[festus]

I'm not sure whether to laugh out loud or get upset.

I'll just laugh life is to short.

[Proud2BeRight]

I would love to hear how many “struggling” cannot do without items like cable TV, cell phones, lottery tickets, cigarettes, alcohol, Air Jordans, MP3 players, etc.

[restornu]

Good you laugh I will... when you are on SS and disable because in my good years I was one of those lucky folks who when worked two to three jobs in those day was part of the progressive taxed in Michigan, you know the state who had the golden egg (auto) but still needed more money and taxed so heavely and none of those advancement course as they have had today.

In my day females were not part of the equations that came in the 70’s.

[LadyNavyVet]

“Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said the imbalance in spending before and after payday in July was the biggest it has ever seen, though the drop-off wasn’t as steep in August.”

How does WalMart know when peoples’ paydays are? Unless the only “payday” WalMart is considering is the first of the month when the welfare and social security checks go out. In which case, this is news? People who are dependent on a govenment check for 100% of their living expenses have always had a hard time making ends meet. Nothing new here, except a Republican is in office and an election year is coming up.

[Styria]

Pay the gas bill, but skip breakfast. Eat less for lunch so the kids can have a healthy dinner.

Nevertheless, their next article will be about fat, overeating Americans.

[SamAdams76]

All I know is that it is practically impossible to get a table at a restaurant Friday and Saturday nights in casual (middle-class) restaurants all across America. SO I don't think very many people are hurting.

Whether it be Outback, Applebees, Ground Round, Bugaboo Creek, Olive Garden, On The Border, Macaroni Grill or any of the dozens of other cookie-cutter casual dining joints that saturate American from coast to coast, you will find them absolutely slammed on Friday and Saturday nights with up to an hour wait for a table.

And it's not cheap eating in these places either. For a typical family of four, the bill can easily reach $50 before the tip - even more than that if Mom gets a margarita or two and Dad gets a 22-ounce Killian's on draft.

And these casual eating joints are perpetually understaffed and always looking for help. If the economy was so bad, you'd thinking people would be snapping these jobs up for some extra cash. But no. Instead you get these poor, harried waitresses trying to take care of 12 tables at once and that's why your "Monster Margarita" finally comes to the table with the ice half melted.

So I'm just not buying into articles like this.

[Diggs1]

Ok here is the joke of america. Most people who qualify for food stamps eat better than the middle class families who don't. Just ask your local grocery store manager. I had one lady in front of me try to by cat food with her food stamps and they denied her. She went back and grabbed a bag of shrimp and said I will feed my cat these. Processed food, doritos, oreo cookies, and junk is not what this program is for. It should supply fresh meat, milk, cheese, fruits and vegetables. And these people do not have to shop at an organic store and 7 elevens for their food and pay double. I occasionally here the story about a local single parent who drinks all his money away so a child does not eat over the weekend, but that is because of an irresponsible parent. Hence most of these people on these programs are financially irresponsible. Brand new truck and on welfare. I had a lady come into my office with a new 45K Lexus and claiming medical assistance. When are people going to take responsiblity for their own doing. I had a 21 year old on welfare complaining it is too hard to have to work. Or families that make a combined income of 40K and they keep having kids 4-5 plus or single moms doing this. I am a very charitable man to those in need of my services at work. But I am getting tired of America that does not want to work and does not feel ashamed for abusing a system that should truly be for the needy. I grew up in a family with 7 kids and I had half of what these kids on welfare have these days growing up living just off a school teachers salary. We always ate well but did not have the soda and crap food these people buy. It is time Americans step up look in the mirror and take care of themselves. We are no longer a Democratic society but a socialist one. More people are dependent on the government now more than ever, and why?? Because it is easier to take government programs than to get off their butts and get a job.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Bush should stop his ethanol scam. That would help food prices.