I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

1Athena1

ROFL - this thread is never boring!!

konakat

The Crisis Pregnancy Center is also funded by federal dollars.  Interesting reading here:

http://www.chsourcebook.com/articles/waxman2.pdf

What attack on the Catholic church?  I must have missed a post.

Edit -- to give the correct name of the centre and to add a link to a gov't study on CPC's medical misinformation.

sunny210

Wow Alpal and Enjoyful - 

I am almost always on the same page as you two, but not this time. As a stay at home mom for many years, I never thought of myself as a drain on society. I have always been very successful academically and thought I would enter the professional world, but sometimes life takes unexpected turns. In the late 70's when I had my first child, there was a lot of pressure in my part of the world (south-east) from both my parents and in-laws to stay home with the kids. I succumbed. Two more kids came along, my husband's job required long hours, lots of travel and frequent moves. I continued to stay home, but was hardly sitting on the couch watching TV and relaxing. I was a very active volunteer, returned to school for an advanced degree in applied math, and always did a little something on the side - I babysat in the summer, did some mediation at the DA's office, did lots of math tutoring - paid and volunteering at the school - and worked summer mornings as a lifeguard. I did re-enter the work force in my 40's and loved it. I like the intellectual challenge, the feeling of accomplishment and making money. Three bouts with cancer have made a serious dent in my working life, as well. The fact remains - I have not made the financial contributions that my husband has. I feel I have made important contributions to society - and I have always worked hard. I don't believe the word "freeloader" describes me in the least.

Phew - I got on a soapbox there, didn't I? This really touched a nerve. I don't want to get into a spitting contest between working and stay at home parents. Both choices are worthy. But I ask you to consider that all families are different. I am not in the same position as a woman who's husband came home every day at 5:00 with 2 kids. I know - I had the ability to make choices. (I did have a child after my DH's vasectomy, though! The odds against that are 99%, the doc said. And of course, he's terrific and I'm so happy to have him around.) And should all contributions to society be completely monetary? And I'm not in the same position as a woman who's enjoyed good health. But, freeloader?? That's just too harsh. I'm with Athena - we should count the family as a unit, not spouse v. spouse.

All this being said, I'm not aware that "non-working" (yuk - shall we say non-paid) spouses collect SS benefits while the "working" (more yuk) spouse is still alive. E - I think I remember reading that you were a CPA, so I'm sure you're up on these facts. But I know many women who stayed home with their kids, didn't re-enter the workforce, are over 65 and have not heard that they collect benefits.

Well, now, freeloader that I am, I'm going to look for a rock to crawl under.

Sandy 

bluedahlia

It gives us something to do, we're so lazy.

Enjoyful

Pardon me, Daisy?  Who attacked the Catholic Church?

1Athena1

I have alerted Melissa.

BarbaraA

Huh? Did I miss some posts about the Church?

Enjoyful

sunny -

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear.  I was questioning - if the Tea Partiers believe that so many government employees and/or people receiving government payments are "freeloaders," what do they think of Social Security spousal benefits? 

I have NO PROBLEM with spouses receiving benefits, nor do I believe they are freeloaders.

I'm so sorry I gave that impression.

E

otter

Shhhhhh... 

No, Elizabeth and Barbara, you didn't miss anything.  Someone stepped on a twig while tip-toeing into the thread.

otter

1Athena1

....namely a sock puppet.

BarbaraA

Oysters. Okra. Pigs feet.

otter

Brussel sprouts.  For dinner, that is.  No harm in planning early.

Enjoyful

Sweet potatoes!  Salmon!  Chocolate chip cookies!

konakat

Leftover green pepper and pineapple pizza.  Mmmmmmm.  I think I'll have some now.

konakat

Poutine!

Enjoyful

My daughter LOVES that stuff, Elizabeth!  She tries to make it at home but it's just not the same.

BarbaraA

Mac and cheese for lunch.

crazy4carrots

Otter and Lewing:  I'm so very sorry to hear about EyesO'Tex.  When I joined BCO in Aug 2008 (just after I finished chemo) I followed your May 2008 thread because of being in the same time frame and got to know you all vicariously.  When you earlier noted that you'd lost one of your May sisters, I immediately thought of Eyes.  Please accept my condolences, and I join you in turning the air blue about BC.

Hugs,  Linda

sunny210

E - 

No need to apologize. The posts made while I was writing my diatribe clarified things. If only I'd waited a bit....

I do feel guilty about how expensive I've become since my lastest cancer diagnoses. I don't quite have enough units for disability benefits, my health insurance is so expensive, I'm too sick to work. Yuk. Until recently, I haven't even been able to do much around the house. My family is wonderful, but I do feel like quite a burden. Perhaps that makes me a little (!!) defensive.

Sandy 

Edited to say: Attack on the Catholic Church! What? I missed it, too. 

