Why should I support someone else?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
Why should I support someone else?
4426
Sat, 12-30-2006 - 1:24pm

Let me start by saying that I"m new here so this may have already been discussed, but this has come up in my office several times and I wanted to get some other views of this.

I do payroll for a rather small company so I know most of the workers and their wives (most of the workers are men due to the nature of our business). There are two in particular who's wives SAH. These two are up to their eyeballs in debt. I have bill collectors constantly calling for them. That part is really their business, it is annoying but I enjoy being rude back to the bill collectors, lol.

The part that bothers me is that both wives have been in the office wanting copies of X amount of check stubs so that they can go and get public assistance (I know because they told me that is what it is for)! Why should my tax money go so that these women can SAH? I know that not all families that one parent stays at home are like this, but I know lots that are. Heck, growing up we were always broke because my mother refused to work, but we weren't on any public assistance.

So, why should I pay for a woman to SAH? Why can't she go and get a job to support her family just like anyone else?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 11:49am
You thinking of electric cars. The current hybrids do not plug in and use electricity off of the grid.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 11:51am

>>So, you're saying that people who shop in thrift shops are all environmentally conscious?>>

She is very obviously *not* saying that. She said that for her, using a decent amount of second hand items is *part* of treading lightly. She says NOTHING about all people who shop n thrift stores, and nothing implying that she thinks everyone else should do the same.

>>Self-righteousness only extends so far.<<

And the attitude you and hazeleyes are displaying is not self righteous..... how? I don't think I've read any snobbier posts in my entire life.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 11:53am
I can't understand why its such a bad thing to put yourself first once in awhile. I would go hungry before my kids did but I'd buy myself a more expensive coat. I need my coats to hold up for several seasons, they'll have outgrown theirs in two seasons tops. I don't buy them junky coats, but they've worn gently used coats before, while I've worn more expensive items. Its all relative anyway and they pick up more germs on the playground then they've ever come in contact with at the local Goodwill store.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 11:57am
How exactly do those things relate to buying a new car and supposedly "slumming it" to go back and buy a used car after that? How does that relate to buying high quality used clothes rather than new ones? Do you really think that the American dream is to have enough money to be able to throw it out the window?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:00pm

Well, then, I'm still waiting. Only Erica is really into trendy clothing and she buys her own. Angela loves thrift store shopping as do all her friends.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:02pm
Plus, if we ever get to have a plug in type of car, we have the option of purchasing our energy from a variety of sources. We are currently investigating the wind farm option right now for our current electrical needs.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:04pm
Yes, you're so right. An environmentally conscious person is going to buy a 1975 Suburban when they buy a used car. Not a 2006 Toyota Camry with 10,000 miles on it. For 1000s less than a new one. You're trying to win this debate with false dichotomies. It's not 20 yr old gas guzzler vs. brand new hybrid. Or any of the other gross exaggerations you've used. (Gross as in very large, not as in disgusting, for the linguistically challenged.)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:06pm
I noticed that. It's either brand new car or old clunker. Brand new clothes or stained and threadbare from the thrift store. The fact that there is an entire in-between is lost on certain posters.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:09pm
I'm afraid that the emissions don't often improve that drastically over a year or two. I'm wondering what reasoning you are measuring against in order to call mine "bizarre". Especially since hazeleyes certainly hasn't implied she has much concern for the environment. OT, but are all your vehicles hybrids?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 12:13pm
I didn't forget to mention it, it's irrelevent. My mother's 2004 Lexus will not require more repairs than if she had bought a new 2005 instead. She has the same warranty. She has to pay for the same regular services. The only difference is she paid $23,000 for it, rather than $35,000. What I personally do is not relevent *because* my dh is a mechanic. He builds all of our cars mostly from scratch, or we buy them wholesale. I know that my situation is not normal. That doesn't make it any more intelligent to pay an extra $10,000 for virtually no return.

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