"What is your excuse America" (Stargazer99)

[Tess Anderson]

LINK

She lives in one of the most liberal states in the country, the same one I live in, what a bitter old bitch:

Stargazer99 (925 posts)      Sun Aug-14-11 04:57 PM
Original message
What is your excuse America
 I'm 70 years old, work two jobs at $10 per hr (no benes) to pay the living expenses. I have diabetes and cardiovascular problems along with fighting depression almost every week. $100 is taken from my monthly $803.00 and $100 is taken from Mr's 940 social security. Rent is $890.00 and we live with broken windows,rotting tile,rotting deck. The city of Puyallup charges us $100 per month for its services, garbage $80 and electricity varies from $100 to $400 in the winter. You brilliant conservative jerks are perfectly happy with cutting heating assistance. Mr is ill with heart problems and freezes in the winter. I do not know how I'm going to pay for the heat/electricity this winter. Now why in the hell do you think I would become depressed? Must be a chemical imbalance right?

Last year the mattress sprung a spring. We slept on it until it was totally unbearable. I bought a used matteress and had a neighbor deliver it to the house. Guess what, it had bed bugs! there is not enough money to have someone come and haul it away nor is there enough money to buy a new mattress that would be sure not to have bed bugs. That is only one reason I detest this country.

Mr. crawled under houses doing plumbing work most of his life at low wages with no retirement. Why didn't we save for retirement you say? Just how clueless are you. After paying the rent,utilities, car repairs, food, doctor bills you REALLY think there is some left over for the luxury of saving for retirement? Much less doctor and dentist bills! Just how clueless can you get?

Two years ago my daughter died from a condition that is preventable from death by proper medical attention. Do you have any idea how I resent having to work with and pay rent/utilites to those who have medical care? What makes you more valuable than her life? Money? Oh I see you had money or health insurance for which you got a tax deduction. I get a tax deduction for nothing and yes I so pay taxes. My land lord gets the tax deduction while I pay for it.

I kindest thing the poor can do for its children is not to have any. That way their soul and spirit would not be damaged. You anti abortionist are damned liars, you think life is so precious, you're not kidding the poor. The well to do can go to Canada or Europe and get an abortion, but not the poor. I think it is because you asshats need cannon fodder for your wars. We know the well to do and powerful do not put their children on the front line to die, but you put our children in the front lines to die protecting your damned corporations.

Do I sound a little angry? Geeze I wonder why. I'm sick of this country, especially when I see the medical needs of developed Europe do not let people needlessly die. doctors and dentist will not let the government train others in these skills in our government to serve the low income people because they might not get every nickel out of those needing their services.

Don't give me this crap about emergency rooms and state dental care. After the emergency room gets through taking you to a collection agency and the state is willing to pull your teeth but not repair the damage done by years of dental damage. Wonderful choices!

Capitalism works? For who? just like slavery worked fine except for the slaves. The poor are one of the most hated groups in this country. Pledge of Allegiance? Forget it, its your country not mine, I just live here. Wait until more jobs are lost. I guess that is what its going to take before we start looking like England and of course we know only the "criminally minded" riot? Just how stupid, compassionless and ignorant can a nation get?
 

then move, retard

[captrandom]

LINK

She lives in one of the most liberal states in the country, the same one I live in, what a bitter old bitch:


then move, retard

Well I know one way she can save some money. Kill the internet service. How much did she spend on that computer?  If she bought it new, that is 2 beds right there...


As for the bedbugs, she can thank Mexico and the other cesspool countries for those.  We had those eradicated till our liberal masters decided to turn us into the honey pot of the world.

[Delmar]

She is precisely 70 years old and uses the word benes(sp?).  If a 70 year old did use that word I think they'd spell it bennies.  She sounds too grumpy to be believable.  Someone with her plight should sound more pathetic if she wants to be believed.

[miskie]

Do you know why you have bedbugs ?

-- Look no further than 'environmentally friendly' cleaning and disinfectant agents as well as lower temperature clothes & fabric washing.

