http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213 I see all the time diffrent organizations or groups that help low income families out with Christmas from baskets to gifts. I think that this is a great thing and it should continue. I just dont completly understand why these organizations or groups help only low income families? There are alot of families out here that need help this holiday season but cannot &quot;qualify&quot; because they make too much money. Me and my family are one of those families. Me and my husband work hard to support our three mentally handicapp children and we struggle to just get by. But we cannot qualify for any assistance because our income is too high. I think the organizations or groups need to look at who they help as who needs it the most not who makes the least. &nbsp; I see all the time diffrent organizations or groups that help low income families out with Christmas from baskets to gifts. I think that this is a great thing and it should continue. I just dont completly understand why these organizations or groups help only low income families? There are alot of families out here that need help this holiday season but cannot &quot;qualify&quot; because they make too much money. Me and my family are one of those families. Me and my husband work hard to support our three mentally handicapp children and we struggle to just get by. But we cannot qualify for any assistance because our income is too high. I think the organizations or groups need to look at who they help as who needs it the most not who makes the least. &nbsp; en-us I think it is a double edged sword. There are those that will take anything free even when they don't need it. I don't see how the charity organizations have any other indicator of need except by looking at their income. But by doing that you are eliminating people that truly are in need. But there has to be a cutoff somewhere. I don't think there is a perfect answer. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10234 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10234 I think it is a double edged sword. There are those that will take anything free even when they don't need it. I don't see how the charity organizations have any other indicator of need except by looking at their income. But by doing that you are eliminating people that truly are in need. But there has to be a cutoff somewhere. I don't think there is a perfect answer. Yes, let's start a movement to help those who just can't seem to budget their hard earned money. Perhaps we could join forces to help them figure out which health care provider to choose, or how to&nbsp; save on their electric bills or even how to refinance their homes and save $ on their taxes and contribute to their 401K's...Forget about helping those <strong>needy</strong> folks without jobs or health care or even homes...They'd probably just spend all their money on....BIRTH CONTROL!&nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10245 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10245 Yes, let's start a movement to help those who just can't seem to budget their hard earned money. Perhaps we could join forces to help them figure out which health care provider to choose, or how to&nbsp; save on their electric bills or even how to refinance their homes and save $ on their taxes and contribute to their 401K's...Forget about helping those <strong>needy</strong> folks without jobs or health care or even homes...They'd probably just spend all their money on....BIRTH CONTROL!&nbsp; <p>I do have to agree it is a double edged sword. I have seen alot of people abuse the help in many ways and others who i see that really need are left out. It is just a shame that when there is truely a family in need that family gets left out because they make too much, and live pay day to pay day and barely make it. I just personally feel that as a so called middle class family that when we need help with this or that we are not allowed it because of our income. </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10246 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10246 <p>I do have to agree it is a double edged sword. I have seen alot of people abuse the help in many ways and others who i see that really need are left out. It is just a shame that when there is truely a family in need that family gets left out because they make too much, and live pay day to pay day and barely make it. I just personally feel that as a so called middle class family that when we need help with this or that we are not allowed it because of our income. </p> <p>This is in reply to scratchit:</p> <p>My husband works from 7am to 5pm and then goes to his next job from 5:30pm until 9:30pm. And his first job is very physically demanding. He works his butt off and i work part time also. We dont &quot;waste&quot; our money on things we dont need. We pay our bills and usually there is nothing left. We dont own a home, we rent because we cannot afford to buy a house. We are raising 3 Special needs children which is very difficult at times. And in about a year we will be taking over the care for my special needs adult brother. There are times like Christmas that it is very difficult for us to buy presents for our kids but somehow we manage. My point is that it would be nice to be able to ask for help but we cannot because our income is too much. </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10247 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10247 <p>This is in reply to scratchit:</p> <p>My husband works from 7am to 5pm and then goes to his next job from 5:30pm until 9:30pm. And his first job is very physically demanding. He works his butt off and i work part time also. We dont &quot;waste&quot; our money on things we dont need. We pay our bills and usually there is nothing left. We dont own a home, we rent because we cannot afford to buy a house. We are raising 3 Special needs children which is very difficult at times. And in about a year we will be taking over the care for my special needs adult brother. There are times like Christmas that it is very difficult for us to buy presents for our kids but somehow we manage. My point is that it would be nice to be able to ask for help but we cannot because our income is too much. </p> <p>This is a touchy subject for many people, and for many reasons.&nbsp; Its a problem not just around Christmas time, but all year round.&nbsp; </p> <p>I used to work in the Spec. Education Dept. for almost 10 years (specialized in AUT and MMR), and I too, have three children with special needs.&nbsp; It was frustrating to me when I was at work to see some&nbsp;families who were extremely wealthy, taking advantage of the fact that their child has special needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;They were getting free childcare (when they had nannies), free speech, O.T., and physical&nbsp;therapy&nbsp;(when I knew that they could very well be paying for it).&nbsp; All because they had the money, knowledge&nbsp;and power to challenge the School District in a court of law.&nbsp; I met a few families that were uneducated regarding the options that they had, and just needed a little bit of help to be pointed in the right direction.&nbsp; Once they were, they too were able to get&nbsp;SOME assistance, but not to the extent of the wealthier families that I knew.</p> <p>I know that I went off the original subject line just a tad, but my point is this.&nbsp; Your right, the families that fall in the middle always get hit the hardest.&nbsp; There just must be a better way for the State to be able to regulate which families get assistance, and which clearly do not need it.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10249 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10249 <p>This is a touchy subject for many people, and for many reasons.&nbsp; Its a problem not just around Christmas time, but all year round.&nbsp; </p> <p>I used to work in the Spec. Education Dept. for almost 10 years (specialized in AUT and MMR), and I too, have three children with special needs.&nbsp; It was frustrating to me when I was at work to see some&nbsp;families who were extremely wealthy, taking advantage of the fact that their child has special needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;They were getting free childcare (when they had nannies), free speech, O.T., and physical&nbsp;therapy&nbsp;(when I knew that they could very well be paying for it).&nbsp; All because they had the money, knowledge&nbsp;and power to challenge the School District in a court of law.&nbsp; I met a few families that were uneducated regarding the options that they had, and just needed a little bit of help to be pointed in the right direction.&nbsp; Once they were, they too were able to get&nbsp;SOME assistance, but not to the extent of the wealthier families that I knew.</p> <p>I know that I went off the original subject line just a tad, but my point is this.&nbsp; Your right, the families that fall in the middle always get hit the hardest.&nbsp; There just must be a better way for the State to be able to regulate which families get assistance, and which clearly do not need it.</p> <p>Reply to msjanell:</p> <p>It took me a year to get speech for my son from the school district. And he is one child that needed. His speech is about at a 2 year old level and he is 7. It is a continous (cant spell) battle with schools to get services. My oldest son who is 15 cannot even attend school locally because the district cannot meet his needs, therefore he is bussed out of town.</p> <p>I can go on and on about our local district and the things they have pulled on my children but that would take a while...