Reply #15: we need to stop talking about the "Poor" the "Ill", the Elderly [View All]

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and start talking about family values and how far along those family values really extend: Nuclear family or Extended Family. We need to talk about what obligations family members owe each other. Are we obligated to spend thousands of dollars a month to support a child, a parent, an in-law, an uncle/aunt, or cousin who isnt making it financially whether through poverty, unemployment, illness or old age? Or are our family values such that if they dont have put it aside for emergencies and their old age that they are to live in pain and degradation. You know, vets are allowed to put animals asleep when they are in too much pain. We cant do that with people. So what are we going to do? Just ignore the needs of our family or do we start to take on a burden that we as individuals are unequipped to handle (don't know about you but I cant fork over thousands of dollars per month to meet a relative's needs). I am emotionally unequipped to handle skimping on my kids education, my own retirement in order to meet the financial needs of a relative and I just cant walk out on these relatives and say "tough" or "gee, I'm really sorry."

If our grandparents were the "Greatest Generation", we certainly are the "Most Selfish Generation". Our grandparents got to be the Greatest Generation because of their compassion for others less fortunate than themselves.