this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2025
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United States | News & Politics

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 48 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I hate these "and then people pitched in to help" stories. The only story here is the system failed her. Just like it's going to for many of us.

[–] cybersin@lemm.ee 17 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The part that is truly frustrating is that, the same people who will empty their pockets for (often dubious) charities, will cry about taxes and smear social programs (targeting the same exact issues) as "handouts".

The cognitive dissonance is unreal.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 day ago

Absolutely. Like the church goers who donate to a church program and vote against social programs.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They are not suffering cognitive dissonance, you are in trying to understand them.

Rush Limbaugh is known to tip 50% at restaurants, but flies into a broadcast tirade if even half that dollar amount is deducted from his paycheck by "The Government." That's despite the fact that the money helps that very same single mom he had no problem tipping in her capacity as a waitress.

What is the Monkeysphere explains much of this thought, and describes how fucked we humans are in large groups. (OLD article and the formatting screwed, read it anyway.)

[–] btaf45@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

I hate these “and then people pitched in to help” stories.

These are known as "feel-good feel-bad" stories.

https://thinkprogress.org/do-the-impossible-never-complain-live-the-dream-the-dark-morals-of-todays-feel-good-stories-63b38b4a4953/

[–] sik0fewl@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

And then we did social welfare because we hate democrats.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 33 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

How did she vote? I know way to many old people that vote red no matter who and they all love Trump.

[–] Sibshops@lemm.ee 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

Well then I feel bad for her. But feel nothing for my old trump loving neighbor.

[–] cybersin@lemm.ee -2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Everyone deserves the ability to retire. This is like shaming a homeless person for not voting or voting "incorrectly". It's gross.

[–] baines@lemmy.cafe 11 points 2 days ago

at this point if you voted red I have 0 sympathy for your suffering

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Yes, they do. But if they contributed to their own inability to do so, it is on them.

I refuse to lose rights and freedoms because of these asshole votes and then be expected to be sympathetic to them. That's bullshit and you know it, you're just gaslighting.

If they want to paint me as the fucking enemy when I'm just trying to help - then I'll become the fucking enemy.

[–] cybersin@lemm.ee 2 points 2 days ago

Because America is famous for having highly knowledgeable voters who follow politics closely... Yeah right.

Many people wouldn't be able to explain even a single policy or elaborate on why they voted for who they did beyond "vibes". Plenty of people did not know what they were actually voting for, and recent polling reflects that fact.

People are stupid and some are shitty, but in the end they are still just working people and deserve security.

[–] cybersin@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

But if they contributed to their own inability to do so, it is on them.

Are you sure you didn't vote red?

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

i seen young people go on disability after working very few years get more than that from SSA, i guess she was homemaker most of her life? still should get more than that under current standards, let alone the better standards we would like to see

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's kind of crazy to think how much value a homemaker creates, and then can be left with nothing to retire depending on personal circumstances.

"Homemakers" have their payments tied to their spouse's income to avoid this exact scenario. Including if they got divorced.

The reality is that SS was not designed to be a sole retirement income.

[–] MECHAGODZILLA2@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago

And the people they’ve kept a home for often then go on to be caretakers for them, thus completing the cycle of people we rely on the most while providing the least.