</p> <p>And i agree the families that fall in the middle always get hit the hardest... </p> <p>and here is a quote from Mother Theresa that i have on my wall:</p> <p>God never gives us more than we can handle</p> <p>I just wish he didnt trust me so much</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10251 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10251 <p>Reply to msjanell:</p> <p>It took me a year to get speech for my son from the school district. And he is one child that needed. His speech is about at a 2 year old level and he is 7. It is a continous (cant spell) battle with schools to get services. My oldest son who is 15 cannot even attend school locally because the district cannot meet his needs, therefore he is bussed out of town.</p> <p>I can go on and on about our local district and the things they have pulled on my children but that would take a while...</p> <p>And i agree the families that fall in the middle always get hit the hardest... </p> <p>and here is a quote from Mother Theresa that i have on my wall:</p> <p>God never gives us more than we can handle</p> <p>I just wish he didnt trust me so much</p> <p>Ekkitsaspider- I love your profile pic! So cute. Are you interested in food also or only toys? Please let me know and I will see what I can do. How old are your children? What would be appropriate for them? Also, I guess I would assume that by looking at  who makes the least one would assume they need the most. </p> <p>Oh, and scratchit your response was down right rude and totally uncalled for.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10257 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10257 <p>Ekkitsaspider- I love your profile pic! So cute. Are you interested in food also or only toys? Please let me know and I will see what I can do. How old are your children? What would be appropriate for them? Also, I guess I would assume that by looking at  who makes the least one would assume they need the most. </p> <p>Oh, and scratchit your response was down right rude and totally uncalled for.</p> <p>Reply to country girl:</p> <p>Thankyou so much for your kindness and for your offerring..</p> <p>please contact me at my email address and i will give you more information</p> <p>it is</p> <p><a href="mailto:celewis30@yahoo.com">celewis30@yahoo.com</a></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10258 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10258 <p>Reply to country girl:</p> <p>Thankyou so much for your kindness and for your offerring..</p> <p>please contact me at my email address and i will give you more information</p> <p>it is</p> <p><a href="mailto:celewis30@yahoo.com">celewis30@yahoo.com</a></p> <p>Countrygirl, I agree with you about Scratchit.<br /> Scratchit you should be ashamed of yourself for your comments to Eekitsaspider. I have more compassion for hard working people like them that despite the man having two jobs still can't make ends meet, than I do for those that are needy because they don't want to work and feel perfectly fine about taking handouts.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10295 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10295 <p>Countrygirl, I agree with you about Scratchit.<br /> Scratchit you should be ashamed of yourself for your comments to Eekitsaspider. I have more compassion for hard working people like them that despite the man having two jobs still can't make ends meet, than I do for those that are needy because they don't want to work and feel perfectly fine about taking handouts.</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">God Bless you Blaze!! Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and may the new year bring lots of great things</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10296 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10296 <p><font color="#ff0000">God Bless you Blaze!! Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and may the new year bring lots of great things</font></p> Oh Please! Don't tell me that the rest of you didn't read eek's very first post and think the same thing! I just put a voice to the thought most of you were secretly harboring...And it's not personal eek, it's actually called <em>&quot;Sarcasm.&quot;</em><br /> What criteria <strong>should</strong> these agencies use to gauge <em>needyness</em>? Whoever thinks they are <em>more deserving</em> than the next guy ? Who has the best character references? The number of kids they decide to have or their <em>special needs</em>? I believe that kids deserve all the help in the world. As far as I'm concerned, they all have&nbsp; special needs. Medical bills? Special treatments, you say? Well the government should pay because they're the ones screwing up our air, food, water and air! Is the school system giving any of our kids - special needs or not - what they each deserve? Should we raise taxes and hold them accountable? Well actually, most of us &quot;middle income&quot; with families to support working folks don't have time to be public watchdogs and get involved in politics. Besides, let's be honest, it's confusing and it's tiring and we want to sit home and watch TV with our spouses and kids at night. Maybe take a peek at the blogs to see whose going off the deep end... &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> Don't get me wrong, I feel for any parent that struggles to make ends meet and care for their kids on a limited income, but&nbsp; you have to be realistic about accepting some personal responsibility.&nbsp; I have to ask again, just how are service agencies supposed to decide, if not by income, just who <strong>deserves</strong> their help? Do you ask who gets what when you donate to charity? And what kind of help should each individual or family be <em>entitled</em> to? Food? Clothing? Shelter? Money? Because that's what it basically comes down to isn't it?&nbsp; <br /> I checked out the gift tags on the Giving Tree in KMart just yesterday and there were at least half a dozen 10-11 year olds requesting Playstation games and BMX bikes. That sounds really needy to me. Granted, the kids may not know how much it costs, but they still want it - nontheless. Do they deserve it? You bet. Should you or I or anydecide who gets help based on how much&nbsp; money they make -or- the hardships and personal circumstances in their life? Is is harder to have kids with special needs, or a parent or a spouse who is ill or a handicap that keeps you from working, or an addiction or an abusive partner or maybe even a limited IQ or lack of self esteem? <strong>How do you/we/them/us/samesamesame decide who deserves a little help?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10302 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10302 Oh Please! Don't tell me that the rest of you didn't read eek's very first post and think the same thing! I just put a voice to the thought most of you were secretly harboring...And it's not personal eek, it's actually called <em>&quot;Sarcasm.&quot;</em><br /> What criteria <strong>should</strong> these agencies use to gauge <em>needyness</em>? Whoever thinks they are <em>more deserving</em> than the next guy ? Who has the best character references? The number of kids they decide to have or their <em>special needs</em>? I believe that kids deserve all the help in the world. As far as I'm concerned, they all have&nbsp; special needs. Medical bills? Special treatments, you say? Well the government should pay because they're the ones screwing up our air, food, water and air! Is the school system giving any of our kids - special needs or not - what they each deserve? Should we raise taxes and hold them accountable? Well actually, most of us &quot;middle income&quot; with families to support working folks don't have time to be public watchdogs and get involved in politics. Besides, let's be honest, it's confusing and it's tiring and we want to sit home and watch TV with our spouses and kids at night. Maybe take a peek at the blogs to see whose going off the deep end... &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> Don't get me wrong, I feel for any parent that struggles to make ends meet and care for their kids on a limited income, but&nbsp; you have to be realistic about accepting some personal responsibility.&nbsp; I have to ask again, just how are service agencies supposed to decide, if not by income, just who <strong>deserves</strong> their help? Do you ask who gets what when you donate to charity? And what kind of help should each individual or family be <em>entitled</em> to? Food? Clothing? Shelter? Money? Because that's what it basically comes down to isn't it?&nbsp; <br /> I checked out the gift tags on the Giving Tree in KMart just yesterday and there were at least half a dozen 10-11 year olds requesting Playstation games and BMX bikes. That sounds really needy to me. Granted, the kids may not know how much it costs, but they still want it - nontheless. Do they deserve it? You bet. Should you or I or anydecide who gets help based on how much&nbsp; money they make -or- the hardships and personal circumstances in their life? Is is harder to have kids with special needs, or a parent or a spouse who is ill or a handicap that keeps you from working, or an addiction or an abusive partner or maybe even a limited IQ or lack of self esteem? <strong>How do you/we/them/us/samesamesame decide who deserves a little help?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <p>Scratchit,</p> <p>&quot;Me thinks you thinks too much for your own good.&quot; </p> <p>Most parents also try to protect their kids from knowing just how broke they are, and as a result, the kids want high ticket items that are unrealistic. I see it all the time. The kids usually say something like&quot; I only want a playstation, or I only want one thing for Christmas (that just happens to be $ 300), however unrealistic it might be.&quot;&nbsp; That's why I like gift cards, they can save 'em up for what they want.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10303 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10303 <p>Scratchit,</p> <p>&quot;Me thinks you thinks too much for your own good.&quot; </p> <p>Most parents also try to protect their kids from knowing just how broke they are, and as a result, the kids want high ticket items that are unrealistic. I see it all the time. The kids usually say something like&quot; I only want a playstation, or I only want one thing for Christmas (that just happens to be $ 300), however unrealistic it might be.