Honey Boo Boo Recap: Digging a Little Deeper in the Dirt

By PlathAddict | Saturday, August 25, 2012 | 9:26 am | 309 Comments

Tagged: childhood pageants, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Honey Boo Boo Recaps, June Shannon arrested, toddlers and tiaras

Posted in: Featured, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Recaps

It gets so much crazier than caffeinated beverages though, Gasmii. There is also a rumor that June had Alana dance on a bar for dollars! That would make her an awful human being, right? Is it possible that Honey Boo Boo did her pageant routine in a college bar and it was misinterpreted? Or, did June try to pull off a Gypsy Rose Lee with her 6-year-old daughter?

If the Gypsy Rose Lee-ing of Alana is true, that would make her worse than Shirley Tempe’s mom, both of Macauley Culkin’s parents, Dina Lohan, and every other stereotypical pageant mom to date.

I can’t fathom it. But, and you have every right to judge me for this one, I really want to know the details.

The problem is substantiating the facts. I’m just not dedicated enough to find the proof that this video exists, or that it happened the way the “sources” describe it for the Enquirer. I don’t have the patience to search through court documents on the internet. I just enjoy the fruit of other peoples’ diligence.

Did June really coerce her 6-year-old daughter to dance on tables for dollar bills, or did she decide that this would be a good place for Alana to practice her act?

Either way, it makes me second guess my original perception of June. If she coerced Alana, then she is worse than a madam. If she thought that it was a way to practice her pageantry, then she is as bad as any pageant mom when it comes to me judging her (seriously, you don’t want to know what I think of pageant moms). Either way, it merits research. The problem is that I don’t have any other information available. But, since it is the internet, I assume that there will be lots more coming.

And if 300 comments has told me anything, it’s that we have some very smart (when they aren’t too busy being hilarious) readers here at the Gasm.

Jezebel has (as of this writing) the most recent story. Their tone seems pretty supportive of the family though.

The one thing I can’t find though, is any mention of the family utilizing the welfare system. That seemed the be the biggest part of the comment discussions from the last recap, so I would love it if someone could provide info on whether or not the family is actually on welfare or whether this is just an assumption based on their economic standing.

I am sure that you guys will help a sister out with your info – please provide links so that I can get all of the juicy details, and I will do a follow-up on this investigation. Next week, we will resume our normal recap format – unless something really juicy crops up and another investigation is merited.

Thanks for all of the comments and the lively discussion. And thank you for your kind words over the loss of my friend Lynn. You guys are truly amazing! I’m going to let you take it from here. I can’t wait to see what you guys have to say.

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Comments (309)
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About PlathAddict

If there were ever a situation where in which I had to choose between cheese and chocolate, cheese would win hands down. I spend my days writing blog posts for the multi-housing industry and my nights harshly judging people who appear on reality shows. If there is the odd weekend in which I am not working, or feeling smugly satisfied about my lack of my own reality show, I will build a blog for my friends. Then, I will spend the rest of my weekend conning other friends, family members, and general acquaintances to donate their talents to help out. I am shameless in my love of free stuff, blue humor, and great or even terrible fiction. I tell my friends that I watch reality shows to feel better about myself. In actuality, I watch them because I am vastly entertained by the things people will do to be famous. When Flipit asked me to join the TVGasm family, I was honored. When he said that I would be paid in Cheetos and M&M's, I was totally in.

309 Comments

1

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:07 am

The video of HBB dancing on a bar does exist because they showed it on Nancy Grace earlier this week. What was not made clear was exactly what kind of establishment this bar was located in. Was it a bar in a place that is open all during the day and serves food or a place that is only open in the evening and into the wee hours for the primary purpose of getting people drunk? We don’t know.

Since I was the primary commenter in the anti-welfare camp and opined that June’s mother, June, and now her daughters probably comprise three generations of welfare abusers, I want to make clear that I did not have any proof of that but assumed it because this family has all the appearance of families that am personally familiar with who do live off welfare across generations. There may be periods of time that they come off welfare, but at some point they always come back and are on it more often than they are off.

But whether I am right or wrong about all this, I do applaud June for being cost conscious enough to feed her family delicious and nutritious no-name cheese balls rather than the expensive name-brand Cheetos. A penny saved is a penny earned.
2

caligal

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:16 am

If June is the only pageant mom investigated for giving her kid “go go juice” at a pageant, then DCFS in Georgia sure has a lot of time on their hands. Anyone who watches T&T sees most kids getting something to keep their energy up.
3

caligal

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:18 am

To add, I don’t condone giving kids giant pixie sticks with a Mountain Dew or Red Bull chaser, but June isn’t the only mom who has given that crap to their kid on camera.
4

TurtleGirl93

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:22 am

Loving the recap so far, but I just have to point out that June only had ONE socked foot painted. Somehow, for me, that makes it even tackier. In the best way possible.
5

kthxbai

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:29 am

It looks more like they were just cutting up than anything else.
Here’s the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XSRvYw1Ug

Borocast has the video and also names the place. It was the Plantation Room at Rum Runners in Statesboro I’m sure there are others if people want to google it a lot.

Here’s a paste from yelp about it:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rum-runners-statesboro
Rum runners is very different than the rest of statesboro. There are three separate bars within the business and each have their own atmosphere. The first is where you can listen to loud pop or 80s music while you order your frozen drink. (skinny bit!?$ is my fav!)

The next room is the plantation room wHich has a large bar in the center. There is more seating available and people generally just hang out in here with the Robert E Lee figure and rocking chairs.
6

snowshoecat

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:33 am

@Crank, the word “comprise” is one of the new fad words too often used incorrectly. You used it correctly, as I knew you would.

Yay you.

BTW, rumor has it that our beloved and esteemed leader, Flippit, turned 30 yet again today.

Happy birthday Flippit, and many more thirties! It’s such a cute age.
7

Annie

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:27 am

Good investigative skills, Plath–and everyone else!!

I don’t watch Honey BooBoo ….altough I kinda want to, just to partake in these discussions (300 comments!!!!!). When I’m not turning my mind to mush watching all these TV shows, I am a criminal investigator, so any kind of research diggin’ up dirt on other people gets the nerd in me all giddy.
8

fabfeathers

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:36 am

Can’t add much but nancy grace sent out twwitter last week asking anyone with knowledge of alana ancing on bar to contact her. Grace ran piece on t&t did not see alana.
9

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:45 am

@fabfeathers, I saw a short video of HBB dancing on a bar somewhere. I thought Nancy Grace is where I saw it, or am I wrong about that too? If Grace is asking people to contact her, she apparently wants to talk to people who where there so she can get another show’s worth of material for a followup. Nancy Grace has you in her sights, June.
10

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:48 am

* were there . . . jeez.
11

littlealbert

Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:07 pm

this is a new story from March. there is a cnn video at the bottom, featuring an interview with june.
http://statesboro365.com/news/local/item/147-six-year-old-performs-at-local-bar

this is a video taken by a patron at the bar. can’t see alana dancing, just doing her ‘dolla makes me holla’ shtick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XSRvYw1Ug

these were easy to find, just googled ‘honey boo boo dancing on bar’!
12

crockpot

Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:18 pm

Nancy Grace did show the video of Alana several times on her show.
13

crockpot

Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:21 pm

Just you-tubed the video & it is on there. Taken at a bar called Rum Runners. Damn that was hard to find .
14

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:31 pm

@thanks littleabert and crockpot. I found this promo copy for HBB’s appearance at the bar:

“Trust us….you do NOT want to miss the party at Rum Runners Plantation Room Statesboro tonight!! This will hands down be the wildest St. Patty’s Day party EVER! The Honey Boo Boo Child Alana is ready to show us how to party….like a beauty queen! (not kidding at all) We’ve got $1 Bud Lights – $2 Bombs and Go Go Juice Bombs to get this party started! Between little Alana partying in the Boro & DJ Mays on the tracks, there’s no telling what is going to happen.”
15

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:45 pm

I had thought the bar dancing was just a spur of the moment thing, but HBB was booked in advance. She’s a professional entertainer fer sure. If I were June, I’d be making plans now to have Alana sent to the Professional Children’s School in NYC in a few years.
16

PlathAddict

Posted August 25, 2012 at 1:03 pm

Wow! You guys work fast So, it doesn’t look like she was dancing or even doing a pageant shtick. It looked like a guest appearance where she stands on a makeshift stage and yells stuff into a microphone. While, I think it shows poor judgement on June’s part (I’d say something about bad taste, but I think that would be redundant considering), Shirley Temple’s mom is still much worse in my opinion.

For the record, when I was writing this post, I did google “Honey Boo Boo bar” and didn’t get anything except the articles that referred back to Enquirer and Starcasm. So, maybe I need to clear my cache before embarking on another investigative report – or just hire you guys to do my sleuthing
17

Former DSS Worker

Posted August 25, 2012 at 1:19 pm

I just want to clarify something regarding the welfare claims.
The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 ended so-called welfare queens and people receiving TANF funds for decades at a time. Anyone who claims to know people who are on welfare their whole lives is misinformed.

There is a nation-wide, federally mandated lifetime cap of five years of cash assistance. Each state can divide this five year period how they like; my state divides it as 24 months on, 12 months off, 24 months on, 12 months off, and 12 months on. During this time, recipients have to participate in 40 hours per week of job search, or 20 hours of school and 20 hours of job search. And you can’t just move to another state and start your five year timeclock over again, that is a lifetime cap no matter what state you move to.

The only types of welfare that someone can receive for unlimited amounts of time are Medicaid and SNAP (aka food stamps), and both of those are based on income.
18

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 2:02 pm

@Former DSS Worker, what do these people live on, pray tell, with no job, no savings, no education? 1-800-LAWSUIT? Are you using “welfare” in some strict sense that does not include ALL forms of local, state and federal assistance? I would also call disability and unemployment benefits welfare, but I doubt that you would. The Earned Income Credit is welfare too, although every good welfare advocate will deny it.

Hey, with your help, maybe we can push this thread into the hundreds as well.
19

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 2:07 pm

@Former DSS Worker, a little googling came up with this:

“Welfare reform has been successful. However, that success has been limited by several factors. First, welfare reform in 1996 addressed only one of the more than fifty means-tested federal welfare programs, AFDC. Second, the federal work requirements that pushed the states to promote work and reduce welfare dependence have always been too lenient, resulting in lax state work programs once the minimum federal standards have been met. Third, while the law set clear goals to reduce out-of-wedlock childbearing and strengthen marriages, nearly all states’ bureaucracies simply ignored these goals.”
20

alice

Posted August 25, 2012 at 2:22 pm

honey boo boo makes me wanna holla for a million dollar!!!
suger bear works.poor guy needs a dental plan…june is enjoying the cameras like she did on extreme couponing..in fact shes on youtube extreme couponing..how can they live right next to the railroad tracks..well…so now eden woods got someone to battle with……….i wonder who will win…who will end up as a stripper when they reach 18..who will be working at a trunk stop diner!!!!
21

AmyOops

Posted August 25, 2012 at 2:23 pm

I actually purchased that Enquirer (gigglyashamedhorns), and I read the article. Oddly enough, though obviously salacious in nature, the article was generally pro HBB and June, being sure to mention the complaint was dropped and all is well.

I also found the photo of a “dolled up” HBB (just like she would be for a pageant) and JUNE to be quite entertaining. With professional help she and her chins clean up rather nicely!

BTW I went against my better judgement and watched the first episode of the show (the others are DVRed and awaiting a decision). I’m with you Plath…I find the family endearing yet am unsure if that is the “appropriate” response. Things that make you go hmmmmm
22

PlathAddict

Posted August 25, 2012 at 4:40 pm

@AmyOops, you didn’t get to see the reaction of one of the pedicurists when June and all of her girls went to the spa? Her reaction was perfect! She did so well being diplomatic about how many of them there were and what their feet were like and how overwhelming the whole situation was (due to the family’s “big personalities”), that it is impossible not to love everything about this show. I’m so happy that I had never heard anything about this family before I started recapping this show (I knew it was a Toddlers and Tiaras spinoff, but I hadn’t ever watched TandT so it still counts).

@crankyguy, while I wish I could join in the debate about welfare, I simply don’t know enough about the past and current policies to do so. My only experience with welfare was when my dad lost his job and my mom (who worked for social services in Mobile as a part time volunteer) brought home food stamps and explained that we would be buying our food with them for a little while. I know that Medicaid is considered a part of the welfare system, but am still not clear on how it is. So, I can’t really respond to your welfare-related comments. But, I do think you are awesome regardless of my ignorance of welfare police/reform.

@Annie, thank you for the props on my investigative skills. Even though, I don’t really have any. For me, if it isn’t one of the first 7 links on Google, or posted on Drudge, I tend to give up. I just hope that someone else will give me the dirt. But, if I can get the gossip for free while still getting to be snarky about some shit I saw on a reality show, it is completely worth it.
23

Lenoru

Posted August 25, 2012 at 5:15 pm

http://www.facebook.com/AlanaThompsonOfficialPage

This appears to really be her family run facebook. There is an address there for fan mail, and they post lots of pics of her, at pageants and with fan mail.
24

Jazzy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Thanks for the facebook link. Everything written by June is practically incomprehensible. Very sad.
25

AmyOops

Posted August 25, 2012 at 6:37 pm

Plath…no, that’s one of my DVRed/undecided episodes (I have the series set to record all new eps even though I never thought I’d watch – your recaps convinced me to give it a shot, er, no pun intended). I’m guessing I’ll get there one day. You describe the shows as far too much fun/hilarity ensues to miss!

Oh, and yay! I’m not the only one who essentially thinks Google has one page. If it isn’t on that first page it OBviously doesn’t exist, right?
26

April

Posted August 25, 2012 at 7:37 pm

I find it hard to believe DFCS investigated based on her drinking caffeine drinks and eating cheesy poofs. Now sometimes they have to investigate every claim legitimate or not by law. But, I know a ton of parents that do bad stuff like that. So if every parent that did not buckle their kids in car seats properly or gave their kids soda etc there would be a big problem.
27

April

Posted August 25, 2012 at 7:44 pm

and ps- I know parents who have never done a pageant that give their small kids sodas on the regs. It is not just a pageant mom thing.

I kinda take offense to Cranky Guy saying earned income credit is welfare. We get that because we are a family of four living off one income. But we have never had food stamps or medicaid or disability or WIC or any kind of assistance. We have paid every bill we ever got in full on time and my credit score is in the highest bracket. It is a tax break which is different than welfare in my opinion.
28

Lenoru

Posted August 25, 2012 at 9:52 pm

@Jazzy, June isn’t the only one that posts on there, they have a family friend that posts on their behalf, too.

Re: the cps business, the only thing that I have seen that bothers me personally is the vehicle. They drive an extended cab truck. I don’t know about that exact truck, but most like it have two lap belts. Lap belts are dangerous. They should only be used to install child restraints. Children riding in lap belts is not illegal unless they are of an age/weight that their state booster laws apply to. I also wonder how they get around with the baby, now.

I did see one pic on the FB page where Alana appears to be riding with the belt behind her back. She should be in a booster, with the belt riding comfortably on her shoulder.

Off to look up Georgia booster laws….
29

Lenoru

Posted August 25, 2012 at 9:55 pm

Okay, I just looked, she needs to be in a booster according to Georgia state law. It’s eight years or 57″ tall. Whichever comes first.
30

Lenoru

Posted August 25, 2012 at 9:59 pm

And I just double checked, she’s definitely in a booster in that pic, she’s holding up a doll so you can’t see where the shoulder belt is. It looks like it’s behind her, the angle that it shows behind her in the pic, but it could very well be across her chest with a clip holding it in place at her shoulder.
31

crankyguy

Posted August 25, 2012 at 10:35 pm

April, the reason I say that it is welfare is because the Earned Income Credit can pay back more money than is taken out. To the extent that it is just a reduction in the tax bill, I would not call it welfare. When it reduces the amount of taxes to zero and then pays out a bonus, if that is not welfare then I don’t know what is. I don’t blame anybody for taking it, even when it reduces the tax liability to a negative number. That is one sneaky little trick the government uses to lie about the amount of welfare going out, by renaming some welfare something else.

You really shouldn’t take offense, because if the government offered me free money, believe me, I wouldn’t turn it down, but that is not really the point.

