A Tale Of Two People …

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Economic issues, History, Humour, Political commentary, Social commentary

A short scenario for you to ponder …

Ed and Linda are married, own a home, have three children, and the usual household financial obligations.  Both have jobs outside the home, but Ed recently reduced his work hours – voluntarily – in order to “spend more time enjoying life.”

It is the end of the month and Linda is sitting down, checkbook in hand, beginning to pay the monthly bills.  But, between rising prices, an emergency appliance repair last month, and the reduced household income, it just isn’t adding up.  So, Linda tells Ed they are going to need to take out a loan for $1,000 this month in order to meet their obligations.  There’s the mortgage – $1,500; electric bill – $250; car payment – $425; credit card bill(s) – $185; their combined student loan payments – $350; cell phone service – $175, and cable television – $45.  But the bank balance is under $2,400, and the average weekly grocery bills are around $150.

Ed, however, says, NO!  He will not borrow money to pay their debt – financial obligations already incurred – because Linda spent too much money on the kids’ school clothes last month and until she reigns in her spending, he will not do what is necessary to pay their bills. (Never mind that two months ago, Ed spent over $1,000 on fishing equipment and hiking gear!)

Linda suggests that Ed could return to working full-time instead of part-time, but he is enjoying being able to go fishing on Wednesday afternoons and hiking on Fridays, and he’s not about to give that up – Linda will simply have to spend less.

So, what happens when the bank forecloses on the mortgage and the electricity is shut off for non-payment?  Does this little scenario remind you of another, only on a smaller scale?

18 thoughts on “A Tale Of Two People …”

  1. Even though you were comparing it to a much larger (and more political) scenario, the one you posted isn’t so far off from what takes place in many “regular” households. And that’s sad … and maddening at the same time. Then, when you expand it to what’s happening in our nation … I dread to think of the possible endings.

    Liked by 1 person

    • While it is true that my scenario was a much smaller scale than the national debt, the basic principles are the same. You need something, you buy it. If you don’t have the cash at the moment, you acquire debt for it. When the debt comes due, you pay it, else there are consequences. I’m appalled by how many sitting in our Congress today actually fail to understand that concept! Our Congress is definitely lacking in intellectual capital!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. With the costs of thing we need, gas, electricity, food, clothes rising at, an incredible rate, we will soon all, be, living below, the, poverty lines, because we can’t, make it, amd the governments’, giving out the cash spending vouchers just put the country in an even, deeper, debt, and, it will be the younger generations who will be, paying for this, after our generation had, left it all, behind.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Far too many already live below the poverty level, and yet Congress repeatedly rejects raising the minimum wage rate. The government isn’t exactly giving out cash spending vouchers, but they are trying to help people in need, which in my book is one of the two primary reasons for government’s existence! To protect the national security and to ensure that there is equality in all areas — legal, social, economic, educational, etc.

      Like

  5. “Does this little scenario remind you of another, only on a smaller scale?”
    Yes, it does. Can’t quite put my finger on it but it rings somehow familiar.

    In the Ed n Linda example the solution would be so easy. No employee should be forced to work par-time just to go fishin and hikin. That’s why reasonable countries have strong unions. And nobody should be forced to pay off student loans. Uni/College education is task the govt is responsible for.

    Then again, nobody forced Ed n Linda to buy a mac mansion and a car they can’t afford … or to have useless kidz.

    Liked by 1 person

    • That’s what weekends are for — fishin’, hikin’, rest, watching sports, readin’, etc. The dude in this scenario is a selfish bastard who expects his wife to work full-time while he goes out and has fun. But more to the point, he has no sense of responsibility for paying the bills. I agree with you about student loans — most in this country agree with you — except the Republicans who would prefer that only the children of the wealthy even be able to attend college. Oh, and they didn’t have a mac mansion at all, but a small house. Their rent was based on my own, which is $1,444 per month for a small rented townhouse, and that’s cheap compared to most! When we first moved here 25 years ago, the rent was only $600 per month.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Pingback: A Tale Of Two People … | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  7. Too obvious. But the point is made. Kevin “Ed” McCarthy and Joe “Linda” Biden are going to get divorced, and it’s going to be a get-down-and-dirty fight between their lawyers (GOP vs DNP)!
    The kids (American citizens) are going to suffer, no matter who wins…
    And the divorce courtm(t.he rest if the world) are going to sit in wonder that the parents could not figure out how to get along.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.