Thursday, August 03, 2006

THE AMERICAN WAY??

I work for a bankruptcy attorney and many of our clients have legitimate problems, such as job loss, disability and excessive health care costs, which prompt them to file for financial relief with the Bankruptcy Court. BUT, I have seen some cases that have really gotten on my nerves, and today was such a day. In my case scenario is a single, female nurse working three 12-hour shifts making very good money supporting a 21-year old son (WTF?). Her home value is around the national average. Sounds a bit typical though, right? HOWEVER, she is driving a 2004 Infiniti, has a 2005 Ford F-150 and a pontoon boat! Only the pontoon is paid for. Her son has a dirtbike, which she financed & is paying for! She also owes a hefty amount to Circuit City for a ginormous television and a video recorder! The amount she owes on credit cards is MIND BOGGLING!! The uses for these credit cards are for food, travel, entertainment, parking, gas & clothing. SO, I ask you, where is the money from her paycheck going? For the house and cars! Has so much greed taken over our collective sense of living within our means as Americans? YES! Have we defined ourselves according to our material possessions (among other shallow criteria)? YES! Does it make me want to PUKE? YESSSSS! I know, this is nothing new. It has been building up for years in this country. Who cares if I can't pay my electric bill--man, I have a Porsche! I've just spent umpteen thousands at the plastic surgeon for my cosmetic makeover, but I can't find time to go to little Suzie's softball game! God forbid if I walk into a church--someone might see me and think I'm a right-winged, conservative religious zealot! Pardon me, but I ain't chasin' that nightmare!

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