GrannyTazzy, Tulsa (12/9/2008 5:53:03 AM)

It's getting hard to help when you don't have much yourself. We all just have to learn to cutback and quit worrying about name brands.

oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (12/9/2008 6:23:53 AM)

The wealthiest person in the state lives in okmulgee, how about that?

touitsmrs, (12/9/2008 6:53:06 AM)

Im sorry did that say 1999? It takes 9 years to get data? You have to be kidding me! Why report this at all if youre reporting data that is 9 years old like it is new news?

touitsmrs, (12/9/2008 6:55:29 AM)

Our casinos are certainly over flowing same with the beer joints and cig sales. And walmarts parking lot is always bursting at the seams.

highhopes, Tulsa (12/9/2008 7:36:33 AM)

Smart money management is more important than ever. Cut up the credit cards and don't worry about the Joneses.

Bigbadbri, Broken Arrow (12/9/2008 7:59:53 AM)

Some of the gambling and mismanagement of personal funds are certainly contributors. There are also people who have 2 and 3 jobs who don't gamble and smoke and are still in poverty. If we really want to alleviate some the problems with personal money management, we might want to think about teaching it in school. No school that I am aware of teaches (on a regular basis) how to budget, balance a check book, credit cards and how credit works, or any of the things people should know about basic economics. The teachers are too busy having to teach to the test that NCLB mandates.

C.R. Delough, Tulsa (12/9/2008 8:06:35 AM)

People like to bash on Walmart, but Walmart is good for the economy.

notdem, muskogee (12/9/2008 8:09:34 AM)

Walmart is great for the economy, the Chinese economy.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (12/9/2008 8:12:04 AM)

money management courses, how to fill out job application forms, how to present yourself for a job interview, all of these kinds of courses would be good things and you wouldn't have to teach them every day for 4 years like algebra, science, etc. which have very little applicability to helping one out of poverty.

chase, (12/9/2008 8:24:26 AM)

looks like we have a few commentors at the casinos to observe the poor there gambling,smoking and drinking.

Missy M, around town (12/9/2008 8:27:56 AM)

C.R. Dont you know that wal-mart is good for the economy but also they will eventually put out the mom and pop stores and what I mean by this is that everyone shops at wal-mart,why theres a wal-mart bag in everyones home or almost the avarage persons home.Soon you wont hardly see the smaller business's (bite my buttocks if thats not puncuated right)in bussiness.That will be a shame.I know I cant spell and so forth but I get my drift across.

Frites and Mayo, Tulsa (12/9/2008 8:33:09 AM)

I haven't been to a Wal-Mart in years.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (12/9/2008 9:11:54 AM)

Es, you missed the point.Kids have to be in school for 9 months for umpteen years. I say teach them more practical things. No, my parents didn't know diddly about money management and I'll bet most of these folks parents don't either. Teach em birth control methods, proper diet, health care, etc., multiple course on how meth and booze are not good things. You really think these folks get good parenting on these issues at home. It's called education. I understand that you support the current Republican war on science, knowledge and learning and that is certainly your prerogative, but accept the fact that public schools are here to stay. I am just saying that they don't do the right job in Adair County type backwaters.

benice, Tulsa (12/9/2008 9:17:19 AM)

We always think something is a good idea to teach in school because that is where things are taught... school, right? It would be nice if people took responsibility and taught their children, but that isn't happening and we all pay for it. Some parents don't budget the monthly income well themselves, so what would they be teaching their kids?

my view, Sand Springs (12/9/2008 9:43:47 AM)

Mr. Lightning,

The slaveholders I'm sorry to say owned the slaves and they were his property, he provided care for what he owned. If they got sick or hurt he called the Vet not a Doctor. It was the sorriest period of our nation. You can't go back and change the past. You Mr. Lightning, are an example of a socialist. I do not like calling people that because most are not, even when they lean left. I'll will make an exception in your case.

Popeye, Tulsa (12/9/2008 10:46:28 AM)

I'm a manager in a service and parts department in retail. Over the last four years I've run multiple ads for everything from mechanics to porters. The results have been interesting, eye opening:

~~ There have been jobs available for people that want to work.
~~ Many folks apparently can't write complete sentences or even fill out a basic employment application.
~~ Of the 20-30 people I've hired in the four years I refer to, 3-4 were able to do what they said, be on time and are still employed!
~~ If you take the free-loaders out of the statistics (the "disabled" Oklahomans -- and there is a running ton of these liars and lazy cheats out there folks) then you'll probably come up with a whole "NEW" set of real statistics we can discuss intelligently.