This is probably not the place to discuss politics, but I just wandered down that path somehow.
32

BedHeadJen

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:42 pm

Cranky-Though we have very different opinions of the financially challenged, you have been cracking me up, and I love you for that.
I really enjoyed “Tales From the Convienence Store”and would totes tune in for a weekly episode of Crankypiece Theater.
Politics can be fun. I was pretty young when I learned to subtly bring up politics (or religion) when I get bored during a family gathering.
It is always the same people who will engage in the same stupid fight again and again while I piss myself laughing, and it’s the only reason I still bother to show up.
33

lindaw205

Posted August 26, 2012 at 6:33 am

OMG, Crankypiece Theater. Count me in, too!
34

Jen

Posted August 26, 2012 at 12:45 pm

Even as a diehard lefty liberal I have huge problems with the welfare system in this country and families like June’s. Cranky guy is right by in large in my opinion and a big problem is people who keep having children when they’re a) not married (single moms get the most government assistance) and b) can’t afford the ones they have
35

Jen

Posted August 26, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Also there is no time limits for cash assistance in the child’s name only
36

WishICouldDance

Posted August 26, 2012 at 12:52 pm

I just have to comment on the DFCS investigation. I actually live in Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, and if the ONLY reason for the investigation was the beverage situation…. Someone should loose their job!! Sadly, there are children dying in meth lab explosions, suffering drug over-doses at 18 months after eating crack and God knows what else happening in Georgia. Why are they wasting time, money and resources policing soda consumption?!?!? This, to me, is more upsetting than the possible welfare abuse. Clearly, the child is well fed, gets attention, has a roof over her head and shows no outward signs of physical abuse. (Psychological abuse? I am not touching that one!! I’m fairly sure Bambi scarred me for life at a very young age so who am I to say?)

When I say that rural Georgia is different, it sounds like an excuse or something but I have to imagine its that way in all 50 states. I have only lived in Georgia so… No reference here but… It’s not OK for a four-year-old to run through the sprinklers in his underwear in my neighborhood. Head south about an hour? No big deal at all. If I hung my laundry outside to dry, everyone would ask what happened to my dryer. South Georgia? My grandmother hung out her laundry every day. It’s just kinda different.

Sorry for the DFCS rant. Calling child services as revenge or because you don’t approve REALLY bothers me. There are children who are really suffering yet getting no attention. Rant over.
37

crockpot

Posted August 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm

@WishICouldDance – you are correct. HBB is surely well loved & provided for by her family. There family is going to be under the spot light for a while it appears due to their popularity on the TLC channel. Is it my style ? no. Can I sit here & judge? yes. Would I put my family on TV? no. TLC is spinning a line to the viewers & probably not as bad as painted although the whole T&T-HBB crap bothers me. T&T is enough for me to watch & believe me Dear Crabby had a fistful last week. Anymore spin offs from those kids & I will forced to stop watching T&T.

As a nation, our standards are so low that there is just a numbness going on as the bar is getting lower & lower. What is next toddlers in the fight show, preteen preggers & their preteen boyfriends. It is hard to be shocked anymore. Think we are in a world of hurt in all areas including government hand outs. How to fix this mess? Don’t know. Have my thoughts but it wouldn’t happen.

Love the commenters here as they have a broad range of knowledge & view points to add into the mix. My guilty pleasure for the day.
38

Detinha

Posted August 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm

In Brazil young kids drink coffee with milk. My nephews used to and I want to think they turned out OK!
39

Mummy Butterfly

Posted August 26, 2012 at 2:35 pm

@Detinha – my son is now in 8th grade, but when he was in Kindergarten, they recommended a half cup of STRONG coffee with milk before he came to school to help offset his attention issues. Apparently there is research that shows that “overloading” with caffeine for a kid that is normally “overloaded” actually helps them focus. It worked for the one year he was in public school!

As for living in Georgia – I’m also currently in a suburb of Atlanta, and my ex’s family is about 2 hours away. The difference is AMAZING. It’s almost scary. And I have to agree that DFACS for drinking caffeine is stupid, there had to be another reason!
40

ellemenop

Posted August 26, 2012 at 2:58 pm

hahahaha, i seriously LOVED that sugar bear got june that weird deer thing, and her “wtf???” look when she saw it.

great recap/report, plathaddict, but i have to say, there is no way june is worse than dina lohan, even on her own!!!

i especially doubt this family is using welfare now, if they’re doing stuff for charity. that just seems weird and disproportionate (that’s not the exact word i’m looking for, but i can’t think of a better one).
41

ellemenop

Posted August 26, 2012 at 3:00 pm

damn it, i forgot to check the box to receive follow-up comments by e-mail when i posted, so i had to post again. sorry!
42

nelliebelle1197

Posted August 26, 2012 at 7:30 pm

@wishicoulddance- as someone who not only lives just outside Atlanta (about 6 blocks actually) and works in a social services nonprofit, just want to remind you that since the state elections in 2002, there has a been a mandate in this state to defund social services. You wouldn’t believe what backroom deals in this state right now. DFCS is only the tip of the underfunded iceberg.

@crankyguy- Tales from the Convenience Store! Crankypiece Theatre. BHJ is a GENIUS. I am ready to read.
43

mirabelle gingerbread

Posted August 27, 2012 at 3:47 am

!!

Former DSS Worker, thank you. it’s really remarkable how ignorant some people are about things like “welfare”. I take a lot of offense at disability being called welfare. I am currently on cash assistance – get with the program, if you want to debate about it, at least know what it’s called now – “welfare” is an outdated colliquial term – & certainly have that 5 year cap in place. I live in MN, a state that currently has one of the best cash assistance/SNAP programs in the nation; people from nearby cities like Chicago & Madison move here because of the high quality excellence that the program exemplifies.

still, that does not by any means make it “easy” to maintain a life on assistance. my job *is* being on assistance. I’m not going to go into the details because it’s my own business & if you want to experience it for yourself, feel free to apply for your own state’s program & then you too can really know what it’s like. I mean, come on. yes, people might abuse the system but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t help MANY people that truly need it. I am one of them, being that I am also currently trying to get onto disability – a process that takes YEARS to truly achieve & even then you aren’t guaranteed lifetime disability status. I have to be in therapy for at least 6 months to a year before my case will even be seriously considered by any disability programs that help you get onto it! I’m in significant mental, emotional & physical pain on a constant basis, I’ve been diagnosed for 6 years (but sick for my whole life), and still I have to “prove” that I’m going through all of this – just to be CONSIDERED! just to have someone even say that they’ll TRY to HELP me get disability!

I’m not trying to flip out here, just trying to really impress the seriousness of my situation, and many others’. for anyone to say that disability is welfare is pretty fucking inconsiderate & selfish. you have no. clue. what it’s like to not be able to work. none at all.

unless you for a fact KNOW that honey boo-boo’s family is abusing their state’s assistance, have cold, hard proof, then there is absolutely no reason for you to assume that they are. their family does not fit the profile of “welfare abusers”, by the way. judging from the crowd at the building that I visit on a sometimes weekly basis to maintain my status so my case will not go into sanction (something that has a very confusing & involved process & is a pain in the butt to fix), their family makes up an incredibly small amount of the people that are there. I’m maybe one of 3 people that are white, let alone a white *girl*. (and no it’s not all black people either) maybe it’s the area I live in, since it’s a little more urban, but there are plenty of white people here that COULD be going there. and they aren’t. your “sources” and statements of “knowing these kind for decades”, are incredibly skewed.

>.< x infinity
44

WishICouldDance

Posted August 27, 2012 at 4:47 am

Nelliebelle, yeah… I really didn’t do a very good job in my rant but that’s one of my points. The entire DFCS system is stretched to its limit – why in the world would someone waste what little resources they have on THIS?!? Social services has never been a “fun” place to work but at least you used to have the opportunity to help. Now, you’re luck if your group can afford a band-aid for the problems. My rant was directed toward the people who use DFCS as the morality police, NOT the people who are really trying to do their best in an impossible job. Sorry if it came out the wrong way.
45

hot cawfee

Posted August 27, 2012 at 6:55 am

And Plathy– nnaaahhhh— you are a nice person for wanting Alana to win a crown. I would love to see it too—–She is a nice little girl and quite cute (the picture of her from I think a winter pageant is beautiful)– I applaud any kid who is of the opinion that anyone (or teacup piggy) can be what ever they choose. She is a little feminist and I love that about her. It would be great to see her win b/c it would show that inner beauty counts as much as all the cosmetics, flipper, hair extenions and nailpolish that each girl layers on to compete. She is marked down in points b/c of her mother. I dont think we can ever mistake June for being a former pageant queen. And some refinement wouldn’t kill her. Never too early to learn good manners and how to behave properly especially out in society.
46

rebecca pressley

Posted August 27, 2012 at 7:11 am

i can no longer eat a biscuit thanks to this show.
47

crankyguy

Posted August 27, 2012 at 10:01 am

“‘welfare’ is an outdated colliquial term”

How 20th Century of me. I’m a Neanderthal.
48

crankyguy

Posted August 27, 2012 at 10:41 am

“unless you for a fact KNOW that honey boo-boo’s family is abusing their state’s assistance, have cold, hard proof, then there is absolutely no reason for you to assume that they are.”

Yet, that is exactly what I assumed and continue to assume despite the hammering I get from some members of the pro-~~welfare~~ public assistance community. I would just rather assume they are (or have been) and be wrong than assume they aren’t (or never were) and be wrong. By the looks of them, I think I’m more likely (but not certain by any means) to be right than you are. You pick your side, and I’ll pick mine. Besides, what I think does not affect their lives in any way whatsoever, so I’m not gonna feel too guilty about presuming the risk of falsely accusing them.
49

WishICouldDance

Posted August 27, 2012 at 10:44 am

Is there a club or secret handshake, cranky guy, I seem to be eligible for membership in this Neanderthal group. What is the current PC term? (and lucky for you all, I just deleted my PC rant! It almost got away from me!!)
50

crankyguy

Posted August 27, 2012 at 10:54 am

i can no longer eat a biscuit thanks to this show.

I can no longer look at a . . . well, you know . . . and not think of a biscuit.
51

crankyguy

Posted August 27, 2012 at 11:26 am

@WishiCouldDance, I’m completely out of touch, so if there is a secret handshake, I’d be the last to know. What is truly frightening is that people who are so out of touch as to not even know the current politically correct terms for welfare are even ALLOWED to vote!!!
52

WishICouldDance

Posted August 27, 2012 at 11:48 am

It’s a sad, scary world CrankyGuy.
53

Gypsy

Posted August 27, 2012 at 12:20 pm

@Cranky you might be allowed to vote but, the real question is are you registered???

Bambi scarred me for life too. Just as much as June is in the process of doing to me now.
54

TurtleGirl93

Posted August 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Oh, happy happy joy joy! Apparently they are filming MORE episodes of Honey Boo Boo so this week will not be the end.

@Hawt Caffee and Plath, I too would like to see Alana win a higher title because of her attitude. I think she truly loves doing the pageants and I think she probably practices without being forced or bribed—such a nice change from some of the T&T demons who have to be bribed with horses and such. I think if she had a healthier BMI and were a little more polished, she’d pull. She would win over the judges completely if there were a Q&A segment and she were questioned on gay rights for pigs and Uncle Poodles. She’s a unique little firecracker.
55

BedHeadJen

Posted August 28, 2012 at 1:06 am

Honey Boo Boo for Grand Supreme with a Glittertard on top!
56

TurtleGirl93

Posted August 28, 2012 at 3:10 pm

Amen, @BedHeadJen!
57

Red_Rabbit

Posted August 28, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Now that the show is a hit and they’ll probably be getting healthy paychecks from TLC, whatever welfare or assistance they may have been on they’re likely off of it now.
58

Tiger

Posted August 29, 2012 at 6:11 am

What the say about assuming and CrankyGuy seems about right.
59

crankyguy

Posted August 29, 2012 at 6:48 am

What, that people who assume that crankyguy is wrong in his assumptions are assholes, or something like that? I don’t remember how it goes, exactly.
60

Karen

Posted August 29, 2012 at 8:35 am

June DID accept food stamps for over three years….email her and she will admit it, she is not ashamed of it and with 3 kids to feed after being injured you would take it too. She got into the trouble by accepting child support payments but not listing them on the application as income.

She is actually not that bad of a person, but does let her kids run a little wild. Probably to make up for some of the things she could not afford. She is NOT on assistance now and actually learned this coupon crap when she was kicked off.

Sugar Bear was arrested and did time in prison for Burglary….It is in the GA state system anyone can look it up. I think it is on a couple of the websites now too.
61

crankyguy

Posted August 29, 2012 at 8:49 am

” . . . you would take it too. ”

Yes! I would! I’d take it NOW if I could. Sign me up, damnit. It’s about time all you people who make more money than I do to start GIVING BACK!!!! To meeeeeeee!!!!
62

crockpot

Posted August 29, 2012 at 3:08 pm

@Crankyguy …… now I know you vote for Obama. Give me, give me, give me.

Am alittle behind & lazy to read through all the recaps. Why would not one assume what is put forth before one? Not make a final judgement but if it looks like a duck ….well probably is.

What injury did June have that enabled her work?

With all the scams going on in all levels of society why not assume the something is going on. If you don’t watch your wallet someone will take it & leftovers go the government. We are deep trouble as there is no more money to run this country.

To those that use the system that need it. Great, no problem here. But having multi kids by multi fathers that one can not afford to support on ones own is wrong & costs everyone plus the kids. .But keep screaming for more handouts. God.

June should be able to fully support herself & family from here on out with TLC. So thank god for that.
63

Robin

Posted August 29, 2012 at 4:04 pm

“What injury did June have that enabled her work?”

That’s an interesting question.
64

thisbuggs4u

Posted August 29, 2012 at 4:23 pm

She said that her foot was run over by a forklift…
65

labowner

Posted August 29, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Me loves me some Crankyguy. You crack me up. Mrs Cranky sick by chance? wink, wink, nudge, nudge – know what I mean?

Robin, I was the one who mentioned gardening in the other thread. And yes I did have a veggie and herb garden, vineyards and fruit and nut trees at my house. You can have the blackest thumb of all and stuff will grow to spite you out here. All anything needs is water. There is zero excuse for them not to have veggies growing in their yard. It’s called being lazy and looking at June she is one extremely lazy human.

I live in the biggest welfare state – thank you very much liberal dems. The entitlement of some people is insane, very taxing and unsustainable. My thoughts – if you are on the dole, you are on birth control. You want to have more kids do so and get cut out of the system.
66

ZipLock

Posted August 29, 2012 at 7:16 pm

I don’t know the first thing about how welfare officially works, but I do know that my husband’s sisters and their daughters have been on AFDC and food stamps and who all knows what for as long as we’ve been together, more than 20 years. Every few years one will briefly get a job but inevitably screw up and lose it. They’re all single mothers. One even happily posts on Facebook every month that money came through on her card and inviting her friends shopping. Yes, they are all overweight, trashy and lazy and I’m glad we live many, many miles away. They’re very much freeloaders, always have been, always will be. Don’t know how they do it and don’t care, I don’t want to live like that.

Wasn’t crazy about this recap, btw.
67

labowner

Posted August 30, 2012 at 4:54 pm

Well give yourself a pat on the back folks number one in the 18-49 viewers.
68

Shana

Posted August 30, 2012 at 7:12 pm

I came to the game late, but I have caught up and watched all the episodes but one, have read all the recaps and ALL the posts (some 800), and there are a few things I feel compelled to comment on.

Regarding the ‘crust’ around June’s neck: That can come from wearing an extremely cheap ‘gold’ necklace. That happened to me with a bracelet that a kid gave me as a gift. My wrist had an orange ring around it the minute my sweat hit the paint on the piece.

I am confused, perhaps it was mentioned in the episode I missed–her saying that there are four different dads for the four kids. I was under the impression that the oldest daughter was by one dad, then the next two girls with the same dad, followed by the youngest. And again I may be wrong, but I thought June had been married before (I assumed to the father of the two middle girls), and she didn’t enjoy the experience and therefore never wanted to try marriage again. Not sure.

@ mirabelle gingerbread: I feel for your story, I really do. I am helping a friend under similar circumstances, and if people resent handing out money to those who are physically disabled, it is nothing, NOTHING compared to the stigma and complications that come with getting benefits for mental disability. And I don’t know what kind of thieves Mr. Crankyguy lives near, but the large number of people I have observed at the free clinic and mental health facility broke my heart–they were poor people, suffering and in need of assistance.

Now Mr.Cranky: I find myself curious, how do you make a living while you are reading and responding–not to mention watching–all the shows and their recaps and comments that I have seen you on.

As for EBT: theoretically it is lovely to say that fruits and veggies should be the main staple for people on EBT, but getting children to eat them can be very difficult, no matter your class, gender, or marital status. They also do not stretch as far budget-wise, and expire quicker than ‘junk’ food. And to the commentator who said that no junk food should be allowed on EBT cards–would you like to be the one that tells a child he is too poor to have a birthday party, candy on halloween, or treats for christmas?
69

crankyguy

Posted August 30, 2012 at 8:18 pm

“Now Mr.Cranky: I find myself curious, how do you make a living while you are reading and responding–not to mention watching–all the shows and their recaps and comments that I have seen you on.”

