Amazing.

[kyburg]

We have a multiple hundred BILLION 'economic stimulus' trying to get approved in the congress to offset what some very questionable people - who took our money in the billions last fall, and we don't even know their names, it's too much work - and one woman with more children than people are comfortable with is being hung out to dry everywhere you look for less than $500 a month in food stamps. And maybe some SSI. (Anyone ever draw SSI out there? Raise your hand. *raises hand* It doesn't pay for DICK, just in case most of you who have the privilege of never needing to ask for what your taxes paid for want to know.)

It took a Presidential Order to keep these same, anonymous people from paying themselves MORE than $500,000 every year while accepting a handout from the taxpayers at the same time. In the meantime? Yeah. There's more than one person in this category mind. We aren't even allowed to know HOW many of these people are taking our money in this quantity - let alone WHO.

Karl Rove must be ROLLING on the floor laughing right now. Rush is just counting his money. Again.

SHINY SHINY SHINY

(And the family that did 'the right thing' and removed themselves from the gene pool when they decided that not having jobs meant not deserving their lives? Wow. Gone from the news as if they never been. As if that was the RIGHT thing to do. Gods, people - WAKE UP.)

What IS this to you? In the face of this larger grab for 'your taxes' - what is one woman and fourteen children? HUH?

There are structures, and methods to deal with anything this situation creates. There are Eyes on her, and her family. They exist for them - they exist for anyone in their community. They'll get their share - and no more than that. It's hardly a standard of living better than those of us who work, plan and prepare have - that's plain.

So. What is this about, anyway?

The hue and cry? Is far more about the criers than the subject, methinks. People - it's not about what you know, how your found out or if it's right or wrong. LOOK. Stop jammering and THINK.

If you're tired of scammers, there are plenty - nay we don't KNOW how many - still having a blast in plain sight and nobody is demanding our due of them. WHO they are. WHERE they live. WHY they need the money.

But go kick the woman and children around some more. G'head. They're the easy target.

I do not understand how people can't see that it isn't the woman using them - but the people who see their interest as a way to make a mint off of them that are. USING them. And then spit on them. While other people, who are never named, never held accountable and allowed to continue on their merry way - can.

Honestly.

Comments

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

And the family that did 'the right thing' and removed themselves from the gene pool

wait, who is saying/implying this?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

They did, themselves - in the message he faxed to KABC. It's so incredibly sad - the real kind.

Same hospital system - and you don't hear a blip about it.

[jrittenhouse.livejournal.com]

I heard about it; terrible. But the octuplet stuff is definitely getting way more press.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

For longer, more in depth and why for again? OH YEAH. People won't stop calling. That's why.

[drlaurac.livejournal.com]

I have gotten to the point now where I rarely, if ever, watch the news. I only check the health-related headlines. Part of it is that I know that the news is likely to have a skew to it, and part of it is that it's too depressing and there's nothing I can do about it, and part of it is just preferring to dedicate my brain cells to something useful and positive.

So in reading some of what you have posted about this lady with all the babies, I feel kind of indifferent. I feel sad that she couldn't have them one at a time and enjoy the detail of watching each one grow up. But it was her choice. People make all kind of stupid health-care related choices, I see them all the time, working in a hospital. And I am more likely to get frustrated when it's a Mom or Dad impacting the next generation - kids that are too small to choose for themselves or express an opinion. Like when I see a pregnant Mom or a just delivered Mom outside smoking. I say nothing, I find somewhere else to look, but that bugs me.

I tend to not get too bent out of shape about who is drawing what benefits for whatever reason. I am glad to know that disability is there, if I get to the point where I can't work anymore. I am glad that I can take care of my patients without ever having to think about who is going to pay the bill - they're in my hospital, my job is to make sure the drugs are right. And when I worked retail and I saw people pull out their Medicaid cards, I made a point of not looking at what car they were driving through our drive through. I just don't want to know. There's too many other things to get worked up about. And when we get into the finger pointing, there's sometimes some fingers coming back at ourselves.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

I don't get it. The only people I've noted talking about this babygate are people on LJ. Maybe it's because I only listen to NPR, but I've only heard about what's been going on in congress over the last few weeks, and I really don't care that much about the baby thing. Most people I know are too busy being infuriated at certain senators who keep trying to invalidate the whole bill, the bank and Wall St execs who have been blowing raspberries for getting away with murder on our tax dollars, Governator's pink slips being issued, due to the bankruptcy of the CA state government, etc. The list goes on.

