group either as it is second down the line by size and costs, below the Health and Services group.

http://www.federalbudget.com/

chart.jpg
 

Dame Warrigal said:
Good for you Bob but women are often not in the same position. Having taken time out from paid work to care for family members, and not just the children, and having been paid lower wages than men, their retirement incomes are often very meagre. I'm enough of feminist to say that this isn't fair and some adjustment in their favour is warranted.

Women aren't the only disadvantaged group either.
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And many men do not take care of themselves of their families first. They must have their boats, motor homes, travel a lot, and depend on hand outs for care when old. It is a sad situation that is being nurtured by too many governments. Full care for all is never going to happen. Look to Greece and other European countries. Spain looks to be another Greece and some of the full socialist types sound good, but look to their homes, about half the size of US, Canada, and Australia. People are crammed into smaller spaces with fewer possessions. Some homes in Europe have no ovens in the kitchens or laundry machines. Things which in the US seem to be standard.

For all of us we should be doing our best to take care of our lives through retirement and to the grave. I know we can not all handle that job but far too many just don't even try. And our governments just encourage the sit on your butt attitudes as folks depend on the federal handouts rather than prepare.
 
Lon said:
Oh my-----------You Libs are changing the subject now to try and strengthen your position on caring for the aged. The initial implication in the OP was that we have Seniors Starving, and now we are talking Meals on Wheels and other things not to do with Seniors starving to death. Once you libs can actually come up with one single or maybe five news clippings telling about one of our poor ole seniors croaking due to them being STARVED TO DEATH I will apologise to all, and donate $$$ to some Left Wing organization.
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You're a very lucky man that you don't have to be concerned about dying from malnutrition induced disease or actually turning into a poster child for 'no food at all'. Starving for nutrients is no less painful and soul and body killing than starving for 'food'.

Tell us please, what is wrong with caring about the aged who for myriad reasons haven't been able to climb that social ladder of affluence in the same way as you have? Like everything there are degrees of ability and not everyone is equally 'blessed' in that regard.

While opportunities are 'there' for everyone to access in our respective countries, not everyone is born with the same abilities and temperament. It seems to me that what sets us in the developed world apart from some other regions is the fact that we care for the least among us.

When my husband first started his business, we had also had our first baby so I wasn't working and we didn't intend for me to return to the workforce. We began receiving the monthly Family Allowance check in short order and if memory serves, we were cut off sometime in the first year......because our income reached the cut off point so we no longer qualified. But we never grumbled about it because we were aware that there were families who actually needed that money more than we did. The idea of caring for those who are aged and less 'set up' is similar.

A peoples greatness is demonstrated by their willingness to take care of the less fortunate.
 
I see no one talking about "full care for all", I think the majority of the elderly take care of themselves, but there always has been and always will be those that can not and to me it is inhuman not to care for them or to cut funds that does take care of them to the breaking point while at the same time catering to the military and the rich.....this is what is happening in this country and it is happening everyday more and more.

Debby, I think we posted at the same time, you said it much better than me.
 
I have an American friend whose wife suffers from Primary Progressive Aphasia. Terrible disease, which will leave her mindless before ultimately killing her. She is only in her early sixties. He has worked hard all his life. They both worked and raised four children. Now he stays at home in order to care for her. Should she live too long, he will probably lose everything. How is this acceptable?
 
Shalimar said:
I have an American friend whose wife suffers from Primary Progressive Aphasia. Terrible disease, which will leave her mindless before ultimately killing her. She is only in her early sixties. He has worked hard all his life. They both worked and raised four children. Now he stays at home in order to care for her. Should she live too long, he will probably lose everything. How is this acceptable?
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It's not acceptable Shalimar.... he will likely have to choose between medicine for his wife and eating nutritious meals.. It's very short sighted IMO..
 
