Then there is the flip side. Example? How about the woman who called 911 because her daughter was misbehaving? 911 asked if they should come over and shoot her.
Our 911 call center here has already made over 115,000 tap outs to Fire/EMS and Police, and answered at least 3 times that many calls. Although professionalism is a must, I imagine it does get tiring answering calls about a stubbed toe, headache, and un-disciplined children, not to mention answering the 20 cell phone call about a minor fender bender on the freeway.
But when do people start taking responsibility for their own actions? At what point does this society say "No, it is YOUR problem, you did it, now YOU deal with it!"
Example: Bush plans to sign the bill making it tougher to declare bankruptcy. This is a good thing! People who can't manage their finances, should not be able to just go out, declare bankruptcy, and start over. I know a guy who has done it. Once he was able, he just new credit cards, racked up about $80,000 in debt AGAIN, and filed again. No change in lifestyle, no change in habits, just money GONE! He was never forced to take responsibility for what he did.
The wife and I have worked HARD to make sure we have as close to ZERO debt as possible. We have NO credit cards, and the only loans we have left are the student loans from college, we hope to have those paid in the next 2-3 years. But all that took sacrifice, a budget, and RESTRAINT!
Argghhhh! You just want to kick some people in the head with steel toed boots!
I'm gonna get off the soap box now, go to the range for a bit.
1 comment:
Actually, I'm gonna have to side with Dave Ramsey on this one. I think the bankrupcy reform bill should not have passed. The legislation was bought by the same credit card companies who stand to gain millions of dollars based on it. How about some accountability for the Smeg-head credit card companies who indescriminately provide offers to kids, pets, and dead people every year? And they whine when the effing moron who didn't have a job signed up and can't pay? I totally agree that people should not be taking on the responsibility of credit if they can't follow thru. They should have their privies tazed repeatedly. HOWEVER, the guy you know who has filled BK once and is about to do it again should never have gotten credit offers after the first time. We don't allow people to have guns after commiting a crime with them. If bankruptcy is so bad we have to increase legislation on it, what responsiblity do the credit card companies bear for providing a person they KNOW has a history of non-repayment another chance to stiff 'em? Credit has the potential for abuse, much like drugs or alcohol. Drug dealers are penalized for pedaling their crap, and bars that cater to people already drunk can have their licenses pulled. In both instances some responsibility lies with the person who enabled the addict to commit further harm to themselves. Why not do the same to credit card companies? Because they got the legislation by throwing money at politicians. Money credit card holders paid in interest. Why not punish credit card companies for predatory lending (the act of aggresively lending money to people who cannot prepay and/or don't understand what they are signing. aka LOAN SHARKS)?
Just some food for thought.
I think I shall put my soapbox away as well.
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