Jeff on October 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm #
Right on! I could not have said it any better myself! Yet another time I am proud to be your husband!
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Heather on October 9th, 2008 at 5:58 am #
You are so right! I have on my fridge a magnet that says “Make peace with the fact that life isn’t fair!” I wish I could explain that to the world.
I’ve been sitting on my fingers, trying to keep myself from blogging about the election myself. I may have to give up on that!
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Heather on October 9th, 2008 at 5:59 am #
PS) This is just one more reason why you shouldn’t be watching Oprah! I can give you a much longer list if you’d like. ;)
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Jane Hilton on October 9th, 2008 at 6:23 am #
I have been thinking lately. What about me. I don’t owe any money. I don’t buy what I can’t pay for. I’ve been driving the same car for 7 years. My mortgage is paid. Why not reward those of us who have been responsible. I’ve lost money in my retirement fund and am at an age where I won’t be able to make it up. Where is my bailout.
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Nancy on October 9th, 2008 at 6:27 am #
Three cheers for you, Darcie!
I live in that certain Senator’s backyard (Cook County, IL), and this week our Sheriff has decreed that he won’t enforce eviction notices on 21,000 people who are not paying their mortgages. In other words, they get free houses, because the sheriff has chosen to suspend law. So, I should be able to go to the grocery store and get free groceries, right?
November 4th is coming — let’s get out there and surprise the pundits. Vote vote vote!
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Shannon on October 9th, 2008 at 6:47 am #
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
My family lives well within or below our means. We pay our mortgage and all of our bills on time. I wish someone would reward those of us who have followed the rules. I get very frustrated when I hear that people were sucked in to buy houses that were more than they could afford and their interest rates are ballooning to such high rates that they can no longer afford to pay them. Where is personal responsibility? Can people not read the paperwork they sign that tells them what they’ll have to pay?
Oh my…I’d better get off my soapbox now!
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And this, my dear, is just one of the many reasons why you RAWK!
And Nancy’s comment has me FUMING. Is that what the Senator calls fair? In what parallel universe!? I better stop now. I feel my blood pressure rising.
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Merissa on October 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am #
Amen Darcie! I feel the exact same way that you do. We bought our house last year and we could have gone for one of those hybrid, made up loans and had a bigger house and lower house payment. But I am a worrier, and I think ahead, and I knew that there was a huge chance that this mortgage mess could happen. So we went for a regular old 30 yr fixed loan. Boring, I know.
OK, enough for me. I haven’t had my coffee yet this morning and my blood pressure is already rising.
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Grams on October 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am #
Right on my dear granddaughter. Everyday you make me so proud to have you as MY grandaughter. Love you, Grams
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Jessica on October 9th, 2008 at 7:56 am #
Glad to hear I am not alone. It truly scares me that many people can’t see behind the well-spoken words.
It sounds so nice and happy and peaceful… everyone will just have health care and houses and a pony regardless of whether or not they are productive.
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TJ Hirst on October 9th, 2008 at 8:09 am #
Jessie on October 9th, 2008 at 8:45 am #
This post was wonderful to read! I wish people could see behind the smooth talk.
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You are honestly brilliant! And a great writer! I love this post and totally agree with you! :)
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Jenny on October 9th, 2008 at 9:11 am #
Thank you for writing this post, Darcie. So spot-on but oh so fun to read all at the same time.
My husband and I are 27 years old have no credit card debt and everytime I watch Oprah or Suze Orman they make me feel so responsible because they make it seem that something like that at our age would be IMPOSSIBLE. Is it really that strange to not buy something you can’t pay for?
I also balance our checkbook to the penny. I thought I was the only one left!
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Desi on October 9th, 2008 at 10:04 am #
Kudos for taking the time to lay down your opinions when so many others are afraid.
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Amy on October 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am #
I felt the exact same way as I was watching Oprah yesterday. I was so irritated with that idiot. I just read Maxed Out by James Scurlock which was excellent and really probed into how the government has encouraged the credit industry to provide risky loans and sometimes even bait and switch consumers. I definitely see the rich now pointing fingers at the “poor” and claiming this is all their fault when truly it was the “rich” bankers and credit industry who gambled on the “poor” and then the housing bubble popped . . .