Shalimar said:
Excuse me, Canada takes care of it's old. Also full health care for all. No one here loses their house or becomes bankrupt because of an expensive illness.
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And so does the US. We do take care of those that cannot or won't. Surely you don't take over expenses when that person retires. That is the money that is being wasted so badly in the US. To many folks do not plan for their future at all. They just rely on the government to step in and take over that job. Canada does seem to have some good systems going, but each province is different in some ways. Some that can do it come to the US for their medical treatments and some ladies are shipped to US hospitals for baby births. I hope they have fixed that weakness by now. It happened in British Columbia as I remember. We all do have weaknesses at times. Right now in the US it is our federal government.
 
BobF said:
And so does the US. We do take care of those that cannot or won't. Surely you don't take over expenses when they person retires. That is the money that is being wasted so badly in the US. To many folks do not plan for their future at all. They just rely on the government to step in and take over that job. Canada does seem to have some good systems going, but each province is different in some ways. Some that can do it come to the US for their medical treatments and some ladies are shipped to US hospitals for baby births. I hope they have fixed that weakness by now. It happened in British Columbia as I remember. We all do have weaknesses at times. Right now in the US it is our federal government.
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I don't know of any retirees whose expenses are "taken over" when they retire. Some older people need help, and they should get it -- that's your "wasted" money -- helping people eat and get decent medical care??? If you are talking about social security and medicare, we contributed to it all our lives and we are indeed entitled to receive it. Wasted government money? NO. It's our money -- paid in over our lifetimes.
 
Butterfly said:
I don't know of any retirees whose expenses are "taken over" when they retire. Some older people need help, and they should get it -- that's your "wasted" money -- helping people eat and get decent medical care??? If you are talking about social security and medicare, we contributed to it all our lives and we are indeed entitled to receive it. Wasted government money? NO. It's our money -- paid in over our lifetimes.
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IT should be mentioned that some Seniors are getting very little in Social Security.. Perhaps they were women who never worked outside the home... perhaps they worked at low paying jobs all their lives.. and didn't have the ability to sock away a nest egg. SS is awarded based on a formula using income.. If someone is only collecting $1000 or less SS.. and that is their only source if income... is it a wonder they will need help? Should we NOT help them? I think that is the point being debated.. Seniors should not have to choose between medicine and food. They should not have to BEG for help from uncaring relatives or strangers. We spend very little on food assistance programs as it is.. YET the GOP wants to cut more.. It's a disgrace.
 
Crap, did it again and came off sounding preachy. I'm sorry, I just can't seem to help myself can I???

I just remembered that I read a modern day parable once and although it was written about a father with a disabled child, the point of it would apply to anyone who is less able.

A father was agonizing over the unfairness of life for his disabled child. He asked a wise man why God would do this to the child, to him, to their family. The wise man answered, "God does it because He is seeking perfection". The words rang hollow in the anguished man's heart and he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my child?" "He cannot run, he cannot play, he suffers continually! Where is that perfection?"

After a moment of silence, the wise man said to him, very quietly and with words filled with love, "That perfection that He seeks is in the reactions of those around that child who have the opportunity and ability to care for and love him and ease his suffering and help him to find joy in the confined life that is his."


I love the lesson here, shifting the focus from the unfairness or pain of life, to the positive instead.
 
BobF said:
And so does the US. We do take care of those that cannot or won't. Surely you don't take over expenses when they person retires. That is the money that is being wasted so badly in the US. To many folks do not plan for their future at all. They just rely on the government to step in and take over that job. Canada does seem to have some good systems going, but each province is different in some ways. Some that can do it come to the US for their medical treatments and some ladies are shipped to US hospitals for baby births. I hope they have fixed that weakness by now. It happened in British Columbia as I remember. We all do have weaknesses at times. Right now in the US it is our federal government.
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You should remember that in Canada, we have kind of a triage system, meaning that those who are sickest, get help first so if anyone who has the cash gets sick and doesn't want to 'wait their turn', they have every right to access the care they need in another jurisdiction but they pay for it out of their own pocket. And if women are being 'shipped' to the US to give birth, it's only because there is some specialist help there, that our hospitals aren't set up for. Perhaps the incidences of that particular kind of malady or whatever is so small that it's not cost effective to bring in some ultra expensive machinery that will hardly get used. Remember, we're a lot smaller country than you which means we've less resources to call on in some instances.
 