&quot;&nbsp; That's why I like gift cards, they can save 'em up for what they want.</p> <p>On the subject of children.....  </p> <p>As a parent, I think that it is important to express your concerns to the kids regarding money.  Not that it should ever be the main topic of conversation year round, but what is wrong with telling the kids that you only have $100.00 to spend on them rather than $300.00??  I was upfront with my kids, when they asked me if I could get the new playstation for them..... I told them "No".   Plain and simple.  They then got their heads out of the clouds and realized that we aren't made of money.  Don't get me wrong, I love to spoil my children (in small ways), but I do think it is wrong to get them EVERYTHING that they want-even if you can afford it.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10308 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10308 <p>On the subject of children.....  </p> <p>As a parent, I think that it is important to express your concerns to the kids regarding money.  Not that it should ever be the main topic of conversation year round, but what is wrong with telling the kids that you only have $100.00 to spend on them rather than $300.00??  I was upfront with my kids, when they asked me if I could get the new playstation for them..... I told them "No".   Plain and simple.  They then got their heads out of the clouds and realized that we aren't made of money.  Don't get me wrong, I love to spoil my children (in small ways), but I do think it is wrong to get them EVERYTHING that they want-even if you can afford it.</p> <p><font size="2">&nbsp;I agree with Scratch's&nbsp;post&nbsp;only because I too read eeksitsaspider's first post before she edited it.&nbsp;&nbsp;She seemed very angry that poor folk got&nbsp;any help at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyway, she must of reread her post and saw that it seemed a bit harsh and revised it.&nbsp;&nbsp; So OK, &nbsp;NOW with this new post in mind i will say....&nbsp; &nbsp;Our system could do better for all and hopefully with our new government just around the corner things will get better. Sadly the budget is WAY too high right now to even consider extra funding without raising taxes.&nbsp;&nbsp; I wish everyone the best... everyone,&nbsp; &nbsp;and I wish there was a simple solution but there isn't.&nbsp; Although, If you can come up with proof of your income and&nbsp;how much you pay out to hospitals and special needs services etc etc,&nbsp;and submit this to organizations such as the Tehachapi News sometimes they will help by appealing to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10317 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10317 <p><font size="2">&nbsp;I agree with Scratch's&nbsp;post&nbsp;only because I too read eeksitsaspider's first post before she edited it.&nbsp;&nbsp;She seemed very angry that poor folk got&nbsp;any help at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyway, she must of reread her post and saw that it seemed a bit harsh and revised it.&nbsp;&nbsp; So OK, &nbsp;NOW with this new post in mind i will say....&nbsp; &nbsp;Our system could do better for all and hopefully with our new government just around the corner things will get better. Sadly the budget is WAY too high right now to even consider extra funding without raising taxes.&nbsp;&nbsp; I wish everyone the best... everyone,&nbsp; &nbsp;and I wish there was a simple solution but there isn't.&nbsp; Although, If you can come up with proof of your income and&nbsp;how much you pay out to hospitals and special needs services etc etc,&nbsp;and submit this to organizations such as the Tehachapi News sometimes they will help by appealing to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></p> Thanks Sparks. It's easy to take in the whole evolving blog and then call me a hate-filled...whatever. <br /> I responded to the one post that complained about not qualifying for charity based on income - and suggested that <strong>some other form of scrutiny might find her more deserving.&nbsp; </strong><br /> Still, I haven't seen anyone come up with&nbsp; any possible suggestion or idea how to determine <strong>who is the neediest</strong> based on anything other than income...<strong>that was my point.&nbsp;</strong> <br /> Whenever someone professes to know the correct and proper way to choose who is more deserving than the next guy, as&nbsp; far as I'm concerned, you deserve to be judged since you built and climbed up on the proverbial soapbox - or gallows, if you will.&nbsp; <br /> Call me Scrooge, but I actually donate to charity and I choose which ones - based on my personal criteria, as I would expect from any one able and willing to give. I know that when I let go of that check I am not going to see - or judge -&nbsp; the end result. I am not hate-filled - I am simply a realist.&nbsp; I have worked and studied human services and I know more than most about the injustices of the system. <br /> How many of you have SPAM in your inbox from some poor stranger who really <em>needs</em> your help this season? How many are you going to respond to - and how will you choose? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10322 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10322 Thanks Sparks. It's easy to take in the whole evolving blog and then call me a hate-filled...whatever. <br /> I responded to the one post that complained about not qualifying for charity based on income - and suggested that <strong>some other form of scrutiny might find her more deserving.&nbsp; </strong><br /> Still, I haven't seen anyone come up with&nbsp; any possible suggestion or idea how to determine <strong>who is the neediest</strong> based on anything other than income...<strong>that was my point.&nbsp;</strong> <br /> Whenever someone professes to know the correct and proper way to choose who is more deserving than the next guy, as&nbsp; far as I'm concerned, you deserve to be judged since you built and climbed up on the proverbial soapbox - or gallows, if you will.&nbsp; <br /> Call me Scrooge, but I actually donate to charity and I choose which ones - based on my personal criteria, as I would expect from any one able and willing to give. I know that when I let go of that check I am not going to see - or judge -&nbsp; the end result. I am not hate-filled - I am simply a realist.&nbsp; I have worked and studied human services and I know more than most about the injustices of the system. <br /> How many of you have SPAM in your inbox from some poor stranger who really <em>needs</em> your help this season? How many are you going to respond to - and how will you choose? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <p>Reply to sparks:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I DID NOT write the blog you mentioned, and i am sorry that you think i did. I would NEVER stoop that low. And i cannot believe someone would actually think that someone would ever do that.. Have a good day</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10323 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10323 <p>Reply to sparks:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I DID NOT write the blog you mentioned, and i am sorry that you think i did. I would NEVER stoop that low. And i cannot believe someone would actually think that someone would ever do that.. Have a good day</p> <p>Regardless of whether you sympathize with eek or even believe her, here is my take on charity. I don't analyze who needs what and who is sincere and who isn't. If I feel led to give to somebody or an organization, I believe God put that urge in my heart and I give. If I'm wrong...oh well. If they use the money to by booze instead of food, that's between them and and their maker. We Americans are the most giving people in the world. I'm sure a large part of charity is misused. But I think those who are able to give should. You never know, you could be the one in need some day.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10327 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10327 <p>Regardless of whether you sympathize with eek or even believe her, here is my take on charity. I don't analyze who needs what and who is sincere and who isn't. If I feel led to give to somebody or an organization, I believe God put that urge in my heart and I give. If I'm wrong...oh well. If they use the money to by booze instead of food, that's between them and and their maker. We Americans are the most giving people in the world. I'm sure a large part of charity is misused. But I think those who are able to give should. You never know, you could be the one in need some day.</p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Reply to sparks:</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">You are 100% wrong about me writing that blog. I have been accussed of many things but this tops it. I am a good person with a good heart and i would never do something like that. Whether you believe me or not i really dont care because i know the truth, and that is what matters to me. And I thank God there are people out there like the one who did post that blog.. and i pray for the ones who think it is all a lie..</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10328 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10328 <p><font color="#0000ff">Reply to sparks:</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">You are 100% wrong about me writing that blog. I have been accussed of many things but this tops it. I am a good person with a good heart and i would never do something like that. Whether you believe me or not i really dont care because i know the truth, and that is what matters to me. And I thank God there are people out there like the one who did post that blog.. and i pray for the ones who think it is all a lie..</font></p> Blaze hi sweetie, how is the wife and kids?