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Great post! We, too, plan carefully – we did not get ourselves in over our heads, we don’t keep up with the “Joneses” and we save for rainy days. Thank you for saying what most of us are thinking.
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Queen B on October 9th, 2008 at 11:39 am #
I’d vote for you.
I totally agree with all of it!
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Brooke on October 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm #
I’m not offended and I agree that everyone should be taxed equally and should work hard for what they want. However I think you’ve been looking at some pretty biased information concerning Obama. I would suggest you look at a non partisan fact checker site regarding Obama and taxes. The wealthy are not paying 25%-30% of their income now and they won’t be when Obama is President either. No he’s not a communist, or a terrorist, or a Muslim either. ;)
I do disagree with your stance on health care. Everyone is deserving of basic health care. It shouldn’t be handed to them on a plate as you say but it shouldn’t be so ridiculously expensive that only the wealthy and those lucky enough with health care benefits through their jobs get it. I’m not quite sure I understand you on it not being a right. So if a child is slowly dying from a disease and the parent can’t pay, the child should just be left to die because saving the life of their child is something they should earned just like if you want that really cool new pair of shoes?
Even though we disagree politically you know I love you. And Obama being ahead in a majority of swings states helps also. ;)
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Barbara on October 9th, 2008 at 12:26 pm #
I fully agree with you on this….but couldn’t begin to word it nearly as well. As a result, I’ll be the chicken that doesn’t put political stuff on her blog, but I’ll come and read yours and cheer you on:)
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Jaime on October 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm #
THANK YOU BROOKE! Since I am one of the other “2 or 3″ people, I appreciate your comment.
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Alison on October 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm #
That Oprah episode bugged me too.
I think that the fact that many people feel a sense of entitlement is a huge problem in this country. Also, a little bit of personal responsibility could go a long way for helping the current economic situation, I bet.
Thanks for an extremely well-written post!
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TRACEY on October 9th, 2008 at 2:39 pm #
I’m with you girl! We too have a budget…we were in debt and I’m proud to say WE got outselves out…we always pay out bills on time and I am not the problem. I don’t like that the people that are in over their heads don’t have to see the consequences of their actions. The government will take care of me…isn’t that why we came to this country so that we could take care of ourselves. Ugghh…I am frustrated by this entire bail out thing…see my post today about how I am splurging for xmas since the government has solved all our problems.
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I’d vote for you!
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Jessica on October 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pm #
Erin on October 9th, 2008 at 6:58 pm #
Thank you! It makes me so mad to see these condescending ads full of things that I know aren’t true, or are seriously twisted truth….and I do my non-partisan digging and know my facts….grrr. Any look at congressional voting records and a basic understanding of the workings of a capitalist economy is more than enough to send me scrambling to find the ‘McCain’ on my ballot!
That said, God tells us to pray for our leaders, whoever they may be come inauguration day, and that is where I find a sense of peace in this whole election hoopla. He hears our prayers.
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Carolyn on October 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm #
AMEN AMEN AND AMEN! i can so see why your blog is called Darcie For President! I would vote for you! I’m here from your sister’s page…she told me to come. I am so glad I did. I am going to give a shout out to this one on my page. Thanks so much for saying what you did! It makes perfect sense to me!
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Susan on October 9th, 2008 at 8:25 pm #
Extremely well said! My husband and I watched the debates and cringed at the thought of what it would mean to us if that certain senator from Illinois becomes president. If my husband is forced to provide health insurance to his small business’s employees or be fined, he will have to shut down. My father and his small business will be forced to do the same.
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Gramps on October 9th, 2008 at 9:18 pm #
Very well written! And of course I agree with everything you said except for what got you started with this rant.
I agree with Heather-you shouldn’t be watching Oprah.
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My Mama ALWAYS told me that life ain’t fair. I can’t tell you how many times I heard that. And I have repeated it, repeatedly, to my kids!
I think the problem started with the bad loans…and the people (I won’t say who, because we all know who) that forced the banks to take them, knowing full well that people could not afford them.
And then the people, they were foolish enough to think that they could have the fancy house, with a $0 downpayment and interest only loan. But then when that loan converted, they couldn’t afford it. And they couldn’t sell the house for more than they paid for it, so they let it go to foreclosure. Now the bank has to sell it. And they sell it for way less than what it’s worth, and that means the rest of the houses in the neighborhood lose value, because that foreclosure is considered a comp. This happened repeatedly in our neighborhood. Our house value has gone down so far because of the foreclosure comps.