related RANT

There is "a" problem with food stamp abuse. Seniors are not the majority of the problem. And as many government services as possible should be done at the local level. That being said working age adults account for the majority of food stamp use.

http://dailysignal.com/2015/08/22/m...w-working-age-adults-not-children-or-seniors/

Yes the economy is not helping or healthy but there is also an attitude of using but not actually needing benefit programs simply because they are there-the infamous "you paid into it" helps rationalize early but non emergency use of these programs which stress the funding. Also in many circles there is an accompanying misconception about any government service program is that they were ment for those in dire need and having trouble surviving and NOT to maintain the old life style. When I see people sit on 99 weeks of unemployment, do almost nothing only willing to take a higher paying then apply for food stamps after I don't have the sympathy as I do for someone living on the streets. This is also a reason many food banks have to apply standards and put users through as much scrutiny as the government. When I see people applying for or on food stamps taking vacations, going to concerts, sporting events, bars, restaurants and then cry because they failed to save or plan I have no sympathy.

Point is until the system is fixed and properly prioritized perhaps it would be better to limit benefits or shift more funding to seniors and children forcing the working age adults to work, do something and realize daily survival is their job and priority.
 
With only 1% of our budget going toward Food assistance and agriculture assistance... and 57% toward Military spending... I have a real hard time blaming the poor and seniors for the deficit... It's a non-issue except for those who really don't want to help the needy.. but prefer to live under the delusion that there are vast amounts of people milking the system.. 1% is very little to milk.
 
WhatInThe said:
There is "a" problem with food stamp abuse. Seniors are not the majority of the problem. And as many government services as possible should be done at the local level. That being said working age adults account for the majority of food stamp use.

http://dailysignal.com/2015/08/22/m...w-working-age-adults-not-children-or-seniors/

Yes the economy is not helping or healthy but there is also an attitude of using but not actually needing benefit programs simply because they are there-the infamous "you paid into it" helps rationalize early but non emergency use of these programs which stress the funding. Also in many circles there is an accompanying misconception about any government service program is that they were ment for those in dire need and having trouble surviving and NOT to maintain the old life style. When I see people sit on 99 weeks of unemployment, do almost nothing only willing to take a higher paying then apply for food stamps after I don't have the sympathy as I do for someone living on the streets. This is also a reason many food banks have to apply standards and put users through as much scrutiny as the government. When I see people applying for or on food stamps taking vacations, going to concerts, sporting events, bars, restaurants and then cry because they failed to save or plan I have no sympathy.

Point is until the system is fixed and properly prioritized perhaps it would be better to limit benefits or shift more funding to seniors and children forcing the working age adults to work, do something and realize daily survival is their job and priority.
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Thank you WhatInThe. It appears that you have at least agreed with my posts about the wrong people getting taken care of because our government has loosened the rules so much for the unemployed ones. All should be encouraged to find work and pay their own way, not encouraged to sit on their butts and complain about no jobs being around. I have been unemployed at different times and was always looking for a job. In fact, in Ohio, we had to show contacts with three possible employers each week in order to get our allowance. And it was not much either. Being a mechanical engineer is no excuse to sit and get fed. As long as jobs do not exist means that the person might be able to be a truck driver for a local delivery company or ticket agent at a ball game. Keep in touch with the engineering market and when it starts to open start applying. Much better for those unable to work that need support and funds that get short too often.
 
QuickSilver said:
With only 1% of our budget going toward Food assistance and agriculture assistance... and 57% toward Military spending... I have a real hard time blaming the poor and seniors for the deficit... It's a non-issue except for those who really don't want to help the needy.. but prefer to live under the delusion that there are vast amounts of people milking the system.. 1% is very little to milk.
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Just yesterday I posted a real US budget expenses graph and it does not agree at all with that chart you posted and just quoted a incorrect number from.

Who put that incorrect chart out anyway? It is wrong and should be scrapped right away.
 
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