Why is the babby thing coming up? And I don't mean babby-roasters by Pes. Even the gossip groups have moved on to other stuff (Rihanna vs Chris, etc). It's not that slow of a news day, but maybe people are bored?

Seriously, I don't get it. Maybe it's a different circle of friends, but most people I know haven't said two words about the baby-gate since it first happened.

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

most mainstream news agancies are straining to find news that's not about the economy crumbling in on itself, and there just isn't any. hence something that's normally tabloid fodder getting attention.

you're actually looking for solid news, instead of 'popular news' like celebrities being naughty and stories of the week. and lets face it, a mother that's seemingly in need of help going overboard with the children shouldn't really be a major news article.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Well, I must admit that I peek at celebrity stories, from time to time. I even browse ohnotheydidnt sometimes (when I switch my filters on LJ). I just haven't seen much (haven't searched) for lots of articles on the mother and her situation.


I agree with you though.

[jrittenhouse.livejournal.com]

I've had two posts on the baby thing, and manymany on the economic stuff. I'm not mad at the woman, but I think that the color of the sky in her world is not the same as mine. I'm more provoked at the unscrupulous quack fertility doctor who seems to be using her as a prop for his failing clinic.

I think that the worst connection on all of this is that taxpayer anger will go towards this woman and her enablers - and not at the people who tore up California and the USA in their greed. She's easier to get at and they have better lawyers.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

From what I've read about fertility treatments, they release multiple eggs and sperm simultaneously. Many times, only one egg gets fertilized, and sticks. Other times, you get twins or triplets. I haven't read about this particular clinic to find out if the doctor was playing by the rules or not.

Regarding taxpayer anger, I worry that people are distracted by the easy target too. Maybe it's because they feel it's impossible to hold the execs and politicians accountable?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

It's not. Oh yes, we can. And we must.

[turandot.livejournal.com]

You're right, it is because you mainly listen to NPR (*guilty of the same*). Or maybe I don't pay attention because my priorities are a lot different. The woman who has 14 kids now? Sure, they're too many, but the only special circumstance is how the surplus of kids was conceived. As a substitute teacher working mainly in the "rougher" sides of town, I see moms with the surplus of kids a little bit more than most people. I know the children are not really cared for as well as they should, but what am I going to do? I certainly can't afford raising my own right now, let alone other people's. So as long as there is no evidence of abuse or abject neglect, you sort of have to let that one go.

The stimulus package stuff? That I am totally pissed about. Because let's face it, it's gotten to the point where a lot of states don't have money to pay for teachers, let alone improving the buildings, and class sizes keep expanding, and the aforementioned senators think that spending on Education is frivolous, so that was the very first thing that was cut out of the bill. Because, you know, if you are committed to educating children, you should want to work for free. You don't have to eat, do you? Love will feed you, right? Also, children don't have a right to get an adequate education, do they? They should be warehoused like beasts and nothing more (believe you me, it's already happening in some school districts)!

I also love reading how some Republicans think that "earmarking money to programs that find teens summer jobs so they can get work experience is frivolous spending, rather than job creating". Because, you know, saving the economy by creating job opportunities? That's just misguided, right?

The woman with 14 kids? Don't hear that much about it, and it doesn't really bother me. That these people draw salaries to live in two story homes in suburban Virginia and go to work disparaging measures that could create jobs in an economy that is shedding jobs like they are a disease? That really bothers me. That tells me it's time to mobilize and make sure they don't get to keep their job (and if I am still underemployed come next year? Totally doing that), and find out just how tight the job market has gotten the hard way.

sorry if my reply gets too long

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

You put to words all of the things that have been bothering me about what's going on much more eloquently than I can. Thank you. I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking this way.

I shouted when I saw footage of those senators ranting about how spending on education was frivolous. Many of us would not have been able to complete college without grants and scholarships. Now, the teachers in LA are about to go on strike, because they're up to their eyeballs in water, and the state's too broke to bail them out, yet the county keeps flushing more water in. No one will overturn Prop 13, nor will they agree to raising taxes so that funds can go back into education. The community colleges are experiencing cuts, and the schools are hanging by a thread. Then people gripe about how California's ranked 43rd in the nation, yet have no interest in electing officials who are willing to balance the budget. And that's just a sliver of what's going on at our local and state levels. So when those senators over in Washington spew about how the stimulus package is crap, I just can't help but think these people need to be knocked down a peg or two.

