See how valued you are? And me?
Sep. 18th, 2012 01:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
veronica_richSo Mitt Romney was caught calling nearly half the country a bunch of tax-shirking, tit-sucking, belly-crawling, irresponsible slags, on video (my summation, but I dare anyone to prove this isn't what the man was thinking). That anyone would be surprised by this mystifies me - but to be fair, I think what surprises them is that he was dumb enough to say it out loud - no finesse, no diplomacy, no hedging. And you gotta give the man credit for not denying it, at least. But then - why would he? He's either confident people are that damn dumb to vote for him, or he'll go back to making millions in the private sector if he loses. The man literally has nothing to lose.
Can you say the same?
You see, this attitude doesn't surprise me - because it's not new to me. In fact, earlier this year, I encountered it from someone who I thought was a friend. Our political views weren't similar, but we usually managed to sidestep out-and-out arguments. There was a lot about her I did not say aloud, and there were things she didn't voice to me, about what she thought of my actions and beliefs. But then she did let it slip. I'll spare you the details; let's just say that for a relatively mild remark I made about her views on history, I was treated to this:
You are just bitter that following your passion for writing hasn't been a successful path. You blame everyone else for your decisions that leave you so unhappy. So, I see why you support them - you don't take personal responsibility for your actions, expecting to get free handouts from the government.
The "them" she means are the Occupy Wall Street protesters - remember those guys? The people unable to find jobs and their supporters, who railed against unfair taxation on the majority to preserve the wealthy minority's bank accounts? Who demanded a bunch of corrupt baron robbers be called on their destructive economic behavior?
Now, no doubt she was referring to the fact I declared bankruptcy a few years ago. After almost two decades of trying to pay down student debt and high interest rates on 2 credit cards, as well as debt racked up from living off them partially while I was out of work and seeking another full-time job for years - while working 3 concurrent part-time jobs to meet rent, gas, and food, as well as very minimal entertainment - I asked the courts to help forgive nearly $35,000 I couldn't pay off, and help me put those $1,000-plus-a-month payments to better use. It was selfish, it was last-ditch, and yes, it did smell of irresponsibility. And I do not regret it. I needed a new start - when I started the first time into adulthood, I was 18, going to classes full-time, and working 3 concurrent jobs to cover what my scholarships would not. I had very little help from parents; they couldn't afford more than a little food money. I didn't have a car until my senior year, when I could make payments on a cheap one.
I won't tell you what all I've done to make a buck; let's just say it's all been legal and mostly underpaid. I will tell you what I haven't done, though. I've never married a military officer and taken advantage of that piece of paper to enjoy the income and insurance paid to him by taxpayers, and then sneered at the poorer people paying my bills - citizens who make sure their taxes are paid even at the expense of no health insurance or necessary medical care for themselves. I've never lived off an inheritance or life insurance from a dead parent. I've never NOT had to work and only done so when I felt like it. (And yeah, this is all the same person. Don't think I'm branching out, here.)
So, I'm a victim. Oh, I'm a victim, all right; I'm being swindled into footing the bill so this person and the wealthy people she idolizes - such as Romney - don't have to. And, read back above near the top of this entry: This is how much these assholes appreciate US meeting THEIR financial obligations in addition to our own.
Can you say the same?
You see, this attitude doesn't surprise me - because it's not new to me. In fact, earlier this year, I encountered it from someone who I thought was a friend. Our political views weren't similar, but we usually managed to sidestep out-and-out arguments. There was a lot about her I did not say aloud, and there were things she didn't voice to me, about what she thought of my actions and beliefs. But then she did let it slip. I'll spare you the details; let's just say that for a relatively mild remark I made about her views on history, I was treated to this:
You are just bitter that following your passion for writing hasn't been a successful path. You blame everyone else for your decisions that leave you so unhappy. So, I see why you support them - you don't take personal responsibility for your actions, expecting to get free handouts from the government.
The "them" she means are the Occupy Wall Street protesters - remember those guys? The people unable to find jobs and their supporters, who railed against unfair taxation on the majority to preserve the wealthy minority's bank accounts? Who demanded a bunch of corrupt baron robbers be called on their destructive economic behavior?
Now, no doubt she was referring to the fact I declared bankruptcy a few years ago. After almost two decades of trying to pay down student debt and high interest rates on 2 credit cards, as well as debt racked up from living off them partially while I was out of work and seeking another full-time job for years - while working 3 concurrent part-time jobs to meet rent, gas, and food, as well as very minimal entertainment - I asked the courts to help forgive nearly $35,000 I couldn't pay off, and help me put those $1,000-plus-a-month payments to better use. It was selfish, it was last-ditch, and yes, it did smell of irresponsibility. And I do not regret it. I needed a new start - when I started the first time into adulthood, I was 18, going to classes full-time, and working 3 concurrent jobs to cover what my scholarships would not. I had very little help from parents; they couldn't afford more than a little food money. I didn't have a car until my senior year, when I could make payments on a cheap one.
I won't tell you what all I've done to make a buck; let's just say it's all been legal and mostly underpaid. I will tell you what I haven't done, though. I've never married a military officer and taken advantage of that piece of paper to enjoy the income and insurance paid to him by taxpayers, and then sneered at the poorer people paying my bills - citizens who make sure their taxes are paid even at the expense of no health insurance or necessary medical care for themselves. I've never lived off an inheritance or life insurance from a dead parent. I've never NOT had to work and only done so when I felt like it. (And yeah, this is all the same person. Don't think I'm branching out, here.)
So, I'm a victim. Oh, I'm a victim, all right; I'm being swindled into footing the bill so this person and the wealthy people she idolizes - such as Romney - don't have to. And, read back above near the top of this entry: This is how much these assholes appreciate US meeting THEIR financial obligations in addition to our own.
