'Two Americas': The search for the Starrs

I came across the show just flipping the channels. Great show by the way, I found myself pulled in and wanting to know more about the two families. So I pulled out my lap top and Goggled the network came across Mrs. Starr's response letter response to the Craigslist ad, Good Bless you and your family. Keep being hopeful a faithful. I'm a firm believer that if you keep a positive mind set and willing to work hard with some sacrificing you can move forward beyond anything. I noticed that when you spoke to your children you spoke of struggles, hardship very minute goals, instead of the possibilities, higher goals, and better futures. For example when the Loya's talked to their children they always spoke of when you go to college what will you major in? They may have the funds to support their children’s dreams, but all dreams are based on hope, on hard work and of course sacrifices. So teach your children that there is no limit to what you can achieve, and it does not matter where you start from it's all about where you are going and how hard are you willing to work to get there. I am shore that when life was good you all had to make some tough choices. I applaud you for making hard choices, sometime we do what we have to do to progress forward.

Wow!!! While watching this episode, I couldn't help but tear up! Not because I felt bad for The Starr's, it was as if I was watching a mirror image of myself on T.V. It was because my husband and I struggled, received constant past due notices, debt collector calls, trying to live paycheck to paycheck, getting state assistance,etc. You get the picture, it was taking an emotional, high stress and physical toll on me!! My husband was involved in the construction industry/business owner, and when it was good it was good, but then it became an inconsistent week to week paycheck. The economy and city we lived in were huge factors as to why this came to be! It made it hard to budget!! It in the end forced him out of state to work for us to make it financially. Him being gone 6 weeks then home for no more than 10 days! This was rough for all of us, (we have 3 children). We now have a household income that is 5 times more than we were making from this big decision!! That would have to be the best financial decision we ever made!!! I just wanted to throw it out there, but there's hope at the end of the tunnel, we are in only a year on our way to becoming more like the wealthy, charitable family that we strive to mirror!! Much love coast to coast

I would like to start out by saying that I am glad that these people are doing a little better. Now I will give my critisim of them. These are the same people I bet that think they deserve the help and poor black people are just sitting on their butts waiting to collect unemployment, foodstamps and any other handout they can get their hands on. Which most people who deal in reality knows isn't true. I bet when Santorum and Gingrich and the rest of that ilk start spouting off about black people getting this and that they ( the Starrs) agree with them wholeheartedly
I would hope that them being Christians and all, that the good Lord would open their eyes and hearts. However they stay blinded to the truth. They also, as someone already mentioned, before collected their share of welfare. Which, by the way, they will try to blame on the president, who had nothing to do with their situation. I see these type of republicans trying to be victims all the time.
Mr. Starr wasn't man enough to go out and make his truck work for him. He didn't use his liberty and freedom to go out and try to scrap metal or maybe help someone move for money. He didn't go out and be innovative and create a job for himself. He sucked off of ther very teet that he is so against.
The other day I was invited to someones house, who happened to be white, and on disability. I had seen the couple around my neighborhood for years as homeless drunks. They now have a nice place to live. They still panhandle everyday. The husband had the nerve to turn to me and laugh about something said about the president being a foodstamp president. They recieve them too. I myself, not being Martin Luther King, just thank God that He gave me the class and common sense to leave there asap.
An ex-friend of mine was on unemployment,he too happended to be white white. For the most part he was a hard working man. When I would tell him of contacts I knew of who would have hired him. He would tell me that he wasn't going to work on the books( pay taxes) because it would mess with his check. He is no longer my friend. I also know of some black people who are scamming the system too and it is unexceptable to me in any case.
My point is not to say that these politicians who say only blacks are scamming the system are racist, but they do use the racist rhetoric to draw in the ignorant to agree. Then people like the
Starrs go yeah I see what you mean. Then go and get their checks and foodstamps which leaves any argument they have angaisnt the welfare state moot.
This is my last election in which I will vote. Neither party is for the best interest of the country. Only what suits them best. In closing I would only pray to God that my cynicism wanes and my heart does not harden because some people are out to serve others they just aren't currently running for office. May God continue to bless America and us all.

I have to agree with a comment below. I do feel a lot of sympathy for the Starrs. But I guess I don't quite understand a few things. The house is HUGE! If we lost our jobs and had to move somewhere, we would have crammed into a small apartment until we got back on our feet. Of course the electric bill is high, that house was big enough for a family of 8. I would have sold those gigantic trucks and bought a little car that got some mileage. The cigarettes? are you kidding? not only are they expensive, but if you have no health insurance, you better be as healthy as possible. the last thing you need to be doing is smoking. but i guess it's easy for me to judge. good for them for putting themselves out there. it was well done. i can't put the Loyas down for their wealth. they both came from super humble backgrounds and with a combination of luck, confidence, correct choices and ambition, they have what they have.

To The Starrs, I just watched the commentary and felt alot of empathy for your family. The hateful comments on here are so cruel and unnecessary. It is so easy for people in this "electronic age" we live in to sit at their computer desk and play "armchair quarterback" and to judge you by a 1 hour show and tell you how to run your life. It had to have been very difficult to have opened yourself up for the world to see your problems. I applaud you for the faith in God you showed and the ability that you believed you could learn from a bad situation. Many on here do not understand such a concept. How sad for them. I too live in Texas and wish I could personally do something to help your family but I hope you will read this and know I will pray for you and hope that your situation will improve. God bless you!

