Lots of babies, public assistance, theft and relating the lot to SL

http://omg.yahoo.com/videos/octuplets-mother-just-like-angelina-jolie/6880

The reporter comments and attributes it to Octomom- that she does not see the monthly payments as welfare... they are "programs to help people in need". Never mind sending her money- send her a dictionary.

Interesting you mention that...

...I haven't followed this story more than the cursory overview, but when I saw the promo for Anderson Cooper 360 last night, it said that octomom has been receiving cosmetic surgery to look like Angelina Jolie.

Who in blue blazes is paying for that?!?!?

See my post right above yours for link.

It has to do with a cultural shift seen in the 80's towards more consumerism, detaching responsibility and work with reward, and an in-the-present mindset. This isn't just seen in America; it's just most notably seen in America because it has the largest economy.

In a healthy culture and economy, you work to achieve a future goal. Want a car, a house, or whatever gizmo or thing suits your fancy? You work and you save up for it. The cause and effect is strong psychologically and reinforces the behavior through reward.

All that changed when the western economy changed to be debt-based. Cause and effect is reversed; you can have the reward now, and work for it later. However, the "work for it later" part is completely irrelevant because one you have that reward, the mind stops thinking about the reward process altogether. It then becomes solely about _avoiding a bad thing_ such as punishment by not making good on debts. This is precisely what develops a mindset of entitlement, and what short-circuits long-term thinking of goals.

The current great recession is the ultimate ramification of such cultural malfunction. Our society has gotten so deep into debt-based entitlement and short-circuiting of cause-effect behavioral reinforcement that even the "avoiding a bad" part was ignored until we are now facing the bad result of debt-reinforced responsibility.

In order to get out of this great recession, the core _cause_ of the recession, culture, must change. We are not going to do this by doing the same thing we did before: going deeper into debt and passing our responsibilities to our children. Only addressing the cause- utter dependence on debt for the world economy - and working hard to correct this will fix it.

I am sure the the bail out well help out tremendously...

Thanks Amar Still didn't hear it addressed who is paying for the plastic surgery (if indeed she is getting it) unless that falls under, family, friends, church, etc. Not sure what church she goes to but I am pretty sure my church wouldn't pay for plastic surgery to make me look like a movie star