Gyroscopic Investing

ns3 wrote: Mind-boggling clip of a woman on welfare calling in to a radio talk-show to defend her sense of morality.

Her attitude paraphrased....

"If someone offered you a million dollars for free wouldn't you take it? So how can you feel morally superior to me just because you go to work every day?"


(The talk-show host's rejoinder was great - if you know somebody that wants to give me a million dollars for free please have them call me).

The most comical thing was the ladies attitude towards illegal immigrants. She obviously sees them honing in on her territory and doesn't like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... _r_v9cYBPY

Kshartle wrote: I listened to her a couple weeks ago. I think she made a lot of sense and is a lot more intelligent about the issue than the talk-show hosts. They are blabbing about guilt or whatever and she's talking about the reality of her situation. She's choosing what she sees as her best option and really.....it probably is.

I collected unemployment after leaving the Army and then spent a couple years just going to school and getting the Army college fund. Didn't work for years and had enough for food, shelter and recreation. It was awesome.

She might be a lazy worthless leaching lump.....but hey, you can't really beat her reasoning.

Plus she loves her kids. She only wants them to work if it's doing something they really enjoy. Otherwise.....have someone else do the work and send you a check.

This is the rule not the exception.

dragoncar wrote:

Kshartle wrote: I listened to her a couple weeks ago. I think she made a lot of sense and is a lot more intelligent about the issue than the talk-show hosts. They are blabbing about guilt or whatever and she's talking about the reality of her situation. She's choosing what she sees as her best option and really.....it probably is.

I collected unemployment after leaving the Army and then spent a couple years just going to school and getting the Army college fund. Didn't work for years and had enough for food, shelter and recreation. It was awesome.

She might be a lazy worthless leaching lump.....but hey, you can't really beat her reasoning.

Plus she loves her kids. She only wants them to work if it's doing something they really enjoy. Otherwise.....have someone else do the work and send you a check.

This is the rule not the exception.

I don't know if she's more intelligent -- I couldn't listen to the whole thing.  But you are right that she gets to the heart of the issue: people in general are going to maximize their utility regardless of moral arguments.  You have to change the system if you want behavior to change...

Kshartle wrote:

dragoncar wrote:

Kshartle wrote: I listened to her a couple weeks ago. I think she made a lot of sense and is a lot more intelligent about the issue than the talk-show hosts. They are blabbing about guilt or whatever and she's talking about the reality of her situation. She's choosing what she sees as her best option and really.....it probably is.

I collected unemployment after leaving the Army and then spent a couple years just going to school and getting the Army college fund. Didn't work for years and had enough for food, shelter and recreation. It was awesome.

She might be a lazy worthless leaching lump.....but hey, you can't really beat her reasoning.

Plus she loves her kids. She only wants them to work if it's doing something they really enjoy. Otherwise.....have someone else do the work and send you a check.

This is the rule not the exception.

I don't know if she's more intelligent -- I couldn't listen to the whole thing.  But you are right that she gets to the heart of the issue: people in general are going to maximize their utility regardless of moral arguments.  You have to change the system if you want behavior to change...

Yes I just meant she was more intelligent about the issue. She understands it better as a recipiant than these guys do. She understands the reality for people choosing it.

She said she would maybe work if she were offered a career I think, but she does not want a job. Well........I can't totally blame her. I never assume someone on welfare is either dumb or lazy. They value lesuire and are content with the lifestyle so they are just doing what they think is best.

I am certain there are millions of people working hard for 50k per year who's lives would improve if they just went on welfare.

Kshartle wrote:I collected unemployment after leaving the Army and then spent a couple years just going to school and getting the Army college fund. Didn't work for years and had enough for food, shelter and recreation. It was awesome.

jan van mourik wrote:

Kshartle wrote:I collected unemployment after leaving the Army and then spent a couple years just going to school and getting the Army college fund. Didn't work for years and had enough for food, shelter and recreation. It was awesome.

So why didn't you keep on doing that?

Kshartle wrote: If you mean why didn't I pursue a life of sloth? I guess I had/have dreams of something much better that I can only get through work.

ns3 wrote:

Kshartle wrote: If you mean why didn't I pursue a life of sloth? I guess I had/have dreams of something much better that I can only get through work.

Interesting attitude since you seem to be a staunch libertarian.

As a libertarian don't you believe that taxation is theft?

So are you saying theft is okay unless you have dreams of something bigger that theft can't provide?