Are you suggesting that I watch too much TV and spend too much time on this board? You might be right about that. I was the one who said that restrictions should be placed on what is bought with EBT cards, and your question reminds me of another white trash story. I was in a Sears many years ago a few days from Christmas at a cash register behind a large white-trash woman buying toys for her five or six kids that were with her. She presented a Sears credit card which was rejected. Upon hearing the sad news, she gathered her kids together and pointing at the sales clerk, told them all, “You see that son of a bitch right there? He’s the reason you ain’t gonna have no Christmas.”
70

crankyguy

Posted August 30, 2012 at 8:25 pm

Your final question reminded me, not the question that I quoted. As for kids refusing to eat healthful foods, who said “Hunger is the best sauce.”?
71

Robin

Posted August 30, 2012 at 8:39 pm

@Labowner

I have looked and looked and can’t find the post that you are refering to. I only posted once to this thread and it was about how June enabled herself not to work. I am confused.

TC, Robin

“Robin, I was the one who mentioned gardening in the other thread. And yes I did have a veggie and herb garden, vineyards and fruit and nut trees at my house. You can have the blackest thumb of all and stuff will grow to spite you out here. All anything needs is water. There is zero excuse for them not to have veggies growing in their yard. It’s called being lazy and looking at June she is one extremely lazy human.

I live in the biggest welfare state – thank you very much liberal dems. The entitlement of some people is insane, very taxing and unsustainable. My thoughts – if you are on the dole, you are on birth control. You want to have more kids do so and get cut out of the system.”
72

Robin

Posted August 30, 2012 at 9:04 pm

@crankyguy,

My nephew was visiting for a weekend and my Hubby reached in the fridge to make nephew some ham and eggs for breakfast. He said he didn’t like ham.

My hubby responded like he always does when folks say they dont like a food ” I bet you if you got hungry enough you would eat it”.
73

Shana

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:23 am

When I was a kid we had to be careful that our great-grandfather didn’t hear us complain that we were ‘starving’. He would say that if you were really starving, you would eat a raw potato (or was it an onion?). Way to put it in perspective holocaust surviving great grandfather. I was simply pointing out what many school programs have realized for a long time; that fruits and veggies can be expensive and complicated. Of course having fruits and veggies available for a reasonable price is the ideal! But they aren’t right now. I am complaining about this–not agreeing that they shouldn’t be bought.

@crankyguy: That mother was disgusting to say that to the clerk at Sears–bad manners, lousy morals, and stealing is never okay (concerning ‘cheating the govt.’) and everyone suffers for it. And there is ALWAYS abuse and cheating and disgusting selfish people in every walk of life. I remember taking my grandmother to chemo a year ago and overhearing the nurses talking about a type of cancer drug for children–that totally works–being unavailable for patients; apparently it was so cheap that the drug companies decided not to bother making something that gives them so little profit. It wasn’t worth their while when there were more expensive drugs that could be made. I mean, seriously? Or how about the Enron folks?

For me, the suffering related to child hunger, homelessness (NOBODY WANTS TO BE HOMELESS), and sick people going without care, bothers me way more than the percentage of people who abuse the system.

Just saying that we need to get rid of social benefits is a ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’ paradigm. It seems that for many people, unless they experience the need personally, they cannot imagine that the system has any merits. I have a republican relative who espoused the same opinions you did–until he had kidney failure and now needs a transplant. Believe me, he now appreciates financial medical aid in a whole new way.
74

Shana

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:47 am

Concerning the girls’ laziness: Maybe I am missing something, but wasn’t this filmed during the summer? Why should these kids be working? They go to school during the year (even the pregnant one). They are now attending what is commonly known as “Mommy Camp”. Apparently they start later than other camps, but the kids are mostly teenagers–what teenagers don’t sleep late? The girls aren’t complaining that they are poor, or yelling and demanding more goods (aka Melania from RHofNJ), it is the viewers that seem to be having a problem with their financial situation. And with a six year old and three teens at home, why is it bad that June is a stay-at-home mom? For those of you worrying about the dad working so much, I imagine he appreciates getting out of the house where there are a lot of screaming, squealing women/small pig. Plus, pageants are expensive and since that is what his little girl wants, he works really hard so she can afford them. Good for him.

And I must admit, I am a little impressed with those girls. So far the whole family is scrimping and saving to send HBB to these pageants, and I haven’t heard any complaints or jealousy aimed at HBB hogging all the attention (and to those who might say ‘why would they since Alanna is their $’, may I remind you it wasn’t always this way, before she went on T&T, it was just a family sacrifice with no rewards).
75

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:01 am

“… 0verhearing the nurses talking about a type of cancer drug for children–that totally works–being unavailable for patients; apparently it was so cheap that the drug companies decided not to bother making something that gives them so little profit.”

Yeah, those evil, selfish, greedy corporations! Preach it, sister! That’s like those greedy oil companies that had the genius independent researcher and inventor killed who came up with this cheap additive to water that replaced gasoline. You just fill your tank with water, then pour in a couple of dollars worth of this cheap stuff and then get 100 miles per gallon with NO pollution. The FBI during a Republican administration (Nixon, I think) took all his lab equipment and papers and they are now locked in a secret vault somewhere. Totally true!
76

crockpot

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:11 am

@Shana I don’t think anyone is having a problem with their financial situation. They are obviously well fed & have a decent house over their heads. Maybe T&T should put on lots of shows with these types of families so the entertainment never ends. If you are impressed with a unwed pregnant teen whose mother is unwed with 4 kids from different fathers you have set your standards low.

The problem is the large amount of people in this country that aren’t mentally or physically or down on their luck using the benefits that are set up for those truly in need. Look at ZipLock’s story. Not uncommon.

Labowner is 100% correct about growing what you eat. Anyone can do it even in apartments if they are motivated. If not & you can afford to buy groceries great but don’t complain about a black thumb, time, cost & energy required. Vegetables/fruit last a long time. Can it, freeze it, & dry stretches it out for quite awhile & is cheaper then processed foods.

With the $4 bucks spent on a large bag of chips one can buy a 3 pd bag raw potatoes, olive oil, salt, & pepper . Cut, toss, roast & you have healthy eats for all that will fill 3 bags of chips. Don’t tell me kids wouldn’t eat fruit/vegetables. If the adults wouldn’t try prepare it & try it why should they.

Keep it coming Crankguy!!! Assuming (there is that work again) you are hitting a nerve on some of these folks & I am loving it.
77

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:15 am

“I have a republican relative who espoused the same opinions you did–until he had kidney failure and now needs a transplant. Believe me, he now appreciates financial medical aid in a whole new way.”

Both lefties and righties oppose things philosophically that as an individual in a special case would reverse position and make an exception for selfish reasons. Like a liberal who opposes long prison sentences until some murderer is let out of jail after a year or two kills his family member. Or a conservative who opposes government bailouts of corporations until the corporation that he works for applies for a bailout. That he wants the government to save HIS job has little to do with whether the policy as a whole is a good idea or not.
78

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:30 am

@crockpot, good point on the potatos (Shout out to Dan Quayle) . I was at my beloved Wal-Mart yesterday and they had a big display right inside the door so you couldn’t miss it of those big clear plastic kegs full of cheesy balls just like Team HBB scarfs. I think that huge display might even have been inspired by the HBB show, but that’s just a guess and I have to admit there was no cutout of June or HBB anywhere to be found. Anyway, the $5.99 those cheese balls cost would have bought 15 pounds of fresh potatoes or 12 pounds of bananas or . . . lots of other fresh, much better food.
79

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 11:02 am

Cranky, I’m about as bleeding-heart-liberal as they get, I know no one who does not support just (read: long) sentences for almost all murderers. I don’t think justice should equal retribution, just as I don’t think prisons should equal punishment. I think prisons and the justice system should serve two purposes; first, to rehabilitate those who can be, and second, to protect society from those who can’t.

I like to think that most of us can agree that that is the best case scenario.
80

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 11:22 am

@Lenoru, I know plenty of liberals who think letting a murderer, who is clearly guilty, off because of some technicality is exactly the way things should be. Cops forgot to read him his rights? Let him go. They would argue that the policy is not bad, but that the cops were bad for not doing their jobs. That’s about as short a sentence for murder as you can get. And I don’t know ANY liberal who is in favor of “three strikes” laws, although it is true that there are plenty of liberals that I don’t know.
81

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:01 pm

I get that it’s not cool to let the obvious guilty off, but if the letter of the law is not followed, the rights of all risk erosion. It sucks when it comes up. That said, every case I know and have been in support of release or retrial, there’s always been more there than a simple technicality.

As far as three strikes, well at this point I’m not well informed and would like to stay neutral. I see both sides. It seems like it would be an awesome deterrent, but I don’t think it’s really worked as planned. I think this is where rehabilitation would make a difference. Obviously not a lot can be done about those who have true deficits, like those living with the living with the life long effects of FAS or FAE, but those who simply don’t learn what they need to know due to environmental factors can learn to be positive contributing members of society. I guess my point is that just like every other situation, an cookie cutter, one size fits all approach does not work.
82

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:12 pm

Robin, sorry it was in the other thread about HBB. Should have mentioned that.

Lenoru, sorry the libs in my city/state allow murders to roam our streets under the crap “sanctuary status” for illegals. In fact in SF if you have a job and pay taxes you are considered the bad guy.
83

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:21 pm

Sanctuary status is for undocumented persons not convicted of felonies.

I could be wrong, but isn’t murder a felony?
84

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:30 pm

Okay, I just looked it up. In California, any crime that the maximum prison term is twelve months or more is a felony. I think that covers murderers.

Of course I have no problem with undocumented individuals living here as long as they are law abiding other than the obvious crossing the boarder, living here, and working here. I don’t support driving without a license or insurance, or skipping out on filing taxes, etc.

Immigration law needs huge overhauls. I know folks who have been here a decade or more, who have had no convictions or run ins with the law, who have only resided and worked here illegally, who file taxes, who are even married to natural born citizens. And yet those same people face the likelihood of having to leave the country for anywhere up to ten years in the process of documentation. It’s not fair or right for families to be torn apart like that, but it is how it is. So many people won’t even hear the idea. Somewhere along the line the idea has come about that all a person has to do is marry a citizen and they get handed their documentation. Unfortunately that can’t be any further from the truth.
85

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:32 pm

*replace “handed their documentation” with “handed their greencard”
86

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:33 pm

Who would’ve thought a thread for a show about a family who eats roadkill and has neck dirt would turn into a political forum?

Well then, I guess this is a better place than any to leave this here:

http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/08/30/779391/here-comes-honey-boo-boo-beats-the-rnc/?mobile=nc
87

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:44 pm

Lenrou you don’t know what you are talking about so please just stop. You don’t live here. Yes they do protect felons. If you are an illegal you are a committing a crime.
88

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:48 pm

I am hoping Paul endorses Johnson. After the what happened at the RNC it just might happen.

And before anybody thinks that I want that to happen to seal the deal for Obama, you’re wrong.

I think that maybe, just maybe, with Paul’s endorsement, the Libertarian party will get enough votes that we may see break in our two main party system. Of course I’d rather see the Green party obtain it first, but I’m just fine with the Libertarians taking it. Any third party breaking that 3% barrier will make a huge difference.
89

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:53 pm

Um, I don’t know anything about the fact I live in California, or I don’t know anything about the fact that my husband and I are anxiously awaiting the letter from INS that will let us know if they are going to deport him right away, or allow us to apply for his change of status? And even if we get the letter we’re hoping for, we still won’t know if he’s going to have to stay out of the country for years until he’s actually in Ciudad Juarez with a judge ruling on our hardship waiver.

I think I know what I’m talking about.
90

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:53 pm

1st of all….I’ll post here what I posted on that vid of HBB in the bar: this video looks like she was at a promotional event (probably making much needed money) for her fans to come out to meet her & it just HAPPENS to be at a bar. It doesn’t look like she just walked into a bar one night & took the stage to holla for a dolla. Poor choice of venue? Maybe. Child abuse we should be up in arms about? Hardly.

Also, when they do those ‘promotional events’, they basically get paid for their names to be on the event, show up to say what’s up, or holla, in this case, sign some autographs, & peace out. I’m sure she wasn’t there handing out or doing the $1 shots!

Now…Crankyguy & the likes are everything that is WRONG with this country. You sound real edumacated spouting out those republican talking points, but you sound REALLY smart using stereotypes to denounce everyone who needs assistance. Do a little research and you’ll find out over 60% of the people receiving ‘handouts’ are just like you and I..WORKING CLASS AMERICANS, but I’m sure you’d come back & say that the person working 2 jobs to keep a roof over their heads and still needs help feeding their families isn’t a concern that us Uhmerikuns should have, so there’s that. So who cares that the TAXES that said person pays goes to fund the food stamp program that he needs so desperately, right? SCREW EM! Hunger-sauce & all that bullshit. You know who else is a working man that’s doing what he can to feed his kids…Um SugarBear. You know, the man with the family that LOOKS like welfare so they must be a duck or other such nonsense. Those stereotypes are SO ACCURATE! You know who you should probably be upset with? That nicely dressed, stay at home mom with the smancy cars & mcmansion. Why? Because THAT’S the bitch we are REALLY taking care of. Do you know how many ‘upperclassers’ are living a beautiful life for free? But the bullshit bankruptcy laws isn’t welfare AT ALL! Being able to go buy whatever the hell you want because you started out with a good credit score but then stop paying for it & have most of that pesky debt erased by the Gov is what Uhmerika is all about! SO much KLASSIER than welfare!

I probably would’ve let the ignorance of this conversation pass me by but once I picked my jaw up off the floor from reading the ignorance of saying that disability is welfare, I couldn’t help myself. As a mother of a special needs child, I have heard ALOT of ignorant shit but that has got to be number 1. The fact that someone thinks that the government helping out a person who is unable to care for himself is somehow wrong makes me sad for my son’s future. If my son did not receive health care through the Gov’s disability program, there is no way we could afford to keep him healthy. Our insurance company & every other one that I’ve ever researched offers little to no help with the overwhelming cost it takes to sustain your child’s mental & physical health. Because keeping your child healthy SHOULD NOT require shit like multiple hospital stays, surgeries, or stupid medicine so there is no excuse why the bullshit cap on your health insurance can’t cover that shit, right? So I guess I’ll line up at the stakes to get burned for needing *gasp* help from the programs MY tax dollars pay for.

Also speaking as someone who was UNABLE to work steadily during the 1st 2yrs of my twins’ lives because of stupid shit like caring for special need preemies, the thought of you saying food stamps are ‘handouts’ for those that need to get off their asses is beyond insulting. Actually, it’s not. If I respected or gave any credence to the shit you’re spouting I may be a teenie bit insulted, but that CLEARLY isn’t an issue here. Your picture of what welfare LOOKS like is ridiculous at best & ignorant at worst. Are there people out there that abuse the system? Ab-so-fucking-lutely! You know, because people suck, but what you clearly don’t understand is that those people are the exception, not the rule. There are more people getting assistance that has a genuine need & desire to do better than there are those that don’t. Current laws made ‘welfare queens’ obsolete in the 90s, but you keep spouting those talking points. They are DEFINITELY working for you! *RANT OVER*

Sorry folks, an idiot makes me holla honey boo boo chiles.
91

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 12:56 pm

Oh, and FTR, if I actually knew how hard the process was, you can bet your bottom dollar that I wouldn’t even have dated him to begin with. Nine years, one wedding, and three kids later, this is where we are. Not much that I can do but hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
92

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:05 pm

“Somewhere along the line the idea has come about that all a person has to do is marry a citizen and they get handed their documentation.”

Not quite that easy, but pretty easy nonetheless. I know a guy that some missionaries from Brazil helped to get here illegally. He got married to a welfare gal whom he payed to participate in the fake marriage. He was interviewed by some federal agents who asked him if the marriage was real and warned him bad things would happen if he lied. He lied, and nothing bad happened in spite of the fact that he never lived with her. He was put on the fast track to take his citizenship test which at the time was an easy multiple-choice quiz or it may have even been true/false, but I don’t remember. After he became a citizen, he divorced his fake wife and he was good to go.
93

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Now….since I REALLY like CrankyGuy…I’m going to block out this thread & pretend he didn’t say that dumb shit so I can continue to like his snarktastic ass. You know, like the republicans are doing with Romney!
94

caligal

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:12 pm

I hope there is a new recap soon so the dead horses on this thread can stop taking their beatings.
95

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:15 pm

So you are saying you were duped into marrying an illegal Lenrou?

And I am talking about California and their sanctuary policies.
96

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:16 pm

“I probably would’ve let the ignorance of this conversation pass me by but once I picked my jaw up off the floor from reading the ignorance of saying that disability is welfare, I couldn’t help myself. “

I’m not so ignorant to know that calling disability welfare is frowned upon by a good many people, but that is EXACTLY what it is. That is not to say that we don’t need some welfare. But when anybody gets payments that were made available by the government forcing somebody else to fund those payments, that’s welfare and calling it something else really doesn’t change the fact. And like I have said all along, if I had to go on disability, I absolutely would accept the payments, but I would not deny that I was taking welfare.
97

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:17 pm

Ah, but the dead horses are galloping toward a hundred comments. Giddyup!
98

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:21 pm

*I’m not so ignorant to NOT know that calling disability …
99

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:27 pm

“Your picture of what welfare LOOKS like is ridiculous at best & ignorant at worst. “

Am I supposed to feel stupid now? Sorry, I don’t.
100

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:30 pm

#100 LET’S HERE IT FOR ALL THOSE WONDERFUL WELFARE MOMS OUT THERE!!!! #100
101

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:30 pm

HEAR IT, DAMNIT!!!
102

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:36 pm

Cranky – your number 100 you number 100
103

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:39 pm

If I respected or gave any credence to the shit you’re spouting I may be a teenie bit insulted, but that CLEARLY isn’t an issue here.

