General Discussion

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)

156. Good post.

Wed Jan 21, 2015, 11:13 AM

Jan 2015

Thank you for posting. My parents grew up during the Depression (my father in a children's home), and they remained frugal, even as the family circumstances improved over the years.

We wore bread bags over our socks inside our boots as an extra water-resistant layer.

My mother didn't buy baggies or zip-lock bags until at least the 1990s - she used bread bags for everything. She still saves them.

She reused everything. Old worn out socks became cuffs to lengthen the sleeves of winter coats, to get another year's wear of them - stuff like that.

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This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] Luminous Animal Jan 2015 OP

She said the bread bags were worn over her shoes. DU members who ecstatic Jan 2015 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #3

Interesting. nt ecstatic Jan 2015 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #9

How did they not get ripped to shreds, if you walked any distance? What did kids do who didn't pnwmom Jan 2015 #73

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #84

Well, you weren't wearing the plastic bags over your skate blades. What about when there wasn't smooth ice pnwmom Jan 2015 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #92

I believe you were poor -- but I have my doubts about Joni Ernst. pnwmom Jan 2015 #100

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #103

I think they ARE attacking her credibility. She comes across as a very phony person, pnwmom Jan 2015 #104

Sometimes people smile pipi_k Jan 2015 #170

It isn't her poverty stories, it's that her party does all it can to SammyWinstonJack Jan 2015 #147

joni was born in 1970; her family owned a farm and a construction company. she went to ND-Dem Jan 2015 #109

Not to defend her Munificence Jan 2015 #157

+1000. Ernst is a liar and a hypocrite. She's spitting on the hardships of the poor. Paladin Jan 2015 #165

This is my reaction to her too. Skidmore Jan 2015 #110

according to the op, we can't say anything about it though, because the stories are what poor ND-Dem Jan 2015 #111

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #161

It would be funny if I mocked poor people, since I AM one NOW. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #162

Thanks for the link! nt pnwmom Jan 2015 #137

NO they weren't madokie Jan 2015 #127

I was probably older. I wore them in my shoes. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #38

That's what I remember doing...growing up rural. n/t KoKo Jan 2015 #176

Bread bags on the inside of the holey shoe over the holey socks madokie Jan 2015 #125

Bread bags = galoshes. Same concept. KMOD Jan 2015 #129

What solution did she propose during her speech… FrenchieCat Jan 2015 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #5

So you care more about what a few anonymous posters say on a message board Cali_Democrat Jan 2015 #20

Ernst is anti gay, anti choice, supports privatization of Medicare, dismantling the EPA and opposes Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #158

people are mocking ernst. because she's a liar; she was never poor. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #21

I'm with you, Luminouos Animal. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #40

I think people are mocking Joni and her stepford-wife, smiling presentation, as if there was pnwmom Jan 2015 #77

No, we're mocking the lives and actions of lying, hypocritical people . . . hatrack Jan 2015 #130

Here's the point though Bettie Jan 2015 #139

Passing Keystone. lovemydog Jan 2015 #7

Taking away shoes from poor kids. Major Hogwash Jan 2015 #41

In past speeches, she's proposed to end the federal minimum wage. That'll help. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #75

Her solution is basically making it harder for poor people to survive. Ken Burch Jan 2015 #82

Right! SammyWinstonJack Jan 2015 #148

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jan 2015 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #8

You need a hug Beaverhausen Jan 2015 #15

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #47

she was never poor. her family owned a farm and a construction company. she went to state ND-Dem Jan 2015 #23

I don't care if she was never poor. What I care about is people questioning and mocking Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #50

no one is questioning what poor people do, but what LYING POLITICIANS do, especially ones ND-Dem Jan 2015 #52

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jan 2015 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #89

Why are you persisiting in being deliberately obtuse about DU'ers' comments re: Ernst? WinkyDink Jan 2015 #116

+1000??? Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #141

And ketchup sandwiches! polly7 Jan 2015 #144

Why her story is a lie. dimediego Jan 2015 #108

You didn't see the speech? Hissyspit Jan 2015 #55

Please don't be upset. This isn't an attack on poor people. It just seems to many here that Joni's story pnwmom Jan 2015 #79

Well, you could talk about her opposition to the Minimum Wage or desire to privatize Medicare Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #159

Leave Joni Ernst alone!!!! ND-Dem Jan 2015 #76

I get it. ;-) WinkyDink Jan 2015 #117

Joni Ernst: ND-Dem Jan 2015 #118

heh SammyWinstonJack Jan 2015 #149

Mostly it's people who grew up poor saying she sounds like she's bullshitting. LeftyMom Jan 2015 #10

