Why should I support someone else?
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| 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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"So, my thinking about iPods wrt my kids is that I don't like to see them confuse wants with needs . . .
Again, you went off on this rambling tirade about ipods being "conspicuous consumption" or whatever, in response to a poster sharing that they bought their child and IPOD as a Christmas gift.
How is getting a kid an IPOD as a GIFT confusing wants with needs. If you come right down to it, celebrating Christmas at all with decorated trees and gifts is PURELY satisfying wants and not needs.
Maybe some parents think the only correct Christmas gift to get for their kids are underwear and school supplies.
I think by giving the IPOD as a GIFT, that sent a clear message the IPOD is a WANT, not a need. It's not like this parent picks up electronic gadgets for thier kids everytime they grocery shop.
Do you only buy your kids, socks and school supplies for Christmas ?
"But when it comes to things like electronics whose sole purpose is to be cool, that's where we draw the line."
I just find it HILARIOUSLY ironic that you are crowing over the moral superiority of letting a child dye their hair blue for a gift as opposed to giving a child an IPOD as a gift.
Did your child dye his/her hair blue to be cool, or was it a neccesity ?
For most people, gift are about giving someone a luxury and something they WANT. Not about needs.
YOu can't possibly say that a blue hair dye job is a practical gift, and that "cool" didn't factor into it. And the IPOD will last longer than the dye job.
I am really puzzled about why you are going on an on about a parent buying their child an IPOD as a Christmas gift. Do you think kids should get fruit in their stocking, underwear & school supplies and nothing else ?
Actually, before cell phones there were waaaaaaaaaaay more public phones. Now that cell phones are so common, trying to find a public phone is next to impossible.
I finally broke down & bought 2 cell phone for the 3 of us. I got so sick of borrowing other peoples. (a basic no frill, no camera, etc type)
I think if it makes kids safer, why not have the cell phones, even if it is just kept in the glove box for safety.
I konw the difference between needs and wants, but I don't think it is neccessary to live a bare bones exsistence. I don't buy me or my kid every single luxury in the universe, nor do I refuse to even buy a nice impractical luxury gift for anyone EVER.
There is a middle ground you know, and I don't think someone who buys their kid an IPOD for a CHRISTMAS gift is teaching their kid that IPODS are a neccisity, or are overindulgint their kids, or that kids with IPODS are "brats".
THis is my mantra for birthday and Christmas:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read
It helps cut down on excessive gift giving and every gets at least one fun gift.
Do you have a certificate of origin on that diaomond jewelry ? Do you know if it is a "blood" diamond (also called a conflict diamond) or not ?
The reason I ask, is because my hubby has hinted that he is going to buy me some jewelry for 20th this year.
Many years ago, when I found out about the dirty origins of some diamonds, I decided I didn't want to buy any more jewelry with diamonds in it. (not that I buy that much to begin with) However, recently, I have read that the diamond industry is taking steps to certify their diamonds.
I hope this is the real deal, and not the diamond industry doing PR. Do you know if there is a reliable way to tell the source of a diamond. If diamonds are still questionable, I will opt for some other stone in my anniversary jewelry.
You seem to know alot about this sort of thing, that's why I decided to ask you.
TIA.
(yes, I know that jewelry is a "want" and not a "need" ;) )
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