ldsuttonjr Loc: ShangriLa

debeda: SSI is not taxable. What does incense me is the socialist progressive tax on income or compensation. Our Founding Fathers never envisioned progressive taxation! How ironic when one is forced into a welfare system like SS or Medicare, and pays into it their entire working lives and then gets a terrible return own their forced investment. If I was given the opportunity invest that money in my own endeavors; I could have made a 1000% profit vs the ponzi scheme the Federal bureaucrats have perpetrated on the American people! Runaway Capitalistic misrepresentation has taken its toll on the Public as well. And yet, the powers to be have the nerve to tax it again!!!! I know life is a series of choices, and some make better than others, some have better wares and ideals to sale! We must understand we have added insult to injury to the current situation with the the decline of the American family, moral compass, lack of principle, and decline in Spiritual logic; most of all no consequences for stupid actions. We are turning into a dry-rot culture where priorities are now inverted....just like the Hollywood culture is portraying everyday on those "Brain Sucking CRTs" In our culture!

Remember: Whatever your personal religious views, you need to realize that about half of American philanthropy, volunteering and associational memberships is directly church-related, and that religious Americans also account for much more nonreligious social capital than their secular neighbors. In that context, it is worrisome for the culture that the U.S. as a whole has become markedly more secular since 1960. Good luck America!

EVELYN

We are doing fine right now. We have our electric heater on in the bedroom. Our living room TV will be fixed tomorrow. the guy did not come last week because of the snow. We have a policy with them so the visit will be free. Yes the temperature may be a around 46, I do not know because I have not see the news today. But it melts and then freezes over again so it is still icy at night. But it is still cold enough to wear a jacket.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

We haven't had a TV for over 20 years and don't miss it. We are also fortunate enough to have a 2 acre vegetable garden the produce of which we share with neighbors, including one who has a lot of chickens and gives us eggs as well as milk and cheese from their goats. We have about 100 acres of mountain and do allow a couple of friends to hunt on it and they provide meat to us. If we did not have those great friends and God's gifts, we might be struggling as you are, but are blessed with abundance because of these friends. We are officially retired but still work with abused kids, just not for pay, and my wife SWMBO still runs her dog training classes. fortunately, we are doing all right even with health problems and have no complaints about life at all. Our prayers are with you nd your struggle to keep the family together.

EVELYN

We keep out heat at 62 all day and 60 at night. We use electric heaters to help us keep warm. We have two granddaughters we have custody of. I am on SSI and my husband collects disability. We do the best we can with the money we get and it is not enough. I worked for 35 years as a paralegal and my husband worked too. We are retired now to take care of our girls who are 14 an 9. I do not know how warm it is right now and no South Carolina is not always warm in the winter. We had snow this year for the first time in 9 years. We still have it laying around on the property and melting and freezing again at night. I will watch the news tonight and let you know who cold it was today. All I know is the you need to wear a jacket when you go out.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Here in West virginia it was 1 above a couple of days ago. right now it is 31 and freezing rain not what I like for these arthritic old bones.

NannyPat39

It hurts to think that anyone in the Blessed South has to do without but it is a great place to live. I live in southeast Georgia, and with the exception of 10 yrs when I was away in school and first married, I've lived here all my life. I was born in my grandparents home in there farm. I married the boy " next door" and we live in his family home., my three girls all learned to drive tractors and help on the farm. We were poor as church mice until the girls were grown. Now we don't have all we want but we have all we need. I lived and went to school in Maryland which isn't really north but city life is not for me. I love the Blessed South!
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NannyPat39

It hurts to think that anyone in the Blessed South has to do without but it is a great place to live. I live in southeast Georgia, and with the exception of 10 yrs when I was away in school and first married, I've lived here all my life. I was born in my grandparents home on there farm. I married the boy " next door" and we live in his family home., my three girls all learned to drive tractors and help on the farm. We were poor as church mice until the girls were grown. Now we don't have all we want but we have all we need. I lived and went to school in Maryland which isn't really north but city life is not for me. I love the Blessed South!
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NannyPat39

You are so right about the price of propane. We use it for heat and we also use electric heaters. Too. Our home is about 250 yrs old. We have spent so much to get it comfortable to live in. We could have probably built a smaller, tighter house but it has been in my husband's family for 5 generations. Thank heaven, we got it all done shortly after we retired. Now we enjoy not being cold or hot.

Hemiman Loc: Communist California

Cold here too only about 69 at the moment.

EVELYN

I am glad that someone else knows about propane for heat. Thank you for that post

JimMe

I can see what you mean, because my older brother and I are retired and living on SSI, and we are able to get by, but if we had 2 children to care for, we'd be strapped to just get by...

Good Luck to you and the millions out there in your shoes...

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Okay.... you have it bad..... life has dealt you the 'dead-man's hand' and you have snow. Okay poor evelyn, life is so mean to her. Happier? Today was Monday.... what did you do today to improve your situation?

This is a site filled with good hearted people....but it is not a cyberbegging site. If that is your intention, then google cyberbegging and you can beg for money on line.

Consider this the kick in your behind to stop crying over your situation and do something about it. I have many elders spend the day at out homeless shelter so they can save on heating costs and it gives them a new perspective on how really bad life can be. It also gives them a chance to meet other seniors.... Be creative... do you sew? Bake? Good at math? Bookkeeping? Can you use your paralegal training to teach others? How about a cottage industry? Recently I counseled a woman.... with only an 8th grade education, pregnant with her 7th child.... and homeless. She, along with her 6 children now live in one of my housing units (no charge for rent or utilities) and tutors high school kids in history. She rakes in $50 dollars per child each month to help supplement her finances. You do not need to be a professor to share what you know. My last bit of advice, feeling sorry for oneself will not make your home warmer or put food on the table and it certainly does not teach children to overcome obstacles.

NannyPat39

Not this year. So far the southeast has had about 3 weeks of temps below freezing at night and today we had the first 60 day since Christmas. This week will be a little warmer and rainy. However, next week it will be freezing again.

Dr. Evil Loc: In Your Face

Well said, everyone has hardships, including me, but this isn't the place for that discussion. God helps those who help themselves, ironic but so true.

emarine

Yes very true... Here in North Carolina our community has a tradition where local businesses donate cases of soups & canned meats & pasta to the VFW's & Churches in the winter ... We deduct the costs & enjoy the benefits in our community ... we also donate fuel oil & split wood... you do not have to be Religious or a Vet to receive a box of a variety of canned foods or fuel for heat ... We also have many Healthy Vets & active duty who donate their time doing small repair work for the disabled & elderly... Maybe check in your area for something similar...stay warm & healthy...