You WILL respect mah authoriTAH!!!!
104

Lenoru

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:53 pm

No, I won’t say I was duped. I’d rather plead young and dumb. I like to think I got off easy, though. Some of us do things that result in horrible, life long consequences. I can honestly say that the man I’m getting out of the deal is worth any hardship my family may suffer. He’s a good, hard worker who cares about his family and has no vices. I have more than a few friends who didn’t make out so well, even if they don’t have to worry about moving to another country for an unspecified amount of time.

As far as the knowing much about the sanctuary law, I only know what I googled when you brought it up. What I read implied that it only applied to folks not convicted of felonies. To me, known murderer=/=not convicted of felonies. I know there are cracks in any law. I just choose to remain optimistic because sometimes that’s all I can do.

And Labowner, I want to say thank you. I know that there is little we are in agreement on, but I do appreciate being able to have a conversation with you without name calling or low blows. I’m opinionated and not an easy person to get a long with, so it’s especially nice to have a reasonable exchange with someone who has very different views.
105

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 1:58 pm

@Lenoru…I don’t think we would make much progress here. Because all welfare receipants, murders, rapist, illegals, liars, crooks, cheaters, fraudsters, etc are liberals that us liberals apparently want to protect. We don’t know what the hell we’re talking about. You with all your actual EXPERIENCE with immigration laws in CA & me with all my stupid ACTUAL statistics are clearly mistaken.

Look…These people said:

“With all the scams going on in all levels of society why not assume the something is going on” (because it’s always better to make an assumption about someone/something before actually finding out the truth)

“I know plenty of liberals who think letting a murderer, who is clearly guilty, off because of some technicality is exactly the way things should be. Cops forgot to read him his rights? Let him go. They would argue that the policy is not bad, but that the cops were bad for not doing their jobs. That’s about as short a sentence for murder as you can get. And I don’t know ANY liberal who is in favor of “three strikes” laws, although it is true that there are plenty of liberals that I don’t know.” (*sigh* I know plenty of conservatives who are racist birthers who are clearly insane so that means they all are. And I don’t know ANY conservatives who are black so that must mean their aren’t any) BTW, anyone with a brain would be against ’3 strikes’ laws if they are actually familiar with what most of those laws entail, ESPECIALLY when they were first purposed, but there I go with my stupid liberal logic and shit. And basically he’s saying that liberals who believe in a fair trial before persecution wants the guilty to go free instead of just wanting actual justice and not cops violating people’s rights, which isn’t a skewed way to look at their stance AT ALL. AND completely logical!

“Sorry the libs in my city/state allow murders to roam our streets under the crap “sanctuary status” for illegals. In fact in SF if you have a job and pay taxes you are considered the bad guy.” (Because obviously she’s met, talked to, and knows the views of EVERY liberal in her city/state & not just attributing the politics of her local democrats to libs as a whole. Plus all those murdering illegals that are actually deported or jailed for their crimes clearly don’t outnumber the few she ‘read about’ or heard about on the news. And I can’t tell you how many working class, upstanding citizens in SF gets stoned because they work and pay taxes and shit) Saying that people actually think people that work for what they have are ‘bad guys’ and not what we all want from everyone is asinine.

The broad strokes people paint on liberals and what they ASSUME we stand for never cease to amaze me.
106

Shana

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:03 pm

@Crankyguy: Your thoughts complimented my post perfectly
107

ellemenop

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:04 pm

@fancyface — the reason i stopped posting a while ago was precisely because, as you pointed out, we’re not going to make much progress here, obviously, and it was getting redundant and annoying. however, i really enjoyed your last couple of posts, as you brought up many things i would have said myself if i wanted to waste any more time typing on the issue. glad to see more like-minded people; for a while it seemed like there were only 2 or 3 of us.

ps, to whoever told someone to just stop talking because they didn’t know what they were talking about, that is the most immature and ridiculous “argument” possible. it just means you don’t know how to argue whatever your point is. i chose to not participate in this argument anymore, but i won’t tell someone to just “stop talking,” no matter how wrong i believe them to be.
108

crockpot

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:12 pm

@Crankguy
Singular- Potato Plural -Potatoes Singular-Tomato Plural-Tomatoes . See that I dropppping words & misspelling but to lazy to proof read. Sorry .

I’m not even going near the illegal discussion.

Fancyface- I am glad that you were able to get assistance for your kids. You are the type of woman that I admire & wish the best. Sugar Bear is also a good working man that provides for his child & his child’s family. So not going to knock him. June is damn lucky.

@Plath …… please, please,please do a full recap so I don’t have to really have to watch the show but can mouth off. Thank You.
109

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:17 pm

@Cali…”I hope there is a new recap soon so the dead horses on this thread can stop taking their beatings.”

Yeah because these issues are so DEAD! Especially with the pesky elections and shit going on. Oh you meant the discussion about June’s neck rust? Oh ok..Agreed!

@Lab…”So you are saying you were duped into marrying an illegal Lenrou?”

You are a nut! lol

@Crankyguy…”I’m not so ignorant to know that calling disability welfare is frowned upon by a good many people, but that is EXACTLY what it is.”

Point taken! Maybe my issue came from seeing what you were saying about welfare & your stereotype of who you THINK looks like welfare & denouncing the need for it & then looping disability in with all of that nonsense.

“Am I supposed to feel stupid now? Sorry, I don’t.”

No. That would require attaining growth through knowledge & maybe looking at things differently and conservatives don’t believe in that so of course you don’t feel stupid.

“LET’S HERE IT FOR ALL THOSE WONDERFUL WELFARE MOMS OUT THERE!!!!”

YES! AND ALL THOSE SCAMMING MUTHERFUCKERS ON WALL STREETS WITH THEIR FREE MCMANSIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO STEAL FROM THE POOR AND DODGE PAYING TAXES BECAUSE THEY CAN HIRE LAWYERS AND THEN FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY BUT KEEP ALL OF THEIR EXPENSIVE SHIT THEY DON’T NEED OR DESERVE WHILE FLYING TO ITALY FOR LUNCH! WOOHOOO! UHMERIKA ROCKS!

“You WILL respect mah authoriTAH!!!!”

NE-VAHHHHHHH!!!

Dammit CrankyGuy! I can’t quit you!
110

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:19 pm

Back at ya Lenoru. Hope things work out for you.

I think most folks here are quite respectful unless you are part of the recap and then it’s on like Donkey Kong.
111

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:19 pm

@crockpot, I didn’t notice you spelling potatos the way Dan and I spell it, but if you did, welcome aboard.
112

caligal

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:22 pm

@Fancy, I could care less about social situations on a TV site.
113

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:27 pm

…but there I go with my stupid liberal logic and shit.

I would be mighty careful if I was you, cuz I got me a MASTER’s degree in logic and stuff. Where? From HARVARD!!! That’s where.

I figure anybody on a pageant show board can claim to have a master’s, so I don’t even want to hear any shit about it.
114

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:30 pm

Ellemenop that was me saying stop talking about it. Thanks for you opinion that I am immature and ridiculous.

Fancy sorry no – SF protects illegals that commit felonies. They have openly stated the are refusing to cooperate with the feds. Please call Mrs. Bologna who lost her husband and two sons to a protected felon and get back to me.
115

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:31 pm

@Cali…ME EITHER! What the hell does a totally relevant to the television show discussion about social situations have to do with TV? Nothing, HoneyBooBoo Chile

Anyhoo…Sac..when I saw that on twitter while watching the comedy that was the last night of the RNC, at first it made me sad for America, but then I remembered that my awesome ass & all the awesome assess here @ the Gasm watches that shit so….lol

But anyone who missed Clint Eastwood 4…well ANYTHING ELSE ON EARTH, have NO idea how wrong that decision was!
116

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:32 pm

The broad strokes people paint on liberals and what they ASSUME we stand for never cease to amaze me.

Actually, it’s pretty easy to tell based on what liberals say and write, whom they elect, the laws that they pass and the endless regulations they enact. It’s not a secret, and your amazement is puzzling.
117

ellemenop

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:33 pm

@labowner — you’re welcome, because telling someone to just shut up is how 3-year-olds argue.
118

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:36 pm

That would require attaining growth through knowledge & maybe looking at things differently and conservatives don’t believe in that . . .

All you really mean is that conservatives should “grow” and look at things differently by becoming liberals. Then they wouldn’t be so damn stupid.
119

crockpot

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:37 pm

I Love Clint Eastwood
120

BedHeadJen

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm

@Cranky- may I suggest “Cheeseballs, Friend or Foe?” as the topic for the next installment of Crankypiece Theater? When you head back to Wal-Mart, study those who are drawn to the cheeseball display and report your findings. If I thought convienence store tales were good, I can only imagine the experiences that await you in Wal-Mart! I think your stories would earn your authoritah much respect.
121

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:39 pm

“THEY KNOW HOW TO STEAL FROM THE POOR ”

How does anybody steal from the poor? Steal what, exactly?
122

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:46 pm

@lab…”Please call Mrs. Bologna who lost her husband and two sons to a protected felon and get back to me.”

Because obviously that single case proves your point about ALL illegal felons being protected? Again, one case does not the norm make. There are ALOT of felons of all colors walking free among us and unfortunately those felons continue to commit heinous crimes, but that doesn’t mean there is NO justice here does it? ALL laws have their flaws & loopholes and there will always be assholes that do whatever it takes to get around them. That’s one of our biggest problems. Coincidently, my views on immigration may not be too far off from yours. My problem was with you saying that it was ‘liberals’ who are somehow to blame for our immigration problems, when there are advocates on BOTH sides working to make it better. Nothing more.

@CrankyGuy…”Actually, it’s pretty easy to tell based on what liberals say and write, whom they elect, the laws that they pass and the endless regulations they enact. It’s not a secret, and your amazement is puzzling.”

So in your mind, every liberal agrees with every elected liberal official, advocate all of their laws & regulations, & agree with everything someone calling themselves liberal says & writes, thereby making the broad strokes you paint them with justified? Now THAT is TRULY puzzling or amazing. I can’t decide which.
123

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:55 pm

@CrankyGuy…again *sigh* “All you really mean is that conservatives should “grow” and look at things differently by becoming liberals. Then they wouldn’t be so damn stupid.”

Absolutely not. You see as a liberal..I believe EVERYONE has a right to feel how they want to feel & no one should tell you how to feel or what to do with those feelings or your body. I want everyone to grow through knowledge regardless of their political views. Not everyone has to be a liberal and not everything conservatives believe them are wrong. So excuse me if I can’t find the comment where I said you need to become a liberal in order to grow. One of the biggest problems I have is when people state their OPINIONS to me & I answer them with FACTS, they turn around and offer more opinions about how wrong I am but no facts to prove it. I don’t love anything more than knowledge, so if I’m wrong or need to know more about things that are important to me, please point it out & I’ll get on it. But telling me what you think I feel or what your label of me tells YOU how I think is moot.

“How does anybody steal from the poor? Steal what, exactly?”

Is that a serious question? Really? THIS IS GETTING BULLSHIT! ( in my willie hantz bb voice)

Being poor does not mean that you have nothing of value or that you were always that way. So as someone who knows plenty of people that are considered poor, I can’t tell you that even the poor can have something others want.
124

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:55 pm

So in your mind, every liberal agrees with every elected liberal official, advocate all of their laws & regulations, & agree with everything someone calling themselves liberal says & writes, thereby making the broad strokes you paint them with justified?

Well, sure I know that liberals can and do disagree among themselves about policy and politics, but usually it just a matter of degree. You identify yourself as a liberal so there must be some common set of beliefs that allow you to make that identification. I know what they are from my previous list as well as being married to a liberal, having liberal parents, having gone to public school where 95% of the teachers were liberal, and listening to the “alphabet” networks which are liberal and reading newspapers with liberal editorial staffs. In spite of all that, I still refuse to grow and even sneak in a Faux News session every now and then. Maybe re-education camp would be a good idea for me.
125

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:57 pm

Oh CrockPot…ME TOO! ME FUCKING TOO! Especially after last night! So. Much. Greatness!
126

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 2:59 pm

I see you know everything Fancy and the rest of us are just dumb conservatives.

I bow to the know it all Queen and her princess Ellem
127

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:01 pm

“Is that a serious question? Really? THIS IS GETTING BULLSHIT!”

Well, not from my end. You were talking about rich people living in mcmansions using money they got from stealing from the poor. You love facts, so an interesting fact would be for you to name one and then explain what he stole from some poor people.
128

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:03 pm

“Maybe re-education camp would be a good idea for me.”

Probably, but I refuse to let you go unless you take Romney/Ryan & Akin with you. Sen. Brown, Rubio & mayyy-be Craig Romney can stay…for now.
129

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:06 pm

@Lab…FINALLY dammit! Phew..that shit was hard to pull out of you
130

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:11 pm

My mom steals from the poor. If I leave change lying around she taxes it for her Coffee Fund.
131

caligal

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Fancy, fuck you. I could give two shits about this family’s finances, social situation, or anything else.
132

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:14 pm

@CrankyGuy….http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/rnc-convention-workers-minimum-wage_n_1844836.html

^^There’s your sign
133

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:15 pm

Time for another anecdote. mrs crankyguy was going to put a $20 into the Salvation Army bucket at Wal-Mart this past Christmas. She told me that the bell ringer told her to give it to him and he would put it in. She argued with him a little bit and finally just gave in and handed to him. I think the poor got stolen from in that instance, but I doubt that the bell ringer was rich.
134

labowner

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:15 pm

Seacrest out of this mess and off to dog park drama and drinking. Maybe I’ll spike some go-go juice.

Enjoy your weekend everyone. Mine started right – the Cubs beat the Giants.
135

lindaw205

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:19 pm

I saw the cheeseball display at Walmart, too, and it gave me a giggle.
136

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:20 pm

@Sac…My kids steal from the poor too! Leave change around here & you know it’s going right into ‘the shit the dollar store sells’ bucket!

@Cali…CLEARLY lol! But to quote a delusional, aging, mega-star “You can’t ask me to do that to myself!”

I’m out! Be blessed peeps!
137

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:22 pm

@lindaw205, you mean it’s a national Wal-Mart cheeseball campaign? Wal-Marts all over the country are trying to stuff cheeseballs down our throats? Conspiracy!!!!
138

lindaw205

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:24 pm

@cranky – Exactly!
139

BedHeadJen

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:26 pm

Sarcasatire
140

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 3:38 pm

@ fancyface, from the article: “She had been making $8 per hour until a few years ago, when the cleaning contract went to another company, Cleanevent USA. The new company meant a new, downsized paycheck. She’s now making minimum wage — $7.67 per hour. ”

Since this piece was about how Republicans exploit the poor by having minimum wage earners picking up after the likes of Ann Coulter, I hope that you noticed the fact that the cleaning contract was in place at that arena before the Republicans booked the joint, so I’m not really sure how this points a finger at Republicans. And the arena is not “stealing” from the poor in any case. It is paying an independent contractor who then pays them for menial, non-skilled labor. Are they “stealing” by not paying the workers more than the going rate?
141

ZipLock

Posted August 31, 2012 at 5:32 pm

I keep the change I find in the washer. I don’t even try to find out whose pocket it washed out of. Finders keepers. And when it’s a dolla, that makes me holla.
142

Robin

Posted August 31, 2012 at 5:47 pm

@crankyguy

http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_florida.nsf/vw-sublinks/34BF46B7BD0E91A2802572C70066E12E?openDocument

The Salvation Army is making money hand over fist with much going to “administration costs.” I lost a bunch of the trust that I had for that org when my nephew, a corrections officer told me that many of the folks that are there, at taxpayers expense, are there because The Salvation Army has a no tolerance policy and if you miss a payment to them, they revoke your probation and you are off to the pokey. He told me that some missed payments for as little as $30.

Now, how does that make sense? The state of Florida is paying for an inmate because The Salvation Army didn’t get their $30?

I prefer to give to the Red Cross, St, Lukes Childrens Hospital and local animal charities.
143

Shana

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:25 pm

I always envisioned stealing from the poor meaning that you pay someone (poor) less money for something than it is actually worth (their labor, items they are trying to sell), because the crook know that the poor person is desperate. Or taking advantage of programs that they don’t need so that there are less funds available for the people who really do need them.

@sarcasatire: I really enjoyed the link, thanks. I have also gained a lot of respect and admiration for you in regards to your earlier posts concerning welfare, your relatives situation, and your take on economic disasters. I have always known you were smart, witty and tough, so it was nice to see a softer side to you too.
PS Your baby is really growing up! When I first came to this site, I remember you saying that she was around six months. What a cute little girl!