Paul, I watched the show again and wondered if you knew how the other guy on the show got rich? If some day you took a business class at community college and near the end of the school year some guy asked if you wanted to be a guy who buys stock in oil using millions of dollars of other people's money and get to make 75k would you take it? Loya is lucky and that is the reason he is rich.

drumgirl, Can I ask how you got a 6 figure corporate job? I got my bachelor's and don't know how folks land these 6 figure jobs. I know one guy that shocked me with his paycheck. He knew the owner of a mid size semi truck company and got hired to run one of his offices making 100k his first year. md457@hotmail.com

Rock, in my opinion and only my opinion there is a mantra that works in Texas. Republicans claim to be the party of freedom, good values and smaller government and in my opinion that slogan is why so many Texans claim to be Republican. I have a good friend in Houston that is way more poor than Paul and has been a Republican since we were in the Navy together. It baffles my mind but I have found insulting them doesn't do any good so I try to get them to see my views even if they agree to disagree on them. I can't tell you the number of times I am presumed to be a lazy hippy liberal until someone gets to know me and finds out I'm not that much different than them but somehow I have a whole different set of information. What baffles my mind like nothing else is how the poor on both sides can't see the wage disparity issue as a major problem to our economy.

Paul, I happen to know quite a bit about that "scam" called global warming. Since manufacturing in America became successful in the last 100 years we have poured impurities into the sky. I know you can see them in Galveston as I do when I get down to the coast. Scientists take ice cores. I cores look like giant long poles about 10 feet long. One big giant ice cube. They can measure the amount of co2 in the core and see that over the centuries the ppm or parts per million are increasing. That means that co2 has increased and increased and increased over the years. You know what happens if you go in your garage, close all the garage doors and then get in your truck and start the engine eventually. That's right you die because of the exhaust. It's almost the same thing because our atmosphere captures some gases and others eventually get out but they aren't escaping fast enough because we keep increasing the amount of gas reaching the troposphere. The barrier between us and the sun is very delicate but it protects us again from sun burn. If you remove that barrier that texas sun will feel like an oven at 200 literally. It's like sunscreen and we are not making it better right now because of the pollution. If you think global warming is fake do you think it's a conspiracy to wear sunscreen? I hope you realize just as you can go in the summer sun for 15 minutes and not get burned you can slowly add co2 to our atmosphere. However, just like standing in the texas summer sun for 10 hours will get you nice and burnt you also can spew millions of parts of carbon and slowly reduce that layer of protection from the sun we get from our atmosphere. I'm glad you enjoyed the dialogue and I'm counting on your vote for Obama :) md457@hotmail.com

Paul, thanks for answering and congratulations to you and April. My wife and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary recently. We bleeding heart liberals believe in that value also, family.
I found plenty of left wing sites and can show you those also but I found a moderate/conservative source. This quote is in the article on Forbes.com
"And for all you commenters outraged that Exxon isn’t paying taxes in the U.S., don’t worry, it is. Our article only focused on income taxes, but it’s worth noting that the 10-k also records $7.7 billion in other taxes in the U.S. (like sales taxes) and more than $50 billion of other taxes and duties paid (I mean recorded) overseas."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2010/04/07/exxon-says-it-does-pay-u-s-i...

I do think greed has gotten excessive and when corporations fight having to pay Americans $7.25 per hour and will hire a McDonald's drive-thru employee in India to save $5/hr on that employee and then pay the CEO millions I do think they know that India job hurt an American. I haven't seen prices drop at McDonald's because of that $5/hr savings and one less American person working.
I'll ask. How bad do you want the water quality to be? If you start drinking polluted water because of no EPA are you ok with that? If you say the EPA kills jobs then why are Exxon profits so high? You are healthy, eat healthy, drink healthy because of the EPA to some level. You smoke and I understand that but even you know that smoking is not good for you. Some mean old government agency did not leave it up to the cigarette industry to inform us of that. I will keep up the fight and thanks for replying.

Paul, thanks for answering and congratulations to you and April. My wife and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary recently. We bleeding heart liberals believe in that value also, family.
I found plenty of left wing sites and can show you those also but I found a moderate/conservative source. This quote is in the article on Forbes.com
"And for all you commenters outraged that Exxon isn’t paying taxes in the U.S., don’t worry, it is. Our article only focused on income taxes, but it’s worth noting that the 10-k also records $7.7 billion in other taxes in the U.S. (like sales taxes) and more than $50 billion of other taxes and duties paid (I mean recorded) overseas."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2010/04/07/exxon-says-it-does-pay-u-s-i...

I do think greed has gotten excessive and when corporations fight having to pay Americans $7.25 per hour and will hire a McDonald's drive-thru employee in India to save $5/hr on that employee and then pay the CEO millions I do think they know that India job hurt an American. I haven't seen prices drop at McDonald's because of that $5/hr savings and one less American person working.
I'll ask. How bad do you want the water quality to be? If you start drinking polluted water because of no EPA are you ok with that? If you say the EPA kills jobs then why are Exxon profits so high? You are healthy, eat healthy, drink healthy because of the EPA to some level. You smoke and I understand that but even you know that smoking is not good for you. Some mean old government agency did not leave it up to the cigarette industry to inform us of that. I will keep up the fight and thanks for replying.

