Wow with that kind of bad attitude you should move to another country. America is a country for people that want to stand on their own two feet and be free to do whatever they want, not to be lazy and expect the government to pamper them with everything. As they say "Freedom is not Free", but Americans take it for granted.

I've lived in other countries and I much prefer it here....and life is good in comparison.

I don't exactly have a bad attitude - but I've seen too much that is not right. People who have worked all their lives are losing their homes and everything that they worked for. That is not laziness. At least not to me.

I do not like what this country has become. Too many corporate giants doing anything they want - no regulation on anything. I am against all the companies merging and merging and merging. I said it a long time ago - in "X" amount of years, if this kept up, the whole world would be owned by a dozen of so people. I am also against all these companies moving to China, India, Mexico, etc. It is taking jobs away from too many people.

Cripe - we don't even make clothes in our country anymore.

I'm all in favor of trade with other countries - but I am against all the imports that have taken jobs.

In the past 3 days we've lost a restaurant chain - another 400 or so out of work - and they are waiting to hear if they will get their last 2 weeks of pay that they worked for. Sure - servers don't make much - not even minimum - but they did work for their money and they are worried about losing what little they made.

We had 6 steel plants in the area - now we haven't even got one. There alone were thousands of jobs.

Supermarket chains have merged and merged - and their prices have been too high from all this for some time - because they own all the stores in the area they can do it.

Budget cuts have made our school systems - especially city schools - some of the poorest. Most can't afford books for the kids - and that is something I will never understand. The schools are now serving free breakfasts and lunches to the kids - many will only see food from school - there is none or very little home. Food banks are trying to supply foods to 3 to 4 times as many as they had before - their shelves are empty.

Prices are high and going higher on everything - seniors are choosing between meals and meds. 401K's have lost money. And you can't tell me our stock market is solid - because I don't believe it is.

So you see - it's not laziness - but when you have a government that is paying salaries to the Iraqi people to build up their country (mind you - a very rich country with their oil supplies) to the tune of $10 million or billion (whatever they said) and our own country is going down hill - something is wrong.

Am I against helping another country?? NO! Not at all. But there has to be another way. Do you see them giving us free oil for this??? Now wouldn't that be nice. But then again - due to the lack of government intervention and regulations - the oil companies would probably triple the price of gasoline anyway.

Is it laziness when you are pounding the pavement for 2 years and you cannot find a job? Not much money can be made and McDonald's or Burger King. Not enough to pay for a mortgage or two, car payments, credit cards, utilities, etc. or if you have a family to support.

Too many are unable to stand on their own two feet - they keep getting knocked down.

I would love for you to stand nose to nose with a friend of mine who has a child born with a disease that is considered pre-existing by the insurance companies and they won't pay a cent for any needed treatments - and tell the family they are too lazy to stand on their own two feet because they just can't do it. That family is suffering. But a child from another country born with the same disease can come here with their family and stay as long as they have to and receive free treatment and lodging - not even the trip here and back cost them a penny. What is the difference between the two families? Can you tell me that? Would you say that my friend is looking to be pampered by the government?

This has nothing to do with laziness, or 3rd, 4th and 5th generation welfare recipients (which I am dead set against) - it is what has happened in our country. It started in the mid-to-late 70s and has not gotten any better.

Life may still be better here for now - but for how long? Our country is not what it used to be. Our country does not care about the people - just pocketing tax money for themselves.

Insurance companies run everything - this way they don't have to pay out any money to those that have suffered losses during all these tornadoes, floods, etc. They donate so much money to the political parties (billions) so that they can run everything their way. It doesn't matter if it is health insurance, homeowners, etc. - they are all in it for the money - and they do not pay claims - they play in the gray areas. (don't get me started on insurance companies!)

It's a free country - say what you want - having a sour day doesn't make me a person with a bad attitude. I've worked my whole lifetime - 2 fulltime and a partimne job at once - going YEARS without a day off - including holidays. I'm not lazy - I'm not looking for a handout - never did.

You missed my point completely.

I totally agree with you Mama.
I buy alot of tyson chicken every month. Thats def gonna hurt my budget. We are so headed for a depression. No doubt about it.

I was talking to my father in law yesterday and we were discussing that very thing. He was telling me how much more expensive fertilizer was this year than last. His other son has like 70 chickens they are raising but it is costing them a fortune in feed. Plus the grankids have two ponies he is helping them buy feed for. People around here are practically giving away horses because no one can afford the feed and hay.

That is what I am talking about! Where is the so called "American Dream" of having a decent job, owning your own home, having a bit of a nest egg put away, kids going to college, less debt in your life and enjoying life and family? It's all going to the immigrants. hey - I am not against any immigrants - my family came over from Italy as well. And they took any kind of job to survive - especially during the Great Depression. In those days you didn't come here and get free housing, food stamps, free medical, money to start your own business and money to send back to the old country.

Now THAT is something I don't understand.

Since when can someone from another country come here 6 months out of the year - receive all kinds of assistance and money - send the money back to their country and then they retire - collect SSI at our expense and they go back to their country and we send them the checks each month??? hello - is anyone listening????

Who is watching that? NO ONE. And we put all their kids through college with all kinds of grants because they are not Caucasian.

Things are getting worse for the Americans. We don't have a country to run to when the jobs, food, money and medical run out.

What do we do for gasoline and car insurance. We pay car insurance and we can't drive like we used to and you dont' see the insurance go down. Will that (gasoline) be rationed as well? Take the city school busses off the road - let those kids walk a few blocks to school like we used to. It didn't hurt us and it won't hurt them.

They want us to think "green" and conserve water and power. What about all these gambling halls that are open 24/7? What about all these business that are open 24/7? We got along just fne years ago when the stored closed at 9 at night, half day on Wednesday and half day on Saturday and were closed all day on Sunday. It gave us family time - something you don't see any more. What about all these malls that are only hangouts???

Drive down the street and you will see 2 dozen or more restaurants in one spot. What for? Soon they won't be in business - no one will be able to pay for meals and tips. Those poor servers that get paid nothing now will definitely starve.

Why do convenience stores have to stay open 24/7? For what? cigarettes and beer?

By it another time and put it in your fridge.

Hospitals are closing down - now it's medical centers. Thanks to the insurance companies. Hey - have your baby and go right back to the cottonfields and pick with the baby on your back - they don't care. They don't care how sick you are - they won't pay. Die instead - it saves them money.

People are dumping dogs and cats out of cars - they cannot feed them anymore.

Families are going without for food. There is just no relief in sight for us. And our government claims that the job situation is fine and jobs are growing (yeah - where??? not here - everything is closing) and that we are not heading into a recession. Wall Street is supposed to be doing fine - why??? Is all the money going into China's stocks? That is where everything is made. Keep investing in China.

They want us to keep investing money in stocks - but can you trust the brokers? Too many friends lost tons of money because of their brokers.

I don't think it is going to end - it is only going to get worse. Hopefully a new president will be able to do something for us.

One thing - I would not want to be the next president in line with all this going on.

I would like to hope with a new president things will get better but I hold very little hope.
I honestly doubt people will get past their predjuces towards a woman or a man of color to put either Clinton or Obama in office. I have heard more than one person assume due to Obama's name he is some kind of terrorist. Clinton and Obama supporters will most likely vote McCain if their candidate looses the nomination.