Report: NC families struggling

The report, "Making Ends meet on Low Wages," looks at seven expenses: housing, food, childcare, health care, transportation, other necessities and taxes.

[This one]

People should NOT choose to patronize businesses that have succombed to the local 'Just Economics'
"mandate" of setting wages. Boycott any business that advertises this! The market sets the wages not some group of yokels who THINK they do...

[Homer Simpson]

Lets build more million dollar homes on the sides of the mountains and bring in more illegal Mexicans.That should help.And by the way,lets tell the Buncombe county comissioners to raise the property tax again. Wages will go up and jobs will appear I`m sure.

[Mtnbred]

Times are rough right now. It won't be much longer before everyone feels the 'pinch'.

[Carolinakat]

I don't see how the elderly are going to make it, especially with the cost of food going through the roof and most of those on SS are only eligable for $10 or $12 a month in food stamps.

[Last Buffalo]

Mtnbred wrote:

Times are rough right now. It won't be much longer before everyone feels the 'pinch'.

Exactly...it's coming. BTW, I LOVE that dog!!!

[Tourists Wanted]

Homer Simpson wrote:

Lets build more million dollar homes on the sides of the mountains and bring in more illegal Mexicans.That should help.And by the way,lets tell the Buncombe county comissioners to raise the property tax again. Wages will go up and jobs will appear I`m sure.

Rest assured that those living in the $1 million homes aren't struggling to pay their bills.

This article is clearly fixated on the population that tends to be: native, high school educated or lower, burdened with children at a young age, and lacking any sound career path to dig themselves out of the hole.

[Mtnbred]

Last Buffalo wrote:

<quoted text>
Exactly...it's coming. BTW, I LOVE that dog!!!

Isn't he cute??? We were playing a little softball when this little fellow came in to play hindcatcher for me. LOL He stayed right with me. His owner, a little girl of about 8 kept coming to get him, but the minute she put him down, here he came again tail wagging and just all giddy. I would like to have had that pup, but the little girl seemed so attached to him......LOL...

[Mtnbred]

Tourists Wanted wrote:

<quoted text>
Rest assured that those living in the $1 million homes aren't struggling to pay their bills.
This article is clearly fixated on the population that tends to be: native, high school educated or lower, burdened with children at a young age, and lacking any sound career path to dig themselves out of the hole.

Native?
So you are saying the native folks in this area are poor? Some of us may be poor in money, but we are rich in other ways you could never understand.

[Tourists Wanted]

Mtnbred wrote:

<quoted text>
Native?
So you are saying the native folks in this area are poor? Some of us may be poor in money, but we are rich in other ways you could never understand.

I am sure you are rich in many ways in your own mind, but the article is solely focused on finances, and the percentage of natives struggling is much higher than those of the transplants that you so often bellyache about.

Soon, we'll be seeing more contractors ripping people off to make a quick buck, eh?

[Stone Jack Baller]

I've no doubt the full impact of higher oil prices and other inflationary pressures is yet to be quantified. Let's just say it's not a good thing.

What I do caution readers to think about is the reference to the NC Justice Center. The name sounds very official and authoritative, similar too the US Department of Justice. Well, it’s not an official government body. It has its own parochial and political motives and agenda. I’m not saying its motives and agenda are good or bad – just that it is biased!

http://www.ncjustice.org/index.php

[Ghost Dog]

Gas prices and all other commodities are rising because of the War in Iraq, "W's" war of choice for personal agenda, Israel, Revenge and war profiteering. The worst is yet to come and "W" smirks, smiles and waves while he says "The Economy is Robust"! If you voted for the numbskull and his NEOCONs, then you are partly to blame so next time you fill up the tank, say "Thank You 'W', I needed that"!

[firefly]

Let's have a bigger government.

[Free]

Tourists Wanted wrote:

<quoted text>
Rest assured that those living in the $1 million homes aren't struggling to pay their bills.
This article is clearly fixated on the population that tends to be: native, high school educated or lower, burdened with children at a young age, and lacking any sound career path to dig themselves out of the hole.

We can't all be Dr.s, someone has to dig the ditches, wash the dishes, care for the elderly sell the vacuums and so on. Not all people are capable of getting or affording the formal education needed for those high paying jobs nor are they drawn to that kind of work.

That doesn't mean their skills and hard work shouldn't be valued at a reasonable rate capable of making bills and living modestly.

You should be careful of looking down your nose and feeling untouchable by the economy. All it would take for most people is for their employer to feel the pinch and decide you cost too much and damed if you ain't gonna be in the same row boat with the rest of us.

