gas prices

[cakadu]

Cowman, for many years there wasn't an employment situation the likes of which we have now. These days you can look at the help wanted ads and there are pages and pages of them in the Red Deer Advocate alone. It wasn't all that long ago when the help wanted ads took up 2 columns of the paper.

I would like to know how many immigrants are millionaires after being in this country for only a few years.

The sad reality is cowman, we do have a number of people going hungry in this province every day, many of them children.

Many of the seniors you speak of didn't have much for an education and worked at what jobs they could, again, for lower wages -- so would there have been any opportunity to save money for retirement?

There are many, many hardworking dedicated people out there who don't make over $10/hr. Try walking a few miles in their shoes, or better yet, go and work in their jobs for a month, but without your bank accounts or any of the other things that you have now.

Sometimes you really make me scratch my head cowman. By virtue of what you're saying here, the neighbor lady that you help out from time to time should just be left to her own devices because after all, life isn't fair sometimes. You've said she doesn't want to take things because she has a lot of pride - how do you think others in similar situations might feel?

[grassfarmer]

Millionaire immigrants - In the UK there are the famous Patel families, of East Indian origin expelled from Uganda under Idi Amin's regime. A bunch of them arrived in a boat with the clothes they stood up in - inside thirty years there were close to 20 of them in the "richest 100 people" category.

[cowman]

Actually Linda the neighborhood lady is basically being left to her own devices? She has a tough old row to hoe and shes doing the best she can.
I have no problem helping anyone out if they put in the effort to try to help themselves. But I don't believe government is, ever has been or ever will be the solution? Rob Peter to pay Paul is just plain wrong and evil in my opinion?
Consider this: The lowliest drunk in the gutter owns a share in the gas and oil resources in this province? In fact he owns a share in the roads, government buildings,airports, bridges,parks...is he getting a return on his assetts? How many countless billions of assetts does he own...and gets zero dollars for?
I believe that every person on this earth is the captain of his ship. If he/she chooses to be poor and not make an effort then that is their right. Sometimes the best efforts just don't work out...such is life? They need to get up off the floor and try try again...or accept their lot in life and not cry to the government to keep them? Just my opinion.

[coppertop]

cowman, if I follow your train of thought, then someone whose health detiorates and they cannot work they should either force themself to or just die in the gutter because the government should not help them !!

What about those folks who are elderly now and didn't have jobs that paid a fancy company pension, are they to exist on their own, pay rent etc., with what they receive in pensions or should there be no pensions, no seniors subsidized housing for low income seniors etc ????? Sometimes I wonder about you cowman, you seem to be compassionate one day and a hard nose the next !!

[cakadu]

Cowman, I've said before that we tend to judge others by how we would behave or by what we consider to be the "right" way. What if someone is doing the absolute best that they can, yet by your definition of "best" you consider that they are still missing the mark?

Explain to me how one "chooses to be poor?" I'm not sure that is on anyone's list of things to accomplish. When anyone gets marginalized long enough, you begin to believe it and breaking out of the cycle is very hard.

It is fairly easy to sit in judgment of others when we don't have to walk in their shoes. We also sometimes don't think of the consequences of our actions and how they may affect someone we don't even know. I'll give you an example. Many people have "greased" the palms of the oil patch through giving whiskey to get the job done or seal the deal. What about the wife and kids at home who are praying that someone doesn't give their husband/father that bottle of whiskey today because he may get started on a drinking binge or God forbid, hit somebody after drinking that whiskey.

Of course you can say that she should leave him or that he shouldn't drink it, but many an alcoholic cannot say "no" to the drink and many a wife feels that she has no options but to stay.

Seems fairly innocent though, because all you've done is give that bottle of whiskey, right?

Compassion goes a long, long way.

[cowman]

Well unfortunately we don't live in "utopia" but the real world? Its a tough old world and everyone does what they have to survive.
In poker the best hand doesn't always win, but the best player usually does...and that is true in life! You have to play the hand you get dealt?
Now I believe the role of government is not to be a nanny for everyone and wipe their nose and make sure everyone lives in utopia...but obviously most don't share that view!
I also believe you can't force "compassion" on anyone. Robbing from one person to feed another is basically evil...and also takes away the chance for the robbee to ever develop empathy for those less fortunate than themselves?
I must be evil because I've greased the wheels on lots of deals. Hmmm...just like the politicians, big business, the purebred business! I guess I'm in good company? Just my opinion.

[coppertop]

cowman, I have a problem with government and society being expected to provide social programs, assistance etc. for those who can very well look after themselves. I do feel that we must ensure that no-one does without the basic necessities if, through no fault of their own, then cannot proivde for themselves.

I do think we need to have an overhaul of government support programs, and do away with many of the ones that are only make work projects for the people involved.

In our community and I am sure in many others, Family and Community Support Services exists to come up with programs to meet needs of people who require community support, however, some of the directions it takes are questionable to say the least.

[FarmKid]

This doesn't have a lot to do with gas prices, but I thought I'd throw my two cents into the discussion.

I have typically taken a stance similar to Cowmans, and I'm not sure if I now feel a lot different for most cases. I am, however, getting a crash course in social support and potential poverty in Canada. I have a reasonably good government job, a masters degree in agriculture science, one toddler and another kid due in about a month. My husband was diagnosed with brain cancer this January. We are facing long-term financial difficulties because he may very well die and could be very sick for a long time first. I need to continue working (with a break to have this baby) to support our family and provide the medical benefits that we can't afford to give up. So I'm going to be figuring out what government support (in Saskatchewan) we are entitled to and when. I don't intend for us to be on 'welfare', but our situation is so uncertain that I can't rule it out.

So it has given me an inside look at what it's like to be among the unfortunate. I think we'll manage somehow, but with less of what I would like to provide for my family. Fortunately, gas price fluctuation will have a relatively minor effect on our finances, since I can walk most places I need to go.

As financially secure as you might think you are right now, it can change very fast.

[cakadu]

FarmKid - first of all welcome. Second I wish you the strength and courage to get through the many months ahead. It must be so very difficult a time - the joy of a new baby coming and the long road ahead that your famiily/husband is facing as he recovers.

My hope is that you can find the resources that you need - whatever they may be - to help get you through all of this. It is absolutely amazing how your whole life can be changed in an instant.

Sometimes words are never enough. God bless you and your family.

[coppertop]

I echo those comments Farmkid. Unless we walk in someones shoes we never know how our lives may change .