Being able to afford to live if you work a full time job is not some kind of radical concept - its something called "humanity". When a guy has a full time job and maybe a part-time job too and still can't make ends meet, having someone trying to tell them that they a lazy or that's its their fault they have nothing is counter-productive and frankly kinda mean. These people are victims of a rigged and corrupt system - and all you seem to be doing here is blaming the victim. There are communities in the USA where there is nothing but pawn shops, pay-day loan places, and liquor stores for miles and miles and miles. Try telling some of the kids that have no choice but to live in these types of places that all they need to do is get a job as a waitress and then all will be fine because then they can pay for their college or trade school. Many of these kids only have one parent because our society decided it was a good idea to lock up an entire generation of black men too - which results in the kid growing up somewhat unsupervised - which obviously creates another whole set of social issues to deal with. Right now, for the first time, the life expectancy among people just like me (white male, around 50 years old) is actually going DOWN, not up. Its a result of suicide, drug and booze addition, serious depression problems, lack of proper heath care, etc. These are all are intertwined with this same economic issues that have caused young people to either not get a college education or have huge debt that can't ever be forgiven right as they start their adult life, people trying to decide if to buy food or medication because they can't afford both. Meanwhile the corporations these people have worked for rake in billions in profits. Overall it's a systemic problem that is going to require a lot of changes. But trying to sit here and say all is ok the way it is now because you did it 40 years ago or there are isolated situations in certain locations with certain demographics where someone can make a decent life simply does not fly. All you have to do is open your eyes and look around, read a few numbers, look at a couple of graphs. Like the title to thread says - this is why we need Bernie. Meanwhile the GOP (who won't even admit many of these problems, let alone try to fix them) gives us Trump - who's solution seems to be insult everyone, build big wall, punch black guy in face - yeah that'll fix it! heehawww! Geeze

My sister never went to college and never got an inheritance but she is now a multi-millionaire. If one needs help paying for college, there is always he military. The military will pay for up to 4 years of education benefits. There are always options - some people would just rather wring their hands a and cry "poor little me". I didn't know that you were so poverty-stricken (aside from your medical bills, of course, which is a separate issue). Do they pay contractors in Hawaii minimum wage? If so, you ought to find another gig- the last C# contract that I had through an agency paid me $65 per hour....