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I agree with you totally once again, i don't care what the homeless want to use the money for...&nbsp;&nbsp; yeah go get drunk, whatever, have fun for a change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I too go where my heart leads me and I don't need to control how the people I help use the money. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10334 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10334 Blaze hi sweetie, how is the wife and kids?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I agree with you totally once again, i don't care what the homeless want to use the money for...&nbsp;&nbsp; yeah go get drunk, whatever, have fun for a change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I too go where my heart leads me and I don't need to control how the people I help use the money. <p><font color="#3366ff">Reply to sparks:</font></p> <p>I cant believe how awful this has turned out...I will not argue this anymore because its not worth my time... believe what you want... </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10336 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10336 <p><font color="#3366ff">Reply to sparks:</font></p> <p>I cant believe how awful this has turned out...I will not argue this anymore because its not worth my time... believe what you want... </p> well i have to say as a single mother of two i know it is hard and i have been through so much and no i dont have christmas for my kids but i cant bring my self to ask when i see all these others out here who have no food or homes i have that and that makes me happy christmas is not all about the presents its about the love so i may not have christmas for my kids but they have my love and those around thems love so i do fill blessed http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10384 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10384 well i have to say as a single mother of two i know it is hard and i have been through so much and no i dont have christmas for my kids but i cant bring my self to ask when i see all these others out here who have no food or homes i have that and that makes me happy christmas is not all about the presents its about the love so i may not have christmas for my kids but they have my love and those around thems love so i do fill blessed <p>Singlemother&nbsp;&nbsp; That's what it's all about, LOVE.&nbsp;&nbsp; Your children are very lucky indeed to have a mother like you.&nbsp; Merry Christmas!!!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10391 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10391 <p>Singlemother&nbsp;&nbsp; That's what it's all about, LOVE.&nbsp;&nbsp; Your children are very lucky indeed to have a mother like you.&nbsp; Merry Christmas!!!</p> <p>Hi Sparks, the family is well. Thanks for asking. Are you back in town now? How was AZ? I think you may be wrong about anonymous posts. I did a test by making an anonymous post on one of my own blogs under my wifes ID to see if it would show up on her profile. It didn't. Look at my blog at <a href="http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Blaze/1145#c_10416"><font color="#606420">http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Blaze/1145#c_10416</font></a>. I wrote the comment that reads &quot;Blaze, you need some serious dental work man&quot;. This comment does not appear in her profile&nbsp;under &quot;av8ing's Recent Comments&quot; (see her profile here <a href="http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/User/av8ing">http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/User/av8ing</a>).&nbsp;It does however appear in my profile under the section &quot;Recent Comments On Blaze's Blog&quot;. But this section lists <strong>all</strong> comments anybody has made on my blogs, not just <strong>my</strong> comments. Could you have been looking at &quot;Recent Comments On eeks Blog&quot; and not &quot;eeks Recent Comments&quot;?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10419 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10419 <p>Hi Sparks, the family is well. Thanks for asking. Are you back in town now? How was AZ? I think you may be wrong about anonymous posts. I did a test by making an anonymous post on one of my own blogs under my wifes ID to see if it would show up on her profile. It didn't. Look at my blog at <a href="http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Blaze/1145#c_10416"><font color="#606420">http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Blaze/1145#c_10416</font></a>. I wrote the comment that reads &quot;Blaze, you need some serious dental work man&quot;. This comment does not appear in her profile&nbsp;under &quot;av8ing's Recent Comments&quot; (see her profile here <a href="http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/User/av8ing">http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/User/av8ing</a>).&nbsp;It does however appear in my profile under the section &quot;Recent Comments On Blaze's Blog&quot;. But this section lists <strong>all</strong> comments anybody has made on my blogs, not just <strong>my</strong> comments. Could you have been looking at &quot;Recent Comments On eeks Blog&quot; and not &quot;eeks Recent Comments&quot;?</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">I am SOOO glad that finally the truth is out that i did not post that blog. And sparks i hope that next time that you will look into facts rather than assume something. Sometimes we &quot;jump the gun&quot; on things when we really shouldnt.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Also i apologize for anything i have said or done to upset you in anyway. Lets both keep blogging and just have a good time expressing our opinions. Have a great holiday season!!!</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10432 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10432 <p><font color="#ff0000">I am SOOO glad that finally the truth is out that i did not post that blog. And sparks i hope that next time that you will look into facts rather than assume something. Sometimes we &quot;jump the gun&quot; on things when we really shouldnt.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Also i apologize for anything i have said or done to upset you in anyway. Lets both keep blogging and just have a good time expressing our opinions. Have a great holiday season!!!</font></p> That was a good honest answer Sparks. I appreciate your concern for your fellow bloggers. I'm still not sure I'm convinced that eek was the author of the anonymous blog. Although I do find it interesting that it was deleted. The writing style of eek had some noticeable differences&nbsp;than the anonymous one. Most noticeable is the fact that eek never capitalizes the letter&nbsp;i when she is writing in the first person unless it is the first word of the sentence. The anonymous&nbsp;blogger does. I know that would be easy to change so I'm not saying this is evidence,&nbsp; just an indicator. I also will admit that I am a very trusting person. That has it's advantages and disadvantages. So I may be willing to give eek more benefit than she deserves...I don't know. So I'm going to remain neutral on my judgment. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10440 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10440 That was a good honest answer Sparks. I appreciate your concern for your fellow bloggers. I'm still not sure I'm convinced that eek was the author of the anonymous blog. Although I do find it interesting that it was deleted. The writing style of eek had some noticeable differences&nbsp;than the anonymous one. Most noticeable is the fact that eek never capitalizes the letter&nbsp;i when she is writing in the first person unless it is the first word of the sentence. The anonymous&nbsp;blogger does. I know that would be easy to change so I'm not saying this is evidence,&nbsp; just an indicator. I also will admit that I am a very trusting person. That has it's advantages and disadvantages. So I may be willing to give eek more benefit than she deserves...I don't know. So I'm going to remain neutral on my judgment. Sparks- I thank you for your concern.  I have emailed eekitsaspider and I just want to say that her requests were VERY modest. I personally do not feel it was Eek who posted the anonymous post either, but that is just me. I must say though that this blog has made me very sad. I did read her un edited blog and to be honest  yes, Eek seemed fustrated with the "system",but I am not holding that against her because I have been there.  I can understand working your butt off only to get by and you see people all around you managing.  I remember the way I felt when years ago my husband and I tried to get in at a limited income apt. complex only to be told the wait was for a year and a half, and as I left in my beat up LTD while looking at brand new civics, minivans, and SUV's sitting in the parking lot spaces of the complex,  I got angry and I was fed up with the "system". Not my finest moment, but I know what it's like to have your husband work as a "professtional" and risk his life for people and yet at the end of the day feel like we have nothing to show for it.  I've been there. Yes, partly because I chose to be there( I was and am still a SAHM ) for something that was more important to me than a new car, house, or "things".  Anyway getting off topic here, but I think you get the picture.   <font size= http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10446 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10446 Sparks- I thank you for your concern.  I have emailed eekitsaspider and I just want to say that her requests were VERY modest. I personally do not feel it was Eek who posted the anonymous post either, but that is just me. I must say though that this blog has made me very sad. I did read her un edited blog and to be honest  yes, Eek seemed fustrated with the "system",but I am not holding that against her because I have been there.  