GuidoZ
Regular Member
I apologize for continuing this off-topic, but I just gotta say this...
As for EBT, you obviously are completely ignorant and haven't a CLUE what some have gone through. I am an educated person (degree in computing; quite a bit of certifications) who owned a multi-million dollar business. Things were great - 13 employees, a brand new 5200 sq ft building, doubling in size and volume every 6 months... it was exactly what we worked 7 years to build and spent our life savings on. Suddenly, in 2008, it all came crashing down. We discovered an embezzlement situation after being contacting by the DOR and IRS, asking why we hadn't paid taxes in a year. Turns out our CFO and bookkeeper, as well as our lead onsite technician were all part of it. We could only prove around $300,000 over the course of 2 years, but we know there was more. Within months, our bank accounts were cleaned out due to levies, we had tax liens in excess of $200,000 and had to sell off the business and assets we had left. The crash of the economy didn't help - we had people declaring bankruptcy on us, losing tens of thousands of dollars a month. Big account simply went away due to closings and layoff. By April 2009, my wife and I had nothing. Cars repo'd. Investments gone (due to economy and leins). We had to pay $8,000 to a CPA for a full audit for the IRS, which was literally our last money. All credit cards we had were closed the same day (I guess lots of companies happen to look the same day.) Thanks to Obama, we were able to keep our house under the new plans. (We're still here and current to this day.)
So, for a handful of months in 2009/2010, we were hitting up food banks and using EBT so we could feed ourselves, including my 4 year old daughter and infant son. I wasn't unemployed "by choice". That kind of comment makes we want to rage in anger - we went through hell and back trying to maintain the little pride we had left, making right what we could. Eating was a big deal for us, and we did it ONLY because of EBT and food banks. Yet, looking at me or my wife, you may think we ware "able bodied" for sure and wouldn't need EBT or help. Luckily, we have made a tremendous recovery, having started another business and working off the reputation we had previously. We've made an agreement on our taxes. We've purchased new vehicles. We've made right as many wrongs as we could. We were awarded a settlement in the embezzlement that allowed the guilty party to stay out of jail, as long as he repays what we could prove. We'll be collecting a 3rd of his paycheck for the next 19 years. We're a huge supporter of a number of local charities that cater to the homeless and the food banks, giving all we can. We paid a large amount into the system during our good years, and I'm glad the system was there, corrupt or imperfect as you may think it is. It still worked exactly as it was supposed to for us - it gave us the crutch we needed to get back on our feet and start contributing to society again, as one likely believes one should.
Thanks for reading my rant. I honestly don't expect it to really change your views (or anyone else's for that matter), but I sincerely hope it makes you think twice the next time you see someone using EBT, or the next time you pass a migrant farm worker.
P.S. Well handled OP! I've yet to have a negative encounter in Skagit county, though I have had a few positive ones. I don't shop at Walmart, mainly because the people frequently scare me. :lol:
--
Peace. ~G
I don't even know where to start with this reply. I came here to see about the experience one had at the Mt Vernon Walmart (I live in Skagit county, so was quite curious) and ended up being attacked in multiple ways (I CC sometimes. I've been on EBT before. I've been unemployed before, WITHOUT CHOICE. Etc...) I realize all of this BS wasn't spewed by you specifically, but the EBT comments and employment comments... not to mention the "deport all the immigrants and there will be plenty of jobs" argument. You do realize every friggin person walking in this country (except the Native Americans) is an immigrant, right? Illegal at that. Do you have a plan for this mass deportation? Who is going to pay to have such a vast overhaul done... you're talking millions of man hours, then of course you have the corruption, because who is watching the watchers? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. Also realize that some "illegals" are the same ones who do the work you won't, not just don't want to do. Much of it is extremely physical with poor conditions, but they take it because it's what they can get. Maybe if there weren't so many lazy American's, there wouldn't be jobs for the "illegals". This kind of viewpoint, in my eyes, is little better than the Nazi's trying to "cleanse" Germany. Seriously, wake up and smell the coffee. It's offensive remarks and absurd viewpoints like that that give those of us trying to convince many others "we aren't crazy" a very difficult time.amzbrady + others said:... (lots and lots of biased, unsupported BS) ...
As for EBT, you obviously are completely ignorant and haven't a CLUE what some have gone through. I am an educated person (degree in computing; quite a bit of certifications) who owned a multi-million dollar business. Things were great - 13 employees, a brand new 5200 sq ft building, doubling in size and volume every 6 months... it was exactly what we worked 7 years to build and spent our life savings on. Suddenly, in 2008, it all came crashing down. We discovered an embezzlement situation after being contacting by the DOR and IRS, asking why we hadn't paid taxes in a year. Turns out our CFO and bookkeeper, as well as our lead onsite technician were all part of it. We could only prove around $300,000 over the course of 2 years, but we know there was more. Within months, our bank accounts were cleaned out due to levies, we had tax liens in excess of $200,000 and had to sell off the business and assets we had left. The crash of the economy didn't help - we had people declaring bankruptcy on us, losing tens of thousands of dollars a month. Big account simply went away due to closings and layoff. By April 2009, my wife and I had nothing. Cars repo'd. Investments gone (due to economy and leins). We had to pay $8,000 to a CPA for a full audit for the IRS, which was literally our last money. All credit cards we had were closed the same day (I guess lots of companies happen to look the same day.) Thanks to Obama, we were able to keep our house under the new plans. (We're still here and current to this day.)
So, for a handful of months in 2009/2010, we were hitting up food banks and using EBT so we could feed ourselves, including my 4 year old daughter and infant son. I wasn't unemployed "by choice". That kind of comment makes we want to rage in anger - we went through hell and back trying to maintain the little pride we had left, making right what we could. Eating was a big deal for us, and we did it ONLY because of EBT and food banks. Yet, looking at me or my wife, you may think we ware "able bodied" for sure and wouldn't need EBT or help. Luckily, we have made a tremendous recovery, having started another business and working off the reputation we had previously. We've made an agreement on our taxes. We've purchased new vehicles. We've made right as many wrongs as we could. We were awarded a settlement in the embezzlement that allowed the guilty party to stay out of jail, as long as he repays what we could prove. We'll be collecting a 3rd of his paycheck for the next 19 years. We're a huge supporter of a number of local charities that cater to the homeless and the food banks, giving all we can. We paid a large amount into the system during our good years, and I'm glad the system was there, corrupt or imperfect as you may think it is. It still worked exactly as it was supposed to for us - it gave us the crutch we needed to get back on our feet and start contributing to society again, as one likely believes one should.
Thanks for reading my rant. I honestly don't expect it to really change your views (or anyone else's for that matter), but I sincerely hope it makes you think twice the next time you see someone using EBT, or the next time you pass a migrant farm worker.
P.S. Well handled OP! I've yet to have a negative encounter in Skagit county, though I have had a few positive ones. I don't shop at Walmart, mainly because the people frequently scare me. :lol:
--
Peace. ~G
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