I'm not calling you out of your name. Again, Rock is literally part of my real name.
You'll do anything you can to survive short of quitting smoking, selling your big TV, turning in your gas guzzling ozone depleting trucks, giving up the cell phones, moving into a more modest home more within your means, going on a diet, etc. If you are really so anti government, you could have started there. You are only anti government until you need them. Like you need the department of education for your children, social security for your mother, the military to protect all your "freedoms" you are ranting about, etc.
HYPOCRISTIAN'S at their finest!!!

Drumgirl... Honestly... It's not all Democrats that I take issue with... Just the far left leaning ones such as "Pebble Girl" (I stand corrected). You said it yourself that you had never needed Government assistance (That's a beautiful thing)... Let me tell you from experiance that when the pantry and fridge are empty... And you have 2 children to feed including yourself and spouse... You will do most anything that will help that situation out including going to the Government, Churches or whatever you have to do to survive! Look yall... If you think for one second that I wanted to go for food stamps or live off of unemployment checks... Your Dead Wrong! I have worked very hard all of my life and for a while... We had the American Dream!
Let me assure you of this much Drumgirl... No matter how secure you may feel about your job right now... Just remember one thing... It can be gone tomorrow! Then what will you do? What if you can't find another job within a reasonable amount of time?? What if you start losing everything you had worked so hard to get ie: home, cars etc??? Don't think it could never happen to you as not only have I lived it but I just so happen to know of people (with masters degrees) who are sitting on umemployment right now!
As far as "Pebble Girl" goes well... She has embarrassed herself with her own words... You Go Girl! LMAO!!!

Paul, thanks for answering and congratulations to you and April. My wife and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary recently. We bleeding heart liberals believe in that value also, family.
I found plenty of left wing sites and can show you those also but I found a moderate/conservative source. This quote is in the article on Forbes.com
"And for all you commenters outraged that Exxon isn’t paying taxes in the U.S., don’t worry, it is. Our article only focused on income taxes, but it’s worth noting that the 10-k also records $7.7 billion in other taxes in the U.S. (like sales taxes) and more than $50 billion of other taxes and duties paid (I mean recorded) overseas."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2010/04/07/exxon-says-it-does-pay-u-s-i...

I do think greed has gotten excessive and when corporations fight having to pay Americans $7.25 per hour and will hire a McDonald's drive-thru employee in India to save $5/hr on that employee and then pay the CEO millions I do think they know that India job hurt an American. I haven't seen prices drop at McDonald's because of that $5/hr savings and one less American person working.
I'll ask. How bad do you want the water quality to be? If you start drinking polluted water because of no EPA are you ok with that? If you say the EPA kills jobs then why are Exxon profits so high? You are healthy, eat healthy, drink healthy because of the EPA to some level. You smoke and I understand that but even you know that smoking is not good for you. Some mean old government agency did not leave it up to the cigarette industry to inform us of that. I will keep up the fight and thanks for replying.

drumgirl, I don't get Ron Paul in some aspects. In your opinion if we pulled troops out of foreign countries we would be days away if war broke out instead of hours and as a veteran that concerns me and I wonder how Ron Paul supporters feel about that. Thanks.

Drum,

Oh, he'll reply. He'll call you a bunch of names and go off on an ignorant, illiterate rant about how he loves bowing down to the same people would spit on the likes of him.

Starr, my identity is not at issue. I didn't put myself out there for the world to judge. I will say though, Rock is part of my real name, so I am entitled to use it and I'm a female so your "dude" missed it's mark. You may not think I'm worthy of the name Rock, but shall we really discuss that issue, Starr? LOL

I don't believe for one minute you knew Al Gore runs Current.

You have the opportunity now to turn the ignorant image around you portrayed. Address the issues at hand.
1. How do you have your hand out to the government to take funds, and then spit in the face of the government providing funds AND others that are in need?

2. What will you do for your mother if the republiCONS get their way and get rid of Social Security?

3. If it weren't for agencies like the EPA, you can be assured by now your children wouldn't have clean water to drink and they would need masks to breathe due to pollution from massive plants with no safety checks in place. There needs to be a balance right?

What part of YOU represent EVERYTHING the tea-baggers hate and despise don't you get? If Perry met you he'd shake your hand, laugh in your face and thank you for the vote that put you in the situation you are in. *faceplant*

And yes, please address the cigarette issue. How do you panhandle to your poor mother and your community while you can afford to smoke?

As to the anniversary, I bet you don't get 3 more of them. I'll pitch in $100 to April if she needs help with divorce funds. April, you don't have to live with this embarrassment.

TX... Thank you for at least posting your email address as that shows some sincerity to what you say (that's way more than a lot of people on here).
Now... About the stats concerning Exxon... Where you you get your information from... "Socialist Digest" or "OWS Times"??? LMAO!!! You are SO wrong! Allow me to share the Truth with you....
ExxonMobil paid $8 billion in income taxes to various governments including ours in the first quarter, which is about $22 million in income taxes each day, or almost $1 million each hour.
Now... About your "smaller companies sending their manufacturing and customer service to China" remark... Why do you think they do that??? You think it's to purposely hurt American Jobs??? Really???
NO... It's because Progressive Bureaucracies such as EPA or Labor Unions that have made it almost impossible for companies to do buisness and make money here in the US because of either the restrictions imposed upon them by the "Tree Huggers" or the Massively Corrupt "Unions". It's unfortunate but no wonder they take their Business elsewhere... It's only business to Corporations who are in the game to make money. Now... If we were to abolish or at least minimize the power of the "EPA"... Totally abolish Labor Unions... This would bring back all that business (JOBS) that have been moved to other Countries!!!
So TX... You just keep fighting your Progressive fight even as wrong as you truly are with the minority of people that you have... And I will keep fighting for "We the People"... The Majority of Americans!

On a unrelated note...
Today my wife and I are Celebrating our Seventh year Anniversary together and I have to say... Eventhough my wife and I have had our ups and downs... I Love April with All my Heart and Soul... And if I had it to do all over again... There's absolutely no other woman out there that could make me as happy of a man as I am today! I'm honored that she would have me. Happy Anniversary Darlin!

Paul, what guys like me can't understand is why you vote against your own best interest. I'll be happy to discuss politics but calling me a socialist liberal commie progressive doesn't hurt my feelings. As a liberal I want to see people in your situation get the help they need. With regard to bigger issues and the "job creators" I can't see why we think they pay their fair share when Houston based companies like Exxon paid zero federal income tax in 2009. They made record profits and yet didn't contribute to our tax base. The CEO made millions and uses tax shelters in Dubai. When smaller companies send their manufacturing and customer service to China and India I don't see why you would support that happening and not want to tax them for doing that to Americans who would work the manufacturing and customer service jobs that are now overseas and people like April don't have a job. md457@hotmail.com and Yes I'm in Texas and regularly go to counter protest the tea-party rallies so I walk the walk.

I'll be as kind as my stomach can muster and play ball softly here as to not hurt anyone.
Paul, you will never, as hard as you try, represent the party that your so called republiCON friends are a part of. You will never be the person they care about and act in their interest for. You are the scum of the earth to the Newts, Perry's, Bush's, etc of the world. I don't believe that personally. I have other opinions of you based upon what YOU represented of yourself on TV and here, but I assure you as disgusted as I am with your ignorance, I hold you in higher regard than they would.
You received unemployment and foodstamps and the aid you got for you light bill was a government subsidy as well. Those same people who you are championing for and agreeing with... If they had their way, NONE of those services would be available to you, your family or even your mother. What are you going to do when Social Security is stripped away from your elderly mother due to a republiCON YOU vote in? Are you prepared for the suffering she will incur?
YOU and YOUR president got you in the mess you found yourself in. Hear me loudly since DAL4 is apparently blind or deaf... I absolutely can empathize with the situation you found yourself in. What I can not get on board with is you applying for and accepting help from the same government you claim to hate. Why take it? Apparently you only watch and regurgitate FAUX news talking points because you don't have a clue what real democrats believe.
You claim you are a tea-bagger. Please explain to the class exactly what that means? Not just something FAUX spit at you or you copy and paste from some right wing website. What does it mean to YOU?
You claim you want to help our country get back. Get back to what? Do you have a clue what times were like when our founding fathers wrote out our constitution?
You did no homework before making yourself look real ignorant talking about we all pay the same in taxes and you add to that with your statement below about taking away incentive to create jobs if rich people are taxed. Do you know how many multi-million and billion dollar companies out there aren't paying DIME one in taxes and are laying people off by the thousands? It's the smaller companies creating jobs.
So Mr. Starr, while you are waving your chinese made american flag and proclaiming your love of our military, do you think that those alone make you a patriot? When and in what branch of the military did you serve? Here's a little known fact for you, that same military you just love... pssst... shhhh... THAT IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENTS HANDI-WORK!!!
It is precisely because of people like YOU that I'm thankful the rich family in this documentary was Mexican. I know how much a good god-fearing conservative man like yourself loves you some Mexicans. LOL

So Mr. Starr, since you are so proud and off the system all together, you will surely turn down any charity the good folks on this board have offered and you will direct it to a family or families that are truly in need and not just poor mouthing.

Did you even have a clue Al Gore was behind this documentary? I'm betting not, because you are so ignorant you would have cut your nose to spite your face and declined had you known.

I watched the show and was glad it was in Texas to make it a little more personal. I was unemployed two years ago through no fault of my own. I have a Business Administration bachelor's degree, served four years in the Navy, waited to get married and have a child and now own my own business. The unemployment I got before I came up with my business idea paid the bills. I believe Paul is the spokesperson but when Mrs. Starr states in an somewhat unsure manner that "we all pay the same" when it comes to taxes so that she can confirm her conservative view I just let out a big sigh. I don't understand how poor people and especially poor conservatives think they pay income tax, property tax, social security and medicaid "all the same." I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong but the moment this conversation came on is also when Fox News announced Rick Perry as a candidate for Republican nominee. How does Mrs. Starr think she contributes the same as another Texan like Rick Perry? I am willing to be she and Paul don't pay the same taxes contrary to their opinion they do. md457@hotmail.com

