Republican/Conservative Corner

Then why not encourage your kids to work (financially) for things so they get exposed to reality earlier and are more prepared?

The real big worry about me is I don't want to have my own lifestyle over influence my children like my parents did to me 

Your Dad bought you a car. You said earlier you'd want to be able to buy your kids a car. This doesn't jive with the above statement. Do you want to a) buy your kids stuff so they don't have to work for it, and have an easier time because initially you didn't get anything in life or b) teach them to work for what they want so they won't be thrown into the world like you were? I 'm not attacking you, I just don't really follow which "side of the fence" you are on.

It's affecting society already. People are getting into debt because they don't understand how the world works financially (hence college credit card debt, etc like what happened to you), because a lot of high-school/college kids haven't worked and don't understand money. Thus we need to get teenagers involved in a positive work environment early, instead of perpetuating this "we'll buy you the big stuff" or "we'll always bail you out if things get bad" stuff.

whtsthfrequency

I just don't really follow which "side of the fence" you are on.

Well that is exactly my point... neither.

I think children can earn things in other ways besides money. Chores, dedication to school/activities, and eventually fiscal responsibility. I would like my children to have a job but I'm not going to tell them "no you can't play sports; you need to go to work if you want that cell phone" if they are a great kid. Instead I do expect my children to respect us and help out in the home if they don't have fiscal responsibility.

Does that make sense??

Also what I meant by not wanting my influences to be forced upon my children was: In earlier discussions I was talking about how hard core Republican my father is and growing up he was like that father who said "this is the right way!" do you get what I mean?? It's almost like that parent that drills it into their kids skulls that being gay is wrong! ("forceful parents"???)

AHHH during I was typing this guess what? One of the Recruiters came in and asked me if I knew anyone selling a good car and I asked why and he said "well its for my 17yr old son... ya know he really needs one to get back and forth to school, you can just tell he's bumming from trying to get rides from people, i wanna make him happy" <~ that right there to me is a good parent. If you can afford it and its a hassle to not have a car and the kid is a good kid WHY NOT?! That's not necessarily spoil... spoiled to me was my gf who got a MERCEDIES FOR HER 16TH BIRTHDAY AND THE OTHER ONE GOT A BMW!... BRAND NEW! I actually think both of them still don't work... they are still in college going to school for free THAT is spoiled... but yeah that's funny that he asked me that since we're talking about that! haha

whtsthfrequency

It's affecting society already. People are getting into debt because they don't understand how the world works financially (hence college credit card debt, etc like what happened to you), because a lot of high-school/college kids haven't worked and don't understand money. Thus we need to get teenagers involved in a positive work environment early, instead of perpetuating this "we'll buy you the big stuff" or "we'll always bail you out if things get bad" stuff.

I can deff see that. A lot of my current debt is medical bills right now due to surgey this summer & therapy bills since I seriously broke down after it all.

The credit card debt how can I explain how I got into it really bad??? In high school I was never allowed to pay my own bills or touch my own money. I did get a job when I was 16 to pay for gas & cell phone. I wasn't allowed to use my credit card ever but my Dad made me get it because he wanted me to have good credit history. I remember actually always begging for more responsibility and he would say "no! you don't know what your doing yet! your not old enough!"

College came and no Daddy around to tell me what to spend my money on. I worked as a Waitress practically full time making great money and thought I could afford all of this stuff. The whole "oh I'll just pay it off later..." I remember my Dad would call me up asking to SEE MY BILLS to make sure I wasn't using my credit card?! Drove me NUTS! Likewise I rebelled and soon enough... BAM credit card debt...

Now I'm out of school working full time with CC debt plus Medical Bill debt... YUCK! (and Student Loan & Car Loan!!!)

I think parents that SHELTER their kids like my Dad did to me is wrong. Like last night he was like "shut up! your talking in my ear!" (while he was doing my taxes) embarassed of him yelling at me in front of my BF I finally stood up to him and said "GUESS WHAT! I don't want you doing things for me for the rest of my life so you can either EXPLAIN to me how to do my Taxes or I'll go home and figure it out myself without you!" I remember he starred at me for awhile and finally said... "ok fine sory..."

BUT yet now when I complain about money he SMILES! It's like he's HAPPY I'm suffering... I want to be like "umm this could have been an easier transition DAD!"

Haha, wish I had someone to do my taxes for me for free!  

Cita

Haha, wish I had someone to do my taxes for me for free!  

lol well since I owe the government $500 I'm glad he did them for free... stupid waitressing earlier this year...

Trust me I'd rather go buy Turbo Tax myself for $30 and get money BACK haha

Turbo Tax is a joke! After watching him do it I'm like psh that's it?! Next year I'll be all set

Pomeranian <3

WHAT I WANNA KNOW... is at what point does this begin to really effect society???