When everyone used 'Evil' chemicals and kept their water heaters nice and hot, bedbugs and other similar pests were nearly eradicated. You reap what you sow, primitive.

[seahorse513]

I have a hard time dredging up sympathy. For the past 30 years, It has been said to get a 401k or an IRA, or some sort of retirement plan or life insurance. Why didn't they move into a low income complex or assisted living for the elderly?

[DumbAss Tanker]

You could have just flipped the mattress, ya crabby old git.  And you can thank the environmentalists in YOUR party for outlawing everything that would put a dent in your bedbugs.

[Duke Nukum]

If she is 70, that means she probably started voting around 1962, when she turned 21 (assuming she was a good citizen). So, who has she been voting for the last 49 years?

Obama was supposed to change everything, and he didn't. QED, she made her own bed and is now lying in it. Such as it is.

[GOBUCKS]

Just as I say to every DUmmy, without exception, Stargazernumbers could make the world a better place
if she would simply take a tip from khephra and Andy, and die.

There is only one intelligent sentence in the entire tale:

I[sic] kindest thing the poor can do for its children is not to have any.

And even that one sentence has a stupid typo  in it.

Like nearly every DUmp sob story, the chance that this one is true is nearly zero,
but anyone who can even make this stuff up should ESAD.

[USA4ME]

Sounds like someone wants to step into Bobo's territory since she hasn't been around to claim it.

.

[I_B_Perky]

Stargazer99 (925 posts)      Sun Aug-14-11 04:57 PM
Original message
What is your excuse America
 I'm 70 years old, work two jobs at $10 per hr (no benes) to pay the living expenses. My mom was 75, still teaching at a parochial school to help pay dad's medical bills since medicare pretty much sucks.I have diabetes and cardiovascular problems along with fighting depression almost every week. So did my dad along with dialasys$100 is taken from my monthly $803.00 you are getting off cheap. Mom and I had to pay waaaay more for dialysis and the ambulance to transport him there cause medicare would olny pay so much. Did we bitch on an internet forum? No. We did what we had to do.and $100 is taken from Mr's 940 social security. Rent is $890.00 and we live with broken windows,rotting tile,rotting deck. The city of Puyallup charges us $100 per month for its services, garbage $80 and electricity varies from $100 to $400 in the winter. You brilliant conservative jerks are perfectly happy with cutting heating assistance. Mr is ill with heart problems and freezes in the winter. I do not know how I'm going to pay for the heat/electricity this winter. Now why in the hell do you think I would become depressed? Must be a chemical imbalance right? Poor bitch/bastard. I have no sympathy for you. Instead of spending all your money during your working years, maybe you could have saved? My dad didn't, so I was stuck with paying the bills. Seems like your generation ****ed up all around. Maybe if you had raised your kids right, they would be there for you. You reaped what you sowed. No sympathy.

Last year the mattress sprung a spring. We slept on it until it was totally unbearable. I bought a used matteress and had a neighbor deliver it to the house. Guess what, it had bed bugs! there is not enough money to have someone come and haul it away nor is there enough money to buy a new mattress that would be sure not to have bed bugs. That is only one reason I detest this country. Get rid of the mattress and sleep on the floor, dumbass. I've done it, so can you. And what is this about nobody hauling it away? If your rural, take it outside and throw some gas on it and set it on fire. If your not, the trsh folks will haul it away.

Mr. crawled under houses doing plumbing work most of his life at low wages with no retirement. Why didn't we save for retirement you say? Just how clueless are you. After paying the rent,utilities, car repairs, food, doctor bills you REALLY think there is some left over for the luxury of saving for retirement? Much less doctor and dentist bills! Just how clueless can you get? Plumbers make good money if they ain't incompetent or lazy. My granddad on my mother's side was a plumber. Made all kinds of money.