The Fact of the matter is Izadorra... I am beyond a shadow of a doubt... A "Christian, Conservative Republican" who is Bound and Determined to be a part (somehow) of helping our Beautiful Country get BACK to the way our Founders intended it to be! Another Fact Is... Democrats believe in having "Social Welfare" and having the "People" Depend on the Government to live and Not what each individual person can do for themselves!!! Ya know... From time to time People such as my wife and I... No matter what their Political belief is... Get into situations (like my wife and I) and have no other choice but to use Every option that is offered... Including but not limited to "Government aid" if need be! Another FACT is... We are NOT on "Government aid" anymore!... Government aid should be used as just that... AID for a short period of time... Not a permanent means of survival! Another Fact is... Democrats for some twisted reasoning... Seem to think that they can just spend as much as they want and tax the rich to get out of this bad economic problem we're in! So I guess you agree with them that by taxing the rich more will get our Country back on the right track huh??? Hummmm... No.... By Taxing the rich More... Do you honestly feel that these "rich people" who "create jobs" in the first place will hire more People if they are being "taxed" more??? You think that by taxing them more that it will create more jobs and give the would be "entrepreneur's" or "future job creators" the Incentive to actually move forward???? If you truly believe that then either there is absolutly no hope for you as your just mental or your not educated enough to know... In which case "We the People" can only hope you will open a book and read some hostory to learn something beneficial!!!

Understand and know this much... I am the Tea Party and I believe in GOD, Limited Government, Freedom of Speech, the right to Bare Arms and All of the Liberties that Our Creator has given us!!! I Respect and Thank ALL our Military personel who go out and fight for "We the People" Every Single Day with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL! These Men and Women go out every day to insure that even people such as yourself have the freedom to think even like a socialist if you so choose... Even as sad and wrong as it is for people to think like that... AT LEAST YOU HAVE THAT OPTION but I would suggest you move to China or North Korea and get a Full taste of their Socialism and see what you think after about a month or so!

No Izadorra... I will and do thank GOD for any and All Blessings He has given me as truly... No matter what happens... GOD has my back!!!

Do you know the below Pledge???

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!"

You should read and recite and let it sink in for a while... Hopefully you will learn a thing or two!

May God Richly Bless You with Wisdom,
Paul G Starr, Sr

This show has made me angry, happy, inspired, pissed, and not many news shows or documentaries do that. The funny part is, I am not rich by any means, but I identify with the rich family. Working your ass off, coming from the bottom. I am an immigrant and you just have a lot of expectations. I feel awful that Paul Starr can't find a job, but they drive huge gas guzzling cars, he smokes and just makes me pissed with his weird rant about unemployment benefits.
However, I don't like how this documentary is structures. The whole thing shows quotes about 1% and 99% and the two families are supposed to be at opposite parts of the spectrum. But is Loya family really the evil 1%? I would argue they are probably somewhere in the top 20% anyways. The guy and his wife came from nothing, he worked his ass off and so did everyone in his family. Yeah he is a CEO but he worked his ass for this job. While you say that you wanted to challenge the perceptions about 1%, the successful family is presented as bad and opposite somehow. It seems biased and not very accurate.

Maybe we should ask paul starr to give us that money back that he has gotten so far in unemployment since that money that he has gotten from the government actually came from us! if he doesnt like it so much, he can pay us back and give us a refund! god these drama right-wingers are pieces of work. and him saying "so much more capable"? yeah, what exactly have you done paul, in all your life to raise your quality of life a bit? do you seriously think that the economy is a monolithic thingh, and not subject to changes, and that you think it will always be the case that you will always have employment?? take some responsiblity for yourself dude if you even mean what you think and say. you're just a typical right-winger full of crap as usual. you are typical right-winger conservatard who don't like social safety nets, and yet here you are getting food stamps and unemployment. get some freakin brain paul starr.

I just watched this program and I am so disgusted with these people. Both sides of this America vote Republican. I can understand the rich ones voting Republican. They don't actually work making something or doing anything constructive other than playing with other people's money.

However, the other couple from (where else) Texas, that is struggling to pay their bills because of loosing their jobs, are also voting Republican. I felt so sorry for them until the part where he said "if the Government wasn't helping us with food stamps then someone else would". What? Idiots! I hope they get evicted from their rental. So typical of the hypocrisy shown by ignorant Republicans. "I get food stamps but I don't think other poor people should get them."

They deserve everything that happens to them. I was actually crying for them before he said that. Now I'm so disgusted with them that I hope they loose their cars too so they can't make it to the voting booth.

This show challenged me as a progressive (and now I question whether I really am progressive). I think that was the point. I can't deny that it really, *really* bugged me to see the Starr's reactions to the Republican debate. If Paul truly believes what he said, then why did he apply for food stamps and unemployment? Those things just don't get sent to you automatically; you have to actively pursue them.

I know it's wrong for me to think this way. Deep down I can't help feeling that people who vote Republican (who don't want those *other* poor people to get government help) really don't deserve to get help either. I can't help feeling that Paul didn't bother to get a college education because he assumed his white male privilege would get him by. It bothers me that my tax dollars support other people just like them, who take their government handouts and then spit on me by voting for a party that wants me to get back in the kitchen because I'm a woman and die of an ectopic pregnancy.

I once lived in a trailer too. I was a young single mom that attended college during the day and went to my 2nd shift factory job in the evening. I graduated from college and now have a great job. But I don't forget where I came from! I understand I was able to accomplish this because I was represented by a UNION at my former job. They negotiated a good wage and tuition reimbursement, which I clearly benefit from now. I am still pro-Union to this day and vote for progressive values, even though I now have a corporate job. Is it too much for me to ask that other people do the same, when they clearly benefit as well?

