Yeah, it was quite the story... and, in fact, it's the same old story, writ large and played over and over again.
Husband/Dad earns $15.70 (actually now, according to the story, $18 per hour) per hour after 6 years. Wife/Mom is working, so their combined income is $42,000. Additionally, they get an unlisted amount of food stamps and WIC benefits. Wife/Mom managed to get a "college degree" (AA? BA?) in Human and Social Services... whatever that is.
Mom, at least, has been on "government aid" for the last 13 years, but strangely believes that "Five or six years ago, things were more affordable. We weren't going, 'Oh my God, I can't have children because I can't afford them."
Wait... what?
Here's a clue: if you're on government aid of any kind, guess what?
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE (MORE) CHILDREN. And according to the story, their youngest is 3.
Additionally, of course, they have, according to the story, car payments, student debts, medical expenses and emergency loans.
How? Why? Part time lunch lady with a college degree?
The reality is clear: it's not their circumstances which are responsible for their miserable financial picture; it's a series of poor decisions that has brought them to this point.
If this woman didn't believe, even 5 or 6 years ago, that they weren't making enough to have more kids, they have no one to blame but themselves.
And Scott Bailey, quoted in the story, who said: "Jobs for lower-skilled people that pay family wages" are "missing" must have skipped the fact that the woman has a college degree but has been CHOOSING to work as a PART-TIMER LUNCH LADY.
She has some sort of a degree. How can she POSSIBLY be thought of as "lower-skilled?"
This isn't a function of the local economy. This is a function of a lack of vision, critical thinking and responsibility for their own actions.
It's easy to blame everything but yourself for your situation. But in this case, introspection does not appear to be a part of their wheel house.
Husband/Dad earns $15.70 (actually now, according to the story, $18 per hour) per hour after 6 years. Wife/Mom is working, so their combined income is $42,000. Additionally, they get an unlisted amount of food stamps and WIC benefits. Wife/Mom managed to get a "college degree" (AA? BA?) in Human and Social Services... whatever that is.
Mom, at least, has been on "government aid" for the last 13 years, but strangely believes that "Five or six years ago, things were more affordable. We weren't going, 'Oh my God, I can't have children because I can't afford them."
Wait... what?
Here's a clue: if you're on government aid of any kind, guess what?
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE (MORE) CHILDREN. And according to the story, their youngest is 3.
Additionally, of course, they have, according to the story, car payments, student debts, medical expenses and emergency loans.
How? Why? Part time lunch lady with a college degree?
The reality is clear: it's not their circumstances which are responsible for their miserable financial picture; it's a series of poor decisions that has brought them to this point.
If this woman didn't believe, even 5 or 6 years ago, that they weren't making enough to have more kids, they have no one to blame but themselves.
And Scott Bailey, quoted in the story, who said: "Jobs for lower-skilled people that pay family wages" are "missing" must have skipped the fact that the woman has a college degree but has been CHOOSING to work as a PART-TIMER LUNCH LADY.
She has some sort of a degree. How can she POSSIBLY be thought of as "lower-skilled?"
This isn't a function of the local economy. This is a function of a lack of vision, critical thinking and responsibility for their own actions.
It's easy to blame everything but yourself for your situation. But in this case, introspection does not appear to be a part of their wheel house.
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