Two years ago my daughter died from a condition that is preventable from death by proper medical attention. Do you have any idea how I resent having to work with and pay rent/utilites to those who have medical care? What makes you more valuable than her life? I pay taxes and not on the dole.Money? Oh I see you had money or health insurance for which you got a tax deduction. I get a tax deduction for nothing and yes I so pay taxes. Can't get a tax deduction if you don't pay taxes idiot. EIC notwithstandingMy land lord gets the tax deduction while I pay for it. He saved and invested his money. You didn't. You lose.

I kindest thing the poor can do for its children is not to have any. The unproductive, I won't call them poor cause they ain't, are out breeding the productive thanks to welfareThat way their soul and spirit would not be damaged. You anti abortionist are damned liars, you think life is so precious, you're not kidding the poor. The well to do can go to Canada or Europe and get an abortion, but not the poor. I think it is because you asshats need cannon fodder for your wars. We know the well to do and powerful do not put their children on the front line to die, but you put our children in the front lines to die protecting your damned corporations. Really? Lazy welfare folks do not join the military. Middle class folks join the military. Maybe if more welfare folks would join the military, they might get self some respect/work ethic so they wouldn't be welfare folks anymore.

Do I sound a little angry? Geeze I wonder why. I'm sick of this country, then move!especially when I see the medical needs of developed Europe do not let people needlessly die. doctors and dentist will not let the government train others in these skills in our government to serve the low income people because they might not get every nickel out of those needing their services.

Don't give me this crap about emergency rooms and state dental care. After the emergency room gets through taking you to a collection agency and the state is willing to pull your teeth but not repair the damage done by years of dental damage. Wonderful choices!

Capitalism works? For who? Works for me. Of course I got an education while my friends partied. I work harder than anyone else in my organization and the money took care of itself.just like slavery worked fine except for the slaves. You depend on government, you are a slave. The poor are one of the most hated groups in this country. Wonder why? Maybe because they are lazy and make bad decisions and want the rest of us to pay for it?Pledge of Allegiance? Forget it, its your country not mine, I just live here. Please move! I'll pay for the plane ticket as long as it is to Cuba or North Korea. Wait until more jobs are lost. Who is the president now? Oh that's right!!! I liberal dem name oboma!I guess that is what its going to take before we start looking like England and of course we know only the "criminally minded" riot? Nope... those on the dole rioted.Just how stupid, compassionless and ignorant can a nation get? I am compassionate... just not for lazy asses that won't take care of themselves.

[Delmar]

gateley   (1000+ posts)           Sun Aug-14-11 05:13 PM
Response to Original message
1. Wow. Brilliant - and heartbreaking.
   
You should e-mail this to Obama, it MAY be one of the letters he reads and he needs a nudge.

I hope that she does send this to Obama and he highlights her plight in some speech.  I always enjoy when a president gets caught falling for a bouncy.

[Mike220]

Stargazer99 (925 posts)      Sun Aug-14-11 04:57 PM
Original message
What is your excuse America
 I'm 70 years old, work two jobs at $10 per hr (no benes) to pay the living expenses. I have diabetes and cardiovascular problems along with fighting depression almost every week. $100 is taken from my monthly $803.00 and $100 is taken from Mr's 940 social security. Rent is $890.00 and we live with broken windows,rotting tile,rotting deck. The city of Puyallup charges us $100 per month for its services, garbage $80 and electricity varies from $100 to $400 in the winter.

I'm calling complete and total bullshit on this, and therefore the rest of your story. Unless the electric rates have dectupled (is that a word? OK, increased 10 times) since I moved home from Seattle in 2007, I'm not buying it. Even in the dead of winter, my electric bill averaged about $50-60 per month. It was dirt freaking cheap compared to Texas since a lot of the power came from hydro.

[Ballygrl]

I'm calling complete and total bullshit on this, and therefore the rest of your story. Unless the electric rates have dectupled (is that a word? OK, increased 10 times) since I moved home from Seattle in 2007, I'm not buying it. Even in the dead of winter, my electric bill averaged about $50-60 per month. It was dirt freaking cheap compared to Texas since a lot of the power came from hydro.

My electric bill has doubled in the past 5 years, the Democrats snuck in all these frigging charges!

