1 Yep, they are providing "free ice" just one i-95 stop away from me... it would take me about 20 minutes to get there. I am NOT going to go get it. I don't need it and it drives me nuts when people go get it 'just because it's free'. Sigh.

2 Psst. Next time make it "VW and Bou". GRIN

3 VW and Bou? Oh NOW we see how it is!

4 "They won't give me jack because I work." Sadly, even employment doesn't always guarantee a family can make ends meet. Last year I had a student who was working full time as a machinist, had two young children, and was taking classes at my community college. She of course had to feed and clothe not only herself, but the two kids. She didn't make enough on her 40-hrs/week to pay rent, food, clothing, and for her college classes. She could have given up the college classes, that would've given her a little more money and time to work, but then she would never be able to move up from her minimum wage job. The sad choice she eventually had to make was to live with an abusive boyfriend and his father so she didn't have to pay the rent. The only other option I could think of would be if she packed up herself and her children and moved to a part of the country where the cost of living was lower, but this would've required moving away from everyone and everything she knew, and in a new location she'd have to pay for childcare since she wouldn't know anyone reliable to take care of her kids while she was at work or school. I am thankful that I have never had to live a life like this, and I do not begrudge them the help they receive from my taxes. However, if you don't like how the US is doing things you have a few choices: keep complaining pointlessly; stop complaining and suck it up; vote, write letters to politicians, stage protests, make campaign contributions, and do other such things that can help your viewpoint be heard; run for office yourself; or leave the country for one that does do things the way you like.

5 And Zandpearl -- This country would work a lot better if it was allowed to function as originally planned. The govt has one job, the private sector has another. There are a lot of charities and support groups out there that are supported by private individuals, I run across them all the time surfing. I also know people who are really good at searching them out. There are companies requiring employees with certain skills that train unskilled people on the job, compensating them while they learn. If the socialist{liberal} element in our society wasn't constantly at work trying to tear down a system that has made America the wealthiest, most influential and most powerful nation on earth, the marketplace, instead of having to concentrate on surviving under perpetual siege, might be able to do their job and help support their future assets while training them for better paying positions. I know a few people who have gone from semiemployable to highly paid professional via such NONgovernment-paid programs. The MSM doesn't spend any time reporting these things because they, like the rest of the left, have this all pervasive need to make the govt pay for everything. Funny thing, I might add that a great deal of socialist thought is generated from colleges. You tell Ogre to go to a country where the government might do things more to his liking, well: This is a capitalist republic, not a socialist country. Most socialist countries aren't doing too well these days, are they? So let the liberals leave and find one of those "Utopias" to live in, instead of screwing up this country.

6 Absolutely, Seth. Private charities can do things a million times better than the government. I don't object to people who need help getting help, Zandperl -- I object to them claiming they have a right to the fruits of MY labor. And I *AM* doing all I can -- including pointing out where the government goes wrong here on this blog so hopefully at least one person will think about it and realize that the current government entitlement and answer-to-everything is wrong. And I'm doing a number of the other things you list. I agree with Seth -- I want THIS country to be the constitutional republic that supports freedom -- anyone who doesn't like that ought to leave because there are plenty of other choices for socialism. Unfortunately, the socialists NEED my capitalist money to support their programs, so they won't leave.

7 My power has been out the last 2 days due to the heavy snowfall in the mountains of western PA. No FEMA trucks spotted yet.

8 I'm sure it's due to mismanagement, Tomslick. They will have you your free ice soon. I think on the website you can sign up for home delivery in case you're too lazy, I mean too needy, to go get it yourself.

9 I think the majority of people here would rather sign the "Stay away Fema, we are doing just fine" site. My family, my home, my responsibility. What a novel idea.

10 You're a dinosaur, Tomslick, and not welcome by the politicians and elites of this country. Me, too.

11 Hay, Have you ever been in POLAND? I got 400E per month - my flant renting per month is about 200E and food 100.

12 400E Per month for what? For working, or just cash from the government?

13 Everyone gets so dependent on power. I think that we need to find alternative power needs.

14 We've been searching for a long time, Anna, it's just that an economically viable alternative has not been found yet.