I'm also super pissed about the banking/Wall St execs. When I heard that after their bailout, the execs rewarded themselves with bonuses and private jets, I was livid.

To sum up, the republicans had control for 8 years, and had more than enough time to fix things "their way." How dare they, who thoroughly messed things up for the rest of us, claim that much of the bill is 'earmarked, or pork barrel funding' when they were the fools who voted for the bank bailouts last fall! The monetary number is daunting, I agree. But at least Obama's plan actually makes sense, rather than the "Let's just cut taxes for everyone!" strategy that the republicans had. Not like tax cuts helps people who don't have a job, after all.

I've been too busy being angry at these fools, than to really pay attention to the lady who has 14 kids.

Re: sorry if my reply gets too long

[turandot.livejournal.com]

Except that both the reduced bill and the original version did include some tax cuts. Must not anger the constituents, you know...

As for breaking it down to what exactly I find bothersome about current events now, I've been looking for a job as a teacher (other than being a sub) for two months now, and my student loan repayment notices are already starting to trickle in. I'm afraid that means the whole thing has been on my mind a lot, lately.

Re: sorry if my reply gets too long

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing that. This is precisely the reason I decided not to go into classroom teaching. I make very little money as a musician, but going into public education is very tough. Most of my friends who started out in that field, have long since switched careers. It's really brutal, and our law makers just scoff at it. I guess it's really no wonder that US education pales by global standards.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Yahoo's main page - look at the 'most searched' box near the bottom. This has been in the top 10, every day (including today) - right now, #7. With a FL as broad as mine (and that's intentional), the chatter just keeps going on - and on - and on. You'd stop someone from drinking Drano by accident, wouldn't you? Or talk them out of standing in the middle of traffic, right?

NO I LOVE THE SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE MORNING!

...ooookay, then.

This is so much more about the people griping - than who they are griping about. It's kind of like trying to tell someone about the broccoli stuck between their front teeth - only more so.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I never go to the main Y! page, opting to go straight to my.yahoo.com instead. It doesn't have the 'most searched' column there, so I guess I miss out. All the top stories deal with politics and world news too.

Actually, come to think of it, the day she had her babies, I heard about it on the radio when I was surfing. Otherwise, I'd have been completely out of the loop.

Doesn't everyone use my.yahoo?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I did, once - it requires me to login, and I just don't as a habit. *counts on fingers* I had two Yahoo logins at one point, a gmail, etc. - so keeping what was logged in straight and making sure it was all logged out again?

Nah. Lazy that way.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

What horrifies me most about her case is that she still doesn't seem to be getting the mental health care she needs, and all this attention is going to make it even harder for her to heal. And yes, I'm horrified that she spent a lot of money to make more babies when she's feeding the others on food stamps. Now, I know better than most that if you're on SSI, you *cannot* have savings; that work settlement she got, if it was a lump sum, had to go somewhere fast. I think that housing and what little educational savings she was allowed to set aside for those kids would have been a much smarter buy than fertility treatments.

But I am far more horrified at the sorts of people who think that people would go on disability or any benefits for money and a life of ease, and resent those of us who "choose to". Makes me want to kneecap 'em with my cane and force them to live on what I get from "their taxes" for a month or two.

[neintales.livejournal.com]

Yeah this bothers me in the extreme too. (all your points)

I get about $400 a month SSI. Supposedly if I weren't living in a shared-house situation and was the sole one responsible for my bills, I'd POSSIBLY get.. maybe... $2-300 more, if I recall the math correctly.

$700 a month maximum for me, if I was lucky, while to date I'd still consider myself 'unemployable' unless I found one of those sparkly 'make your own hours!!!!!' jobs where it didn't matter if I was absent on a possibly regular basis.

Those types of jobs are, you know, ALL OVER THE PLACE these days!

I could probably survive on $700. I think. Maybe. In some towns. Possibly not THIS town anymore, since prices for rentals and other properties has gone through the freaking ROOF lately.

I don't particularly want to TEST this theory. I rather doubt it'd be 'cushy'.

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

"(And the family that did 'the right thing' and removed themselves from the gene pool when they decided that not having jobs meant not deserving their lives? Wow. Gone from the news as if they never been. As if that was the RIGHT thing to do. Gods, people - WAKE UP.)
"

given the current economic climate, i wouldn't be surprised if that story was pulled out of fear it'd give people ideas...

there's going to be a lot of people panicking about the exact same thing soon enough, they'd probably rather not have the idea of turning your family into a crime scene floating in the mob mentality if they can avoid it.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I just saw billboards - new ones - coming to work today.