[Mike220]

My electric bill has doubled in the past 5 years, the Democrats snuck in all these frigging charges!

I could see it doubling or tripling and 100-150 is not unbelievable, but average going up 9-10 times to $400/mo? Not buying.

[wasp69]

Stargazer99 (925 posts)      Sun Aug-14-11 04:57 PM
Original message
What is your excuse America
 I'm 70 years old, work two jobs at $10 per hr (no benes) to pay the living expenses.

You're 70 and still have to work shit jobs?  Damn, that sucks.  Probably should have done something about that whole education and career thing when you were in your 20's, huh?

$100 is taken from my monthly $803.00 and $100 is taken from Mr's 940 social security.

What?  No pony?  Obama must have run out of stimulus money before he got to you, huh?

Look on the bright side, at least you are doing your patriotic duty even if it is $100 at a time.

Rent is $890.00 and we live with broken windows,rotting tile,rotting deck.

Have you looked into buying a used Buick?

The city of Puyallup charges us $100 per month for its services, garbage $80 and electricity varies from $100 to $400 in the winter. You brilliant conservative jerks are perfectly happy with cutting heating assistance. Mr is ill with heart problems and freezes in the winter. I do not know how I'm going to pay for the heat/electricity this winter.

If you think that I am stupid enough to believe that you cannot get "assistance" for being "destitute" from the taxpayers of the state of blue hell Washington and from DC, then I have a bridge in NY to sell you real cheap.

Now why in the hell do you think I would become depressed? Must be a chemical imbalance right?

Nope, it's from finally realizing that you squandered your youth and we are no longer willing to pay for your ****ups, DUmmie. 

Last year the mattress sprung a spring. We slept on it until it was totally unbearable. I bought a used matteress and had a neighbor deliver it to the house. Guess what, it had bed bugs! there is not enough money to have someone come and haul it away nor is there enough money to buy a new mattress that would be sure not to have bed bugs.

Man, that sure sucks.  Makes me wonder how it is you manage to sacrifice for a monthly internet connection so you can bitch about how badly you ****ed up your own life on DU.

That is only one reason I detest this country.

Yeah, but you'll never leave.  Not as long as you can still soak money out of taxpayers.  What's more, no matter how badly obama has failed in delivering you your pony, you'll still pull the D lever.

Mr. crawled under houses doing plumbing work most of his life at low wages with no retirement.

Not my fault "Mr." didn't know how to improve himself and make a better future.  Especially as a damn plumber.

Why didn't we save for retirement you say? Just how clueless are you. After paying the rent,utilities, car repairs, food, doctor bills you REALLY think there is some left over for the luxury of saving for retirement? Much less doctor and dentist bills! Just how clueless can you get?

You couldn't manage to put aside money between 1981 and 2007 and you're asking me how clueless I am?

 

Stupid is as stupid does, DUmmie.

Two years ago my daughter died from a condition that is preventable from death by proper medical attention.

No she didn't.  If she had, you would be a rich DUmmie from the malpractice lawsuit.

Do you have any idea how I resent having to work with and pay rent/utilites to those who have medical care?

Do you have any idea how I resent having to work my ass off and pay for those too lazy to do for themselves?

My land lord gets the tax deduction while I pay for it.

Then you are a frikkin' idiot.  What did you do to change it?  Oh, duh, you did nothing!  You sat around with your hands out waiting for them to be filled!

 

What was I thinking?

You anti abortionist are damned liars, you think life is so precious, you're not kidding the poor. The well to do can go to Canada or Europe and get an abortion, but not the poor. I think it is because you asshats need cannon fodder for your wars.

I've been there and done that, sweetheart, and can tell you for a fact that DUmmies are useless; even as cannon fodder.

We know the well to do and powerful do not put their children on the front line to die, but you put our children in the front lines to die protecting your damned corporations.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4669290.ece

Do I sound a little angry? Geeze I wonder why.

Because you're a bitter, DUmmie bitch?

I'm sick of this country, especially when I see the medical needs of developed Europe do not let people needlessly die. doctors and dentist will not let the government train others in these skills in our government to serve the low income people because they might not get every nickel out of those needing their services.

