I really wonder who is listening to us
By marie2052
@marie2052 (3691)
United States
April 17, 2011 7:21pm CST
Do us Americans know where we are going with gas at 4.00 a gallon and raising food, and even clothes prices I see rising. the green cars our dear Prez wants us to purchase start out at 41,000 base price. Thats a far cry from the 10,000 Hyundai Elantra my husband bought me in 2001 Then in 2006 he bought me the Hyundai Tucson SUV I wanted it because it was roomier and I had two teen kids to run around and it was a 4 cylindar SUV. So I have always been price causious. With that said, I caught a snippet on a radio talk show where Someone commented to Pres. Obama asking about the gas prices. he replied by well if you aren't getting good gas milage then maybe you should trade it in for a more economical one.
that is not the answer for every one of us out here.
Then I read in the last two days on articles that while he was Senator in Illinois his limo got 17 mpg. When he was campaigning he drove a SUV Yukon that got 17 mpg.
I know all the big people get to do this your right.
but does it make it right?
My husband who worked 23 1/2 years in the Air Force as an airplane mechanic said it takes Air Force one that has 4 engines about 100 gallons just to start the engines, and probably another 100 gallons every hour its in the air.
He said with his estimate calculations it would cost 12,000 to 14,000 dollars an hour to run just this one plane.
So I am saying a lot of us havent taken a trip in how many years for vacation? and HOW MANY times has he taken family vacations since being Prez?
I am sorry but I make 629.00 on SSD. I am not on it for the fun of it because I was always taught to work. I worked at age 15 in a nursing home, at 18 went in the Army during Viet Nam (a woman medical specialist) I caused a lot of my own disabilities because all I wanted to do was HELP people. I now have spinal desinegration live on 629.00 and all Social Security, SSD, and military retirees have not seen a raise for cost of living in 2 years.
So seriously we can do all the polls, all the rants and raves but I really have to wonder WHO listens to us? Do you agree?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
18 Apr 11
Washington, The Prez, Senate, and Congress, none of them give a rat's A$$ about what we the people think. They Are too busy playing politics to remember the people they voted them into office. They are too busy seeing who can "make" a plan to fix the budget/economy all the while it is spiraling into another great depression. All I ever see of them on TV is they said this , they said that. We want this, we want that and nothing is being done but our tax money lining the pockets of these buffoons. We the people suffer from their games like the lost pieces of a puzzles sucked up into the vacuum and tossed away.
2 people like this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Apr 11
I was really scared to start this discussion but after my husband was jolting out numbers of dollars and cents and how it gets used in gas, how do they have any business telling us what to purchase for a car when none of them follow suit!
I agree with you 100%
I just hope enough of us are smarter in the 2012 election.
Of course last year for the Governor in our state I did not like either one or trust them. so I decided to pick a disney character...and in the other I put GOOFY! I felt better NOT voting for either official. Goofy fit the bill!
1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
18 Apr 11
The numbers are crazy. Only one I voted for was elected and every is upset because he is doing what he said he would and cut back a lot of state spending and where it is spent. I hope this next election there will be more people not affiliated with either party to choose from.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I agree on that one. This next Election needs to have more people to choose from. I am scared to think of some of the people I have heard thinking of running. Where is their experience and proof anymore? It is scary to think you could almost win the Lottery now and get backing and run for office?
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
25 May 11
I don´t think there´s any country in the world where governments listen to common people. I suppose in part they are right because we don´t exercise our civil rights.
Idon´t think a President´s car or limo will make a difference, but if people got togther to be a force of opinion, things would change. I still remember the changes Rev. King made in the US about 50 years ago with no weapons.
In my country, a dictator was thrown when we got together and fought verbally. Economies are bad in all the world, but if we do our shar, we might get some results.
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
26 May 11
An anonymous person voted for a congressman. They don´t care who did it. They stage their empty promises to people so they get enough votes. The only way is to find a charismatic person who really cares. It´s not that easy. And it is very dangerous to be such a leader, even is they preach non violence.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
25 May 11
Yes I was around too for Dr. Martin Luther King. He was an awesome man!
I would have voted for him for president in a heart beat!
Its not so much about the Pres's car or limo as he is willing to tell US to get a more efficient car.
I just don't understand who "THEY" the government are when they all run around sucking gas out of "their limos".
yes economies are bad in all the countries it seems.
Wish there was something more to do than just vote.
Call the congressman you get a receptionist or voicemail.
Get the receptionist your congressman is not in
I was dumb enough to ask when he was going to be in
LOL
She replied,"Well he has meetings all day."
I replied Lady I voted for him don't I have the right to speak with the people we voted for?
I think I was annoying her but I did it comically.
Finally asked when his lunch hour was and could he call me
I know made me chuckle for a moment too!