I can understand working your butt off only to get by and you see people all around you managing.  I remember the way I felt when years ago my husband and I tried to get in at a limited income apt. complex only to be told the wait was for a year and a half, and as I left in my beat up LTD while looking at brand new civics, minivans, and SUV's sitting in the parking lot spaces of the complex,  I got angry and I was fed up with the "system". Not my finest moment, but I know what it's like to have your husband work as a "professtional" and risk his life for people and yet at the end of the day feel like we have nothing to show for it.  I've been there. Yes, partly because I chose to be there( I was and am still a SAHM ) for something that was more important to me than a new car, house, or "things".  Anyway getting off topic here, but I think you get the picture.   <font size= <p>God is good ALL the time.  Happy Holidays to all the bloggers.  </p> <p>From a single mother, living in San Diego on a limited income in a studio apt, with a teenage son.  No complaints.  I am exactly where i am supposed to be and i have EVERYTHING i need.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10523 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10523 <p>God is good ALL the time.  Happy Holidays to all the bloggers.  </p> <p>From a single mother, living in San Diego on a limited income in a studio apt, with a teenage son.  No complaints.  I am exactly where i am supposed to be and i have EVERYTHING i need.</p> The system is not a free ride for poor people... i am a single mother with 2 children.. i have been unemployed for 6 months and living off $280per month..it wasn't that i wasn't looking.. just hard to find a job that will let you work day care hours..i finally found a job a couple months ago and i am struggling to get christmas together. I always try to make sure my kids are greatful for what they do have even if it isn't much.. i take every extra dollar i have and get their clothes and shoes and anything else they might need..so be thankful for what you do have even if you live paycheck to paycheck, be thankful you have one and don't have to worry about getting diapers or how your going to get milk because you don't get enough food stamps to last all month........... http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10560 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10560 The system is not a free ride for poor people... i am a single mother with 2 children.. i have been unemployed for 6 months and living off $280per month..it wasn't that i wasn't looking.. just hard to find a job that will let you work day care hours..i finally found a job a couple months ago and i am struggling to get christmas together. I always try to make sure my kids are greatful for what they do have even if it isn't much.. i take every extra dollar i have and get their clothes and shoes and anything else they might need..so be thankful for what you do have even if you live paycheck to paycheck, be thankful you have one and don't have to worry about getting diapers or how your going to get milk because you don't get enough food stamps to last all month........... <p>Jewels, lotsoluv...&nbsp;&nbsp; I admire both of you.&nbsp;&nbsp; Living on a fixed income or having to live off welfare is difficult for single mothers.&nbsp; I truly don't know how you do it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>lotsoluv...&nbsp;As I have said before I don't mind giving up a couple of cups of&nbsp;espresso each month to help the poor.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I hear&nbsp;people say they are tired of paying for people who don't work... what they don't know is&nbsp;that welfare (AFDC and food stamps) only takes up 2% of the federal budget and with minimum wage going up they expect this amount to lower.&nbsp;The majority of welfare recipients are single white women with an average of two kids.&nbsp; Although It doesn't matter who a person is or what color they are, we&nbsp;need to protect ALL children and their mothers.&nbsp; Sure there are some who take advantage of the system, but most do not.&nbsp; I am not willing to make the majority suffer because of a few. </p> <p>Find out where your money is really going here: <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/</a>&nbsp;most goes to Defense, Social Security, and Medicare.</p> <p>Thankfully,&nbsp;most Americans do care about the poor,&nbsp;and we are happy that you and your children are not suffering, or out on the streets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Happy Holidays ladies&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10575 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10575 <p>Jewels, lotsoluv...&nbsp;&nbsp; I admire both of you.&nbsp;&nbsp; Living on a fixed income or having to live off welfare is difficult for single mothers.&nbsp; I truly don't know how you do it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>lotsoluv...&nbsp;As I have said before I don't mind giving up a couple of cups of&nbsp;espresso each month to help the poor.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I hear&nbsp;people say they are tired of paying for people who don't work... what they don't know is&nbsp;that welfare (AFDC and food stamps) only takes up 2% of the federal budget and with minimum wage going up they expect this amount to lower.&nbsp;The majority of welfare recipients are single white women with an average of two kids.&nbsp; Although It doesn't matter who a person is or what color they are, we&nbsp;need to protect ALL children and their mothers.&nbsp; Sure there are some who take advantage of the system, but most do not.&nbsp; I am not willing to make the majority suffer because of a few. </p> <p>Find out where your money is really going here: <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/</a>&nbsp;most goes to Defense, Social Security, and Medicare.</p> <p>Thankfully,&nbsp;most Americans do care about the poor,&nbsp;and we are happy that you and your children are not suffering, or out on the streets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Happy Holidays ladies&nbsp;</p> i am very happy that we are not out on the streets ... its just that alot of people tend to streo-type people who are on welfare.. and trust me i am looking forward to the day when i can get off.. i just wated everyone to realize that welfare is not a free ride... it may be for some but it hasn't been for me.. it a viscious little thing... soon as you do get a job they cut all your benefits down so far that you just about can't afford to survive.. but the Lord has blessed my family and seen us through some hard times... i am very blessed to have such wonderful children.. i feel like the richest woman in the world, because of all the blessings i have.. i have learned that money is not everything, sure you need it to survive but its how you help others and the love you share in this world that really counts in the end http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10586 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10586 i am very happy that we are not out on the streets ... its just that alot of people tend to streo-type people who are on welfare.. and trust me i am looking forward to the day when i can get off.. i just wated everyone to realize that welfare is not a free ride... it may be for some but it hasn't been for me.. it a viscious little thing... soon as you do get a job they cut all your benefits down so far that you just about can't afford to survive.. but the Lord has blessed my family and seen us through some hard times... i am very blessed to have such wonderful children.. i feel like the richest woman in the world, because of all the blessings i have.. i have learned that money is not everything, sure you need it to survive but its how you help others and the love you share in this world that really counts in the end <p><strong><u>&quot;We Americans are the Most Giving&quot; </u></strong>....................wow, Im almost without words. Ive never heard anyone say this nor&nbsp;have I seen this&nbsp;written. I certainly dont know anyone whos lived abroad who would even beleive that. Sorry Blaze. Americans as a society compared to others, well; we are quite selfish, self centered and very lazy. We do give, not nearly as much as we should or could and generally on the whole when we give its usually to the wrong organization and or people.</p> <p>&nbsp;To the subject, I do find that alot of people state they need help but make too much to receive any? Its such a dilemma. Part of the problem is Income, many gov and private agencies use between 12-22k a year to qualify for low income. That figure has&nbsp; been in use for over a decade.............hello... someone making 36k-40k with no dependants could barely survive in this economy. So step 1 would be to raise the income level. Some of you have mentioned&nbsp; with regards to &nbsp;giving, You do what you feel led to do. So you can understand when&nbsp;I say that for those that beleive, your God will provide your needs. Touchy subject. I hope you all have a truly blessed christmas. Jewels if you read this ....Im excited for you, theres nothing better than being where the lord wants you to be.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10590 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10590 <p><strong><u>&quot;We Americans are the Most Giving&quot; </u></strong>....................wow, Im almost without words. Ive never heard anyone say this nor&nbsp;have I seen this&nbsp;written. I certainly dont know anyone whos lived abroad who would even beleive that. Sorry Blaze. Americans as a society compared to others, well; we are quite selfish, self centered and very lazy. We do give, not nearly as much as we should or could and generally on the whole when we give its usually to the wrong organization and or people.