Hope and change!

Don't give me this crap about emergency rooms and state dental care. After the emergency room gets through taking you to a collection agency and the state is willing to pull your teeth but not repair the damage done by years of dental damage. Wonderful choices!

You are the ones you have been waiting for!

Capitalism works? For who? just like slavery worked fine except for the slaves. The poor are one of the most hated groups in this country. Pledge of Allegiance? Forget it, its your country not mine, I just live here.

Sucking up resources and sitting with your hand out. 

If it were up to me, DUmmie, you wouldn't have to "suffer" another day here.  I would make damn sure you were sent to the workers paradise of your choice.

Wait until more jobs are lost. I guess that is what its going to take before we start looking like England and of course we know only the "criminally minded" riot? Just how stupid, compassionless and ignorant can a nation get?

Got news for you, DUmmie:  If the feral youth of America pull this kind of stunt, they will soon find out to what lengths decent, civilized people will go to protect what they have worked for. 

Unlike England, we're armed.

[Bodadh]

I'm 70 years old, work two jobs at $10 per hr (no benes) to pay the living expenses. I have diabetes and cardiovascular problems along with fighting depression almost every week. $100 is taken from my monthly $803.00 and $100 is taken from Mr's 940 social security. Rent is $890.00 and we live with broken windows,rotting tile,rotting deck.

Let's see here....combined Social Security of $1540 after $200 is taken out. Two jobs paying $10 a hour. Let's assume that comes to a total of 30 hours between the two. $300 a week, estimate after taxes maybe around $225 a week. That is $900 a month. Total household income of $2440 a month. Take away rent and you get $1550. If you watch expenses that is doable. They both qualify for Medicare so "benes" is a moot point.

The fact the man was a plumber and doesn't have a pot to piss in at 70 raises a red flag. Plumbers make damn good money. He was either a bad one, a unreliable one who hopped from company to company, or they just pissed away everything they made as they made it and couldn't be bothered to plan for the future. And what did the woman do for the past 50 years? For the past 30 years it was normal for a woman to work full time too and I would think her kids were big enough for her to do so during that time period. They did not invest in a home and did not even try to put anything away for retirement.

IF this is not a bouncy then this is a case of a couple of bonehead spendthrifts with no problem solving skills who are mad that they are not living they life they feel they are entitled to at 70. They want others to feel sorry for their lousy decisions. I am softie but I just can not make my self feel sorry for them. This is not the fault of mean ol conservative politicions. This is all on them.

Side note: I just can not begrude anyone in poverty having a computer and a connection these days. In fact my computer has kept a bad phase in my life from getting worse. I use mine all time as my main means of communication ( e mail, IM, skype voice ), continuing my education, job searching and directions to jobs, printing out coupons, buying and selling stuff ( Craig's list ) and my main source of entertainment without a TV ( free on line games, youtube and hulu, Pandora, DVD player with DVDs from the library ). But as a back up plan I still have access to the library computers and my Kindle has free 3G with e mail and web and more then enough books and games on it to keep me entertained. ( I will sell my computer if I have to but not the Kindle.)

You can find a good used laptop for $200, get a Virgin Mobile WiFi for $80 and get web access for $10 if you don't need it much, $20 for a few days of web, or $50 for unlimited for a month. I have seen good printers at the thrift store for $10. Get a ink refill kit at the drug store for $20. Cheaper then basic cable or dial up. Being broke doesn't mean you have to STAY broke. Nor does it mean you have to live like a rat in a wall.

[captrandom]

Side note: I just can not begrude anyone in poverty having a computer and a connection these days. In fact my computer has kept a bad phase in my life from getting worse. I use mine all time as my main means of communication ( e mail, IM, skype voice ), continuing my education, job searching and directions to jobs, printing out coupons, buying and selling stuff ( Craig's list ) and my main source of entertainment without a TV ( free on line games, youtube and hulu, Pandora, DVD player with DVDs from the library )

I completely understand where your coming from.  My financial situation is getting pretty precarious and some days my internet seems like it might have to be considered a luxury.  But all in all it is a luxury.  While land line phone connections are still +=25 a month from ma bells pups and we can get 3 or 4 digital air channels for basic entertainment and information.