Finally: Hail to Queen Fancyface and Princess Ellemenop for stating exactly what I was saying in my head while reading all the comments, but felt too tired or too inarticulate enough to express personally. Right on ladies!
144

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:35 pm

“I always envisioned stealing from the poor meaning that you pay someone (poor) less money for something than it is actually worth . . . or taking advantage of programs that they don’t need so that there are less funds available for the people who really do need them.”

Okay then, the guys on Pawn Stars are getting rich stealing from the poor because they NEVER pay what something is worth and they rarely pay more than half of what it is worth. And I will be stealing from the poor when I start collecting Social Security retirement benefits. Got it.
145

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:47 pm

@Robin, the last time I checked, which was a few years ago, the Salvation Army had one of the lowest ratios of administrative costs to gross income of all charities, much lower than the Red Cross. Has something drastically changed?
146

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:50 pm

Maybe that guy who lifted the twenty (I assume that’s what he did from what my wife told me) counted it as part of his compensation, so 100% of that went to administration.
147

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:53 pm

@Shana: Aww, Thanks!!!! I really appreciate that. The Gasm does bring out many sides of a person..some threads are all about the quips, while others are all about the debates. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, Gasmii!

And yes, my little one is not so little anymore. She’s actually bigger than in the pic! Two and a half years and starting preschool next week. Time just flies, doesn’t it? I’ll update her pic soon…we measure her growth by the size of her afro puffs which are now double the size of my current avatar. That means she’s growing steadily!
148

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 6:55 pm

Oh, and glad to see you around these parts again, Shana!
149

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:07 pm

Or, Robin, looking at it another way, if that bell ringer was one of the needy people served by the Salvation Army, then 100% of the twenty went to services and 0% to administration!!!
150

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:09 pm

#150 Let give a half-hearted shout-out to all the welfare moms since this is just a halfway point #150
151

Robin

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:17 pm

See, this is the part I don’t understand. Why do folks insist that because they pay taxes,they are entitled to 12 fold back?

We make it ok. But I know darn well that the amount of taxes that I pay would hardly cover a few days let alone any catastrophic hardship. Somebody would pay the extra and my math says it isn’t me.

Insurance is a fucking joke too.
152

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:39 pm

@Robin, I hate when people who receive much more in benefits than they have EVER paid in taxes get all sanctimonious about being taxpayers. The only REAL taxpayers are those who pay in more than they get, but I worry now if I am showing my ignorance again.
153

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:48 pm

@CrankyGuy…”Since this piece was about how Republicans exploit the poor by having minimum wage earners picking up after the likes of Ann Coulter, I hope that you noticed the fact that the cleaning contract was in place at that arena before the Republicans booked the joint, so I’m not really sure how this points a finger at Republicans. ”

Err..actually I posted that link in response to my point regarding working class americans that still need help or ‘handouts’ as you call them, to help take care of their families. I understand exactly what that article was about but maybe we took something different from it? My take? The people who are most likely welfare recipients even though they have a full time job, works just as hard if not harder than those they clean up behind. But working a 16hr a day job for pennies still isn’t good enough for the very vultures they picked up after. They don’t make minimum wage? Well they need TWO jobs. They’re work schedule doesn’t really allow that? Eh whatever. There’s 24hrs in a day..they don’t need sleep or to spend time with the family they’re busting their asses for! Just do whatever it takes to not help these bottom feeders with their hands out for handouts!

@Shana…”I always envisioned stealing from the poor meaning that you pay someone (poor) less money for something than it is actually worth (their labor, items they are trying to sell), because the crook know that the poor person is desperate. Or taking advantage of programs that they don’t need so that there are less funds available for the people who really do need them.”

EXACTLY!
154

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:49 pm

I know people whose family members are ill. A sister has MS, a mother, on chemo. It would be super ironic if they were spouting that sick people don’t deserve disability or medical insurance if they can’t afford it because they obviously aren’t including their family members in that equation. Just those nameless, faceless people whose suffering they can’t see. Pfft.
155

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:51 pm

Why is it that every minimum wage earner is “hard working”? I imagine that some are, but there are plenty who are not and are really being OVERPAID at minimum wage.
156

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:54 pm

There is not enough money in the world to take care of every single nameless, faceless person who “deserves” the same level of healthcare that rich people can afford.
157

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:57 pm

Maybe I’m mistaken, because I am just a dumb liberal with my hand out who expects the Gov to take care of me, but if I learned correctly….EVERY penny I make is taxed, EVERY thing I buy is also taxed. So in my estimate….the amount of taxes I will pay throughout my lifetime are astronomical, BUT the pittance that the Gov gives to me should I fall on hard times is 12 fold what I pay them? The highest level of math learnin I’ve had is College Trig so my understanding of these figures may be limited or maybe when you say ‘taxes I pay’ you just mean what comes out of my paycheck & not those pesky ones I pay for property, food, & goods and things like that?
158

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 7:57 pm

I remember hearing Sarah Jessica Parker spouting off that Republicans want to take away benefits from her poor family members. Now, I thought that was ironic, but that’s just me.
159

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:02 pm

“I remember hearing Sarah Jessica Parker spouting off that Republicans want to take away benefits from her poor family members. Now, I thought that was ironic, but that’s just me.”

How is that ironic? Because SHE’S successful then that means she doesn’t have relatives that may be suffering financially? If that’s the case, I have successful relatives that own lucrative business, are doing well in the entertainment business, a few that plays professional sports, and a couple robbing people on Wall St that needs to explain to me why the hell I’ve ever struggled in life because CLEARLY based on their income, that shit could have been avoided!
160

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:06 pm

@fancyface, I don’t have all the facts that you have at the tips of your fingers, but it stands to reason that whatever portion of the nearly 50% of the population who pay no net federal income tax and receive benefits are getting more out than they have paid in. That’s either a good thing or a bad thing depending upon your point of view. Your property tax pays in most places to keep the city and county in which you live running and for public education, so it really should have little to do with federal social benefits.
161

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:08 pm

It’s ironic that she is complaining about it when she is in a position to do something. Are your rich relatives complaining that the government is not taking good enough care of you?
162

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:12 pm

What is college level trig, by the way?
163

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:19 pm

“Why is it that every minimum wage earner is “hard working”? I imagine that some are, but there are plenty who are not and are really being OVERPAID at minimum wage.”

Sadly, that’s not the case. It is a known fact that minimum wage workers do in fact work harder than the people they work for. A little research on the topic may surprise you and also open your eyes to what’s REALLY going on in the workforce & not just what conservatives WANTS you to believe is going on. And if you EVER find a job that you deem as not deserving of minimum wage and those who hold them are being ‘overpaid’, please let me know.

I actually can’t believe you said that shit with a straight face. Tell the truth…you didn’t did you? I’m beginning to think you’re just spouting off hot button issues to keep the convo going because NO ONE can be that damn dumb. ESPECIALLY not you!

Also? “There is not enough money in the world to take care of every single nameless, faceless person who “deserves” the same level of healthcare that rich people can afford.”

Actually there is. Anyone with any real knowledge of healthcare knows that there are several countries & even some states in the US that has successful, universal healthcare programs. So obviously, it’s not this pipe dream you seem to think it is. And if healthcare was more streamlined, there wouldn’t even be a difference between what ‘the rich people can afford’ and what us average human beings can because the inflated medical cost of these private doctors and hospitals and pharmaceutical companies wouldn’t be an issue. They can’t gouge prices if it’s not allowed, so there’s that.

And I don’t know why you would put the word deserve in quotation marks as if to ridicule the concept, because imo, everyone ‘deserves’ good healthcare. But that’s probably just the socialist in me talking, right?

Having said that, I have definitely deduced, whether correctly or not, that you are, like I said early, spouting off bullshit hot button idiocy to keep this convo going & I’m not playing that game. I can have an educated debate with the best of them but not if it’s not a serious one. On the other hand, if you are serious in the shit you’re saying, then an educated debate would still be moot because…..you get where I’m going.
164

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:21 pm

Come on, I just read a little in and you give me this gem: it is a known fact that minimum wage workers do in fact work harder than the people they work for.

Bull fucking shit!
165

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:26 pm

Your facts seem to be ones you just make up or get from liberal think tanks who just make them up. I have not seen one verifiable fact from you to refute any opinion I have offered. I can’t believe that you think your opinions are somehow indicative of some higher intelligence, but that is common among liberals so I should believe it.
166

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:30 pm

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free. – P.J. O’Rourke
167

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:35 pm

And if you EVER find a job that you deem as not deserving of minimum wage and those who hold them are being ‘overpaid’, please let me know.

I shouldn’t have to do much more than point to however many minimum wage workers were fired today for chronically showing up late, stealing, insubordination, doing a lousy job, etc., etc.
168

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:38 pm

. . . spouting off bullshit hot button idiocy to keep this convo going & I’m not playing that game.

Don’t you think this thread “deserves” to get 200 comments?
169

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:39 pm

“Your property tax pays in most places to keep the city and county in which you live running and for public education, so it really should have little to do with federal social benefits.’

Now this really is getting bullshit. Do you seriously want me to believe that you don’t know that most of the programs we are talking about are state ran & funded? The federal gov DEFINITELY gives states money to help fund those programs but there is a high portion that is also paid by the state. Also, when you purchase goods & property, you not only pay state taxes but you also pay federal taxes. I refuse to believe that you don’t know that shit.

“It’s ironic that she is complaining about it when she is in a position to do something.”

What puts her in the position to do something more than what you or I can? She can do something using her fame to help bring awareness to the issues, which she has. She can do something by donating to the cause, which she has. What else does she have the power to do? Are you saying that she’s in a position to take care of all of her family that may be in need? Because if you haven’t heard, SJP isn’t still raking in SITC money & even if she was, do you think she would be able to take care of everyone?

“Are your rich relatives complaining that the government is not taking good enough care of you?”

1st of all, since I don’t need the government to take care of me that wouldn’t be necessary. I work & pay taxes that help pay for the healthcare that the government provides for my son & probably some of your family members as well, so there’s that. BUT they ARE complaining about the lack of REAL help there is out there for those that are actually in need. So…yeah

“What is college level trig, by the way?”

At my lil, ole nationally ranked college, my math courses were called College Algebra, College Trigonometry, & so fourth and so on. Was that not clear?
170

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:45 pm

I didn’t know that any college awarded credit for trig. What magic do they do to turn high school trig into college trig?
171

fancyface

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:46 pm

“Your facts seem to be ones you just make up or get from liberal think tanks who just make them up. I have not seen one verifiable fact from you to refute any opinion I have offered. I can’t believe that you think your opinions are somehow indicative of some higher intelligence, but that is common among liberals so I should believe it.”

*sigh* So all this time you really haven’t been able to comprehend English? EVERY point I made was in fact, based on facts. When one gives you a percentage, or quote reliable sources, or advise you to actually look up the information you are claiming to be so knowledgeable of..that is indeed ‘indicative of some higher intelligence’ and also ‘VERIFIABLE FACTS’..you know, the ones you can VERIFY by looking them up. But I digress.

“. . . spouting off bullshit hot button idiocy to keep this convo going & I’m not playing that game.” ‘Don’t you think this thread “deserves” to get 200 comments?’

I KNEW IT! Goodnight you evil little man you! I’m done. It’s been a blast And even though I think your way of thinking and justifying shit is asinine….I STILL.CAN’T.QUIT.YOU!
172

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:48 pm

Since you like facts so much, go look up what percentage of property taxes go to welfare. If you live in NYC, then it’s probably higher than in most places, but overall, it’s not much.
173

crankyguy

Posted August 31, 2012 at 8:54 pm

EVERY point I made was in fact, based on facts.

So, your opinions are correct because that are based on facts and my opinions are wrong because they are based on bullshit Republican talking points? I see.
174

lindaw205

Posted August 31, 2012 at 9:03 pm

Who knew Honey Boo Boo could spawn such a heated political debate?

I’d rather someone get to the bottom of the chessypoof Walmart conspiracy! I demand answers!
175

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 9:14 pm

Yes, Linda. Can we let it go, already? You guys won’t change Cranky’s mind and his mind won’t change the law. At the end of the day, he’ll still pay taxes and the people in line at the grocery will still buy high priced groceries with their EBT cards. And you know what? Cranky may not grin, but he *will* bear it.

That is the only FACT that matters.
176

BedHeadJen

Posted August 31, 2012 at 10:08 pm

Thank you Sarc! Now hopefully Cranky will get on his big wheel and pedal his ass down to the Wal-Mart and use his authoritah to crack this cheesepiracy.
177

sarcasatire

Posted August 31, 2012 at 10:26 pm

Cranky can’t get to Wal-Mart until he fixes things at his local waterpark.
178

BedHeadJen

Posted September 1, 2012 at 6:40 am

@Sarc-LOL! “The lazy river has never been lazier”! I think I just peed my pants.
179

Classy Drunk

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:19 am

INSURANCE!
180

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:31 am

@BedHeadJen: Cartman is hilarious!! That song never gets old..
181

Brneyedgrrl

Posted September 1, 2012 at 3:33 pm

It was definitely a promotional event for HBB.
Link: http://www.wtoc.com/story/17124922/six-year-old-beauty-queen-performs-in-statesboro-bar?clienttype=printable
(Sorry I can’t get it to be an actual link) But June commented that there was adequate security and that the bar is owned by a family friend who wanted to support HBB and offered the venue for her appearance. Evidently they’re making appearances all the time. Another one was at a middle school. June, bless her heart, is trying to get as much dough as she can while this lasts. Leave her alone, the kids seem ok, they’re dressed in clean clothes, their house is clean, June keeps an eye on them for the most part.
182

honey boo boo lover

Posted September 1, 2012 at 6:00 pm

LOVE SOME HONEY BOO BOO CHILD!! 3.2 million viewers!! Now thats awesome.. more than RCN and any news shows.. I bet I know who is mad right now…LMAO.. and the girl has got it going on.. deal with that Sparklebabyee!!! the girl has an education too… HA HA hA.. like it or not..
183

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 6:48 pm

http://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/listings_of_taxable_and_exempt_food.htm

“I’ve had is College Trig so my understanding of these figures may be limited or maybe when you say ‘taxes I pay’ you just mean what comes out of my paycheck & not those pesky ones I pay for property, food,”

If you are paying tax on fresh food, you are getting ripped off.

Robin
184

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 6:59 pm

@Robin, I went to your link and found out something I did not know. Food stamp “clients” don’t even have to squander any of their benefits to pay pesky sales tax:

Food stamps can be used to purchase any food, food product, or nonalcoholic beverage intended for human consumption (eligible items). If a food or beverage item is ordinarily subject to sales tax, the purchase will be nontaxable if the item is purchased with food stamps

I want some food stamps.
185

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:02 pm

“Also, when you purchase goods & property, you not only pay state taxes but you also pay federal taxes.”

Not true. Not always. Look it up.

Robin
186

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:05 pm

“he’ll still pay taxes and the people in line at the grocery will still buy high priced groceries with their EBT cards. And you know what? Cranky may not grin, but he *will* bear it.”

That is a FACT! A cold, hard fact for me, but a warm and fuzzy fact for you. It sucks to be me. But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I think I might suck it up and try to find a way to get on government benefits myself. I don’t wanna be left out.
187

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:12 pm

“If you are paying tax on fresh food, you are getting ripped off.”

Robin, Sweetie…If you’re assuming I get food stamps…you’re ignorant. And if you don’t know the taxes you pay on food, goods, property, etc also constitutes paying taxes…you’re an idiot. Also? If the only thing you can take from what I said is a desperate attempt to bring notice to food stamps then CLEARLY this conversation is more useless than I thought. Address the part where I informed you that the taxes we pay aren’t just the ones that come out of our paychecks, therefore rendering your “people think that because you pay taxes they deserve to get back 12 fold” nonsense as just that…nonsense. As I said before, the amount I will pay in taxes..ALL TAXES..during my lifetime is worlds above anything I’d ‘get back’ from the gov should I need to do so.

@CrankGuy…If you didn’t know that food stamps weren’t taxed then that goes even further to prove that you are indeed spouting off nonsense instead of actual knowledge. How can you be so against something you clearly don’t understand?
188

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:15 pm

@Sac……OMG! I can’t. stop. laughing! How apropos is that song to this ridiculous conversation?!
189

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:17 pm

@fancyface, I knew it was bad. I just didn’t know how bad. But the more there is to understand, the more there is to be against. Understand?

Are you gonna help us get to #200, even if it means wading through what you think is bullshit?
190

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:17 pm

“Also, when you purchase goods & property, you not only pay state taxes but you also pay federal taxes.”

“Not true. Not always. Look it up.”

Very true. When is it not? I have!
BUT I am DYING to read the source you got your information from. Links please & thank you
191

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm

“@fancyface, I knew it was bad. I just didn’t know how bad. But the more there is to understand, the more there is to be against. Understand?”