</p> <p>&nbsp;To the subject, I do find that alot of people state they need help but make too much to receive any? Its such a dilemma. Part of the problem is Income, many gov and private agencies use between 12-22k a year to qualify for low income. That figure has&nbsp; been in use for over a decade.............hello... someone making 36k-40k with no dependants could barely survive in this economy. So step 1 would be to raise the income level. Some of you have mentioned&nbsp; with regards to &nbsp;giving, You do what you feel led to do. So you can understand when&nbsp;I say that for those that beleive, your God will provide your needs. Touchy subject. I hope you all have a truly blessed christmas. Jewels if you read this ....Im excited for you, theres nothing better than being where the lord wants you to be.</p> I must have missed Blaze's comment,&nbsp;&nbsp; What makes me proud to be an American is that we do take care of our poor and our elderly.&nbsp;&nbsp; We do however seem to be more compassionate about the elderly than we do about the poor and women with children living on welfare.&nbsp; It's kind of sad, I know we are not the most giving, I will give you that, but I believe Americans will never let down our fellow Americans.&nbsp; We will take care of our own.&nbsp; I also think it's wonderful how some have faith in their God and believe he/she will provide their needs.&nbsp; If for any other reason, it give them hope. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10608 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10608 I must have missed Blaze's comment,&nbsp;&nbsp; What makes me proud to be an American is that we do take care of our poor and our elderly.&nbsp;&nbsp; We do however seem to be more compassionate about the elderly than we do about the poor and women with children living on welfare.&nbsp; It's kind of sad, I know we are not the most giving, I will give you that, but I believe Americans will never let down our fellow Americans.&nbsp; We will take care of our own.&nbsp; I also think it's wonderful how some have faith in their God and believe he/she will provide their needs.&nbsp; If for any other reason, it give them hope. <p>I think its great you beleive those things. I sure wish that was the case. Our country is one of the worst on the planet when it comes to providing for our elderly and poor. Theres virtually no excuse for homeless people in our country, one of many obstacles is the belief &quot;poor people choose thier situation&quot; or &quot;they are lazy looking for a handout&quot; I cant imagine why any person would choose poverty, which leads me to beleive well to do people (primarily wealthy conservative republicans who allege to be christian) invent these suggestions out of thier own greed to releive the burden and responsibility of humanist to provide a solution to such problems. Giving water to the thirsty or food to the hungry is so basic and seems to elude us as a society. If we ever do take care of our poor or elderly, maybe then we can actually have some pride in the country we currently beleive we are.</p> <p>&nbsp;PS try telling katrina victims &quot; Americans will never let down our fellow Americans.&nbsp; We will take care of our own.&nbsp;&quot;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10615 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10615 <p>I think its great you beleive those things. I sure wish that was the case. Our country is one of the worst on the planet when it comes to providing for our elderly and poor. Theres virtually no excuse for homeless people in our country, one of many obstacles is the belief &quot;poor people choose thier situation&quot; or &quot;they are lazy looking for a handout&quot; I cant imagine why any person would choose poverty, which leads me to beleive well to do people (primarily wealthy conservative republicans who allege to be christian) invent these suggestions out of thier own greed to releive the burden and responsibility of humanist to provide a solution to such problems. Giving water to the thirsty or food to the hungry is so basic and seems to elude us as a society. If we ever do take care of our poor or elderly, maybe then we can actually have some pride in the country we currently beleive we are.</p> <p>&nbsp;PS try telling katrina victims &quot; Americans will never let down our fellow Americans.&nbsp; We will take care of our own.&nbsp;&quot;</p> <p>You have a point jme...&nbsp;&nbsp; I was talking to my mother and she said in her homeland ( Austria) they don't have homeless people because they take care of them, and they take care of the mentally ill as well.&nbsp; She also said no one has to worry about medical benefits and the elderly over there are taken care of much better than the elderly here are.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have been doing research on this since your last post and yes I agree with you now.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not about being a Republican or Democrat.&nbsp; Although since my last encounter with aero i did run out and register as a Democrat.&nbsp; lol&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although, I think there are many Republicans who agree with you as well the election proved that.&nbsp; I really do hope this new government changes the negative path we have been dragged on..</p> <p>I actually registered as a Republican when I was 18&nbsp;because a friend of mine told me about President Lincoln...&nbsp; well things have changed haven't they?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10616 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10616 <p>You have a point jme...&nbsp;&nbsp; I was talking to my mother and she said in her homeland ( Austria) they don't have homeless people because they take care of them, and they take care of the mentally ill as well.&nbsp; She also said no one has to worry about medical benefits and the elderly over there are taken care of much better than the elderly here are.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have been doing research on this since your last post and yes I agree with you now.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not about being a Republican or Democrat.&nbsp; Although since my last encounter with aero i did run out and register as a Democrat.&nbsp; lol&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although, I think there are many Republicans who agree with you as well the election proved that.&nbsp; I really do hope this new government changes the negative path we have been dragged on..</p> <p>I actually registered as a Republican when I was 18&nbsp;because a friend of mine told me about President Lincoln...&nbsp; well things have changed haven't they?</p> <p>This is a very touchy subject isn't it?&nbsp; I saw a news report the other night that was about a Christmas party for less wealthy children and it was fairly scarce in comparison to ones in larger metropolitan areas, but the point made by the woman that helped put this together was that maybe we should each help another person <strong>we</strong> <em><u>know</u></em> to be struggling.&nbsp; Someone from our own&nbsp; neighborhoods.&nbsp; Unfortunately, (this is my opinion) alot of people in this country do not know their neighbors.&nbsp; Our lives are all too busy to pay attention.&nbsp; We are all too fear-based to take a risk in introducing ourselves to one another or involve ourselves with our neighbors' day to day struggles.&nbsp; And then of course there is the 'pride' some of us feel that doesn't allow us to ask for help or let anyone know we are currently struggling.&nbsp; I'm guessing it's the price we've come to expect from progress.&nbsp; There was a time in this country when in some areas when the farmer next door lost his barn or home the neighbors held a barn raising party.&nbsp; Some urban areas held rent parties for one another in their neighborhoods for one person or another that was having a particularly tough time of it .&nbsp; Neighbors cooked a cassorole or something if they knew someone in their neighborhood was having a hard time and needed to eat.&nbsp; It seems to me that progress has taken from us our humanity, in a greater or lesser degree.&nbsp;</p> <p>(This is a generalized opinion, of course there are people who do great charity works and do concern themselves with their neighbors stuggles, it just seems they are far and few apart from the majority)</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10617 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10617 <p>This is a very touchy subject isn't it?&nbsp; I saw a news report the other night that was about a Christmas party for less wealthy children and it was fairly scarce in comparison to ones in larger metropolitan areas, but the point made by the woman that helped put this together was that maybe we should each help another person <strong>we</strong> <em><u>know</u></em> to be struggling.&nbsp; Someone from our own&nbsp; neighborhoods.&nbsp; Unfortunately, (this is my opinion) alot of people in this country do not know their neighbors.&nbsp; Our lives are all too busy to pay attention.&nbsp; We are all too fear-based to take a risk in introducing ourselves to one another or involve ourselves with our neighbors' day to day struggles.&nbsp; And then of course there is the 'pride' some of us feel that doesn't allow us to ask for help or let anyone know we are currently struggling.&nbsp; I'm guessing it's the price we've come to expect from progress.&nbsp; There was a time in this country when in some areas when the farmer next door lost his barn or home the neighbors held a barn raising party.&nbsp; Some urban areas held rent parties for one another in their neighborhoods for one person or another that was having a particularly tough time of it .&nbsp; Neighbors cooked a cassorole or something if they knew someone in their neighborhood was having a hard time and needed to eat.&nbsp; It seems to me that progress has taken from us our humanity, in a greater or lesser degree.