General Discussion

chervilant

(8,267 posts)

93. I was bedridden

Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:15 AM

Feb 2016

with severe sciatica. I never want to have that pain again!

I keep telling my friends that I'm the poorest I've ever been, but I'm the happiest. I want you to know that I'm living where I am the most joyous: the beautiful and bucolic Ozarks. I have a youngling friend -- a fellow woodcarver -- and he is bartering with me to put a more secure fence around my garden, essentially labor for labor -- and he gets to use my forge. I'll be starting my garden with potatoes on St. Paddy's Day.

Things are looking up. I have steady work, even though it's insufficient hours and salary to do much more than meet my monthly obligations. I do qualify for EBT and Medicaid, and I'm no longer embarrassed to make use of those resources.

Thanks again, Erich. Your thoughtfulness means so much.

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Everyone In America Is Even More Broke Than You Think [View all] KamaAina Feb 2016 OP

yep it sucks dembotoz Feb 2016 #1

This is why I support Bernie. The absurd BROKEN capitalist system we have now randys1 Feb 2016 #2

a study once said AA women have a savings average of $15.00. go bernie roguevalley Feb 2016 #35

Yeah - just LOOK at those poor, F'ing "Trump-etts" Plucketeer Feb 2016 #47

It really does. US Stupid on Steroids for "Trump-etts." Trump will do lots of deals, and RKP5637 Feb 2016 #87

Sorry, Randys, but in the 1970s jobs were generally plentiful and pay was good. Hortensis Feb 2016 #72

That was under a 70% tax rate and many other things like tariffs and so on randys1 Feb 2016 #100

Yes! Exactly! It would be foolish to not realize what a fine barn we have, Hortensis Feb 2016 #108

Are you saying Bernie and his supporters are enemies of democracy? passiveporcupine Feb 2016 #110

No! For goodness sake, go find out Hortensis Feb 2016 #120

Then you are backing the wrong candidate. eom passiveporcupine Feb 2016 #121

This step will be over soon. Hortensis Feb 2016 #122

If you were a white man. KentuckyWoman Feb 2016 #116

Blacks with education or skills on average had to Hortensis Feb 2016 #123

The '70's were one of the "busts" in Capitalisms "boom & bust" cycle bread_and_roses Feb 2016 #117

i lived stagflation. it was an overlay on Hortensis Feb 2016 #124

I am dusputing your account of the '70's & your defense of capitalism bread_and_roses Feb 2016 #125

yes, there was economic deterioration, but NOT Hortensis Feb 2016 #127

I am not disputing the right-wing's opportunism and lies bread_and_roses Feb 2016 #128

it's not the fact, it's the degree of complicity and support. Hortensis Feb 2016 #129

The Democrats have no one but themselves to blame bread_and_roses Feb 2016 #130

Post removed Post removed Feb 2016 #79

I really do love your irrational bowl of sub-literate word salad. LanternWaste Feb 2016 #82

All that right-wing bull in just one paragraph. Fuddnik Feb 2016 #83

Exactly! The US needs a swift kick in the ass, and Bernie IMO is the one that RKP5637 Feb 2016 #81

It shows the result of decades of bad trade policies. roamer65 Feb 2016 #3

You are right, and there is no way to really fix it. Drahthaardogs Feb 2016 #49

There are ways to fix it, actually Hydra Feb 2016 #64

I disagree. It has become institutionalized. Drahthaardogs Feb 2016 #71

Agree! Somehow it needs to begin, but for me I can't comprehend any quick fix. There is so much RKP5637 Feb 2016 #90

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, bvar22 Feb 2016 #109

These trade agreements and all of the pat on the back, ship jobs out of America started it all. And RKP5637 Feb 2016 #85

Bad trade policies are directly responsible. Enthusiast Feb 2016 #113

one-issue campaign noiretextatique Feb 2016 #4

We are in trouble. earthside Feb 2016 #5

Exactly. Since nothing was changed after the last big recession we're due for another Lorien Feb 2016 #12

Agreed! GreenPartyVoter Feb 2016 #40

Dodd Frank metroins Feb 2016 #52

I absolutely agree! Basically, IMO, Obama propped up the SOS! He's done some great things, but RKP5637 Feb 2016 #91

appanrently I am richer than I thought hfojvt Feb 2016 #6

That's what I make, but I am broke due to healthcare costs Lorien Feb 2016 #9

I think I spent about $8,000 last year hfojvt Feb 2016 #14

What insurance do you have? My dental insurance has barely covered it's premium Lorien Feb 2016 #18

just the stuff I got from work hfojvt Feb 2016 #42

Thanks for mentioning this. I had been putting off seeing a dentist. We just RKP5637 Feb 2016 #99

it's enough to make you sing, no? hfojvt Feb 2016 #104

Yep, I remember that! RKP5637 Feb 2016 #105

If we get single payer this time round Volaris Feb 2016 #31

Leaving out dental and vision sucks. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2016 #119

Excuse me, but how the f*ck does a family of five survive on 27k??? Lorien Feb 2016 #7

In mine it would be close to twice that. KamaAina Feb 2016 #8

I saw a documentary on home prices in your area Lorien Feb 2016 #10

How about this idea...if you only make $27K per year.... Kang Colby Feb 2016 #21

Right. davidthegnome Feb 2016 #27

I think you are reading too deeply into my post. Kang Colby Feb 2016 #30

Tell that to the repugs. They want to force women to give birth Lorien Feb 2016 #37