"Forclosures hurt everyone. 1-888-###-HOPE"

I've got my hat in with Habitat right now - I just hope it's not too late.

[anahata56.livejournal.com]

I think that people are good at multi-tasking when it comes to spreading their contempt across many people. Being contemptuous of the baby lady does not mean that they are so focused on her that they can't get royally pissed off at the $500,000 plus crowd.

I think that it's the same thing, actually--I think that people are pissed at the entitlement. This idea that we all get to stand around and hold the safety net--barely--when it comes to people making decisions that we never in a million years would make. Whether that means having a bunch of kids you can't take care of or thinking that you are somehow entitled to live better than 90% of the people who are expected to bail you out.

It isn't the people that piss people off--it's the attitude.

[moropus.livejournal.com]

This.

In a couple more months something more sordid will come up and people will have something new to vent their anger at.


Right now this looks like the bottom line to me. I think this is what makes every one so angry. If you can't get your state income tax return from California and your car is acting up, this woman would be enough to drive you right over the edge.

Be responsible = barely make it.
Be a special snowflake = have what you want and screw everyone else.

When the economy is good, people don't seem to care about special snowflakes. Its the hard times that bring this out in people.

Also, people seem to care about what will happen to all those kids. Assembly line feeding and diapering isn't exactly the best thing for a kid. Will they ever get love and attention? I loved how you pointed out there is a deadbeat dad that nobody cares about. When does he get beat to death by media? Or is he not enough of a snowflake to qualify for equal treatment?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

The man is never wrong. Didn't you get the memo?

(And if we don't get our services here in sunny CA, don't think she will either. Boy, that's going to suck, ain't it.)

[the-paulr.livejournal.com]

Unless I'm completely missing the point I think it's a function of distance. We don't hear about it on the local news here and if they're talking about it on the national news, well, I don't pay much attention to the national news so I'm not seeing it.

Like redqueenofevil I'm only seeing her being talked about on LJ. Actually, while I'm sure there are others talking about her you're the only one I read that is bringing her up.

But I think rin_o has a point as well. There really isn't much national news other than the economy. Capt. Sully is still news, but there aren't any juicy celebrity scandals or disasters or much of anything to distract people from the economy.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

You remember those beanie baby dolls that got renamed after the flack of 'using private citizens for public gain?'

Yeah. That.

We need a really good movie instead. Something new. Fat chance, neh?

[elfwench.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Yes, I'm on SSI, and you are right about how little it pays. Worse, if I were to work 20 hours a week for $8.00 an hour, it would be enough that it would reduce my SSI to nothing.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

*high fives*

[catsonmars.livejournal.com]

see, she violated the cardinal sin of a patriarchal society - being a single mother who collects on benefits to which she is legally entitled.

Irresponsible? Yes - and it's better to take her doctor to task. Did she try to have octuplets? Anyone? Answer: No.

I'm disgusted by the LA Times, trying to make this more and more of a story every day and crucifying this woman for being a drain on society.

That said, it allegedly will cost Medi-Cal more than $800,000 in reimbursements to Kaiser for the births. And IVF - at an unregulated, unlicensed office with a flashy machine - cost less than adoption for the already-irresponsible college student who "just wanted one more girl."

To me, all of that says our system is totally flawed - not the single mother caught up in it. She may be slightly crazy but why am I supposed to give a shit? Oh, right, I forgot - because she is a woman making her own reproductive choices, and I'm supposed to find that immoral.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

*claps hands over mouth* I CAN'T TALK.

But...even if you 'hear' the taxpayers are going to take on the chin for paying for care...UH. Until you hear from her providers, don't believe it. Just saying. Checking the illustrious LA Times (who I am SURE had people following family members home to get their 'scoops' - yeah, scoops of WHAT) they're the one's stirring this pot, with no more hard evidence than the other guy on the street.

The taxpayers always pay for stuff. We ALL drive on the streets, have 911 (and 211) to call when we get in shit, our water is potable out of the spigots (or the spigot is painted purple, gee who did that and who paid them) - grrr. We all are a drain on the taxpayers - and whoa, wait a minute. We all ARE the taxpayers. Fancy that!

One woman with some kids. Who also pays taxes. Like everyone else. *eyeroll*

People need a better hobby.