No. I don’t understand. Because if you KNEW what you were against, maybe you’d have a leg to stand on, but since you don’t…well that’s just sad. Talking points makes people dumber.
192

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:22 pm

@fancyface, are you talking about hidden taxes? You must be, because the only federal tax that I pay besides payroll, capital gains, and income is on fuel. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
193

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:26 pm

@fancyface, what have you been spouting besides Democrat talking points? What? Hypocrite! And there is nothing more typical of Democrat spinners than to say the other side should be ignored because they are stupid.
194

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:30 pm

Robin, Sweetie…If you’re assuming I get food stamps…you’re ignorant.

Uh, the link was to a long list of food items in NY that are exempt from tax. Those items that are normally taxed are exempt when purchased with food stamps.
195

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:36 pm

* oh, I forgot about a fairly new one, storm water runoff. But unless somebody is lying, none of that goes to any sort of welfare program.
196

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:39 pm

How apropos is that song to this ridiculous conversation?

Not at all unless you are calling me a racist.
197

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 7:47 pm

@fancyface,

I cc+p this from your post..
“Also, when you purchase goods & property, you not only pay state taxes but you also pay federal taxes.”

and responded with “Not true. Not always. Look it up.”

Robin”

Applogies. I made a mistake cc+p. THIS was the sentance that I was writing in regards to.

“Maybe I’m mistaken, because I am just a dumb liberal with my hand out who expects the Gov to take care of me, but if I learned correctly….EVERY penny I make is taxed, EVERY thing I buy is also taxed. ”

Not true. Not always. Look it up.(same answer)

Robin

BUT I am DYING to read the source you got your information from. Links please & thank you.

Has been provided.
198

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:09 pm

Because if you KNEW what you were against, maybe you’d have a leg to stand on, but since you don’t…well that’s just sad.

But, I do know what I’m against. The government demanding way too much in taxes, in large part to pay for social benefits and interest on money that it borrows to pay those benefits. I am also against people getting food stamps not having severe restrictions on the things that they can purchase. Is that simple enough for you? What “facts” can you produce to say that viewpoint is absolutely incorrect?
199

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:10 pm

Cranky, get with the program!

Don’t worry, there’s a bunch of people racking up their taxes for you to receive social security benefits when you’re ready. It’s the least we can do, you having been so generous and all.
200

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:11 pm

EBT FOR EVERYBODY!!
201

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:15 pm

@sarcasatire, lord knows that any social security taxes that have been collected from all sources has already been spent, so when and if I ever do start collecting benefits, it will be paid for by people who have jobs at that time, not the people who have jobs now or in the past. If you don’t think that’s a problem, then just wait a few years and you might change your mind.

OH, HAPPY #200!
202

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:17 pm

@sarcasatire, you come in here at the last minute and STEAL MY #200? Is that my karma for stealing a parking space this afternoon?
203

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:33 pm

The point is, when you and Mrs. Cranky require the assistance of government programs, you will rely on the taxes of others; the same thing you are begrudging others for doing.

Having lived and traveled abroad extensively and having many international friends, I can tell you that governmental care of the poor in civilized societies is a given. So is socialized medicine. Only, in America, in 2012, do you hear people lamenting the fact that poor people are being cared for and the hungry are being fed. *sigh*
204

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:37 pm

@Cranky, I didn’t respect your AuthoriTAY!
205

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:38 pm

“@fancyface, are you talking about hidden taxes? You must be, because the only federal tax that I pay besides payroll, capital gains, and income is on fuel. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol.”

Really? Seriously? You don’t know that the taxes you pay on EVERYTHING has a percentage that goes to federal taxes? Honestly?

“@fancyface, what have you been spouting besides Democrat talking points? What? Hypocrite! And there is nothing more typical of Democrat spinners than to say the other side should be ignored because they are stupid.”

The other side should be ignored because they are stupid, so there’s that. Also? Everything I’m discussing is based off of my own personal knowledge, research, & experiences. I don’t rely on POTUS, other politicians, and ESPECIALLY not bias pundits for my facts. I don’t listen to shit like Faux News & think..well it must be true. I damn sure don’t listen to people that are trying to win my vote as a truth authorian (pretty sure I just made that word up). If I hear…”Obama/Democrats did a, b, or c” I do research & actually read bills IN FULL to gain my knowledge. If I hear…”Romney/Republicans said x, y, z” I dig until I find documentation of said statement. Talking points will never help me make a decision because I know how full of shit people are & people are going to naturally spin a story to fit their agendas. If only we all did the same! How many times have you read an article or watched a news program & they’re reporting about horrible blights or gaffes, and then turn around & saw it for yourself and saw that it was taken out of context or spun to mean something completely different? Case in point? The RNC’s theme…”We Built This”. That theme was taken from a speech POB gave. Now, in the speech, he said “You didn’t build that” saying that you had help along the way, be it your parents, a teacher that pushed you, the tools you used to succeed were provided by someone else…etc. The next day a badly edited vid of the speech was put out & the president was accused of being against free enterprise when anyone who actually watched the FULL speech knows that wasn’t the case. And now it became the asinine ‘theme’ of the RNC. So if I would have went by that video alone, I would have been mislead. Which is an example as to WHY I don’t do talking points and political spin.

“Not at all unless you are calling me a racist.”

Oh did I not make that clear? I’m kidding. I definitely don’t think you’re a racist, classist yes, racist no.

@Robin…“Maybe I’m mistaken, because I am just a dumb liberal with my hand out who expects the Gov to take care of me, but if I learned correctly….EVERY penny I make is taxed, EVERY thing I buy is also taxed. ”
“Not true. Not always. Look it up.(same answer)”

And I have the same answer as well…Very true. When is it not? I have.

“BUT I am DYING to read the source you got your information from. Links please & thank you”…”Has been provided.”

Where? Did I miss that? BTW….I live in Alabama if that will help you look up what items that I don’t pay taxes on. I haven’t bought food that wasn’t taxed since I moved from Nebraska and I’m still resentful about that shit. So I am really DY-ING to see that shit because I have a Congressman I need to call.
206

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:39 pm

You are essentially saying that the United States is “uncivilized” because we don’t spend more than we already do. That we are inferior to other countries. I reject that kind of thinking out of hand.

When I go on the dole, I will send you a thank-you card.
207

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:41 pm

“@Cranky, I didn’t respect your AuthoriTAY!”

That’s a big problem for me. NOBODY DOES!!!!!
208

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:43 pm

I have a Congressman I need to call.

And what authority would your congressman have over state and local sales tax on food, genius?
209

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:45 pm

Classist? Oh, hell no! I’m low class, and I don’t deny it. I don’t like corporate welfare either.
210

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:48 pm

“If you are paying tax on fresh food, you are getting ripped off.”

“Robin, Sweetie…”

There was a time when I may have allowed you to call me that without being offended. This isn’t the time. Especially after you just called me an idiot. There used to be a time when calling folks names here was frowned upon, too.

“If you’re assuming I get food stamps…you’re ignorant. And if you don’t know the taxes you pay on food, goods, property, etc also constitutes paying taxes…you’re an idiot.”

I never once said or implied that you needed help with food stamps (not that there is anything wrong with that, right?) nor have I said in any way, shape or form that you were ignorant. Let’s let’s just shelve that now.

Fresh food isn’t taxed, no matter who is buying it, and in some states there is no state income tax, so not everyone is paying state taxes from every penny they earn

Since we are sharing, I will own my home in April, free and clear. I am proud as hell of that accomplishment cuz it hasn’t been easy sometimes and I still have every tax bill for it. It seemed like each time I put in a new light bulb my taxes went up. So I am certainly not ignorant about how to pay property taxes. Mine were not included in the mortgage and I had to save to cough it up at taxtime every year. When you are hit with a tax bill every year for 25 yrs, you do not forget about property taxes.
211

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:48 pm

“Lord knows that any social security taxes that have been collected from all sources has already been spent, so when and if I ever do start collecting benefits, it will be paid for by people who have jobs at that time, not the people who have jobs now or in the past. If you don’t think that’s a problem, then just wait a few years and you might change your mind.”

Ummm….yeah. That’s definitely how social security works. Sort of. The money you will collect, will be your money, regardless of where they get that money from. As long as the money you pay is used to help you in the end, then you are indeed paying for your benefits. They may use money from future workers to cover your benefits, but they will use the following workers to cover theirs, just like they’re using yours to cover the people receiving benefits now. If you go and put $100 in the bank today, the $100 you withdraw tomorrow, won’t be the one you gave them yesterday but it will still be yours. Hopefully that’s a good example.
212

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm

“You don’t know that the taxes you pay on EVERYTHING has a percentage that goes to federal taxes? Honestly?

No. Not everything goes into the general fund.
213

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:53 pm

“Hopefully that’s a good example.”

It’s not. A better example is Bernie Madoff. It’s a Ponzi scheme, and it’s just a matter of time before it collapses.
214

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 8:57 pm

“The other side [Republicans] should be ignored because they are stupid, so there’s that. “

A talking point. You do see that, don’t you?
215

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:02 pm

Which is an example as to WHY I don’t do talking points and political spin.

You really think you don’t do talking points and political spin? You are pulling crankyguy’s leg.
216

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:05 pm

I’m not calling America unciviized. America, like every other civilized nation, cares for it’s underprivileged citizens. In 2012, that is a given, so it shocks me to hear Americans complaining about it. Especially considering the alternative..

Having also traveled through developing countries where there are few governement programs in place, children are abandoned and live on the streets if their family cannot care for them, sexual exploitation of minors and sexually transmitted diseases run rampant, and the elderly and infirm are left to suffer indefinitely. If that’s the upside of paying less taxes, then no thank you.
217

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:14 pm

@sarcasatire, we essentially disagree on the degree of government assistance. I don’t think anybody should be allowed to become comfortable on the dole. If somebody is on assistance, they should have some discomfort as an incentive to get off, if they are able-bodied. They certainly should not have any unnecessary luxuries like cell phones and cable television. They should not live any better than our military in boot camp. That is, I have been told, cruel and inhumane, but I reject that notion as well.
218

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:14 pm

“And what authority would your congressman have over state and local sales tax on food, genius?”

Yeah this is where I’m bowing out again, because CLEARLY you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about and trying to inform you of anything is obviously moot. If you actually believe that your STATE Congressman isn’t the person you need to speak with when you have concerns over STATE issues..there is no helping you.

OH ROBIN!….”There was a time when I may have allowed you to call me that without being offended. This isn’t the time. Especially after you just called me an idiot. There used to be a time when calling folks names here was frowned upon, too.”

1st of all, me being a liberal and all, I don’t allow people to tell me what I can or can not say or do with my body etc, so there’s that. 2ndly, I didn’t call you an idiot. I think I said “IF you don’t know the taxes you pay on food, goods, property, etc also constitutes paying taxes…you’re an idiot.” And IF you don’t know that but still chose to speak on it as if you did…you are indeed an idiot.

“I never once said or implied that you needed help with food stamps (not that there is anything wrong with that, right?) nor have I said in any way, shape or form that you were ignorant. Let’s let’s just shelve that now.”

Agreed. I will admit that before I actually clicked on your link, I saw Cranky’s quote from that link about food stamps and with the knowledge that food stamps are in fact not taxed, I assumed (therefore probably making an ass out of myself) that’s what the article was about. Having now read it, I do acknowledge that wasn’t the case. And for that, I apologize.

“Fresh food isn’t taxed, no matter who is buying it, and in some states there is no state income tax, so not everyone is paying state taxes from every penny they earn”

Fresh food in Alabama is indeed taxed. EVERYTHING in AL is taxed and sometimes double taxed.

“and in some states there is no state income tax, so not everyone is paying state taxes from every penny they earn”

I don’t know what you read, but I said “EVERY penny I make is taxed, EVERY thing I buy is also taxed” I never specified if it was state taxes or not, so I don’t see how that statement isn’t relative. And I was also referring to MYSELF not other people in ‘some states’. So when I said that it was in fact true, it was.

“Since we are sharing, I will own my home in April, free and clear. I am proud as hell of that accomplishment cuz it hasn’t been easy sometimes and I still have every tax bill for it. It seemed like each time I put in a new light bulb my taxes went up. So I am certainly not ignorant about how to pay property taxes. Mine were not included in the mortgage and I had to save to cough it up at taxtime every year. When you are hit with a tax bill every year for 25 yrs, you do not forget about property taxes.”

1st of all…CON-GRAD-U-DAMN-LATIONS girl!! That is one accomplishment that you should be VERY proud of, because getting to an end of a mortgage is hard as hell and most people can’t do it. I will be throwing a damn block part in 13 months when we are FINALLY outright owners of ours!

Now, this is where I get confused. I made a point about how much we pay in taxes because you said “Why do folks insist that because they pay taxes,they are entitled to 12 fold back?” And went on to say what you pay in taxes isn’t enough to cover you if you ever needed assistance and I disagree. I made a point of asking if you were JUST talking about the taxes that come out of your paycheck and not the ones you pay for goods on a day to day basis. Because we will indeed pay an astronomical amount of taxes throughout our lifetime and the pittance that the gov would assist us with should we need it, doesn’t even compare. So how did we get here?
219

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:19 pm

if you actually believe that your STATE Congressman isn’t the person you need to speak with when you have concerns over STATE issues..there is no helping you.

Pathetic attempt to save face. You didn’t qualify congressman with “state” and the term congressman is usually taken to mean your U.S. representative. Most people would refer to a state congressman as a state legislator, and THAT’S a fact.
220

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:20 pm

“No. Not everything goes into the general fund.”

What? You definitely aren’t making sense anymore.

“It’s not. A better example is Bernie Madoff. It’s a Ponzi scheme, and it’s just a matter of time before it collapses.”

Ah, the old George Bush defense. A ponzi scheme is actually something that you pay money into & never see that money again. Social security, with all of it’s faults, isn’t a scheme & it actually PAYS PEOPLE THEIR MONEY BACK

“A talking point. You do see that, don’t you?”

Actually that is not a talking point or a fact. It’s my opinion. You’re familiar with those, right? Any more examples?
221

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:26 pm

“Pathetic attempt to save face. You didn’t qualify congressman with “state” and the term congressman is usually taken to mean your U.S. representative.”

Yeah…this isn’t even fun anymore. If I’m talking about not being unaware of things in my STATE being tax free & I say I need to call my congressman, I am obviously talking about my STATE congressman. Didn’t know I had to make the distinction but I guess I forgot who I was conversing with.

“Most people would refer to a state congressman as a state legislator, and THAT’S a fact.”

Most people in the north say you guys & you all…most people in the south say y’all, and THAT’S a fact. What’s your point?
222

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:27 pm

So how did we get here?

By having you trying to imply that people on welfare is not even something to worry about because everybody pays so much in taxes, no matter who they are. It’s like you think people on the dole have EARNED it by paying federal tax on their alcohol and tobacco with the money that we give them in the first place.
223

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:28 pm

Coincidentally, a friend posted this on facebook today. Great discussion and valid points, but only if you approach with an open mind..

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/melissa-harris-perry/48870824#48870824
224

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:28 pm

My point is that your are just waving your arms at this point or as they say down South, pissin’ in the wind.
225

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:30 pm

A ponzi scheme is actually something that you pay money into & never see that money again.

Another one of your facts that is totally untrue. Ponzi schemes work (for a while) because the people who get in early not only make their money back, but get much better than average returns.
226

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:34 pm

Actually that is not a talking point or a fact. It’s my opinion.

Wrong again. It’s a talking point because it’s trotted out by almost every Democrat pol and pundit. Gore brilliant. Bush stupid. Obama brilliant. Romney stupid. Republican base stupid. Democrat base made up of intelligent, informed voters who “get it.”
227

fancyface

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:40 pm

@Sarcasatire…..<3 <3<3 LOVE that video & it articulates everything I feel when I hear the debate on welfare. Which is why I said the waterpark vid is so apropos because imo, there is always an undertone of racism when people are talking about people on welfare even when faced with the fact of who really receive the most help
228

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:44 pm

there is always an undertone of racism when people are talking about people on welfare even when faced with the fact of who really receive the most help

So, you take it back about not thinking I’m a racist? This whole thing started by people getting upset with me for pointing out, that in my opinion, the HBB clan looked like typical welfare-takin’ white trash just like people that I am personally familiar with.
229

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:47 pm

it articulates everything I feel … ”

As such a fact-based, objective observer, you really should try to suppress the bias of your personal feelings.
230

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:54 pm

Cranky, that video wasn’t implying that you were racist. It was pointing out Cartman’s politically incorrect leanings are things that resemble republican policy. “Immigrants taking over” and such. Which usually follows a welfare reform discussion.

Whether or not you associate “welfare” with people of color, the term “welfare queen” put a face on welfare that happened to be brown. And whether it’s Black people or “white trash” the fact still remains that they are looked at with disdain and considered undeserving.
231

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 9:58 pm

The video brings up other valid points, as well. Recommended.
232

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:00 pm

@sarcasatire, the rural county in which I reside for part of the year is 99% white and the one grocery store in the county does over half its business with EBT food stamps. It’s a gold mine for the owner (the richest guy in the county and local Democrat boss) because he can mark up everything above what he could get away with if people were using their own money. So, in a very real sense, he is the biggest welfare recipient of all.
233

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:00 pm

It’s not about how we take care of our underpriveledged that bothers me. It is how much money goes into the “Iunderdont want to work that does.