Someone please talk me out of this.

t I'm sorry... The fat dude with the beer belly and a smoker to boot (nursing home, here I come with my Medicare!!!) says he does not want welfare and food stamps, yet he gets them??? welcome to right-wing bizarro world. well, i really dont know why anyone would be wondering... the guy said so himself that he had not graduated high school (maybe he should have gone the way of sean hannity who also was a high school drop out, a crack head, then became a construction worker until he found a way to hoodwink brainless morons through talk radio with his right-wing republican talking point rhetoric and he could've had it made, i mean look at him now... now he's a millionaire because of the brain dead idiots who worship this pathetic, worthless man), and i bet he just gets his education from places like fux news and other right-wing radio shows that have proven to turn brains into mush.

and also, if they're not educated and are suffering because apparently they think that life is just going to be just dandy with him continuing to work construction and he was content in it, how is this the fault of the other family who obviously worked hard to get where they were?? (in this case, left-wing bizarro land at work, and something i dont quite agree on with the OWS, although i do agree with them about companies like Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, etc, guilty of mishandling taxpayer money, for example, Corzine should be arrested..).

anyway, i'm libertarian so i dont understand people like the Starrs, and i dont understand people who think it is the fault of the Loyas why the US economy is going down the drain.

Dear Mrs Starr,

Just wished to add my support to you and your family, as we have first hand knowledge of the challenges you are facing. Life is not always a bed of roses and people need to understand this less they face the same problems one day.

Living here in Houston, I watched the program and it certainly hit home how situations can change so fast. Like you we had the American dream and then one moment it was gone, effected by the economic melt down all around us, not a nice feeling for sure. However, as you know with the lords blessing and strong faith one can work through it. Now we have a small business thats growing well and allowing us to climb out the hole of "poverty". To those that think not having a high education is the reason for failing, are far off the mark, as our household has two masters and a PhD (rather more than the average one can say) so we are not dumb.

Success comes to those that work hard are lucky and most of all learn from failure. I am sure Mrs Starr, when your family finally turns around you will look back and thank the lord for the lessons he gave you and which made you stronger.

Oh and to those that mentioned politics being a Rep or Dem is not the issue, we all still pay the same for taxes don't we?

So in closing a quote from Richard Branson (who dosn't have a university education) that says it all

“My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had – every day I’m learning something new.”

The producers gave you permission to speak on their behalf? Cool *eyeroll*

I very respectfully disagreed with you and even sought common ground and humor. I admitted where I made a mistake and was not quite nice towards the Starr's in one case.

You are the one who has been unpleasant and smearing (name calling and projecting) toward those you disagree with. I find you to be the one who is all that you called me, but I'm too civil to call you all those names.

How do you not see where you are wrong in this? You know you are dead wrong which is why you continue to ignore what others had issue with.

Peace out!

Rock69:

I'm a Democrat.

People who are kind and support one another tend to avoid places where you and your ilk are likely to visit and rant. People are more likely to post unpleasant comments with all their "facts" and smearing anyone who disagrees than post supportive comments with kind words or sympathy; that is human nature on the Web and the Nasty side has won. Polite society finally gives up the attempt to bring civility to a discussion and departs, which I shall do, leaving you to your abhorrent attitude, tragic social upbringing, and careless liberties you take with the characters of other people.

Like the producers of this show, I am stunned at the invective against some really nice people. The Starrs are nice people. I am not out to second guess them, criticize them, or turn my back on them just because I don't agree with their politics, habits, and some of their decisions. But I do recognize that they need help, and that is what matters.

Dal,

Here you go... Since you think it's just me and I'm the one missing the big picture here. I just found this. AFTER I joined here.

I'm more representative of how people felt after watching the show. Now can you address the issue?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10183423#post9

And you're like a typical repukelican. Facts be damned, points be ignored. Just keep repeating what you want and you hope somehow someway it will become relevant. You have ignored me saying 3 times now my struggles aren't $hit compared to a lot of struggling people today. Just because you say you're winning, doesn't mean I'm even playing.

Again: Can you please address just the main issue that a lot of people have, which is the hypocrisy? Please. What did you think when Paul made the anti-government statements he made? Do you believe that the repukelicans policy help people like the Starr's?

Oh well. I tried. You obviously just don't get it. If you can address the GREAT BIG HUGE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM you keep ignoring, which was the HYPOCRISY, I'll give you my further time. If not, enjoy your head being in the sand. Eventually me thinks you will get sick of the gritty taste in your mouth.

*sigh*

To Rock69:

You make me laugh. You're like an old lady.

"My scar is bigger than your scar!"

"I remember when I had to walk to school 20 miles uphill both ways."

"your not going to engage" should be "you're not going to engage" No one called you ignorant. Your error was evidence of ignorance. If you feel that someone called you ignorant, you may be paranoid, self-righteous, and a prig.

It appears that you want your struggles to be the barometer against which the struggles of everyone else are measured. All in life is relative. What is hot to one person is warm to another. What is pain to one person is pleasure to another. What is wealth to one person may be just the lunch money of another.

