Does no one accept responsibility any more?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

This sentence caught my eye...and it struck me as funny that there are so many migrant workers coming here to work because they can't survive in their own countries.

Who's living in poverty, and why?

You are exactly right!

Everyone wants a cush job and not many are interested in manual labor.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Or as this thread started with, you could take responsibility for your own actions and quit crying because you made a stupid economic blunder.

lol

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I have had those jobs. When I got married in 1993 I was making $5 an hour. I was making $5.25 when my son was born, I didn't go apply for government assistance. It was hard, but you know what I learned from it. I got another job for $8 about a year later. I'm not making a fortune now, but I didn't take from others on my way to the place I am at. You got to get off your backside and do something.

I'm not on food stamps now, but I was not that long ago. I also lived in subsidized housing. My family is a family of six. There was absolutely no way I could have fed everyone, kept a roof over their heads, or kept the utilities on without some help from the government. At $7 or $8 per hour the math does not add up, Bro., plain and simple. Bare minimum costs renting a two bedroom house with a basement my son uses for his bedroom, including food, utilities, car expense, is $1600-$1800 a month. And I am talking about barely making ends meet.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Rico

The problem is that these adjustable rate mortgages were presented to people in such a way that they could simply refinance before the rates jumped. Well, when it came time to refinance, a credit crunch had hit the industry, loans became very difficult to get approval for, and people started losing their homes. It very quickly turned into a vicious cycle that caused property values to drop, which created even bigger issues with people owing more on their houses than they were now worth, which made it impossible to refinance.

Were they guaranteed a future loan, or did they simply presume upon the future. Again, it all goes back to personal responsibility. No one held a gun to their head and made them sign. They made the final choice in the matter. I am not saying that they do not deserve any help getting out of their fix, and I am not saying there were not some cases of predatory lending taking place. But if I pay more money for something than it is worth, who ripped me off.

The whole point of the thread is that people need to learn to take personal responsibility for their actions, and do whatever it takes to deal with their choices.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I have had those jobs. When I got married in 1993 I was making $5 an hour. I was making $5.25 when my son was born, I didn't go apply for government assistance. It was hard, but you know what I learned from it. I got another job for $8 about a year later. I'm not making a fortune now, but I didn't take from others on my way to the place I am at. You got to get off your backside and do something.

That is exactly my point! You take personal responsibility and DO something about it. If you need to work two jobs for a while, do it. Cut your living expenses and be frugal and pretty soon you will be in a different situation. I remember raising 3 kids, renting a house, working a full time job and pastoring a church on $16K/yr. I well understand just getting by and not having very good transportation etc. I didn't have insurance when 2 of my sons were born and one of them needed surgery at 3 months old. I faithfully paid what I could EVERY month until the Catholic hospital wrote them off based upon our income.


PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Are these "dirty" words?

Grasshopper, when you get a few more years of experience of both lean and fat times and have worked your tail off to take care of your family, then maybe, just maybe you'll have some authority. But as of right now, it doesn't seem like you have much of that. I have PLENTY of experience in lean times. You just cut back and don't expect someone else to foot the bill. I fully believe that the scriptures are true when they state that as a persons sows, they will reap. I have sowed and I have reaped. No one gave me anything and I don't want the government to bail me out of my bad decisions whether they be personal or business. I also teach my children the same thing. Personal responsibility is a biblical concept and one that cannot be skirted around.

God gave us all the ability to work. Severely handicapped people have made it to top of Mt. Everest. Look at the guy with 2 prostheses working to compete in the Olympics. So please don't have the audacity to tell me that there are no opportunities here in America. Please don't use the "can't sir" words in my hearing. Opportunities ABOUND to those who are industrious, lean on God and who don't have an "entitlement" mentality.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Rico

I'm not on food stamps now, but I was not that long ago. I also lived in subsidized housing. My family is a family of six. There was absolutely no way I could have fed everyone, kept a roof over their heads, or kept the utilities on without some help from the government. At $7 or $8 per hour the math does not add up, Bro., plain and simple. Bare minimum costs renting a two bedroom house with a basement my son uses for his bedroom, including food, utilities, car expense, is $1600-$1800 a month. And I am talking about barely making ends meet.

I have no doubt some people have a rough time. But that doesn't mean the government should bail you out. I remember my wife crying not too many months ago because the only thing we had to send the kids for lunch was a stale hamburger bun with peanut butter on it. That sucks. But it still doesn't mean the government should take from someone else to give to me.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

You are exactly right!

Everyone wants a cush job and not many are interested in manual labor.

Exactly!! I have just been spending many hours on a backhoe because we can't afford to pay someone else to do the work that needs done at our house. I don't have heavy equipment training, but if someone else can do it so can I. It is called industriousness. The bible states, "Consider the ant...." That is personal responsibility. If I lost my legs tomorrow, I could still learn to drive. I could still preach, visit etc. Maybe not ride a motorcycle, but I'm sure that I could make it......primarily because I'm sure I can with God's help.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I have no doubt some people have a rough time. But that doesn't mean the government should bail you out. I remember my wife crying not too many months ago because the only thing we had to send the kids for lunch was a stale hamburger bun with peanut butter on it. That sucks. But it still doesn't mean the government should take from someone else to give to me.

It's called choices. I choose what I am going to learn, where I live, what I'm going to drive, how many children I have, who I marry, where I go to church, how hard I am willing to work to find a job or two if the need be. I choose whether I am going to save for retirement or squander my income and expect the government to take care of me. It is about choices and taking responsibility for them.

Speaking of choices, I have to get back on the backhoe and finish the job....the clock is running!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

It's called choices. I choose what I am going to learn, where I live, what I'm going to drive, how many children I have, who I marry, where I go to church, how hard I am willing to work to find a job or two if the need be. I choose whether I am going to save for retirement or squander my income and expect the government to take care of me. It is about choices and taking responsibility for them.

Speaking of choices, I have to get back on the backhoe and finish the job....the clock is running!

That's right - your bologna sandwich lunch break is OVER!!!!

[Ron]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Exactly!! I have just been spending many hours on a backhoe because we can't afford to pay someone else to do the work that needs done at our house. I don't have heavy equipment training, but if someone else can do it so can I. It is called industriousness. The bible states, "Consider the ant...." That is personal responsibility. If I lost my legs tomorrow, I could still learn to drive. I could still preach, visit etc. Maybe not ride a motorcycle, but I'm sure that I could make it......primarily because I'm sure I can with God's help.

Mow, I have no qualms with what you are saying. On the basis of your statement you are 100% right.

On the other hand, could it be that people are not taught those principles?
Are there not some who just have not been taught basic initiative, drive, determination?

What about those who grew up in an atmosphere where they were not taught
those things?

I speak of myself, my dad died when I was 4 so I basically do not know him aside from pics.
My mom struggled raising three kids & turned to alcoholism. So, basically I grew up with no father figure, no direction, and a lot of baggage.

I have no college degree, but I have had people see something I did not even see, & they gave me breaks, & training, & lots of encouragement where I am actually in Management with out a degree.

Could it be that some just need a break?
Maybe some life skills training?

Just asking.