BarbaraA

I join Linda, Otter and Linda, in giving my sincere condolences. It is so hard to lose friends to this beast.

Enjoyful

It's all so sad.  We've lost so many here.  I still think of AlaskaDeb and send her PMs.

crazy4carrots

Sunny -- BC or any kind of cancer or chronic, debilitating illness can happen to anyone - yes, to anyone in your family.  It happened to you.  If it were one of them, would you consider them a "burden" or would you think they should feel guilty that they weren't pulling their weight, or couldn't work?  No, I'm sure you wouldn't -- SO there's no reason for you to feel that way either now, is there?

Hang in there!

Alpal

Sandy - http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/yourspouse.htm  This is link to SS website which explains spousal benefits. Hope it works. As you can see, indeed you will be eligible for a SS check even though your spouse is still alive. Do I resent the fact that you'll be receiving a check from Social Security despite the fact you stayed home with your kids? Absolutely not! My own dear mother received a check every single month and her only period of employment was jury duty! I'm just confused as to why those who are so against their taxes paying for those in need haven't ever mentioned this benefit. As WR said - "Let's be blunt!"

Alas, I remember well the feeling that mothers should not work outside the home. My return to the workforce caused much angst with the grandparents! I would have been fine with them paying me to stay at home, but no one offered.

Anonymous

These are the people you are defending

Story Updated: Feb 19, 2011  A savvy insider writes:
 
An out of state colleague asked me what it was like here. I thought maybe some of my other friends would like to know, too.

It is wild.

My personal feelings have been of incredulity and anger that our political process has been stopped by a mob. It is absolutely shocking.

For those of you curious about other viewpoints from the regular press reports, I recommend the MacIver Institute's website,  and Media Trackers. org. and WisconsinEye.  Also don't miss the coverage by Wisconsin Reporter.com  Their tweets have been the best coverage of the events. Eyewitness history. #wisconsinreport

The tea party plans to rally in support of Governor Walker. I don't know what kind of numbers they can amass, but frankly, I doubt they can come close to busloads of union thugs being shipped in from all over the country. Last night one Senator told me they had been told to clear the Capitol because the new groups coming in overnight are filled with with people "who aren't afraid to be arrested" and the Administration could not guarantee the safety of the legislators and their staffs. In our Capitol.

On Thursday, legislators were advised to return to their offices and lock their doors. Mobs roamed the halls, banging on the glass of the doors, pounding on the walls. No one could move in the halls or enter or leave the building. The glass of the Supreme Court's entrance was broken. Legislators were genuinely afraid. Our elected representatives were afraid. In our Capitol.

A young female reporter trying to get into the Senate chamber struggled to get through the crowd. She arrived disheveled and upset because she had been roughed up as she tried to get through "Bitch-slapped" the mob told her. A senior senator was spat on. A senator and his female staffer struggled to get into the capitol. He was worried about his staffer because the crowd was grabbing at her and pushing her. University Police were two arms lengths away and did nothing. They, of course, are union.

Everyone has heard the story of the Democrats fleeing the state . Everywhere are signs comparing Walker to Hosni Mubarak.  What is their end game? Overturning an election and seizing our government?

Protesters spent the night on the floor of the Capitol. A friend of mine said the entire place smelled when she walked in on Friday morning. There was garbage everywhere. This is one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the country. The mob had no respect for the place, for what happens there, or for the citizens whose freedoms it represents.

On the other hand, one of the freshmen (Republican) members of the assembly tells me that the leggies are united and have bonded in a way that would never have been possible in other circumstances. On Thursday night, behind locked doors she said, they wept, held hands, and prayed, vowing unity. Another Senator says she thinks the tide has turned.

konakat

It is so sad.  I think of many of the women that have died.  It's a combo of sad and angry.

And Sandy -- that sucks about your insurance.  Can you go on social security disability?  Isn't it a done deal when you're stage IV?  I'm sorry you have these worries.  And do not feel bad about not doing much around the house -- you're sick!!

Alpal

Cross posted. Sandy - don't you dare feel guilty!!!!

Bren-2007

Janewell is daisy trying to stir up trouble.  Nobody said anything about the Catholic church.

Bren

BarbaraA

HI Bren, yeah, I sorta figured that out. Hence the pigs feet.

Bren-2007

I'm having chili and cornbread for dinner tonight.  yum.  The temp hit the high 60's today, and except for the wind, its been a beautiful day.

Bren

sunny210

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I am hanging in there, trying not to feel guilty. 

KK - I can only collect SS disability benefits if I contribute enough "units." These are age dependent. The older you are, the more units you have to have contributed. I am a smidge short.

All of these worries are nothing compared to the losses suffered as a result of this terrible disease. Konakat - you express things perfectly. After all this time we feel such anger and sadness at the continuing loss of such wonderful women.

Sandy