As for struggles: been there done that, twice. I'm an IT professional. I see my jobs go offshore. I even trained my replacements in India for one of my jobs. My first job interview after the last layoff was 09/11/2001 with American Airlines; nothing went well that day. I had just adopted a teenage girl and eventually had to take a job in retail while I lived off savings and a 401K to keep a roof over her head. I did not sell my car because I needed it to travel to interviews. I did not give up Internet access or cell phone because they became essential for job searches. I did not sell the house because I would not have qualified for subsidized housing nor would I have met the criteria on a credit check for rental property. I had nothing for Christmas until a colleague at the store told me to pick out some things for my daughter and she would pay for them. My first response was to refuse; then I recognized the kindness being offered. My daughter had a Christmas that year and every year after because I eventually pulled out of the economic chaos. I recognize all that in the Starrs and offer them a heart-felt kindness. It's all they need -- something to get them through, some kindness to see them through.

I am able to accept their perceptions of their struggles and will work with them to help. Condemnation does not help. Beating someone who is down does not help. In the tally at the end of life, I will have no regrets about helping this family. People who are hateful and judgmental with an uncanny ability to spew vile words at someone they looked down on also might not feel regrets about their actions either, living their lives feeling justified in condemning those not worthy by their standards.

You have turned this whole family tragedy into a bitter personal validation for your life. This blog is about the Starrs; not you. Those of us helping them have generally kept away from this blog because of the messages that demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of their circumstances plus the condemnation being thrown at them. They do not deserve it. People who support them do not deserve it. Those who cannot be kind to them should not post here except perhaps they cannot help themselves due to some character flaw that prevents them from seeing beyond their own lives.

Dal4, ummm quite clearly too late for your not going to engage. You already did and everybody knows when someone result to name calling, that means you lose because you have no valid argument. By the way, when you called me ignorant and corrected my using the wrong word in the phrase, you also wrote the wrong phrase. It's not Woe TO me. But I won't call you names. ;-)

April, I painfully read your entire life history. ALL of it is irrelevant. You ask not be judged, but YOU put you and your family on blast opening yourselves up to being criticized. I'm a huge Vanguard/Current fan. I didn't start watching it to judge you and as I stated, I started out sympathizing with you. Your long life story you wrote, as hard as it was to you, is really a walk in the park to what I have been through, just like my life has been a walk in the park to someone worse off than me.

I have no problems with you going through hard times. AGAIN the issue is the hypocrisy of accepting help and then criticizing the source of the help and voting against that help being there for the next person who happens to be in need. Don't you get that? It wasn't you. It was your ignorant husband and yes he is VERY ignorant on that subject and he told the world he is ignorant.

Astrid, I assure you I am the same in person as on this board. The same bottom line approach you see here, is what my daughters get when they come to me with problems they bring on themselves. End result? They are careful as to what to bring to me and have already figured out "Mom will say you did it to your damn self figure it out on your own" so they leave me alone and it has worked wonders.

Actually, my oldest daughter is a single mother and FAR worse off than you April. If all the charitable folks on here really want to make a difference, go find abused children or there has been a couple documentaries lately on school children living in drug/roach infested low budget motels. These kids don't have food or the tools needed for school How about donating school supplies? Contribute to an elderly fixed income person's utility bill? Take them a warm home cooked meal? Help them fix their home they worked their whole life for?

The Starr's problems are non existent to the real problems in the world.

Amazing these two people would vote republican and would be against public assistance, but are taking the money from the very same government agencies they oppose!!! I was raised on welfare by a single mother and I know how it to be poor. I now pay my fair SHARE of taxes back into the system and can’t imagine I would have gotten this far without the government. They also agree with Newt Gingrich!!! So they must agree with his recent statement of “Really poor children," he said at an Iowa fundraiser, "in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working, and have nobody around them who works. So they literally have no habit of showing up on Monday. … They have no habit of 'I do this and you give me cash,' unless it's illegal." So I hope they consider this when voting against themselves and for their sake of their children.

PLEASE KNOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, MIDDLE CLASS, NON EDUCATED, WHICH YOU FALL UNDER……WAKE UP LADY!!! THE STRUGGLES YOU ARE GOING THROUGH IS RESULT OF THE BUSH YEARS BUT REMEMBER HIS WALL STREET FRIENDS ARE WELL OFF…. NEVERTHELESS, I WOULD STILL HELP YOU AS I KNOW HOW IT IS BE IN YOUR POSITION.

Mrs. Starr, Some people post on message boards simply to hear themselves talk. . . .and talk and talk and talk. Some people are simply way too impressed with themselves and all their traversing online is one big ego trip. Such people aways think they have all the answers and are positive that they could run everyone else's lives better. This isn't about anything you are doing wrong in the management of your life. It is about their abject need to find people to try and relegate into a position beneath them in order to feel that their life has some purpose or that they have some value. That kind of person doesn't care about truly connecting to anyone. If they had to talk to you face to face, you can bet they wouldn't say the things they say on a message board as they would not have a screen to hide behind. It's much easier to jump from board to board, lording over people they don't truly know anything about while scattering their flotsam.

