Wanting It All - Right Now: Conservatives, or the ultimate consumers?

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/081605dnedicollin.ccc504a.html

"The Price of Prosperity," a three-part series that wraps up in The Dallas Morning News today, paints the picture of a growing "Can't we have both?" mentality in modern society. Although the statistics and stories focus on Collin County, one of the richest areas in the U.S., the mentality is evident on lesser scales throughout North Texas and, indeed, the nation.

The story is just a little more ironic in Collin County because it is, perhaps, the reddest county in a very red state. And it's home to a lot of fiscal conservatives who preach family values – while spending more than they have and spoiling their children.

Some of the same people who have filed for the record number of bankruptcies in Collin County in recent years surely have criticized political leaders for "not making tough choices." With tax dollars, it seems so clear to them. But with credit cards lining their wallets and an image to keep up, somehow rhetorical "tough choices" seem impossible.

To be sure, not everyone in Collin County, and not everyone with credit card debt, is in too deep. But to many so-called fiscal conservatives, it seems perfectly OK to cut taxes and increase spending on a war at the same time. And if that's defensible, then it certainly makes sense to buy those new $10,000 granite countertops now, rather saving for them. After all, the Joneses have them now.

[girl gone mad]

1. I grew up in Collin County..

and that's exactly how it is.

The kids are incredibly spoiled. I was often shocked by the way my peers lived. I had a friend who lived in a mansion, but his single mom never paid the electic bill, so when we went to see him at night, we took candles. I had another friend from the wealthiest part of town whose dad did cocaine right in front of her. I could tell you stories for days. Too often the concept of being a good parent began and ended at buying junior a BMW for his 16th birthday and giving him the credit card whenever he wanted it.

[rainbow4321]

2. This county was booming in the 90's under a Dem prez....

and now foreclosures and filing bankruptcy stats are thru the roof...mansions bought when the 90's people were living high on the hog are now on the county's monthly foreclosure lists. 5-6 gas stations have shut down within 2 miles of my house.

Yet 70%+ of the county still went repuke in the 2004 elections.
Guess they are willing to follow their "leaders" thru the gates of financial hell.

Now the county thinks they can turn the financial mess around by investing in the health industry since all the high tech jobs are shut down or outsourced. We seem to have more hospitals than we do Starbucks, and Frist's HCA is breaking ground for yet another one (even though there are already 2 HCA facilities in the county)...