I'm sure many of you are in the same boat; your company has decided to sponsor some underpriveledged family for the holiday. Our company is sponsoring 4 large families, and each employee is to buy for one member of each family from their wish list.

My family consists of a 24 year old woman with 4 children and a live-in boyfriend. The woman is seperated from her husband and the father of her first three children. The 29 year old man that lives with her now is the father of her lastest child, 9 months old. The mother works, the boyfriend does not, at least not from the info i've been given.

Now i have always considered myself socially liberal and fiscally conservative. This situation just irks me no end. I figured we would be buying stuff for families down on their luck through no fault of their own, not for babymaking machines that either don't believe in birth control for religous reasons or just like to have sex alot and are too lazy to use protection. It's not the child's fault and i will get everything on his wish list but what kind of message does this send to the kids? Granted the 6 year old i will be buying for has no clue and it's not his fault.

Next year, i think i will see what happens if I 'just say no'. I know I'm beng a scrooge and i am sounding like an old codger but what happened to taking personal responsibility for your life's mistakes? This woman continues to open her legs and pump out babies, and every year I'm sure she registers for her free Christmas.

__________________
TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

just get them a 25$ target gift card... and write it off

Can't do that, i'm already commited to purchasing the things from the wish list. i'll do it and give with a smile by the time the deadline comes. I'll be over it by then.

__________________
TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

Thank goodness all fundraising of any sort is forbidden where I work. Not even band-candy for little Freddie. Not for a wedding gift for Myrtle. Nada. Zilch.

One time a colleague asked if I wanted to buy some sort of fundraising crap and I told him if he ever approached me again I'd report him. Word got around.

It's official. I am Scrooge.

B

Sounds lame. I have my causes and I know there are many other good ones that won't get my money this year. It really bugs me when someone tries to make someone else give to their cause (I'm not talking about people who help raise money for charities here - rather people who are in a position to coerce you, like an employer, to fund their own pet projects). Where's the charity if you're being forced? Personally, if I'd found out all that stuff, I'd tell them to take a hike.

__________________
Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

Wrap the presents with paper from the "Help wanted" section of the newspaper.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

thats soo low.. but thanks for the tip.. ive got a friend that im tired of that sits around doing nothing

From reading the caseworker's sheet on this family i believe the children are the only 'legal' people. Maybe undocumented workers can just look in the paper for a job, i don't know.

__________________
TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust