Comments on: Of cell phones and the Pill, tuition and travel, wealth and diversification: some random economicky thoughts http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:12:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: jennyfields http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-338201 jennyfields Fri, 09 May 2008 05:23:11 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-338201 It is terrible that the cost of essentials goes up while more "luxury" type items come down. I get food stamps, but with the rising cost of food that money is not going as far as it once did. It's been really digging into my rent/utilities/gas money. I'm blessed that I'm still young enough to be on my parents' insurance, as substandard as it is. Luckily, my family doctor has been providing me with birth control (NuvaRing) in the form of "free samples" for several years because he knew my family was poor and I was supporting myself. I hope what you said about rent turns out to be true here, too. One of my scholarships went up last Fall, but then my rent went up $25 dollars and pretty much eliminated the increase for me. I don't know what I'll do if it rises again. Also, in my state, the budget for the state university is being slashed and they're going to have to make major cut backs and raise tuition again. If it weren't for the bipolar disorder and hospitalizations during my middle and high school years, I wouldn't be getting vocational rehabilitation assistance with tuition, without which I don't think I could have gone to college. Living with mental illness is a high price to pay for an undergraduate education. With the way education budgets are being slashed on the national and state levels, I fear for my future as I continue to graduate school. Sorry, little economy rant there... *blush* It is terrible that the cost of essentials goes up while more “luxury” type items come down.

I get food stamps, but with the rising cost of food that money is not going as far as it once did. It’s been really digging into my rent/utilities/gas money. I’m blessed that I’m still young enough to be on my parents’ insurance, as substandard as it is. Luckily, my family doctor has been providing me with birth control (NuvaRing) in the form of “free samples” for several years because he knew my family was poor and I was supporting myself.

I hope what you said about rent turns out to be true here, too. One of my scholarships went up last Fall, but then my rent went up $25 dollars and pretty much eliminated the increase for me. I don’t know what I’ll do if it rises again.

Also, in my state, the budget for the state university is being slashed and they’re going to have to make major cut backs and raise tuition again. If it weren’t for the bipolar disorder and hospitalizations during my middle and high school years, I wouldn’t be getting vocational rehabilitation assistance with tuition, without which I don’t think I could have gone to college. Living with mental illness is a high price to pay for an undergraduate education. With the way education budgets are being slashed on the national and state levels, I fear for my future as I continue to graduate school.

Sorry, little economy rant there… *blush*

]]> By: Sara http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-338151 Sara Fri, 09 May 2008 03:43:42 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-338151 This is all exactly why it's total bunk for people to use that old complaint about lazy poor people - you can tell because they all have <i>color</i> TVs! This is all exactly why it’s total bunk for people to use that old complaint about lazy poor people - you can tell because they all have color TVs!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-337811 Elizabeth Thu, 08 May 2008 21:49:11 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/05/08/of-cell-phones-and-pills-tuition-and-travel-wealth-and-diversification-some-random-economicky-thoughts/#comment-337811 Hugo writes; In this sense, the “lower-middle” is getting squeezed more than the “bottom.” I think what you mean to say is that the "lower-middle" is getting squeezed into the "bottom," creating a larger "bottom class." So I guess what you're saying is that the lower classes should be happy about the fact that in our national economic situation, which is in crisis as a result of imbalence, they are not financially capable of being home owners. Hugo writes;
In this sense, the “lower-middle” is getting squeezed more than the “bottom.”

I think what you mean to say is that the “lower-middle” is getting squeezed into the “bottom,” creating a larger “bottom class.” So I guess what you’re saying is that the lower classes should be happy about the fact that in our national economic situation, which is in crisis as a result of imbalence, they are not financially capable of being home owners.

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