I just wrote out checks for all my bills. Mortgage payment, utilities, car insurance, and cell phone. Then I wrote out extra checks for a couple medical bills. I'm fortunate in many ways. I have a job, house, car, phone ... and all the costs that come with it. And somehow, I pay them.
I was reading different statistics, on the people of America's financial situation. Most people don't have health insurance or like me, just catastrophic coverage with a deductible that would have me getting a second mortgage. (I am dead serious) Many are losing their houses. The food and clothing topic for kids is a whole post in itself.
What went wrong? Why were the loop holes allowed to stretch so far that the elasticity has gone out of them? Is it greed or ignorance? Creative manipulation?
There are three situations that I have been aware of over the years that makes me think somethings in this free country SUCK.
Years ago, I had a girlfriend who, as a single mom, totally lived off the system. She had a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo, basement included, paid by the government. The three kids had all their health care covered, including dental and optical. They were on so many lists of families in need, those girls never had to wear the same outfit twice and the refrigerator and cupboards were always full. My girlfriend did feel bad about this and secured a part time job. When she reported this to "the system" they totally cut her off. She asked if they could just compensate her the difference until she could work her way into a full time position that included health care coverage. Nope, it's all or nothing baby ... so she had to pass on the job, and lived off the system (us) until her kids were out of school.
My daughter went to school with 2 sisters that lived on the next block. These girls were relinquished by their mother, made wards of the court, and their aunt and uncle were named as guardians. Why? Because now Aunt and Uncle were given a monthly income to care for them that allowed them to purchase a bigger, newer, nicer home. Sisters had all medical and dental covered by the government. ::: Bonus round ::: The girls maintained excellent grades which put one through 2 years of community college free, then she quit. The other is on a free ride at Michigan State. They see their mom on a regular basis and have a wonderful relationship with her. This route was chosen because staying with mom would not have allowed these things for them, free.
And my final puzzlement is the local nice guy in the corner party store. He is a registered legal immigrant. Nice guy, talks to me all the time. Sometimes I wish he wouldn't. He has told me the whole story of how coming to America indeed is the land of opportunity. The programs and tax breaks offered to foreigners are wonderful. They just aren't offered to US citizens, with the same ease or breaks. The way they pass on ownership of their businesses to new, incoming relatives helps them maintain certain privileges. They one thing I already knew from working in a bank, but didn't need to be reminded ... "I can take $9,999.00 cash out of the bank and mail it to my family at home, and it won't be reported to the government". He's right any cash coming in or going out of an account under 10K doesn't have to be reported. I wonder what they do with all that cash going out of the country monthly?
