TOAD FROG You make many excellent points about poverty and interdependence. I am for inter-dependence and economic opportunities. And I am also aware that for many hardworking cash-starved families any assists from the government may be a Godsend. Poverty is everywhere and is a fact of life.

My only point I was making, is that the $600 tax rebate for families, does little to change any family's life. Many families start out in life young and ambitious with more needs and gratifications than thier pocketbook will allow, They heap upon themselves endless piles of debt, because they have learned little about financial responsibilty and discipline. Their bad money habits are just as much responsible for there future and outcomes as their lack of wages, high taxes poor education etc. (Henry Ford for example was raised in poverty and ignorance and seemed to do alright for himself)

Many of these families have spent EVERY SINGLE CENT OF THIER MONEY AND THEN CHOSE TO BORROW MORE FROM BANKS FRIENDS, GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS etc. You can't grow a plant without a seed, yet most people do not own any seeds financially,they have spent all their money seeds. They give them all to someone else and gratify their "own personal needs", and them ask their nieghbor or their banker for more. I know of some friends who will not be able to pay off their debts for the next 20 years or more.

I know from experience and hard work, that even when you work hard and controll ALL of your expenses and stay out of debt that there is very little left over for your own personal needs. Sometimes I have found basic needs are STILL not met. But if you are smart you will do without, (sometimes even without the things you legitmately need) so that you may plant for yourself a financial seed to protect, nurture and grow.

I also believe that it is only by being at the bottom, (which I have been) experiencing the bottom, and working your way slowly (very slowly) even LABORIOUSLY from the bottom that you fully realize the challenge of life itself. Foolish people believe life is easy. Even more foolish people believe that when life is difficult it is someone elses fault because it is difficult.

Difficulties will never break you, they are Gods gift to you, for they keep you humble, disciplined and wise, because they were put there for your experience and education. Life itself is an education and we are all given tests whether we like them or not. We either pass them, or we are forced to continue to take them until we pass.

Dewey (a former poor boy)