B'Ville: "The middle class has been shrinking for years while the Bushco cronies rake it in. Now the result is plain for all to see. "Trickle down" is a winger fraud. The voters saw it - except in Okiehoma." Is just more rhetorical, totally unrealistic negative bunk. In your view -- which you are certainly entitled to, pal -- everything is the current administration's fault. History will prove that the problems we're facing right now are the culmination of Johnson's "Great Society" and the free-wheeling liberal idiocy of Carter and Clinton...

Now, you'll notice I did not report you for your malicious name calling of our great State "Okiehoma"... Why? Because such drivel doesn't really deserve to be acknowledged, but for this: I love this State, my town and their people.

GE 918, Tulsa (12/9/2008 11:17:17 AM)

Guess not.

Mar, Tulsa (12/9/2008 11:54:36 AM)

notdem ..... good one and so true. ha ha ha

I grew up in a lower middle class family and over my many years after leaving home I've went through periods of great financial distress due to unemployment of my husband and/or me and also periods where we were doing quite well financially. My husband has a college degree and I have some college hours and years of experience as a legal secretary. We've never been extravagant with our money, though we provided well for our 3 sons. We haven't had a credit card since the mid-1980's and now looking around at all the debt others have with credit cards, I'm glad we don't. We always buy with cash or we do without. Big items like a car, etc. we get a loan from a credit union.

I had to laugh at an article in the newspaper a few weeks ago about how more people are using cash or debit cards to purchased Christmas gifts. The article made a big deal out of it, like it was some new thing. lol

I am thrifty with my belongings, taking very good care of them. I cook and can make a penny squeal with I go shopping. I don't have to have the best of everything, but I also don't buy the cheapest (Walmart).

There are a lot of people that have gotten so spoiled in our throw away society that they waste everything, not realizing it costs them money.

I guess the chickens have come home to roost and I will have to listen to the whining, complaining and griping about how difficult life is without having a lot of money, oh woe is me, blah blah blah.

Suck it up and appreciate what you have. Work hard, take care of what you already have and enjoy your family and friends.

she woman, Tulsa (12/9/2008 11:56:56 AM)

Popeye,
"Okie-homa" isn't malicious name-calling. The Dust Bowl is part of our history. We survived. We should be proud.

Popeye, Tulsa (12/9/2008 12:18:36 PM)

she woman: Are you proposing that the way it was used in:

[The middle class has been shrinking for years while the Bushco cronies rake it in. Now the result is plain for all to see. "Trickle down" is a winger fraud. The voters saw it - except in Okiehoma.]

was not malicious name calling?

I mean really?
Is THAT what you're saying?
REALLY??!!

Ignatz, Broken Bow (12/9/2008 12:41:48 PM)

I don't see that as malicious except as to Bush cronies and I know none of those comment here. This thread is getting kind of out there where the natural gas powered buses don't run.

Popeye, Tulsa (12/9/2008 1:00:09 PM)

Well, offering a different point of view herein usually results in a lib running to push the "Report Comment" button. Which is, apparently, easier than drooling...

WindRider, Heavener (12/9/2008 1:21:46 PM)

Mr Lighning do you moonlight as Rev Wright in Chi town on Sundays. Know what I don't think you are enslaved so if its that bad feel free to leave anytime. Go recheck history all mankind has been guilty of the same activities world over. Get off the Indian and slavery train there is no one around today that had anything to do with that. You are famous they have named streets after you all over the world (ONE WAY)!!!!

Ayo2, T-Town (12/9/2008 1:28:57 PM)

Popeye, I've seen you speak with passion, and I often disagree with you, but I've never witnessed you be malicious. Maybe you have, but I have't seen it.

Gotta go, but I'll be back.

Mr. Lightening, I'm Native American, and I'm not just a nosebleed, 'card carrier'. I feel/felt many of the same things you do toward the history, but I refuse to carry a chip on my shoulder for the rest of my life toward anyone 'non-Indian'. Take each person as an individual.

Tulsan since '72, Tulsa (12/9/2008 2:14:51 PM)

I agree with some posts, if parents aren't teaching their children at home the importance of money management and not living beyond their means, then someone must do it and that means the schools. If parents are living beyond their means then they will be unable to instill good values in their children.
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But, on to the more important issues here, people need help. Of all the posts here, only 1 mentions we should be helping out the poor. That person is right. Are any of the rest of you going to help out the less fortunate? That is really what this is all about.
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John 3:16 Mission, The Day Center for the Homeless, the Salvation Army and many more would gladly accept your donations, they did ours.