It already has.  Started about 20 years ago.  Look at our national level of personal debt.  The latest mortgage problem is partially to blame from the attitude of "I just want it".  Some of foreign trade imbalance's have to do with the "I just have to have it" mentality.

timsdat

Look at our national level of personal debt.  The latest mortgage problem is partially to blame from the attitude of "I just want it".  Some of foreign trade imbalance's have to do with the "I just have to have it" mentality.

How can we control people's personal spending? (as in how can we actually educate people to stop going into debt and attempt to live the card they were dealt?) I love how now there is no such thing as "access denied" on credit cards. If you go over the limit they just charge you a $40 fee (how nice of them?)

Is there REALLY a way to get a hold of our nation's debt??

Pomeranian <3

How can we control people's personal spending? (as in how can we actually educate people to stop going into debt and attempt to live the card they were dealt?) I love how now there is no such thing as "access denied" on credit cards. If you go over the limit they just charge you a $40 fee (how nice of them?)

Is there REALLY a way to get a hold of our nation's debt??

there is no way to control people's personal spending. that is up to the individual.

i dont think there is a way to get hold of our national debt until the war is over. we possibly should also stop many of our philanthropic endeavors. i think it will be hard to get the debt in check though because of the fact that we have shipped a great deal of our manufacturing to other countries. it is hard to lean on a country like china when they have you by the short curlies. 

Pomeranian <3

Is there REALLY a way to get a hold of our nation's debt??

I'm talking about the personal level of debt at the national level.

Also what I meant by not wanting my influences to be forced upon my children was: In earlier discussions I was talking about how hard core Republican my father is and growing up he was like that father who said "this is the right way!" do you get what I mean?? It's almost like that parent that drills it into their kids skulls that being gay is wrong! ("forceful parents"???)

Ahh ok I see! This thread is getting long so I was having trouble seeing what referred to what!  It's a shame your Dad didn't try and get you involved in fiscal stuff earlier - I definitely feel for you on that!

 You know what I think would help (nationwide, that is)...a basic home economics class, required either in middle school or high school. Teach kids how to write checks, how to pay bills, what a mortgage is, how a credit card works, how to do taxes...things like that. The very basic things that too many kids go to college not knowing how to do, either because their parents didn't teach them or they never "needed to know" (i.e. got brand-new Benzs all the time ;) )

Pomeranian <3

Its a pure fact that if you make a good living you're probably a Republican and if you are in the middle class you are probably a Democrat... let's be honest!

Actually, my husband and I make a very good living, probably quite a bit higher than most of the people posting on this thread, which means my taxes are quite a bit higher too. But even if my income were doubled or tripled I still wouldn't be a Republican. Because my views aren't about what's best for me, it's about what I think is best for the country in general.

 And BTW, your dad is a VERY angry man!

cakana

Pomeranian <3

I notriously have met zero "wealthy" democrats...

I'm not sure what "notriously" means, but how about Oprah Winfrey? John Kerry? Warren Buffett?

Wasn't it Warren Buffet who said something about how wrong it was that he was paying a lower percentage of his income in taxes than his secretary did?

 Because my views aren't about what's best for me, it's about what I think is best for the country in general.

 Last time I checked.....I think Republicans care about what is best for the country too, not just what is best for them... it is just that opinions on what specifically to do re: country are different

Pomeranian <3

timsdat

Pomeranian <3

I want to buy them a car. I don't want to spoil them; but I want my children to have a comfortable life (yes that means a laptop when they need one, and ipods for christmas, or w/e toys are out by that time)

And there you go continuing the cycle to the next generation.  I'll bet that is what you had also.  Look where it got you.  You are learning very hard lessons about life and economics now aren't you.  Don't you think that it would be easier if a child realized that everything just doesn't show up. 

Yep which is why I do plan on doing it different. Based on grades & they will have a job or be involved in extra curricular activities. And if they are a well deserving child of something such as a car they will get one.

That's fair right?? That way the will understand the meaning of a dollar...

Not really. Why not have them get a job, save up their money, and buy their own car? My parents were firm believers in the idea that you don't appreciate the things that you didn't have to earn, so for me, nothing just 'showed up'. And that lesson has continued to this day - I live within my means, I don't like debt, other than for housing, which is impossible to avoid around here, but I pay about $650.00 more each month on my mortgage than the actual payment amount so it will be paid off early. I use my credit cards for convenience, not to rack up debt. We pay cash for cars when we can, we finance them when we have to, and pay them off as quickly as we can afford to. I haven't had a car payment in many years, and we own 5 vehicles, 4 of which were bought new. 

timsdat

Pomeranian <3

Based on grades

Good grades were expected.  I never got a reward for good grades only removal of privledges for bad grades. 

Did we grow up in the same household?!?!?