NYT went to Chaffetz district. Read this.

[kpete]

Link to tweet

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/us/health-insurance-cellphone-chaffetz.html?_r=0&mtrref=t.co&gwh=B7AF962E5272CB62A18A57BBD32265F1&gwt=pay

[Cattledog]

1. The choices people make.

$13 hr job, 3 kids, wife doesn't work. Ever think about holding off on kids while you both work to save some money, get some stability?

[Wounded Bear]

2. Empathy is not one of your strong suits, is it?

[asiliveandbreathe]

4. tks WB - I was afraid of what I might say...you are a better person

than I - so eloquently put! So, it is the Hunters fault for trying to live - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I need to get on board with "if you see something, do something"...be well..

Even the comment about the Mormon faith below is way off base...I will say something..tks..

[Eyeball_Kid]

7. That's an academic question.

1. The kids are already here.
2. The article suggests that these folks are already practicing "resourcefullness."
3. The thesis of the article conveys the frailties of present-day "conservative" political philosophy. This family apparently denies that other solutions to their economic dilemma DO exist, and that it's politically feasible to implement them. But their representative in Congress, HandSlap Chaffetz, does not listen to solutions. He listens to the pure cosmic evil that oozes from HILLARY'S EMAILS.

[Wellstone ruled]

16. This is a common family unit in Utah.

If one understands the Social Religious and Cultural Norms of Utah(Theocracy),yes you come away shaking your head. Utah leads the Nation in Personal Bankruptcies,mostly due to Medical Bills.

[unblock]

8. now there's a progressive thought! how about an income requirement for breeding!

[Mellomugwump]

13. I'm with you...

I believe you can be progressive but still scratch your head and wonder about the decisions that people make.

I'm progressive, and yes, I think these people should get more help, but I also believe in personal responsibility and can't figure out how people make the decision to have kids in those circumstances.

But then, I'm a 48 year old woman who never had children because I considered it an awesome responsibility to be taken very seriously and not ventured into until you're financially and emotionally secure enough to handle it. If you have depression issues, you'd better get it figured out before you have kids who end up feeling like they're the reason you're so unhappy. If you don't want your kids to smoke, you shouldn't smoke. If you don't want your kids to abuse alcohol, you shouldn't abuse alcohol. If you want your kids to eat right and exercise, you need to eat right and exercise.

In my 20's, my husband and I were fairly financially secure but he had alcohol problems, and I wasn't going to bring kids into that environment. Then I divorced, finished college, started a career, remarried and couldn't see myself dropping my child off at daycare everyday, and I couldn't see myself staying home after working so hard to get a degree and start a career.

So, it was never the right time for me. It just blows my mind how easily people make the decision to have kids, or don't make the decision but have an oopsie and have them when they're not ready.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. It blows my mind how easily some people can judge the lives of others.

There are millions of people in this country on incomes like the one described in the OP. Of course many of them have kids.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/03/08/laziness-isnt-why-people-are-poor-and-iphones-arent-why-they-lack-health-care/?utm_term=.a410e16ed7c3

[Mellomugwump]

23. I guess it is judgmental...

I can't imagine living under that kind of stress, but as you pointed out, that's my choice. And regardless, I think we should be providing more assistance to families, and NOBODY should have to worry about health care. That should be a right of everybody loving in society.

It appears that those on the right believe country means preserving our whiteness by having a wall to keep everybody else out and a strong military in order to bully the rest of the world.

Other than that, everybody's on their own and may the greediest win.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Well if the minimum wage isn't a livable wage, that right there is a problem, I should think.

[TransitJohn]

15. How could they thwart Heavenly Father's plan like that?

They've got to procreate to populate their own planet they'll be gods over in their afterlife.

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Or, maybe they just wanted children.

Some people do, you know. Even ones without high paying 6 figure income jobs in corporate America.

Edited to add: it doesn't absolve them of doing a better job the next time they go to the voting booth, and hopefully retiring that shitwit, red district or no.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. $13/hr is a little less than twice the federal minimum wage.

There are a lot of people in this country- the ones doing the grunt work that makes our civilization possible, in many cases- working hard and full time for as much or less pay than you seem to think the level is at where "responsible" people shouldnt have families.

Millions of people work hard for minimum wage or close to it. If that isnt enough to support a family, the minimum wage is the problem, not the people earning it.

[jrthin]

26. This sounds heartless. n/t

[underpants]

3. Phones? Hell the magic underwear is $20 a set

https://www.redbubble.com/people/atheistcards/works/11157118-mormon-underwear-christmas-magic?p=throw-pillow&size=small&type=cover-only&utm_source=google&utm_medium=google_products&utm_campaign=shopping&country_code=US&gclid=CJnezrGr0dICFceFswodWKkNgA

[asiliveandbreathe]

5. Please read your comment - now put yourself in the Hunters shoes..

Being kind doesn't hurt..

[underpants]

9. I just meant it as a joke

That's all.

[packman]

6. "Allies"- Wealthier families providing social support

Ain't that nice - sort of owners patting their pets on their heads for being nice doggies.

Sorry, don't have much use for the Mormon Church which allowed/allows anyone to become a "Bishop" who makes a sizable $ donation (Mitt Romney)

[2naSalit]

10. they do have

their own welfare system, that's one of the ways these better off folks know them. Tithing is a mandatory 10% or maybe more, I don't recall how much. And the church also urges couples to go forth and multiply in mass quantities, gawd will help them suffer through it if they aren't sanctimonious enough to get rich... wealth is a marker for holiness in that cult.

[Stand and Fight]

19. 10%...

Source: Live in Las Vegas. Best friend is Mormon and considered converting myself.

[2naSalit]

24. Thanks.

I lived in heavily mormon populated area for decades, not a belieber in religion.

[zeusdogmom]

11. That is not a fair comment

From my understanding the Mormon Church reaches out to help members of their stake who might need a hand up as they work to improve their situation. They try take care of their church members and that is a good thing. My local Lutheran congregation provides similar support. Any one of us at any point in our lives may need assistance. That assistance can be financial, physical, moral, emotional, etc. - depends on the need at the time.

Yes anyone who voted for Trump and the Republican congress critters made a very stupid choice. One we unfortunately all have to live with. The question is how do we deal with this in a way which produces positive change.

[packman]

12. I will bet you a dollar

A Mormon capitalist/business person would not extend an extra penny or concrete financial support - but would pray over the souls of his poor fellow church member - if that penny would never come out of their pocket.

Example - Mitt's vulture capitalism.

Admit it - The church, ANY church, will do anything to keep that leash around its member's necks. A person, a family is too valuable a resource to loose as a future source of money or voting power.

[shraby]

14. Maybe the "social support" could have offered to help him with his studies so

he would understand his subject better and be more apt to pass his test. Just taking the time to go over the material with him may have made the difference. A kind word is not enough many times.

[packman]

17. Also that "social support" could use its influence

To increase general wages to provide a decent living wage for the people of that state and religion.