&nbsp;</p> <p>(This is a generalized opinion, of course there are people who do great charity works and do concern themselves with their neighbors stuggles, it just seems they are far and few apart from the majority)</p> Sometimes I get very excited regarding this subject...sorry. I am currently dealing with being the only democrat in a family full of republicans who are all far better off financially then me. I get frustrated because they all truly beleive they help people and I just dont see it. My efforts are very immediate................ie I can feed a hungry person but my family would say that person is just lazy......and is choosing to sponge off my emotion. where my family may donate $ &nbsp;to a charity and they feel content. I bring up political party only because having recently moved here&nbsp;I have met so many conservative republicans who wont help people but actually think they are christians just because they go to church.Helping one another is so basic..............yet so often we are wrapped up in our own lives to notice our nieghbors in need. Scooter has such a great point. I also like that sparks mentioned Abe lincoln. I know so many republicans that are quite taken with him. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as well.&nbsp;If we loved each other as much as our selves, we would be so better off. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10618 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10618 Sometimes I get very excited regarding this subject...sorry. I am currently dealing with being the only democrat in a family full of republicans who are all far better off financially then me. I get frustrated because they all truly beleive they help people and I just dont see it. My efforts are very immediate................ie I can feed a hungry person but my family would say that person is just lazy......and is choosing to sponge off my emotion. where my family may donate $ &nbsp;to a charity and they feel content. I bring up political party only because having recently moved here&nbsp;I have met so many conservative republicans who wont help people but actually think they are christians just because they go to church.Helping one another is so basic..............yet so often we are wrapped up in our own lives to notice our nieghbors in need. Scooter has such a great point. I also like that sparks mentioned Abe lincoln. I know so many republicans that are quite taken with him. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as well.&nbsp;If we loved each other as much as our selves, we would be so better off. jme It's different for me... Everyone in my family is a Democrat except for one, she is just hateful.&nbsp; lol&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And, I&nbsp;have the most money, I am also the most giving.&nbsp; I love scooters idea of helping&nbsp;people in our own neighborhood. That is why i do free webpages for folks in Tehachapi and help my neighbors with yard work or supplies&nbsp; Speaking of webpages, I would love to post what you wrote in your blog <span class="bako_listtitle"><strong><font size="2">&quot;Preserving Our quality of Life&quot;</font></strong></span> on a new site I made for the&nbsp;Tehachapi Mountain Democratic Club.&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you mind???&nbsp;&nbsp; If you would like to check out the site first or post it yourself it's here:&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://wud1.com/tmdc/">http://wud1.com/tmdc/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Let me know because I think a lot of valid issues were brought up in that statement of yours. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10619 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_10619 jme It's different for me... Everyone in my family is a Democrat except for one, she is just hateful.&nbsp; lol&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And, I&nbsp;have the most money, I am also the most giving.&nbsp; I love scooters idea of helping&nbsp;people in our own neighborhood. That is why i do free webpages for folks in Tehachapi and help my neighbors with yard work or supplies&nbsp; Speaking of webpages, I would love to post what you wrote in your blog <span class="bako_listtitle"><strong><font size="2">&quot;Preserving Our quality of Life&quot;</font></strong></span> on a new site I made for the&nbsp;Tehachapi Mountain Democratic Club.&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you mind???&nbsp;&nbsp; If you would like to check out the site first or post it yourself it's here:&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://wud1.com/tmdc/">http://wud1.com/tmdc/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Let me know because I think a lot of valid issues were brought up in that statement of yours. I hear you eekitsaspider,&nbsp; I am in the same boat. I have not received child support ($400.00/month) in almost a year now. The last little bit of money I received from my two daughters father was $300.00 last December (2006)!! I can not go after him for the child support without paying court fee's as we are not divorced yet and no legal papers have been filed do to lack of money. He also now lives in another state.<br /> I too fall within the middle range of income supposedly (just under $40,000.00/yr). Which, I would like to know who makes the decisions on what the range of pay should be and have they updated that in the last 20 yrs because to live on what I make with two children is nuts where I live (Chicago area) and I refuse to move to the ghetto and allow my children to get shot just so I can have a little bit of money in my pocket at the end of a pay period!! <br /> I am a single mother work full time and come home to my two preteen daughters ages 13 and 11.<br /> I had to use and max out credit cards just to keep my utilities on and borrow from my 401k of which I can no longer borrow from as I have had to take out two loans. I have $0.00 in savings and live pay check to almost the next paycheck ( doesn't even get that far). I mean really, are they keeping up with the cost of living at all!! Just to have a dependable car (with over 100,000 miles on it), to put gas in my car, the cost of food, the cost of utilities going up, the cost of everything sky rocketing! How can anyone on a single income or a double normal range income afford anything?!? <br /> I am trying to do all I can to keep my kids fed and clothed and keep them at just the normal level of living. Which by no means is above which they should be. I have no extra money coming in and now Christmas is coming. I had $300.00 left on one credit card and bought them each 2 things from the&nbsp; catalog at which that credit card belonged to.&nbsp; Yes $300.00 was my limit.<br /> Where to people like me go for help? This is nuts! And all seems to be going downhill as prices continue to rise and incomes begin to fall.&nbsp; Even at&nbsp; a&nbsp; higher end company, they were able to give just a 3% raise this year, some didn't even get that!! That is not keeping up with the cost of living AT ALL!! Hell that won't even put a tank of gas in the car. Moving further out won't help because that is just more wear and tear and even more gas for the car. <br /> There has to be a solution. We can't all move to the same place to try to save money! <br /> Maybe we should just end Christmas all together and add in there with that Easter and Birthdays and anything else that was once enjoyable.&nbsp; <br /> How come 20 yrs ago we were able to do it? Why not now? How come even though we made less 20 yrs ago the cost seemed to stay at a level at which people could afford things still?<br /> I don't know I just had to vent on this subject as well. I can totally agree with what you are saying.&nbsp; <br /> Just do the best you can with what you have right? Otherwise form a Union and make a stand. I guess that is all you can do!<br /> Good Luck and best wishes to all!! Hopefully better times will come. <br /> Myself I am hoping to someday win the lottery to get me out of this messed up jam I am in. In the meantime it will make my children appreciate everything they DO have instead of everything they DON'T have.&nbsp; Yes we could all have A LOT more but we can also have A LOT less! <br /> &nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166476 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166476 I hear you eekitsaspider,&nbsp; I am in the same boat. I have not received child support ($400.00/month) in almost a year now. The last little bit of money I received from my two daughters father was $300.00 last December (2006)!! I can not go after him for the child support without paying court fee's as we are not divorced yet and no legal papers have been filed do to lack of money. He also now lives in another state.<br /> I too fall within the middle range of income supposedly (just under $40,000.00/yr). Which, I would like to know who makes the decisions on what the range of pay should be and have they updated that in the last 20 yrs because to live on what I make with two children is nuts where I live (Chicago area) and I refuse to move to the ghetto and allow my children to get shot just so I can have a little bit of money in my pocket at the end of a pay period!! <br /> I am a single mother work full time and come home to my two preteen daughters ages 13 and 11.<br /> I had to use and max out credit cards just to keep my utilities on and borrow from my 401k of which I can no longer borrow from as I have had to take out two loans. I have $0.00 in savings and live pay check to almost the next paycheck ( doesn't even get that far). I mean really, are they keeping up with the cost of living at all!! Just to have a dependable car (with over 100,000 miles on it), to put gas in my car, the cost of food, the cost of utilities going up, the cost of everything sky rocketing! How can anyone on a single income or a double normal range income afford anything?!? <br /> I am trying to do all I can to keep my kids fed and clothed and keep them at just the normal level of living. Which by no means is above which they should be. I have no extra money coming in and now Christmas is coming. I had $300.00 left on one credit card and bought them each 2 things from the&nbsp; catalog at which that credit card belonged to.