If FDRs plan was in place today, and those funds were kept seperate in an interest bearing account SOLELY, like it was intended it would work. The interest would pay for the folks that had misfortune and needed SS disability. But, of course the Gov has taken hostage of our $.

BTW, that every dollar you pay you get back? Seriously? They have something called credits now. THEY decide how much you earned during your lifetime via credits!

My Dad has worked every day since he was 16. SS worked for him like it should. I must tip my hat in his case. He was 6 mos from retirement, became ill and couldn’t work. He was approved within 1 month and they paid him disability very quickly. Although I have to say, those folks talked more about “credits”..

I think our money has turned into credits and the monetary value of the credits is written on a piece of paper in some secret vault and it chages depending on the economy.
234

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Well, of course Republican policy is politically incorrect — by definition.
235

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:10 pm

So wait, Robin..your dad is on a government program? He is collecting social security for the rest of his life. By your (and Cranky’s) argument, he will be receiving much more than he paid out. Oh, but he deserves it because he paid taxes, right? I guess when you said, “people think that because you pay taxes they deserve to get back 12 fold”, you were including your dad, as well?
236

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:21 pm

@sarcasatire, I think SS is unsustainable. The original promise was that each person’s payroll tax would go into a fund which would earn interest and future benefits would be paid for in much the same manner as a person purchasing a private annuity. So in that respect, each person would deserve a benefit, but that fund was robbed long ago by elected crooks who pissed on their fiduciary duty and whose actions would have sent private fund managers to prison.
237

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:46 pm

“So wait, Robin..your dad is on a government program? ”

Oh Please, As I said, he was 6 mos from retirement and his retirement benefits didn’t kick in til then. He became sick and fortunately Social Security was not the horror story that I have heard about. The lady that both my Ma and I spoke with said folks like my Dad are rushed through because they spend so much paperwork on folks that don’t have enough “credits”.

My father deserved to take advantage of every penny/credit that he got for those 6 mos.
238

sarcasatire

Posted September 1, 2012 at 10:52 pm

Cranky, you did, in fact, call SS and disability benefits “welfare.” And you stated that a person on these programs get more out of it than they put in. Robin agreed with this sentiment of people (absurdly) feeling they are ‘entitled’ to benefits (welfare) for the rest of their lives just because they paid taxes. So, I was a bit confused as to why it’s okay for some taxpayers to receive benefits and not others..
239

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 11:20 pm

@sarcasatire, you will have to refer me to the place I called Social Security welfare. I don’t remember doing that, with respect to retirement benefits anyway, but it’s certainly possible, because that is pretty much what it has turned into over the years given the way it’s been mismanaged. I do remember calling the Earned Income Credit welfare and getting “yelled at” for it, and disability too. Nobody pays a designated tax for the purpose of receiving food stamps the way the government promises everybody future benefits in return for paying into a (fictional) Social Security fund. In principle, I am opposed to the notion that the government can compel me to partially fund my own and other’s retirement (and now medical care), especially when government officials steal out of that fund to pay for pretty much anything they please.
240

forener

Posted September 1, 2012 at 11:20 pm

I have one word: Europe!
241

Robin

Posted September 1, 2012 at 11:48 pm

“Robin agreed with this sentiment of people (absurdly) feeling they are ‘entitled’ to benefits (welfare) for the rest of their lives just because they paid taxes.”

No. I agreed with the sentiment that if you have paid taxes for 50 yrs and the Gov has been taking $ from your check for 50 yrs, then yes damnit, you deserve some help. My Dad needed help because his retirement was so close.
242

crankyguy

Posted September 1, 2012 at 11:57 pm

@sarcasatire, where did I call Social Security welfare? I’ve made a decent effort to find it and I have failed. I need your assistance.
243

sarcasatire

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:02 am

@Robinez, oh then so we agree!

You now say that people ‘deserve’ benefits if they’ve paid taxes over the course of their careers.

However, your statement @151 said: “Why do folks insist that because they pay taxes, they are entitled to 12 fold back? I know darn well that the amount of taxes that I pay would hardly cover a few days let alone any catastrophic hardship. Somebody would pay the extra and my math says it isn’t me.”
244

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:18 am

Social Security retirement benefits are in a class by themselves. The government takes a special specific tax out of every paycheck with the promise that future monthly benefits, based on the principle that the future value of money is worth more than the present value of money, will be payed in proportion to the number of years worked and the amount of deductions taken out. So yes, in this particular case ONLY, it could be said that people should get what they were specifically promised. The problem is that the benefits are now much greater than warranted by the amount taken out, and to the extent that is true, then yes, I would have to call that excess welfare. On other types of welfare, people get benefits paid for by income taxes for which they have contributed nothing. They are strictly takers.
245

sarcasatire

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:21 am

“On other types of welfare, people get benefits paid for by income taxes for which they have contributed nothing. They are strictly takers.”

Disability recipients, included?
246

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:25 am

“Disability recipients, included?”

It’s definitely welfare whether you like the terminology or not, but I do support taking care of people who TRULY cannot take care of themselves. So I do support some forms of welfare. I do not support buying people who won’t work cheesy poofs.
247

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:30 am

I suspect (can’t prove it, so don’t ask) that June has claimed disability for her toe seeing as how she makes such a big deal out of it. That kind of disability I don’t believe in paying for. She could also probably claim disability for being a lard ass.
248

Robin

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:36 am

Perhaps I should be more clear.

My Dad was 6 mos from retirement from his company when he became ill. The HR gal said that the SS AD would pick up any slack that the company didn’t. She also said especially since it was short term and he would have a pick up from his retirement and Moms insurance it would be smooth. She was right.

It’s the folks that are 27 and have a back problem everytime they get pregnant who are suspect.
249

lesley

Posted September 2, 2012 at 6:44 am

Getting back to June and welfare, is the family receiving any government assistance today because that money should not be used to pay for Alana’s pageant activities.
250

Tadow

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:04 am

I was reading this thread as it developed, and stopped. As a DSS Caseworker, an MSW, a minority, and a previous benefits recipient, I felt it was in my best interest to avoid being reminded of how much ignorance still exists around social welfare programs. I got bored last night and decided to see where it went…very lively debate and I hope it’s over!

The percentage of the federal budget spent on social welfare programs is laughable. As a tax paying individual who no longer receives any of the benefits provided by the relatively generous DSS in our county, and also as a veteran, you might try going after a bigger chunk of change; defense spending. And since it seems to matter, I also have 3 degrees…and can provide a link. I’m waiting for my EBT card Sarc.
251

fancyface

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:10 am

@Cranky….”By having you trying to imply that people on welfare is not even something to worry about (When did I say people on welfare is ‘not even something’ to worry about?) because everybody pays so much in taxes, no matter who they are.(Again…when did I say that?) It’s like you think people on the dole have EARNED it by paying federal tax on their alcohol and tobacco with the money that we give them in the first place.” (It’s like you think people on ‘the dole’ are lazy people that’s never had a job. I CLEARLY said that over 60% of welfare recipients are in fact, working class americans that pay taxes but still need help. But stupid shit like facts don’t matter, so let’s go with your theory that welfare recipients don’t have jobs)

“Ponzi schemes work (for a while) because the people who get in early not only make their money back, but get much better than average returns.” (Ponzi schemes only work for the scammers running them. The only way people make any money off of them is during the ‘honeymoon’ period where they’re trying to make you feel secure and probably invest more money, which they will turn around and take as well.)

“My point is that your are just waving your arms at this point or as they say down South, pissin’ in the wind”

You are correct! Conversing with you and expecting to have a logical conversation is indeed pissin in the wind as my down south ass likes to say.

So let me get this straight…People shouldn’t expect to receive benefits just because they pay taxes EXCEPT Robin’s father? Because “if you have paid taxes for 50 yrs and the Gov has been taking $ from your check for 50 yrs, then yes damnit, you deserve some help.” BUT ““Why do folks insist that because they pay taxes, they are entitled to 12 fold back” shouldn’t be a question concerning her dad.

Right..I get it. Completely logical.

It’s also REALLY funny how Cranky is now defending the very program he said didn’t work. But of course “in this particular case ONLY, it could be said that people should get what they were specifically promised.” is a logical defense. Because who the hell are we to expect to get what we are specifically promised UNLESS…..um….er….you’re Robin’s father and people like him?

If this doesn’t sound like right wing rhetoric I don’t know what does. WE can do it but YOU can’t & if you try to, you’re a lazy bottom feeder!
252

fancyface

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:35 am

@Tadow….EVERYTHING you said!!

Benefits fall 50% below the poverty line in all states and 30% in most. In AL, you receive about $85 per child a month. So a woman with two kids receive about $170 a month for her kids & is allowed to receive benefits for herself for 60mos, which would bring her amount to a little over $200 a month. She is then awarded around $250 of food stamps a month. She cannot get ANY benefits if she’s not actively enrolled in work programs & was expected to have a job within the first 6mos before the recession, & now she is allowed an additional 6mos because of the job market. I may be wrong, but I don’t know of any states that provide never ending assistance. Their are deadlines in place to insure that you cannot take advantage of the system by NEVER working & sitting back collecting benefits. But clearly that doesn’t matter here & sadly in most places of the world. The face of welfare is so grossly exaggerated that it’s pathetic & we may never see it get any better.

I noticed no one touched on my point about bankruptcy laws & probably for good reason. The MILLIONS of dollars of debt one family is allowed to be swept away should be a much bigger concern than the single mom making out like a bandit with that $300 a month the gov gives her.
253

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:02 am

“The percentage of the federal budget spent on social welfare programs is laughable . . .you might try going after a bigger chunk of change; defense spending.”

Try again. The combination of what the federal government labels “welfare” and medical payments (more welfare with another name) dwarfs the defense budget.

And since the number of degrees seems to come up so much on pageant related threads, I will see your three degrees and raise you two. They’re all master’s degrees, too. Why, I didn’t even bother with that piddling baccalaureate crap. The dean told me when I tried to register as a freshman, he said, “Crankyguy (my actual given name), why are you wasting your time with all these dummies? We need to get your ass in graduate school right now!” True story. Really. Completely true. It’s a FACT! That dean was a smart man.
254

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:10 am

“I CLEARLY said that over 60% of welfare recipients are in fact, working class americans that pay taxes but still need help.

But, they don’t pay federal income taxes. They don’t pay income tax because they back get what was taken out during the year plus extra. The don’t even pay sales tax when they use the food stamps that they are given. They do pay federal tax when they buy alcohol and tobacco, so I’ll give you that. You clearly are trying to make it look like they are paying their share, and then deny that’s what you are doing. I may be stupid, but I’m not stupid enough to buy into any of the shit you’re selling.
255

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:15 am

“t’s also REALLY funny how Cranky is now defending the very program he said didn’t work. But of course “in this particular case ONLY, it could be said that people should get what they were specifically promised.” is a logical defense. Because who the hell are we to expect to get what we are specifically promised UNLESS…..um….er….you’re Robin’s father and people like him?

I thought I said EVERYBODY should get what they were promised with regard to retirement benefits when the government has extracted a large specific fee for that purpose from every single paycheck over a working lifetime. That is not defending the program. The program is a mess. You really don’t seem to be able to think clearly when your head is exploding.
256

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:24 am

“I noticed no one touched on my point about bankruptcy laws & probably for good reason.”

The reason is not because you made such a salient point, but that it’s an entirely different discussion. Are you saying that NJ Housewives™ should reduce the standard of living to which they have become accustomed because of some minor detail of not being able to pay back millions of dollars to evil bankers? What kind of person are you?
257

fancyface

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:26 am

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/15-things-gop-doesnt-want-you-know-about-taxes-debt
258

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:32 am

@fancyface, I went back to #105 for an example of your “logic.”

“BTW, anyone with a brain would be against ’3 strikes’ laws if they are actually familiar with what most of those laws entail, ESPECIALLY when they were first purposed, but there I go with my stupid liberal logic and shit.”

I have a niece entering college right now. My advice to her is to simply state in every paper, “Anyone with a brain would support my position.” With my advice, inspired by you, I see summa cum laude in her future.
259

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:34 am

@fancyface #256, tell me again about how you don’t do talking points and spin. You are spinning out of control
260

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:52 am

@lesley, it is a near certainty that June is not on assistance at the present time due to her high profile and (I assume) high income from TLC. Her 17-year-old, however, is a different story.
261

fancyface

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:53 am

@Lesley….I’m pretty sure she does. Her family does LOOK like welfare so it’s ok to make that assumption.
262

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:58 am

@fancyface, I think it’s a FACT (remember how you love facts) that June has been on welfare, her daughter and granddaughter ARE on welfare, and her baby daddy has a criminal record. They are, by all appearances, living up to their appearance.
263

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:01 am

Well, fancyface, my friend, it looks like we are well on our way to another 300-comment thread. If you could help out a little by posting more links to fact-filled, unbiased, truth-to-power blogs, that would be great.
264

Lenoru

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:01 am

Cranky, with all due respect, I live in a semi rural area, and I work at the most isolated and highest priced grocery store in the area. Our prices have nothing to do with being able to charge more because so many of our customers are on EBT and all to do with how much food we have to throw away every single week because we have to stock it, but seldom get through an entire case before the sell by date.

Our district manager just mandated that our produce manager may no longer mark down less than perfect produce in banana bags. Her department, my food budget, and our customers are going to suffer. As a result, she won’t be hitting her profit margin unless she scales back the variety of produce she carries. Customers will be angry, and will have more reason to shop in town. And then, all of our hours will get cut, yet again.

So yeah, my point is, pricing in grocery stores has very little to do with ebt. It is a delicate balance between getting enough profit(which is often mandated at a higher level than the store), enough hours to maintain the store, and enough customers. And it is a very stressful dance for all of us who work there.
265

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:12 am

@Lenoru, would you like to hear another anecdote? I knew you would. My rural store got brand new, HUGE shopping buggies. I mentioned it to the manager who is a casual acquaintance of mine. His reply? “Them’s welfare buggies.”

In fact, I can always tell who the EBT shoppers are, because they are the only ones who actually grab a cart (or two carts) and use the store for groceries. Everybody else just uses it as high-priced convenience store and drive to a neighboring county for their regular shopping.
266

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:20 am

I forgot to mention that this particular store has no shortage of EBT customers, or as Cartman might sing, “There are too many EBT customers at my grocery store.” I noticed that not too long ago, the EBT restrictions must have gotten even more lax since there are now signs at the deli telling EBT users that they can buy deli stuff. I can’t wait for the sign over the cigarettes, because I’m expecting it any time now. It’s a bit like waiting for Jesus.
267

sagittariuskim

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:39 am

I always wondered what makes some people keep arguing with someone just as stubborn in their opinion. They’re not going to change the other person’s opinion so why continue arguing.Why is it so hard agree to disagree and move on? Why keep doing something so pointless and frustrating? Are people who this considered masochists?
268

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:51 am

@sagittariuskim, good question. If I think of a good answer, I’ll let you know. A not-so-good answer is that keeping this thread up in a window and seeing when a reply pops up breaks the monotony of what I have to do in another window.

I don’t understand how it annoys other Gasmi though, since they can simply ignore it if they choose. If one of TPTB tells me to knock it off, then of course, I will.
269

Lenoru

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:55 am

I’d say your friend is very fortunate, then. Our store is struggling now. I’ve averaged fewer than 10 hours a week this year because of all the labor cuts.

I get EBT, and I use my store as a high priced convenience store. Could I do a menu, meal plan carefully, and still stay within our budget at our store? Maybe, but it would be hard. So yeah, it’s the occasional “Crap, I really don’t feel like … after all.” store for us. Most people I know on EBT look at it the same as cash, because once you use it all up, that’s what you’re spending.

Here in CA, EBT benefits are determined by one’s income. I’ve known some to qualify and get a whopping $12 a month. We’ve been more fortunate, but when months are tight, we have the pressure to stay within what we are given. I look forward to a time when we no longer feel the need to accept the help that is offered. Until then, I am thankful.
270

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:05 pm

The owner is the one who is fortunate. He is, as I have mentioned upthread, the local Democrat party boss in a very, very Democrat county. He even owns buildings that he rents out to the state welfare agencies that keep offices in the county. He has it coming in from all sides, and he has the power to keep competing grocery stores from setting up shop. Really, the only significant businesses in the entire county are the ones that he owns. There are a few mom-and-pop eateries not owned by him that go in and out of business, changing hands each time. Everything else is local government and a few state agencies.
271

Robin

Posted September 2, 2012 at 12:12 pm

I thought the point of a discussion board was to discuss.

Otherwise it would be called a non-discussion group?