Abortion should be free and widely available. I also think tax credits for abortions, and other Kang Colby Feb 2016 #38

But that's not the reality Lorien Feb 2016 #41

I know. It's sad. Kang Colby Feb 2016 #44

I won't disagree with you on that point. davidthegnome Feb 2016 #45

Excellent post. You and I have a similar story. Kang Colby Feb 2016 #48

Been a while since anyone got the reference. davidthegnome Feb 2016 #50

Watch the music video for Regulate and listen carefully to the lyrics. Kang Colby Feb 2016 #51

How about the idea that if you have a family of five Art_from_Ark Feb 2016 #67

Domo arigato, Art! KamaAina Feb 2016 #101

Dou itashimashite Art_from_Ark Feb 2016 #118

Humans have evolved over thousands of years to procreate when they reach sexual maturity My Good Babushka Feb 2016 #74

Perhaps they could initiate a policy of sterilization for those of low income Orrex Feb 2016 #78

I'm going to puke. tazkcmo Feb 2016 #84

You of course will supply us with objective evidence to support your allegation, yes? LanternWaste Feb 2016 #86

Poor family planning isn't even one of the top reasons for poverty. Gormy Cuss Feb 2016 #107

Well, there's only me in my house, chervilant Feb 2016 #33

I hear you. I'm an adjunct professor and we don't get full time either Lorien Feb 2016 #39

Is that Academy of Art University, by any chance? KamaAina Feb 2016 #102

Does the GoFundMe page still work? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #77

Oh, Erich, I am so touched! chervilant Feb 2016 #88

Well, I should have dropped some in last month too. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #89

I was bedridden chervilant Feb 2016 #93

Ooh, you're a woodcarver? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #94

Wow, Erich! chervilant Feb 2016 #95

I got most of mine from seedsavers originally. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #96

Our taxes have regressed libodem Feb 2016 #11

I've been arguing this for years. earthside Feb 2016 #13

The last sane republican. Dont call me Shirley Feb 2016 #16

No doubt about that. Enthusiast Feb 2016 #114

My late grandfather agreed with that rpannier Feb 2016 #19

Bingo warrprayer Feb 2016 #22

It's not the 1950s anymore... Kang Colby Feb 2016 #23

They've already moved hundreds of thousands of jobs to other countries and kept wages low. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2016 #61

And I'm sure raising taxes through the roof will provide them incentives to stay. Kang Colby Feb 2016 #63

Investments in their company will be tax writeoffs staying in the community. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2016 #65

And like was said, it's not the 1950's anymore The2ndWheel Feb 2016 #92

HRC would never be zentrum Feb 2016 #15

It's obvious that Hillary went full Republican during her last few years CoffeeCat Feb 2016 #53

You've hit every zentrum Feb 2016 #56

I think we all need a support group CoffeeCat Feb 2016 #57

PHTS zentrum Feb 2016 #58

She truly is nauseating. romanic Feb 2016 #75

Agreed, except... freebrew Feb 2016 #111

+1 a huge bunch! Enthusiast Feb 2016 #115

Definitely sucks rpannier Feb 2016 #17

expect no help from the dem party on this issue, esp if hrc is elected KG Feb 2016 #20

Thom Hartmann yesterday on his radio show (I subscribe to his.podcast) Akamai Feb 2016 #24

We're the USSA, United Soviet States of America. valerief Feb 2016 #25

Notice all the Clintonites rushing here floriduck Feb 2016 #26

Great point. Too many people intentionally missing the point. Akamai Feb 2016 #29

Here's one right here.. frylock Feb 2016 #34

They are all congratulating themselves mdbl Feb 2016 #43

But the country isn't broke AlbertCat Feb 2016 #28

I believe the word you're looking for is corporate welfare d_legendary1 Feb 2016 #32

I believe the word you're looking for is corporate welfare AlbertCat Feb 2016 #98

I know people who can't WAIT to retire because it will mean a RAISE. Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2016 #36

It definitely will be in some areas loyalsister Feb 2016 #68

They're being told if their masters go down than they'll suffer. Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2016 #69

But the neoliberal economists packing the WH and the Capitol say it's ok brentspeak Feb 2016 #46

Kick Quackers Feb 2016 #54

Yeah, things are getting rough all over robhalf4369 Feb 2016 #55

Actually. I know how broke everyone in America is. Simple math. Zorra Feb 2016 #59

I assume this is gross, before taxes, instead of net? Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2016 #60

From 2013? Really? nt babylonsister Feb 2016 #62

Because things have improved soooooooo much since then? Android3.14 Feb 2016 #70

Count me in. leftyladyfrommo Feb 2016 #66

I'm working on our taxes right now mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #73

Go Bernie!!! Fast Walker 52 Feb 2016 #76

Yep and many people are unwilling to realize how poor off they are. There's this illusion/delusion RKP5637 Feb 2016 #80

No shit. Atman Feb 2016 #97

Not really, I see it and hear it every single day from other Americans. Rex Feb 2016 #103

Top 1% elljay Feb 2016 #106

K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Feb 2016 #112

Well...not *everyone*... YoungDemCA Feb 2016 #126