Hay Farmers getting out of farming

   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #271  
I'd guess the majority of folks in the U.S. are dealt a decent hand, as the poverty level is currently under 14%.
Great thread and Moss specific, I enjoy reading your posts, very informative.

That said, I don't agree that a low double digit poverty level is a sign of most people having a good life.

I used to be critical of welfare, food stamps, wic, ect. But looked into the poverty brackets: I came to the conclusion(s)

1. I consider myself frugal (cheap) and live a modest life on an embarrassing multiple of the poverty level.
2. While I am sure fraud exists, I doubt there are many people really having additional children to get a very small bump in welfare/food stamps. I have opinions on how people get to those circumstances, but, am far less judgmental than I used to be.

Best,

ed
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #272  
Nope. I really like it.
Taught me more than high school or college degrees. Met a lot of nice people and made life long friendships.
Just wished there was a more reasonable level of pay for the time and effort exerted
You are a good man, Hay Dude. A true American. Perhaps, there is still hope for this country.
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #274  
I'd guess the majority of folks in the U.S. are dealt a decent hand, as the poverty level is currently under 14%.
And you think that's ok? Apparently, those who are dealt a decent hand don't give a damn about that 14%. Have you ever been homeless and lived in the streets? There are people with jobs but have to live in their cars because hey can't afford the rent to live in places close enough to their place of work. To my mind, farmers who have to work hard just to keep their farms from going under have not been dealt a decent hand. Living from hand to mouth is not a decent way of life. The country is deep in debt with $45 trillion in unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Medicare). Is that your idea of a decent hand?
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #275  
No offense but all my life I've heard people having this "woe is me" attitude which I've never understood. Life isn't a card game and there are lots of rags to riches stories.
Before my Dad passed I told him the greatest thing he ever gave me was a work ethic, but never money. I wanted a bike, I got a paper route. A car, worked at a service station. College, worked two jobs to pay for.
Same with everything. I thanked him for NOT giving me money. I appreciate everything I have knowing I worked hard for it.
The homeles? Get a job!!!!! There are help wanted signs everywhere. Work two jobs like I did. Do you know how many homeless have substance abuse or mental problems?
Is the solution for hard working "I was dealt a good hand" taxpayers to pay for those who don't want to work (lazy), addicts (drugs, alcohol), etc.?
Many times I see people on the street corner holding a "Will work for food" sign. I roll down the window saying " Hop in! I have lots of chores for you. We'll feed you, even give you some extra food". Some I say "Hungry? I won't give you money, but I'll bring you some food!" Guess what their reply is? "No thanks...I want money".
Will work for food. Woe is me. I was dealt a bad hand.
FOOEY!!!!!
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #276  
And you think that's ok? Apparently, those who are dealt a decent hand don't give a damn about that 14%. Have you ever been homeless and lived in the streets? There are people with jobs but have to live in their cars because hey can't afford the rent to live in places close enough to their place of work. To my mind, farmers who have to work hard just to keep their farms from going under have not been dealt a decent hand. Living from hand to mouth is not a decent way of life. The country is deep in debt with $45 trillion in unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Medicare). Is that your idea of a decent hand?
Once again, you seem to be good at talking about others. It really appears, with what you have been posting, that you really like wallowing in that pity pot you seem to be in. Maybe I'm wrong, just an observation.

I might also be wrong in this but speaking only from my experiences, I'm really not aware of any farmer that feels he/she has not been dealt a decent hand - as you put it. If they did/do they usually get out of the business and years later wish they didn't. I believe that most of us feel we really live a blessed life!

I have many friends that are also farmers, both here and all around the US, from hobby sized to larger family owned and operated. I personally have not heard any of them say - seriously - that they wished they never got involved in farming, that the whole world is out to get them, that they were dealt a crappy hand or that they really want to quit & sell everything. Sure they/we might say something like that when we get bit, banged up etc, but typically we don't "really" mean it.

For me, money doesn't mean that much. Back in the '70s when I was a physician in the military I made an obscene amount of money and really disliked my life - always keeping up with the Jones'. BTW, before you ask, all that money & possessions went away during a very nasty divorce - Not a bad hand but a blessing in disguise (without the divorce, I would have never met my current wife)!

Currently my wife & I are pretty self sufficient, we have a paltry sum we get each month from my retirement - hint, it isn't enough by itself to have to file taxes. Yes, we do file taxes each year because we have a business. We raise what we eat and eat what we raise with few exceptions - staples e.g., flour, cornmeal etc and still have enough stock left over to send to auction houses (yes, we keep breeder stock) and enough garden stuff to sell at the local farmers market in spring through fall. We don't have or need the latest or greatest cellphones (no cell coverage at the house). The co-op just installed internet out here so we were able to ditch the satellite internet and are now able to stream some programs we like (we only subscribe to discovery+, no Netflix, HBO, etc, etc., don't need or want them). I think we average about 2-3 hours with our small tv on a day. I guess you'd probably classify this kind of life as being dealt a bad hand. We don't think so, we really feel blessed for every day we are alive!
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming
  • Thread Starter
#277  
8 million job openings in the US
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #278  
And you think that's ok? Apparently, those who are dealt a decent hand don't give a damn about that 14%. Have you ever been homeless and lived in the streets? There are people with jobs but have to live in their cars because hey can't afford the rent to live in places close enough to their place of work. To my mind, farmers who have to work hard just to keep their farms from going under have not been dealt a decent hand. Living from hand to mouth is not a decent way of life. The country is deep in debt with $45 trillion in unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Medicare). Is that your idea of a decent hand?
As rarely as I’m on Moss’s side 14% is amazingly good. Have you ever traveled? Have you ever traveled to a nation that isn’t at a second world status? Debt is out of control but we could get it under control if we really wanted to (I do).
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #279  
No offense but all my life I've heard people having this "woe is me" attitude which I've never understood. Life isn't a card game and there are lots of rags to riches stories.
Before my Dad passed I told him the greatest thing he ever gave me was a work ethic, but never money. I wanted a bike, I got a paper route. A car, worked at a service station. College, worked two jobs to pay for.
Same with everything. I thanked him for NOT giving me money. I appreciate everything I have knowing I worked hard for it.
The homeles? Get a job!!!!! There are help wanted signs everywhere. Work two jobs like I did. Do you know how many homeless have substance abuse or mental problems?
Is the solution for hard working "I was dealt a good hand" taxpayers to pay for those who don't want to work (lazy), addicts (drugs, alcohol), etc.?
Many times I see people on the street corner holding a "Will work for food" sign. I roll down the window saying " Hop in! I have lots of chores for you. We'll feed you, even give you some extra food". Some I say "Hungry? I won't give you money, but I'll bring you some food!" Guess what their reply is? "No thanks...I want money".
Will work for food. Woe is me. I was dealt a bad hand.
FOOEY!!!!!
I dropped out of high school and left for college with no idea how I was gonna survive with nothing other than a $500 van and a sleeping bag. I’d like to think I’ve done alright. It’s amazing what you can get done in America if you’re willing to work for it.
 
   / Hay Farmers getting out of farming #280  
I find it unbelievable that so many need to respond to a troll who thinks he's the only real farmer on TBN and a city boy who has a million opinions about things he knows nothing about.
Tell us about your farming operation.
 

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