I am like you, I am responsible. I don’t want to pay for everyone’s mistakes. I am watching my 401k and my 403b drop in value. They have lost, currently, about 30% of their value in the last two weeks. Do you know what a sick feeling that is?
I honestly, honestly believe that if you work hard, you can be successful. I believe in the American dream.
I don’t think that just because someone is wealthy they should pay more. Frankly, I think that stinks.
This whole thing makes me angry.
You should run for president, Darcie. You clearly have the power to rally people!!!
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As a fellow American on a cash-only budget because I really suck at balancing a check book, I salute you.
Just jumped over from Shelle’s. And I hate Oprah.
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Brooke and Jaime – I think I’m the 3rd person, LOL! I’m not offended though, Darcie:) I didn’t see the Oprah show to which you are referring, but I respectfully disagree on some points here (emphasis on respectfully) particularly regarding equal taxation and opportunity.
And you should probably stay away from my blog today, Darcie . . . love you;)
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Nobody on October 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pm #
{{{I’m raising my hand as the 4th person}}}
Darcie, you do RAWK and are very well spoken, but I’m an Obama girl. I wont get into it now, but I’m sure about to read Beth’s blog to see what she’s got to say.
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Rachel C on October 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm #
I don’t know if I’ve ever commented on your blog, but I’ve been lurking for a while (I’m sorry!). But I just had to say AMEN!! My husband and I just celebrated our 4th anniversary, we were married when we were 20 and 21. We’ve both finished colllege and we’ve never been in debt. Because we’re careful! And we don’t need to buy new house and cars and clothes like our friends. We own our tiny house and our used cars, and we word hard. and we are so very happy. Thanks so much for a great post!!!
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Merrie on October 10th, 2008 at 3:29 pm #
I’m right there with you, D! I have that episode tivo’d, and now I want to watch it just to see how annoying it is. I don’t appreciate being lumped in with people who made bad choices, either. We’ve always watched our finances carefully, and have managed to make ends meet with only one income. Not to mention that we’re currently finding places to cut things out, including television channels, telephone service and especially eating out. It is possible to sacrifice, and I’d rather do that and feel better, rather than feel sick to my stomach.
I’m literally afraid of what can happen to this country with the Illinois Senator at the helm. The connections he has to bad people make me wonder who he will give power to if he’s elected. I don’t want this man as my President when what little I do know is all bad — his background of supporters, his religious contacts and even his vast lack of experience. I can only hope that the vote will go the right way in November. I may not adore the other choice, but at least I’m not afraid of him.
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Geoff on October 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pm #
Darcie, Kelly had me read this particular post. I have to agree that it is well written and well, but I know you know better than to watch Oprah :) Besides all the “money saving tips” these shows normally offer is how to use lemon juice to clean jewelry or something off the wall like that.
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Your perspective is a breath of fresh air after what I’ve been seeing again and again from the media. I could not agree more. You rock!
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Merrie on October 11th, 2008 at 9:01 pm #
One more thing — I tagged you with a meme this morning, if you’re up for it! :)
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Myra on October 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pm #
Dar Cie! Dar Cie Dar Cie! You have my vote! Thank you for saying something that actually makes sense. We too stuck to a budget. My husband studies our bank accounts in Quicken each morning and we are accountable. I am tired of entitlement. I don’t need Suze Orman to tell me what I can afford. I know. It’s not rocket science. It’s simple arithmetic. Let’s talk about common sense again, and maybe, just maybe, we can get back on track.
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MommaHint on October 13th, 2008 at 6:55 pm #
Amen. check out this funny SNL sketch from a couple years ago…maybe Oprah should have someone THIS smart on her show…..it’s a hoot! If only more people heeded this valuable advice ;-)
http://consumerist.com/consumer/clips/snl-skit-dont-buy-stuff-you-cant-afford-252491.php
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Dayna on October 30th, 2008 at 12:21 am #
Amen! I agree entirely! I have been increasingly frustrated with the financial mess and increasingly concerned with our upcoming election. Our little family is so thankful to be living and giving- comfortably within our budget. Thank you for being such a clear thinker and phenomenal writer.
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