LOL
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Apr 11
They are not listening and do not care. They have not figured out that most of us are already struggling to get by. I have a son in a wheelchair. We have a minivan that needs replaced, should be with a bigger van, as the mini vans really don't have the room for his power chair. We tear up the inside of the van just getting it in there. There is no way we can get the bigger van because of gas mileage. We really can't afford a new handicap van either and are putting off getting one, because who needs one if we can't afford to go anywhere.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
12 May 11
I feel no one is listening either. I was sitting in a courtroom to hear a case when this lady and man stood up in front of the judge litterally begging for a larger van for their son that was disabled.
I guess after several months of going through this court they finally got granted the right to spend the money that belonged to the son for his care for the van.
But the judge was very strict and and I guess the couple either had power of attorney over their son's money or guardianship and had to prove what they spent the money on. the judge informed this couple that it was THE son's vehicle and he wanted an accounting of how this van was used for him...not any of the family members.
So I saw the govenment in harsh action that day.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr 11
The American economy is in a downturn at the moment. It is suffering from a recession at the moment. Many middle class people have been made redundant and ended up losing their home. They live in temporary accommodation and are finding high food prices hard to afford. The children can have light for their homework or dinner that evening so that is terrible. I know that lots of American people are worried about the economy of America. In my home country we have a similar situation with high food prices, expensive fuel costs and many people working full time have been kept on by them working part time. So they have lower wages than they used to have. Unemployment is high right now. I wonder who is listening to the ordinary people struggling financially.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
4 May 11
You wrote straight to my heart. With kindness, I wish both our countries to do well and prosper.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I find it hard to believe that people would still drive around vehicles that don't get good gas mileage. I guess those people have lots of money. I think that there probably will be a raise next year because prices are going up past where they were two years ago (if I can believe the stories I heard about why no raise occurred for the last two years). I can't picture having to live on so little! I just started getting SSI and it is more than that and when I start getting disability in July it will be even more! I hope that you are able to get by ok with what you have. As far as who listens...NO ONE!!! I don't think anyone in government even cares!!! They get everything paid for and some are independently wealthy anyway so why would they care about Joe Blow on the street that can't feed his kids and steals food to meet their needs? They have no problem putting gas into their 15 mpg vehicles since the government probably pays for it anyway. Oh well...
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
19 Apr 11
Well as I say if I find something that I know is something not political to make us choose sides and rant and rave LOL I felt those numbers should get out there.
I only pray everyone chooses wisely next election. Being ex military myself, I dread seeing a war coming here. America does not know how to survive a war. the people Iran, Syria, Afghanistan etc have been in wars for years and its become a way of life I think. and thats not making fun of them!
Being in the military, I learned to respect and love different races and even be concerned over the wars they are in.
have a great day!
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I was never in the military, but I do know that war is not a good thing for anyone, except the businesses that build the tools of war. I think that the only way to get rid of the problems we have right now is to somehow start over from scratch. Get rid of the politicians and get big businesses out of the government. If it weren't for the pharmaceutical industry, medical care would probably be a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient. I'm sure every area of politics has some big business providing funds to ensure that their needs are met. If that were to stop, perhaps we could lower the cost of government without lowering our standard of living!
1 person likes this
@Luv2Fly (9)
• United States
18 Apr 11
I don't know if anyone actually gives a hoot about you or me or anyone here. Unless you can get the attention of a congressman... I don't know what the the answer is. That's not a lot of money you live on. I make a little over a thousand a month and I don't make it well.
1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
21 Apr 11
I keep writing to my congressmen and Senate leaders but I never hear so much just a stupid automated response. They do not care as long as they get what they want.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Apr 11
My mother in law only gets 484.00 a month. She was living in a little home in Kentucky til she could not completely take care of herself. So she moved down to Florida to us and we had to put her in a nursing home. I felt really bad, as all her family and friends were in Kentucky. but her oldest son said...HE had promised her HE would never put her in a home.
so basically he shoved her off on her younger son to do the dirty work.
so since she is on medicaid, there are only certain homes that will take you when you only make that kind of money.
thats another myth that people don't know. The reason there are lack of quality nursing homes and care is because 484.00 taking care of people is not a lot of money either.
She qualified for medicaid because she had never worked and her husband had worked a lot under the table so.
Mine is after working between children etc and mine is medicare and SSD.
Either way you don't get much money.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
20 Apr 11
Personally I think the last person to care sometimes is the people in Office. We fail to forget that things have been Bad for quite a few years now, and it makes you wonder if they are ever going to get any better. But you can get a Toyota Prius which gets an av of 47-53 mpg for about $25,000 unless they have gone up, but I can understand as a lot of people do not have the financing for something like this.
Yes, what they continue to do to us Financially wise as people is unreal and it makes you wonder. They want to continue to cut for Military and disabled while never worrying about themselves. I am working because I was forced to either work or live off of SSD, and we could not afford it even though I have major medical issues myself. But what seems to get us by is a Trust in God to see us thru even when things seem impossible to bear.
