When people say they can't afford to stay home with kids is this because?

morgan

1. one income would not cover the mortgage
2. they want luxury items
3. wouldn't be able to put food on the table and provide adequate necessities for children
4. all of the above.
and what salary would your spouse have to earn *the higher income earner) for you to stay home?.

Answer
The feminist movement changed how american's live. In the 1950's nearly every family had a stay at home mom. But today everyone wants 2 cars+, Boat, Camper, Weekend home, TV & Pc in every room, It has made it a necessity to have 2 incomes Plus to live like this.

People make fun of the Amish but they seem to live without electric and running water in there home no TV's No cars. No pc's yet you never hear of much crime from there communities.

Are these gas prices here to stay?

EsoMan

I remember the days when paying anything more than $1.29 a gallon was considered on the high end (in MN) ... Yet here we sit now... paying close to $4.00 a gallon. Many countries other than the US (Canada and the United Kingdom) were paying higher prices long before our turn came. What do you all think? Are these prices here to stay? Any input on the economics of the whole debacle?

Answer
If they go much higher and continue to do more than double every year then I think innovation will be the only solution that could cause a decrease in the price of gas, but as I see most are pipe dreams and cost and Detroit will work hard to keep Hydrogen, Electric, and any other types of cars out of the hands of middle class consumers.

Even if electric cars like the Tesla and others took, wouldn't there be a surge in electricity pricing? Would you really able to drive at 1 cent per mile if EVERYONE was trying to do that...

I think it only works when the electric car is scarce on the market... but with problems like the battery lasting only 100,000mi tops and costing 3x as much as a new Civic, this is also a pipe dream, regardless of its 0-60MPH time and MPG equivalent.

But what is even MORE amazing to me is how many Americans keep jumping in their 15MPG mules by themselves -- and I love how the justify it with safety (I feel safe when I can't see around the other vehicles... :sarcasm:), with well we have the kids (their 2.3 or whatever the average is... they'd STILL fit in a 5-seater that get double the 15MPG of the mule... :sarcasm:... )

... see, if everyone vehicles suddenly double in MPG capability then wouldn't we have half as much demand?(no because then people would drive at lesuire more, right?)

It'd been nice if people would downsize, but people are too worried about being able to see over everyone else and to greedy to care... the gas crisis will only every be solved if Americans are open to new ways of travel and those means of travel exist. We have a JOKE of a mass transit system.

In other countries where there are no options, and little wealth, that is where you see efficiency in commuting... not in America, because we have had the luxury of not ever needing it before... and these lifestyles will probably die with the people, not a higher gas price.

So YES the high gas prices are here to stay.
It's up to U.S. (or maybe us) to decide when they have had enough... and now is not that time
... so have fun buying that 3.50+ gas
...and have a safe trip on this holiday weekend if you end up driving.

Still though, I'm laughing every time I fill up my car for less than $30... these 1-seater SUVs are a plague people! (and they are only part of the problem!)

-TB

PS. I love how Honda took the CRX (which gets around 40MPG) and turned it into the Insight which gets 60MPG; lets make a small car which almost no one in America drives, and lets make it even MORE efficient... or BMW, they take a car that's already too expensive and then make a Hydrogen or Fuel cell or whatever; oh yeah, that's going to catch on... BECAUSE no can afford it in the first place... the rich people will be able to drive more -- thanks BMW!

Ford is the only maker that is attacking the inefficient car first... these Priuses, Insights, do not make much sense (at least in the US)... but making a 1-seater Hybrid SUV DOES MAKE SENSE! I have restored faith in Detroit (yeah right).

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How would you deal with this situation? (8 year old criminal)?

Hitchhiker

At the grocery store, this very obese woman comes slowly walking in with about 12 children in orbit around her. She gets in the electric riding cart (for handicap people) to do her shopping. The orbiting children scatter in every direction as she call out empty threats of punishment. Three run closer to where I am knocking items off end displays (not picking them up) and they head straight for the grocery store phone on the isle. The oldest, about 9, and a smaller kid, maybe 6, grab the phone at the same time. He hits the younger kid in the face with the phone and jerks it away from him. He then dials 9-1-1, drops the phone, and they all run off, two laughing and the smallest crying.

I really wanted to say something to the caretaker (maybe mother?) of these kids but I didn't solely because she and all the children are black and I'm white. All she would have to do is play the race card and I'd be the one being prosecuted. So, I just shook my head and walked off. Even if she had been white, and I said something, she probably wouldn't have been too receptive of the criticism so the children's behavior would probably still remain uncorrected.

I feel like these will be future criminals if nobody sets them on the correct path but I'm not the one to do it. Or, should I be? What would you do?
I am a shopper.

I can't very well assume the race won't be played if the possibility of it being plaid labels me permanently. That is the reality of the situation. But, in any situation, the caretaker didn't seem the type to heed advice (white or black).
Also, I didn't want to touch the phone for fear that I would be the one blamed for making the call. It would have been my word against theirs if they lied (which seemed a high probability).

Answer
If I were in the store, I would try to contact the store manager. The children are the responsibility of the parent and they were causing you, as the customer, distress. This can also possibly open up communication with authorities in case the situation escalates.

If you were concerned directly about the safety of the children (they seemed to be neglected, Mom was abusive in public, etc) then by all means see if they came by car and then get the license plate and call CPS or again, notify the store manager.

Otherwise, pray. There really isn't much you can do about the situation, but do keep in mind that when parents are continuously unable to care for their children properly there is a good chance that a child protective service will become involved.

How old should you be to....?

Niall Hora

1. Dye your hair/ just highlights
2. Wear makeup
3. Own a phone
4. Have a FaceBook
5. Wear shorts above knee
6. Got to the mall alone with friends
7. Have a laptop
8. Have an IPod/IPad

Answer
Oh, I am gonna so get sooo many thumbs down.
1. My daughter was 9 and had electric blue highlights in her hair. She plays line on a boys football team, it was a trend- school color being blue.
2. I would have no issue with my daughter wearing makeup now, she is 10. She is a tomboy and does not care about makeup. I do not forbide it, which is why she does not request it.
3. My kids have had phones for years, I believe my daughter was sevenish. They are prepaids, they do care about them either. They very rarely if ever ask for a minute card. They are very useful for us because my kids play sports and do extra curricular activities. They will often need a ride a various times. No payphones in our town. Phones are useful. Plus I can gps their locations.
4. My kids have fb also. They are 13,11, and 10 years old. They have them because my son this past summer travel to Europe. Fb was a free easy way to communicate. They never used it, lol. And still do not.
5. Wear shorts above the knee. Any age within moderation. Fingertip test in my house. Again, not an issue with a tomboy. Tomboys do NOT wear short -- shorts. You would never wear anything but basektball shorts to play basketball in. Ah, the logic of a 10 year old.
6. As for going to the mall alone with friends. Not happening. Our nearest mall is 45 minutes away. Unless the kids can drive they are out of luck. Even if they could drive, still is not happening. In our state you cannot drive with passengers until you reach a certain age. No friends in cars.
7. Laptop, my kids all have laptops. We worked with computers and internet for several years. That is a given. Again, yeah my kids never turn them on.
8. Ipod- i woukd say 10 or 11 depending on the kids responsibility. They are expensive. My 11 year old had one since he was 10. As for an ipad, yup that ain't happening. Way too expensive, I do not even care if we can afford it. They want it, they can buy it.
So, I am not much of an "at a certain age", type of parent. Certain thi gs go with responsibility. One of my kids may be ready for something and the other may not.

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