Ann Romney and the 40 years to late reality...

[Javaman]

Mrs. Romney's now odd remark about "struggling" is just so bizarre given her very very privileged life style.

But you know what? My mom was a stay at home mom.

My mom raised for kids while my dad worked.

But here is the difference.

My dad worked for the Dept of Sanitation for NYC. He was a mechanic.

He worked 40 hours a week + overtime.

He was in a Union. He was paid a living wage. He had complete and full benefits. He had a pension.

He was able to support a family of 6. He was able to put all us kids through college. He was able to save and eventually buy a small cabin in Canada for our summer vacations. He was able to leave my mom a nice sum of money so she wouldn't have to go without when he passed away. My mom received his pension and his SS on top of the money they saved together.

Did my mom struggle while raising us? Yes. Did she have to find new and creative ways at times to make ends meet at times? Damn straight.

But interestingly, once upon a time in this nation, the life that Mrs. Romney enjoys and has enjoyed for a life time, wasn't always just for the rich. I'm not talking about the 5 Cadillacs, or the dozens of homes. I'm referring to the ability of a parent, either male or female, to stay at home and raise their kids while the spouse worked. (granted in the 50's 60's and 70's when the kids in my family grew up, it was dominated by stay at home moms)

We were of modest means, but when you contrast what families, what women in general and what single mom's and dad's have to do today to make ends meet or just survive for that matter is actual hardcore struggling. Stay at home moms or dads is a virtual thing of the past.

It's a really sad thing to say, that in this day in age, people today look upon those past times, (I described above) as something so impossible, so incredible, that the comments by Mrs. Romney only puts a gigantic spotlight on 1) just how far we have fallen as a nation 2) how far we have fallen when it comes to workers rights 3) how far we have fallen in regards to women's rights and 4) how completely out of touch the GOP is in in regards to the income gap and the struggles of the poor.

This is the conversation we should be having but alas the right wing controlled media dictates how the words flow and just what the mouth breathing audience of American TV views should be angry about.

[trotsky]

1. Very true.

We forget just how common (and readily do-able) it was to have one working spouse, and one at home with the kids. My mom worked part-time most of her adult life. We didn't have a lot growing up, but we never went hungry and had money for vacations and presents.

Just about impossible today thanks to stagnation of wages.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. This whole Ann Romney thing is so politically tonedeaf

that it simply boggles the mind. The mere fact that it is getting any traction in her favor boggles the mind.

Just how out of touch and privileged do you have to be to either buy into it, or be of voting age (or politically aware) to think that this is even remotely appropriate "in case you are in her position one day". This is like not-Joe the not-Plumber logic on taxing the rich, but on steroids.