There is absolutely no reason why anyone receiving handouts should have cable, cellular, and internet when people who bust their ass working are having a hard time making ends meet legitimately..

Don't take this like i'm coming down on you, cause im not...it sounds like we are very similar..                     Im just really moody tonight...

[Bodadh]

I completely understand where your coming from.  My financial situation is getting pretty precarious and some days my internet seems like it might have to be considered a luxury.  But all in all it is a luxury.  While land line phone connections are still +=25 a month from ma bells pups and we can get 3 or 4 digital air channels for basic entertainment and information.

There is absolutely no reason why anyone receiving handouts should have cable, cellular, and internet when people who bust their ass working are having a hard time making ends meet legitimately..

Don't take this like i'm coming down on you, cause im not...it sounds like we are very similar..                     Im just really moody tonight...

No not all. Tho I should clarify. I have no TV ( so no cable or satillite ) and no land line ( no net connection ). I use the Virgin Mobile WiFi I was talking about. I had to scrimp to get it but it was worth it since I can not spend all day in the library and being in a rural area they do not have the best hours. But I was able to get by by using the free wifi at McDonald's from time to time. When I am really strapped I pay $20 for about 5 days of access tho the $50 makes more economic sense. ( When I have the $50 anyway ) and I got a pay as you go cell from Dollar General for $10 and pay $15 a month for that so jobs can reach me when I am not near a computer. ( Gawd I miss my Blackberry )

This week I might get a TV receiver for my computer so I can watch local television again. The point is even when just getting by you can still have communications and entertainment on a shoestring if you are careful and plan things out. Or you can be a DUmmie and gripe to others on line about how hard life is and blame others for your ills while paying for cable and high speed DSL.

[Bodadh]

I guess I should add that I have gotten used to not having a actual TV so I don't think I will get one again even when things do get better. The TV receiver will be fine and my old boombox is fine for background noise. And I no longer see the need in getting a real internet connection when I can get what I need for $12.50 a week without a two year contract. Tho I might get Hulu plus and Netflix again. There is not much on basic cable that is not on Hulu plus and Netflix and Amazon have pretty much everything on the premium movie channels.

Let's see....net, hulu, netflix, cell phone=$81 a month or $20.25 a week not counting Amazon or Redbox picking up any movie slack. Cheaper then any phone, net , TV bundles out there and no pain in the ass contrats or monthly statements.

I can get used to the simple life.

[captrandom]

I guess I should add that I have gotten used to not having a actual TV so I don't think I will get one again even when things do get better. The TV receiver will be fine and my old boombox is fine for background noise. And I no longer see the need in getting a real internet connection when I can get what I need for $12.50 a week without a two year contract. Tho I might get Hulu plus and Netflix again. There is not much on basic cable that is not on Hulu plus and Netflix and Amazon have pretty much everything on the premium movie channels.

Let's see....net, hulu, netflix, cell phone=$81 a month or $20.25 a week not counting Amazon or Redbox picking up any movie slack. Cheaper then any phone, net , TV bundles out there and no pain in the ass contrats or monthly statements.

I can get used to the simple life.

^^ hey i didnt meant to sound like an ass..   hand-out faeries would be asking more more more while we are cutting back...   

[Bodadh]

^^ hey i didnt meant to sound like an ass..   hand-out faeries would be asking more more more while we are cutting back...   

No worries friend, you didn't come across as a ass in any way.

[diesel driver]

Reading the exchange between captrandom and Bodadh couldn't highlight the difference between conservatives and liberals any clearer.

Conservatives "make do" with what life gives them.  They can literally take lemons and make lemonade.

Liberals "get by" with what government gives them, then bitch when it isn't enough.

And, it's never enough for them.

