The Have/Have Not Question

[The Whiskey Priest]

C-span 1, Washington Journal, just finished a call-in segment on the question of “Are You a Have or Have-not.” The question was biased in as much as all those who were calling in by virtue of calling had to have had a television, discretionary income to afford cable and a telephone. Therefore, most of the callers when identifying themselves as a “have-not” and when questioned experienced some difficulty explaining why they considered themselves a “have-not.” Of course the obverse is true for those considering themselves as “haves.” A true member of the “haves” does not watch c-span and certain does not respond to such a question on Thanksgiving morning.

A quick way of understanding where anyone stands on the question of “have” or “have-not” is very simple. Look at where you are listed on the income statement of your employer. If you are listed as an expense, cost of labor, then you are a commodity and subsequently you are a “have-not.” A “have-not” has no control of his future, which can be altered, erased or modified at any time by capital’s pursuit of increasing the bottom-line.

The power of capital in this country has migrated to such a small percentage of the population that all of us, no matter or present circumstances, are at risk of becoming “have-not” in the true sense of the word.

At this moment, I and you are doing okay. We have the necessary discretionary income to be able to afford a computer, the net and the electricity needed to operate. There are many of us who at this moment are concerned about finding a meal for their children. I am thankful that I have the financial ability, be it ever so small, to assist someone in solving that problem. For the moment.

[Cornus]

1. Interesting observations

I was thinking much the same thing as I watched that segment.

[gorbal]

5. I don't have cable so I didn't see it

I probably COULD afford cable if I REALLY wanted to, but it is so expensive now and I have other priorities, like heating oil. It's also very low quality, very little bang for your buck in my opinion.

[EFerrari]

2. I don't think in the same terms that you and Cornus do.

And tend to risky alternatives, like self-employment in a ridiculous market, show busyness and writing.

But it was interesting to hear where people pegged themselves. Especially to hear the concern about health care.

I haven't had a doctor for the last decade. Imagine that many people have not.

Welcome to Guatemala. Enjoy your stay, amigo.

[Caesarmajestic]

3. Consider this . . .

What would be your opinion of Doctor and Hospitol costs if our health care system were completely removed?

Would Doctors charge more or . . . less?

I say less - they would have to charge something that people could afford, right?

If this is true, then it could be said that today, they enjoy government subsidy in one form or another. No matter how you play with the numbers, they are getting subsidized in some way or another (if their prices would fall without our healthcare system).

So basically, if you pay taxes but do NOT have health care, then:

YOU are subsidizing healthcare for the rich.

I'm sure they appreciate it from the bottom of their plush country club seats . . .

[TahitiNut]

4. There's no question in my mind that over 50% of "health care" costs ...

... go to profiteers - both 'corporate' health care and the finance/insurance industries. I'm old enough to remember when doctors made house calls. I'm old enough to remember when blue collar families (mine) could afford to have the doctor come and treat kids (me) with measles and chicken pox. I'm old enough to remember when that doctor put up a "Measles Quarantine" sign on the front door and performed periodic follow-up visits. And it didn't require a week's pay to get him to do it! He still lived in the best neighborhoods, too!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. I Think That's Bullshit. It is a mindset, not a calculation on how big

your pile of stuff is.

I lived in my car hanging on to a thread of life for months. I had nothing, absolutely nothing. Yet, in retrospect, I'm not sure I've ever truly had more than I did then. It is all perspective in my opinion.

What does it mean to Have, or Have Not? Ever notice that the people in 3rd world countries who should seem completely miserable and depressed aren't? That they seem to appreciate life more and be more thankful than most americans who have exponentially more? It is because of their mindset.

There is something about being humble and meek that I think most of us don't get. That the simple pure joys in life matter so much more.

The way I see it, a lot of those with 'nothing' have more in their hearts and souls than many of us ever will. I consider them to be not only beautiful, but that they are the 'haves', and those of us that are greedy and take life for granted are in fact the 'have nots'.

[The Whiskey Priest]

7. Six million children a year dying of hunger, UN says

Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Posted at 12:03 PM EST

Rome -- Hunger and malnutrition are killing nearly six million children a year, and more people are malnourished in sub-Saharan Africa this decade than in the 1990s.

Many of the children die from diseases that are treatable, including diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles, according to the report released yesterday by the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of malnourished people grew to 203.5 million in 2002, from 170.4 million 10 years earlier, the report says. AP

It would seem that these kids are not hanging on...it might be a stretch to say they died with a smile on their emaciated faces.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. I agree.

But that kinda wasn't my point. I'm looking at it more in the context of the Have/Have Not question.

I wasn't attacking or minimizing the effects of poverty, believe me. I feel for every one of those children and though Lord knows it isn't enough, sponsor 3 of them through chilren international.

[Greyhound]

9. I'm definitely in the 'have not' column. Not doing OK at all.

especially scary to those like me. 6 years ago I was in the top 2% income bracket, today I've lost everything material and am bankrupt. It can happen to you.