[Ghost Dog]

Those that call for a "Fair Tax" based upon sales of commodities, etc. are seeing an example of what it would be like under a "Fair Tax" vs. the income tax. The rich don't mind the $4 per gallon gas, that's not even pocket change to them, while the inherent inflation and costs associated with the price of gas/diesel do affect those on fixed incomes and low wage folks struggling to survive. Welcome to the "Elite Society" pushed by the "Skull and Bones" folks since the early 1800's and promoted by republicans from Reagan through both Bushes.$4 per gallon gas is a miniscule cost to the wealthy but takes food off the table and cuts out all discretionary income to the middle class and below. Did you vote for "W"?

[republican love]

All in the master plan to get rid of the middle class. If you don't make more than $300,000 then who cares about you? Incidentally, there is no way for the government to control the cost of gas, sorry. That is deregulated, and now up to the republican's free market to control. The dumb rednecks will never learn to vote in their self-interest. Ha! The main issues are:
Don't let the gays marry
stop the mexicans from taking jobs nobody else will do anyway
stay the course in Iraq
and my favorite.........make abortion illegal!!!!!
because god knows we want the criminal type single mothers to be able to raise a generation of unwanted criminals, instead of getting an abortion.

[Mtnbred]

Tourists Wanted wrote:

<quoted text>
I am sure you are rich in many ways in your own mind, but the article is solely focused on finances, and the percentage of natives struggling is much higher than those of the transplants that you so often bellyache about.
Soon, we'll be seeing more contractors ripping people off to make a quick buck, eh?

And where in the article does it say natives?
You don't think people all over the country aren't hurting?

The only Transplants who I bellyache about is the cutzie, knowitall, smartarse attitude kind of person. I don't like em and I never will. So there...

[G-hogg]

Ghost Dog wrote:

Gas prices and all other commodities are rising because of the War in Iraq, "W's" war of choice for personal agenda, Israel, Revenge and war profiteering. The worst is yet to come and "W" smirks, smiles and waves while he says "The Economy is Robust"! If you voted for the numbskull and his NEOCONs, then you are partly to blame so next time you fill up the tank, say "Thank You 'W', I needed that"!

What an utterly stupid statement! Iraq is producing more crude than in any time in their history. For most of Bush's term, the economy has bee robust with the highest sustained stock market in history, lowest unemployment, and a wage increase. And BTW, you can thank the "Futures Market" for the high gas prices.
It'll be interesting to see the results of Obama/Hillary slapping a windfall tax on petroleum markets. They will sell to India and China and we'll really be in a bind.
Next time you get gas, thank Bill Clinton, who vetoed drilling in ANWR, to increase our supply.

[OUTSPOKEN]

Reality check is in order.
Recently I saw five men getting a small house footing ready for inspection and pouring. The footing was dug by machine and was setting near and did so for the next two days that it took these men to get the footing ready There was five vehicles on the job site, expensive trucks and SUV's. I was told that none belonged to the property owner and that there were no illegal workers present.
Something is very wrong with our work ethic, economy and expectations.
We need to start with ourselves, then our goverment officials, from County Commissioners up to those that we elect for national office.

[OUTSPOKEN]

G-hogg wrote:

<quoted text>
What an utterly stupid statement! Iraq is producing more crude than in any time in their history. For most of Bush's term, the economy has bee robust with the highest sustained stock market in history, lowest unemployment, and a wage increase. And BTW, you can thank the "Futures Market" for the high gas prices.
It'll be interesting to see the results of Obama/Hillary slapping a windfall tax on petroleum markets. They will sell to India and China and we'll really be in a bind.
Next time you get gas, thank Bill Clinton, who vetoed drilling in ANWR, to increase our supply.

The ghost is dumb like a fox. He will have his affairs completed before this Administration leaves office because he is afraid that soon after the election, the rules (tax laws) will change.

[BIBROC]

G-hogg wrote:

<quoted text>
What an utterly stupid statement! Iraq is producing more crude than in any time in their history. For most of Bush's term, the economy has bee robust with the highest sustained stock market in history, lowest unemployment, and a wage increase. And BTW, you can thank the "Futures Market" for the high gas prices.
It'll be interesting to see the results of Obama/Hillary slapping a windfall tax on petroleum markets. They will sell to India and China and we'll really be in a bind.
Next time you get gas, thank Bill Clinton, who vetoed drilling in ANWR, to increase our supply.

Thanks Bill. We like depending on foreign countries for our oil.