[jtyangel]

Question for stargazer: Are we supposed to give a shit more for your own daughter then you did that you LET her die? Now I would never say such a thing to someone normally experienced in such a tragedy, but when you try and tsk tsk at me for some lack of concern over someone that is yours and try to put some culpibility on others, then it will need to be given back to the person who had more control over the situation...her own damn mother. Come on now. If that were my daughter, I would have been encouraging her to go and we will figure out any bills somehow. My guess is when she came to you with any concerns you fed her the same pity party money story and she felt guilty and delayed going or they were just so ingrained from a child she did the same--well stop projecting your guilt onto other people. Sometimes, we need to hold the tongue when it comes to our own shortcomings, knowing when the right time to say something is or isn't. And we shouldn't give our children that their good health is something optional. When they are in distress, as a parent, you reassure them sometimes to get them to do the right thing for their own well-being.


I bet when these two were 30, 40, and 50 they poo pooed people like me as being too serious(I work fulltime, go to school, care for my kids, and try to keep myself in shape and it takes all my time doing those things). What they don't understand is there is usually a sacrifice for someone who 'has money' or resources. I'm making that sacrifice now--I have NO life other then what I mentioned above. Why can't, even though 'poor', they be happy with the fact that they probably had more time to live life then someone like I did at the same age. Be happy with the choices they have made at the time and acknowledge that they might be paying for it on the back end, but damnit, we enjoyed life when we were younger? Seriously, some people really need perspective.  Life is all about choices--they could have made some difficult ones back then that would have drained time the way it is for them now and maybe been sitting better...who knows, but at some point we all need to take inventory of our own lives and make different choices if need be...I think most people tend to do this way before 70 and are apt to a lot less resentment when life still affords them options that come with a more youthful age.

Stargazer, I'm sorry your daughter died, both because you lost a child and probably your only resource for help in your old age, but that's not anybodies fault but the person who delayed getting care and I know that's painful to hear, but it is what it is. Your struggles with this are your own, not the rest of the USA. Come to peace with it and find a way to enjoy your older years even though you still have to work for a while longer. Enjoy the moments with your  husband--remember some women at 70 don't even have their spouses anymore..you are fortunate in that at least. You still have a partner and a companion to share your life with. Find some joy in that.

[jtyangel]

BTW, stargazer's post exemplifies what Rush said the other day(although her and husband have worked and she still works so that makes her a bit of an exception, however her attitude is not). Rush said this is not about the haves and the have nots anymore..this about the unproductive versus the productive. Basically the dog versus the fleas. I think he's absolutely right. All stargazer does is lunp her and her husband in with those who aren't doing shit...that's what should really chap her hide..that she feels more kindred spirit with losers and layabouts then with other working people who have some kind of pride and ethic to do what they can for themselves. She lost something somewhere. Lady, you should be more insolent, not that your landlord gets more of HIS OWN MONEY back in his pocket with taxes, but that layabouts take the little you might pay in yourself. That's where your ire should be.

[jtyangel]

I'm calling complete and total bullshit on this, and therefore the rest of your story. Unless the electric rates have dectupled (is that a word? OK, increased 10 times) since I moved home from Seattle in 2007, I'm not buying it. Even in the dead of winter, my electric bill averaged about $50-60 per month. It was dirt freaking cheap compared to Texas since a lot of the power came from hydro.

2100 sq foot house here in the great lakes area with crappy insulation ran us 250-300 a month for heat

1500 sq foot condo(basement puts it up to about 2400 sq foot), same area, newer construction, better insulation, but I see some issues around the door--130-150 a month for heat.

Natural gas. I do believe electric costs more to heat but I'm not certain. Her numbers are believable especially if the place is insulated very crappy, which it sounds like. I agree with someone else who said they should find lower income retirement places with some assisted living aspects. I see any number of them now cropping up that are basically an apartment building with some kind of a nursing staff and can provide meals if the person wants. It might cost them just as much but it would be clean, heat and such would be provided as part of their monthly expense, their medicare may pay for part of it since it sounds like they have no pot to piss in, and they would have access to some sort of medical staff.