Like I said above, I know a man who working for minimun wage supported is family. I wouldn't pretend that he had an easy time of it, he was skimping and pinching everywhere, but he did it until he decided enough of this, quit school and moved to a different city with better jobs. His life while working minimun wage was hard. I wouldn't call it crap though because he had his family, and he had is priorities right. Yes he ate a lot of ramon and macoroni, but he was able to keep a healthy diet overall, a roof over his head (one bedroom apt, but it was a roof) and clothes on his back. For entertainment he discoverd all the parks around town.

I also know a man making a 6 figgure salery, nearly bankrupt due to dept, and worried about his next meal and if he can make the payment on his house.

The latter is unhappy with his life, and the former was happy. The former worked much harder at a job that we look down on. The latter works a job we all think is great.

It all comes down to money not buying happiness. The life the second man I described is crap, and it is by his own choices. The life of the first never was, even though if you look at the wrong things it was.

Please be careful in reading what I write. Many people assumed that I'm against all welfare, which is not true. I don't have a problem helping people like Kat for a couple years while they get back on their feet. I'm not against helping the people who mentially (or physically) are unable to work, or unable to work more then a few hours. I'm am however saying that you can live on what you have, or not live on what you have, and it has nothing to do with how much money you make.