I also get a little peaved when folks tell other folks to stop disussing something in a discussion group because THEY don’t want to see the discussion anymore. I have a remedy for that. It is a simple remedy…
272

Schadenfreude

Posted September 2, 2012 at 1:21 pm

@Crankyguy, I actually laughed out loud when I discovered that the first thing that came to my mind regarding the peds chemo drug urban myth was the same thing that came to yours: the gasoline pill! My father told me he first heard the gasoline pill one during the Great Depression. Snopes.com–long may it reign!
273

sagittariuskim

Posted September 2, 2012 at 1:36 pm

I didn’t say anybody had to stop doing anything. But it stop being a discussion like 200 comments ago. It became people basically arguing “I’m right and you’re wrong.” If they want to keeping going they can go right ahead, I don’t care. My last comment wasn’t out of annoyance or me trying to tell people to stop. It was me voicing my curiosity. I see this happen all the time and not just on the internet and I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why people try to argue with someone who minds obviously aren’t going to be changed.
Whenever I come across someone who holds a strong opinion I disagree with, I don’t waste my breath on them. I know I’m not going to change their minds and they won’t change my mind, and any attempt at a discussion would become a pointless argument. Or in some cases turn into a rant. For example, I have friend who has very strong opinions about a lot of things. Like he believes that religion is useless and has no value. I disagree with him about this. And so do some of our other friends, but whenever one of them tries to discuss it with him, it usually turns into him steamrolling over the other person, with this is why he’s right and everybody else is wrong. So I don’t even bother to argue you with him, whenever he goes on one of his rants with me I just nod along and ignore him. It just feels like it would take to much energy to argue with him. And when I see people continue to do it, I don’t understand why they bother. What makes them keep trying? So when this thread kept going, I thought it would be my chance to get some answers. So my previous comment was just me trying to get a long wondered question answered. Nothing more than that.
274

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 1:50 pm

@sagittariuskim, it was a serious question, then. Well, some people like to play bridge, some people like to knit, and other people like to argue. Besides, fancyface is just about ready to come around to my way of thinking. I can FEEL it.
275

sagittariuskim

Posted September 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm

@cranky But knitting is more productive. When you’re finish knitting you have a new hat or scarf. When you finish arguing you have a headache. I’m sure she is, I have witness a few Fancy arguments she doesn’t give up easily. Good Luck!
276

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 3:28 pm

“Ponzi schemes only work for the scammers running them. The only way people make any money off of them is during the ‘honeymoon’ period where they’re trying to make you feel secure and probably invest more money, which they will turn around and take as well.”

Bernie Madoff is a good example of that not necessarily being true. His investors were happy for years before it all fell apart. Social Security will be the same except the scammers running it won’t see any jail time. Bernie was at somewhat of a disadvantage compared to Social Security because he had no way to compel vast numbers of people to keep funneling him money.
277

sarcasatire

Posted September 2, 2012 at 3:39 pm

Well, Cranky, I’m hoping you have some off-shore accounts set up..just in case.
278

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 3:43 pm

@sarcasatire, thanks for caring.
279

Robin

Posted September 2, 2012 at 3:44 pm

@sagittariuskim

I understand your point.

It’s just that when folks ask other folks to stop discussing something on a website that encourages discussion; it reminds me of the time I had some folks over for food and football. It was a big game and everyone was primed for it. I noticed that one of the guests had brought her 1yr old and I had a “feeling”..

The kid behaved pretty well, actually. But just after halftime and few mins into the 3rd quarter, the gal comes out of the bedroom where she had laid the little one down and told us to “pipe down, the baby is trying to sleep”..Oh No She Didn’t!!!

Everyone looked at her hubby and he just got this sheepish look on his face. I said ,with the best smile on my face “You have been here before during a ballgame hon, you know darn well we yell and scream.”

I wasn’t going to force my other guests to stifle themselves because someone forgot that football games get noisy sometimes

TC, Robin
280

sarcasatire

Posted September 2, 2012 at 5:40 pm

You know I gotsa look out for ya, Cranky. You’re like the Paul Revere of EBT.
281

lindaw205

Posted September 2, 2012 at 6:02 pm

Is this the extended version of Crankypiece Theater? And does it come in blu-ray?
282

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 7:45 pm

@Schadenfreude: “I actually laughed out loud when I discovered that the first thing that came to my mind regarding the peds chemo drug urban myth”
I take offense at that comment since I was the one who brought up the situation. I was referring to something I overheard in a cancer ward, and then heard it again a little while later on the news. It was not for some fictional child with a dramatic dying wish, a rare form of cancer, or some magical panacea. It was a previously readily available medication which was already in distribution, but was becoming harder to come by (a shortage), because, along with other reasons, the drug companies weren’t manufacturing them due to their small profit margins (read: generics). I wish it was just an urban legend.
283

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:08 pm

@Shana, I apologize, as your story had an “urban legend” vibe to it which I guess to me was the “I overheard” part. But I looked it up and did find a CBS report to back you up:

“One of the main problems is that companies have a a smaller profit margin because many of these cancer-fighting drugs have become generic. Fewer suppliers are interested in making the drug, including the largest manufacturer of methotrexate, which shut down its plant last fall.”

So I’m guessing what probably happened here is that the original patent holder probably shut down production of the brand-name version when their patent expired, and the generic producers haven’t yet picked up the slack. I wonder if this might not be the case of some small, but vocal, group of doctors preferring this drug over other alternatives and the overall demand is not high enough to warrant production. The article did not really give any detailed analysis.
284

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:19 pm

@Crankyguy: I am just waiting to hear a story about you seeing a fat, democratic welfare recipient pulling up in his Jaguar, get out in his thousand dollar snake-skin boots, and begin beating up some poor, old, hardworking, tax-paying republican over the head with a tub of cheese puffs. Oh wait–you have already seen that? Twice?
Oh Mr. Crankyguy, we must find you a better circle of people to hang around.

There are a lot of honest and trustworthy people out there. For example, I went to high school with a girl who raised her hand during a test because she had accidentily seen the answer to a question on the test of the girl next to her. She couldn’t remember if she knew the answer before she saw it. She asked the teacher what she should do.

My sister was given a bunch of art supplies by a young, newly-wed teacher to take home to finish an art project. Among the odds and ends of clothes, feathers and puffy paint, was a fake pearl necklace the teacher’s mother-in-law had given her–or so the teacher thought. My sister, a somewhat sophisticated 13 year old at the time, wise in the ways of jewelry, realized that they were real. She returned them the next day, and explained how one can tell the difference between real and fake pearls.

Years ago, while in camp, I had a friend spend thirty minutes looking for a manager at an amusement park, in order to return an extra (unpaid for) can of coke that came out of the dispenser along with the one he bought.

I went to a school that stressed moral and ethical behavior first. But the point is, if you can find good, honest kids in the world, then you can find good, honest adults out there too.

Now, while I would have returned the necklace as well, I was too jaded then to admit accidental cheating and I am too jaded and lazy now to return an extra coke. But I still try and surround myself with kind, sincere folks–people who care about what happens to other people, whether they know them or not. People who would help each other any way that they could.
Kindness too can transcend gender, class, and race.
Maybe Mr. Crankyguy wouldn’t be so terribly cranky with more good, caring people around him, no?
That t’would be a marvel to witness.
285

sagittariuskim

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:25 pm
286

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:29 pm

“Oh Mr. Crankyguy, we must find you a better circle of people to hang around.”

Do you mean liberal Democrats, by any chance? If you do, don’t worry, as my family is full of them.
287

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:42 pm

There are a lot of honest and trustworthy people out there.

Yeah, I know. Some of them even work in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m not sure you can find any among the ranks of well-known politicians.
288

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 9:54 pm

@Crankyguy: If I remember correctly, the company that was making it had to be closed down for unsanitary conditions, etc. Parents and doctors were begging for the big pharmaceutical companies to pick up the flack (the medication has fewer dangerous side affects for kids and teens), since interuptions in therapy could complicate their treatment and may eventually even lead to unecessary deaths.

Listen, I hated that place. My Grams called it the ‘chemo-farm,’ there were so many sick people of all different ages suffering horribly. It was heartbreaking. The 90 lb.young woman sitting next to us was throwing up blood every 15 minutes. I would not be surprised if I got some of the details of the story wrong. It just horrified me more because I was sitting in a crowded room with people whose lives depended on the cancer medications being available to them.

PS I may idolize Cartman, but I love Butters…
289

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Unsanitary conditions? Do you mean some outside authority made them shut down? That must have already been a generic facility because I really can’t imagine any of the major firms operating dirty plants.
290

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Nope. I just meant nicer people. All your stories are so scary. Besides, I don’t think anyone could change your political viewpoint. And that is fine with me–as long as you promise that deep down, in your heart of hearts, you wouldn’t begrudge someone truly suffering some monetary aid if it could stop some of their agony, even if it came from your hard earned tax dollars
291

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:25 pm

I think you are right about the company being a small generic one. The big companies didn’t want to bother with the medicine. Too many hard to get ingredients and so little profits. Hence, the shortage and my outrage.
292

crankyguy

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:33 pm

I’m blatantly showing my ignorance here, but do ANY big pharm companies make generic drugs? It’s beginning to look to me like the shortage is a temporary glitch in the supply due to that one plant being closed. If there is sufficient demand, and there are not extenuating circumstances making production too difficult, then some small firm should step in to supply the drug.
293

Robin

Posted September 2, 2012 at 10:49 pm

Shana,

I run a cancer support group. If you would like to join contact me @PM.\

Robin
294

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:27 pm

In my attempt to reach 300…

@ crankyguy: In post 144, you responded that I think that you will be stealing from the poor when you start collecting Social Security retirement benefits.
I don’t think that. Why would I? I was referring to people that try to hide their assets illegally in order to qualify for financial aid that they do not need, thinking that they are really smart screwing the government. Aka, crooks.
295

Shana

Posted September 2, 2012 at 11:52 pm

@ Crankyguy: I agree.

@Robin: Aww, that’s sweet. T’G, My Grams is doing awesome, cancer free at last check up! Her hair is back, nice and lush, and she is now 10 lbs. overweight. I love it! We are going to the beach tomorrow for labor day. I hope I never have to deal with cancer again.

@sarcasatire: Glad to be back, thanks. I taught your daughter’s age group a couple of years ago. I loved that age. So curious and eager to learn, but also so sweet and adorable. I assume she is starting officially on Tuesday. I hope she loves it. Good Luck!
296

sarcasatire

Posted September 3, 2012 at 7:46 am

@Shana, yes, she starts tomorrow! I’m excited! I have my camera ready! She’s sooooooo excited. When we went to register, they let her stay in the classroom while I was in the office and when it was time to leave, she threw a tantrum on the front steps! She cried, “Schooooooool!” all the way home!

(C’mon guys..almost there… What’s our battle cry gonna be?)
297

crockpot

Posted September 3, 2012 at 8:05 am

I love you
you love me
we are a big happy family

What happened to 300?

Don’t tell me everyone got tired

Go Honey Boo Boo – far, far, away
298

lindaw205

Posted September 3, 2012 at 8:44 am

Okay, I think I’m #298 and don’t want to steal the thunder but only 2 more to go so you better be thinking fast! You can do it, you all have worked so hard for it!!
299

crockpot

Posted September 3, 2012 at 10:22 am

Wow something happened. Did June sit on Crankyguy smothering him?
300

Moli

Posted September 3, 2012 at 10:37 am
301

crockpot

Posted September 3, 2012 at 11:26 am

Aaah Moli you are sweet. Think Sugar Bear put all the kids in a corner along with a spanking.

Congratulations Plath
302

Schadenfreude

Posted September 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm

@Shana I had heard a similar urban legend for the first time in 1980. I can date it because my father was having chemo at the time. (The same guy who told me about the gasoline pill.)

The very nature of urban legends is that they come back around over the years. Sad to hear that on this go-round it’s true. I’m glad your grandmother is doing better and I hope she enjoyed the trip to the beach.

I apologize for any heartache my message caused and @Crankyguy, thanks for the research.
303

Robin

Posted September 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm

“Listen, I hated that place. My Grams called it the ‘chemo-farm,’ there were so many sick people of all different ages suffering horribly. It was heartbreaking. The 90 lb.young woman sitting next to us was throwing up blood every 15 minutes. I would not be surprised if I got some of the details of the story wrong. It just horrified me more because I was sitting in a crowded room with people whose lives depended on the cancer medications being available to them.”

I re-read your post this evening and your Grandmother’s treatment is truly upsetting. I am glad that she is doing well in spite of her experience.

I feel that I should say something in defense of chemo centers. I have never seen what you have described. Many tests are done before treatment to make sure that the patient is able to recieve chemo that day. Some folks arrive at chemo, ready to go, their #’s are down and it is so disapointing.

I always felt bad for the Oncology staff, too. When they had to tell someone that they can’t get chemo that day.

TC, Robin
304

Robin

Posted September 3, 2012 at 6:15 pm

Gosh, For some reason I am also compelled to share this, too.

At chemo center’s there are always snacks and an unlimited amount of fruit juices, Gatorade in a fridge on site. Hydration is so important and bringing food at lunchtime is encouraged.

Please let me know about that less that acceptable facility. I would love to know the name of the place
305

Shana

Posted September 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm

@ sarcasatire: lol!

@ Schadenfreude: No problem:)

@Robin: Don’t worry, the place she went to was just fine–even if there were a lot of patients and they were all a bit too much on top of each other for my taste, and the visitor chairs were uncomfortable for 2-4 hr visits at a time. But they did everything you mentioned and then some. Her doctor has a wonderful reputation and the staff was very attentive. The place is clean and well organized. I am just a Mama Lion when it comes to my Grams. A full staff focused solely on her, being treated in a mansion, while being served peeled grapes and fanned by hot guys in bikinis would not have been good enough for her, imo–well, except for maybe the hot guys. She is such a fun, optimistic, delightfully unique woman that at the last appointment, the doctor left our room with a huge smile on his face, singing to himself (it was the end of the day, and he did not come in the room so cheerfully). Everyone loves her. Watching them put poison in her body (even to make her well) was traumatizing for me to watch.
306

Robin

Posted September 4, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Well, this is certainly differen’t than the gal throwing up blood and “sick people everywhere”.

Please, I implore you Shana, if you share chemo stories in the future; instead of sharing stories like “sick folks everywhere and throwing up blood every 15 mins” would you please share the story about how it was clean and well orginised, etc?

Folks are scared enough as it is before their first chemo treatment. Your description of a “chemo farm” doesn’t help anyone. You would truly help more folks if you shared that your Grandmother is doing well.

OK, I am starting to get preachy. But I have a suggestion for folks because I can.

Give a Chemo Bag to someone that you love dealing with treatment. Get a tote and fill it with snacks, juice, magazines and/ or puzzle books, warm fuzzy socks (feet get cold), lotion, scratch off lottery tickets ( it is kinda neat to win something in the midst of fighting a battle) Pad of paper and pen…the list is endless…

Again, I am so glad that your Grandmother is doing well and I am glad that she has someone like you that cares so much about her.

TC, Robin
307

Shana

Posted September 7, 2012 at 7:30 pm

Well Robin, I certainly didn’t mean to scare anyone, but there were sick folks everywhere and there was a young woman throwing up blood every 15 mins. I mean, I was at a place dispensing chemo–how could there not be sick people all over the place? By definition, you have to be sick in order to get chemo. As for the woman throwing up blood–she may have been receiving fluids at that time (I don’t know her). Chemo is a scary thing, and anyone who has to go through it, I wish them and their families well, and remind them that the medicine of today is better than yesterday and tomorrows will hopefully be even better than today’s. Good luck.
308

Robin

Posted September 9, 2012 at 5:27 pm

“Well Robin, I certainly didn’t mean to scare anyone, but there were sick folks everywhere and there was a young woman throwing up blood every 15 mins. I mean, I was at a place dispensing chemo–how could there not be sick people all over the place? ”

Whether you meant to scare people or not is questionable. Phrases like “there were sick folks everywhere” and your insistance in repeating the story about the young woman “throwing up blood every 15 mins” isn’t helpful, to say the very least. Believe it or not, many chemo patients manage to clean themselves up pretty nice to go to chemo, other than the prone postition and IV, an outsider may wonder what the meeting is about.

It isn’t easy, I am too aware of it. But, damnit it isn’t a leper colony either.

Also, I must say again, if a patients cell count is low they are not allowed to recieve chemo. This is for their benefit. And, depending on the particular chemo, anti-nausea medication is also given IV. This is done more to prevent the patient from vomiting and less to do with the comfort of an onlooker.

“By definition, you have to be sick in order to get chemo.”

You are absolutely right in your definition. Your description of a “chemo- dispensing” place, leaves much to be desired, though.

“there were sick folks everywhere”…

By definition….

Robin
309

sarcasatire

Posted September 9, 2012 at 6:29 pm

Sheesh.

Honey Boo Boo Recap: Digging a Little Deeper in the Dirt

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Honey Boo Boo Recap: Digging a Little Deeper in the Dirt

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