I grew up poor. You put the bread bags on the outside of your shoes so you don't Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #12

I never knew anyone who put the bags on the outside of the shoes. Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #14

Here's her speech. lovemydog Jan 2015 #19

Thank you. n/t Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #150

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #22

i ate sugar and butter sandwiches cause my mom taught me to. and joni ernst was never poor ND-Dem Jan 2015 #27

people are not mocking poverty KT2000 Jan 2015 #57

I've seen two posts... Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #67

to be fair KT2000 Jan 2015 #72

Wrong. AngryAmish Jan 2015 #131

we weren't that well off but we weren't 'poor' -- but we ate sugar and butter sandwiches, jam ND-Dem Jan 2015 #25

Wouldn't it depend on the type of shoe? Like if they were good Sunday go to meeting Maraya1969 Jan 2015 #30

Bread bags wouldn't offer any traction and as LeftyMom wrote above, they'd wear out quickly. Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #32

Yes, they'd make your shoes slippery, Not only because they're plastic, but because you can't get ND-Dem Jan 2015 #78

We wore the breadbags pipi_k Jan 2015 #172

You're not the only person who grew up poor. LeftyMom Jan 2015 #17

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #26

"Cheap" in the sense of "of low quality" LeftyMom Jan 2015 #31

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #45

Wait, I'm getting you-don't-know-what-poor-is'd by somebody who went to private school? LeftyMom Jan 2015 #49

Your empathy is touching philosslayer Jan 2015 #56

My empathy for the far-better-off-than-we-were? LeftyMom Jan 2015 #59

You are going to win the contest any minute now. nt NCTraveler Jan 2015 #177

catholic school costs money. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #81

Not necessarily eridani Jan 2015 #124

Yep! pipi_k Jan 2015 #174

That's exactly how it was for my husband's family growing up in Philly. DawgHouse Jan 2015 #175

I guess that's why they couldn't afford shoes. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #62

We couldn't have gone if it was free- too far and no bus service, and Dad left for work hours before LeftyMom Jan 2015 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #71

Why did your family make you go to such a horrible place? nt SunSeeker Jan 2015 #154

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #160

So when the nuns introduced you as a charity case they also said not to tell anyone? SunSeeker Jan 2015 #163

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #64

huh???? rbrnmw Jan 2015 #95

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #97

Wow, Luminous, I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience there. DebJ Jan 2015 #106

No wonder you had to wear bread bags over your shoes. joshcryer Jan 2015 #122

To be fair... joshcryer Jan 2015 #123

+1000 Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #142

Most of the Roman Catholic kids in my neighborhood went to the parish school. Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #155

Thank you. lovemydog Jan 2015 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #13

Thank you. progressoid Jan 2015 #16

she's a republican and they do all they can to fuck the poor Skittles Jan 2015 #28

I'd like to think that's what is happening. progressoid Jan 2015 #43

she was never poor so she has no capacity to empathize. she wants to end minimum wage, ND-Dem Jan 2015 #83

her family owned a farm and a construction business; they weren;t poor. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #46

To save for college, she worked the biscuit line at Hardee's. Mariana Jan 2015 #58

she was born in 1970, which means she started college about 1988/9. That was long past the ND-Dem Jan 2015 #60

I know all about her. She lives an hour down the road from me. progressoid Jan 2015 #61

she's using the issue of poverty while planning to kneecap the poor. i think it's entirely worthy ND-Dem Jan 2015 #65

no one is criticizing bread bags? progressoid Jan 2015 #87

I see people criticizing Ernst and making fun of ernst, Because she's a liar and deserves it. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #91

it isn't that they're making fun of her for being poor, but fishwax Jan 2015 #166

No one is mocking poverty marym625 Jan 2015 #18

She was letting a lot of people who are poor know that she knows how they feel. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #29

I know what poor is marym625 Jan 2015 #33

Of course she is a phony. You and I know that. But a lot of those who voted for her, JDPriestly Jan 2015 #37

I have not seen anyone making fun of the use of the bags marym625 Jan 2015 #42

all the more reason to spread the word that she's a BIG FAT LIAR who wants to end every ND-Dem Jan 2015 #105

SHE WAS NEVER POOR A DAY IN HER LIFE. SHE WANTS TO FUCK POOR PEOPLE SIX WAYS TO SUNDAY. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #48