&nbsp; Yes $300.00 was my limit.<br /> Where to people like me go for help? This is nuts! And all seems to be going downhill as prices continue to rise and incomes begin to fall.&nbsp; Even at&nbsp; a&nbsp; higher end company, they were able to give just a 3% raise this year, some didn't even get that!! That is not keeping up with the cost of living AT ALL!! Hell that won't even put a tank of gas in the car. Moving further out won't help because that is just more wear and tear and even more gas for the car. <br /> There has to be a solution. We can't all move to the same place to try to save money! <br /> Maybe we should just end Christmas all together and add in there with that Easter and Birthdays and anything else that was once enjoyable.&nbsp; <br /> How come 20 yrs ago we were able to do it? Why not now? How come even though we made less 20 yrs ago the cost seemed to stay at a level at which people could afford things still?<br /> I don't know I just had to vent on this subject as well. I can totally agree with what you are saying.&nbsp; <br /> Just do the best you can with what you have right? Otherwise form a Union and make a stand. I guess that is all you can do!<br /> Good Luck and best wishes to all!! Hopefully better times will come. <br /> Myself I am hoping to someday win the lottery to get me out of this messed up jam I am in. In the meantime it will make my children appreciate everything they DO have instead of everything they DON'T have.&nbsp; Yes we could all have A LOT more but we can also have A LOT less! <br /> &nbsp; <p><font color="#0000ff">chigirl I am glad we are in the same boat here. Life for me and my family has always been a struggle, if suddenly it got easy I don't think we would know what to do. No one said life would be easy I just wish life wasn't so darn hard at times.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">There is a quote from Mother Theresa that&nbsp;I have framed and it says &quot; I know God won't give me anything I cannot handle I just wish he didn't trust me so much.&quot; </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Just hang in there chigirl and hopefully things will get better for all of us...</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166564 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166564 <p><font color="#0000ff">chigirl I am glad we are in the same boat here. Life for me and my family has always been a struggle, if suddenly it got easy I don't think we would know what to do. No one said life would be easy I just wish life wasn't so darn hard at times.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">There is a quote from Mother Theresa that&nbsp;I have framed and it says &quot; I know God won't give me anything I cannot handle I just wish he didn't trust me so much.&quot; </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Just hang in there chigirl and hopefully things will get better for all of us...</font></p> <p>I am just curious, Why does everyone expect a handout and expect the gov't or a charity&nbsp;to pay for their food/bills/lifestyle?</p> <p>Life is expensive, we all know that. Children are&nbsp;expensive, we know that too. don't have them if you can't afford them and if you do stop thinking someone else should be there to magically give you hand-outs. </p> <p>There are people that are truly in need and they are the ones charities need to focus on., and yes, they are the people with little/no income not someone sitting pretty in thier suburbia house with thier new SUV in the driveway that wants more than they are willing to work for. </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166589 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166589 <p>I am just curious, Why does everyone expect a handout and expect the gov't or a charity&nbsp;to pay for their food/bills/lifestyle?</p> <p>Life is expensive, we all know that. Children are&nbsp;expensive, we know that too. don't have them if you can't afford them and if you do stop thinking someone else should be there to magically give you hand-outs. </p> <p>There are people that are truly in need and they are the ones charities need to focus on., and yes, they are the people with little/no income not someone sitting pretty in thier suburbia house with thier new SUV in the driveway that wants more than they are willing to work for. </p> <p><em>There are people that are truly in need and they are the ones charities need to focus on., and yes, they are the people with little/no income not someone sitting pretty in thier suburbia house with thier new SUV in the driveway that wants more than they are willing to work for. </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And yet the people here are clearly not in that category so your point is??</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166593 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166593 <p><em>There are people that are truly in need and they are the ones charities need to focus on., and yes, they are the people with little/no income not someone sitting pretty in thier suburbia house with thier new SUV in the driveway that wants more than they are willing to work for. </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And yet the people here are clearly not in that category so your point is??</p> Smokey spoken like a true Republican.......I got mine so f--- you! http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166601 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166601 Smokey spoken like a true Republican.......I got mine so f--- you! Not all Republicans think this way. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166618 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166618 Not all Republicans think this way. Countygirl that's because your a moderate republican. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166624 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166624 Countygirl that's because your a moderate republican. <p>Your right countygirl, this is a standard talking point from the left, they always say the right says, &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;I got mine so f--- you!&quot; but I know of no republicans who think &nbsp;this way, in fact, it has been proven that Republicans give more to charity that Democrats. In his book, <em>Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism,</em> Arthur C. Brooks presents research showing that religious conservatives are more charitable than secular liberals. He says people who support the idea that government should redistribute income are among the least likely to dig into their own wallets to help others. Included in his book is an analysis of 15 sets of data that he says all came to the same conclusion.<br /> So, it seems that Republicans are really saying, &quot;I worked hard for what I have, and I will help out those who are less fortunate than me, why don't you&quot;?, </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166630 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166630 <p>Your right countygirl, this is a standard talking point from the left, they always say the right says, &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;I got mine so f--- you!&quot; but I know of no republicans who think &nbsp;this way, in fact, it has been proven that Republicans give more to charity that Democrats. In his book, <em>Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism,</em> Arthur C. Brooks presents research showing that religious conservatives are more charitable than secular liberals. He says people who support the idea that government should redistribute income are among the least likely to dig into their own wallets to help others. Included in his book is an analysis of 15 sets of data that he says all came to the same conclusion.<br /> So, it seems that Republicans are really saying, &quot;I worked hard for what I have, and I will help out those who are less fortunate than me, why don't you&quot;?, </p> <font size="3">Just now on the noon news there was a story about George Clooney donating a chunk of money to the writers on strike who are &quot;suffering&quot;. Part of me thought, 'wow how generous', the other part said 'what the f**k. There are much more needier causes'. Shouldn't these people have prepared since they knew they would be striking around the holidays? Shouldn't their union be helping them?</font> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166636 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166636 <font size="3">Just now on the noon news there was a story about George Clooney donating a chunk of money to the writers on strike who are &quot;suffering&quot;. Part of me thought, 'wow how generous', the other part said 'what the f**k. There are much more needier causes'. Shouldn't these people have prepared since they knew they would be striking around the holidays? Shouldn't their union be helping them?</font> <p><font color="#0000ff">The point of this blog was that there are those of us out here that are working our as# off and doing our best to support our Families and sometimes things get tough and we need a little extra help, but there is nothing out there for us because we don't qualify, so we do our best with what we have, which at times is nothing.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff"></font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166689 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/eekitsaspider/1213/#c_166689 <p><font color="#0000ff">The point of this blog was that there are those of us out here that are working our as# off and doing our best to support our Families and sometimes things get tough and we need a little extra help, but there is nothing out there for us because we don't qualify, so we do our best with what we have, which at times is nothing.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff"></font></p>