Agreed. But that does not prevent her from letting people know she knows how they feel. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #63

She doesn't know how they feel, because she was never poor a day in her life. Rather the opposite. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #66

So instead of talking about the bread bags, let's talk about why she is wrong on other issues. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #69

I've been saying in nearly every post, she's pretending to have been poor so she can SCREW the poor. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #70

is her schtick really gonna play with most working class people? hfojvt Jan 2015 #99

She mentioned being anti-choice in her speech. You are right. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #101

If she actually knew how they feel, Art_from_Ark Jan 2015 #113

SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW THEY FEEL, SHE;S A FUCKING LIAR, WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE ND-Dem Jan 2015 #86

I never ate sugar sandwiches, but I did put plastic bags (I don't remember whether they were JDPriestly Jan 2015 #24

I wear second hand clothes and have all my life. You don't know what poor means apparently, ND-Dem Jan 2015 #88

Yes. I know. Did not mean to say that wearing second-hand clohes means poor. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #102

I didn't see or hear Ms. Ernst's speech but I think what is being mocked here is not poor people per KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #34

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jan 2015 #44

It's late and I'm tired. But I'm not getting your point(s) nor how they relate KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #53

So, she could be making up stories for Republican advantage... joshcryer Jan 2015 #35

Thank you. She can romanticize it BECAUSE SHE WAS NEVER POOR. Her family owned a farm ND-Dem Jan 2015 #51

She wasn't poor. JaneyVee Jan 2015 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #74

She;s always been part of the upper middle class AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT WHAT POOR ND-Dem Jan 2015 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #93

sure we don't rbrnmw Jan 2015 #96

He says to the person who makes $600 a month working at a kind of sheltered workshop and can ND-Dem Jan 2015 #98

Best wishes ND-Dem. joshcryer Jan 2015 #120

Well done! Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #180

I gather you are speaking for yourself; it's best to leave it that way. YOU DON'T KNOW US. WinkyDink Jan 2015 #115

Fair point. joshcryer Jan 2015 #119

You serioulsy are dragging a post from Texasgal Jan 2015 #181

I understand why you are upset. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #39

Maybe they are true. But that doesn't make it cool for Ernst to use them Ken Burch Jan 2015 #80

People are mocking the typical "bags to riches" myth.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #94

Luminous Animal, I get it. I am sorry you and your family were poor. I am sorry your mom merrily Jan 2015 #107

Just catching up with the latest here BootinUp Jan 2015 #112

IDGADamn what her stories are; she's a dumb-sh*t Republican who now HATES the poor, the minimum-wage WinkyDink Jan 2015 #114

FWIW, I just recalled, we did wear grocery bags over shoes to Church. joshcryer Jan 2015 #121

Okay this is about mean nuns? ucrdem Jan 2015 #126

We were so poor that we wore bread bags over our heads to protect our hats & scarves Orrex Jan 2015 #128

I really did laugh out loud Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #143

Glad to give you a giggle Orrex Jan 2015 #153

The difference with Joni is . . . Vinca Jan 2015 #132

Every so often the average demographics of DU become pretty obvious. Nye Bevan Jan 2015 #133

+1000 Saucepan of Kerbango Jan 2015 #134

My mother grew up so poor that she and her sisters shared shoes Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #135

I didn't see her response deutsey Jan 2015 #136

So why exactly, do you think Joni told that story? Avalux Jan 2015 #138

I'm waiting for her "we had to wear barrels" story Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #140

Barrels? Your family was lucky enough to have barrels? FSogol Jan 2015 #145

Well, they were secondhand barrels... Tom Ripley Jan 2015 #146

I know where you're coming from. If people don't grow up that poor, they don't know what those who Arkansas Granny Jan 2015 #151

Good post. cyberswede Jan 2015 #156

The question is, what does any of that matter in terms of Joni Ernst's political policies and impact stevenleser Jan 2015 #169

PERFECT! Long Drive Jan 2015 #179

The difference is, her stories are lies. alarimer Jan 2015 #152

Exactly. I don't think people would be laughing if an actual poor person said this. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #164

We did it at my house too but I don't remember being poor. DawgHouse Jan 2015 #167

Her track record with the truth is not good according to politifact stevenleser Jan 2015 #168

We had some of the same experiences in my family and I'm sure a lot of us Stellar Jan 2015 #171

I'll have to go back and look at the transcript DawgHouse Jan 2015 #173

Some of the responses directed at you are unfair. NCTraveler Jan 2015 #178