Rock69,

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

I am Mrs. Starr.
I was born to a Mother and Father who loved me and my sibling but just weren't ready to be parents.. So I thank God every day for my Grandparents whom raised me, I would be nothing without them. They were my inspiration in life.
My Granny and PawPaw worked for The Houston Post Newspaper for 33 years. They ran the largest district in all of Houston, TX and worked their bodies to death to put a roof over our heads. We were not rich, not even middle class... we were poor. But we had each other and in love we were rich as a family. I learned how to count by going with them on the paper routes and helping them count out how many newspapers each store or rack had to have. When I got older, I helped to put the papers together, take them in the stores, bundle them( and they were very heavy bundles, 50-80lbs each), loaded the bundles as I got older. The papers had to be put out at night.. so I would go to school.. come home bout 4pm.. do homework, eat dinner, shower, sleep til 11pm and then get up to go put out newspapers with my Grandparents.. Most of you people have NO clue that a newspaper does NOT come put together.. So we would go pick up all the inserts at the newspaper plant, go to an empty parking lot and put them all together, Thousands of them.. then go put them out. We got home by 3am, I slept a few mor hours and got up and went to school and strted the process all over again. They made about $1800-$2000. a month doing this. Not a lot of money at all for a family of 4. We worked as a family to have what we had and we loved each other. They never had a brand new car or truck, or a brand new house.. Our home was 3/2 with a garage and about a 1/2 acre. And they made notes on it for years.
When I was 15 and old enougt to go out into the world to work, I did so. I went to school, worked a part time job and helped put out newspapers... I kid you not, I don't remember sleeping.. But we made it. I had an issue with my teeth when I was growing up, when I was young they had to pull most of them because they were like chalk and broke easy.. When I got older, they told me I had a severe calcium deficiencey and I would fight with my teeth for the rest of my life.. So need less to say, I was always needing dental work.. No insurance.. we as a family could not afford that.. So I saved MY money and I paid to have a tone of dental work done.. About $15,000. worth.. So when kids at school were buying cars to drive themselv to school in... I was paying for a new set of teeth.
When I turned 18, my Granny had a masive stroke, it cause severe damage to her left side, cause paralisis, and put her in a coma for almost 3 months. My poor PawPaw did not know what to do.. The Houston Post Newspaper that they had worked for so many years sold out to another newspaper, The Houston Chronicle.. the workers inside the building all got severence pay, retirement and had 401k's... We got NOTHING!. Nothing but the boot, a phone call one day saying we no longer had a job.. What to do. My PawPaw had no clue, Granny in the hospital, I was working to help them pay bills, make the house note and such. I had to grow up real fast, didn't have much of a childhood. I quit school and got my GED, found a good fulltime job and started caring for my PawPaw while Granny was in a coma.. Didn't think she was gonna pull through.
She did pull through it, woke up and we brought her home. I then proceeded to make sure she got rehab. Took her to countless Dr's appointments, had to teach her how to talk, walk, eat, dress herself, groom herself.. It was like having an adult infant. Life was Not easy. I loved her so much though that I wanted to help her, Look at all they had done for me!!! I was glad to help them. We lost my PawPaw in 2001 to Cancer in his kidney. This sent my Granny into a state of depression that I cannot even conceive. They were married 46yrs.
Somewhere in there I was married and divorced from my first husband who treated me like crap and I was smart enough to get out. I met Paul and we married in 2004. I could not have asked for a better man, he took on the whole package, me and Granny, knowing it would never be an easy road caring for her.
( I love my husband with all my heart and soul.. I am very upset with the names that some of you are calling he and I. It is very hurtful. You don't know us and do not have any right to call us those things.)
We chose to move to Alabama cause both my Granny and my Husband are from there. Granny no longer wanted to live where we were due to the fact that she stayed depressed from all the memories from her and my PawPaw's life together. Paul took a wonderful job out of state making between $65-$75,000 a year.. (The documentary was wrong on their stats.) We were doing ok. Found the home of our dreams.. I started a buisiness of my own with the B&B and we were all very happy. AGAIN, OUR TRUCKS ARE NOT NEW! THEY ARE USED, AND WE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR NEW LOANS DUE TO THE FORCLOSER ON OUR HOME IN ALABAMA! So when the economy went to crap... Paul got laid off from his wonderful job, we stayed afloat for as long as we could with our savings and tried to find another position for Paul.. but it was just not there.
The last few months we were there, we found out Granny was now battling Luekemia. So we used what savings we had left and moved back down here to Texas. Sold everything we could sell to get us into a home.. Paul went back to work for his Dad's company, which was struggling now too and that lasted til March of this year.. And after fighting Luekemia from 2009- March 0f 2011, going back and forth to Dr's, going to the labs for blood work 3 times a week, chemo treatments among countless other specialists.. I lost my Granny March 30th. I could not afford a funeral, her body was in cold storage for two weeks until I could pay enough to get her cremated, but I am still paying on the rest of the cremation services and the funeral home holds her remains until it is paid in full... SO I CAN'T EVEN SAY GOODBYE FULLY YET AND I AM STILL MORNING HER.. MY BEST FRIEND, MY GRANNY WHOM I LOVED MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF!!!
So here we are, Paul has taken a job out of state where he has to be away from us, his family, for 6-8 weeks at a time for $560. a week. We are fixing to do a volentary repo on his truck so we can keep mine cause it is almost paid off... And I have taken a seasonal job cause it is the only thing I have been able to find that hired me. AND NO IT'S NOT CAUSE WE ARE STUPID. NO WE ARE NOT DUMB REDNECKS! DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT DOCUMENTARY WAS EDITED! THERE IS ALOT MORE TO US THAT WHAT YOU CAN VIEW IN ONE HOUR!!!
God bless all of you who have reached out to us! We do give back to our community, we were only on unemployment and food stamp 6 months... Paul is trying to quit smoking and he is on medication from a Dr. to help him do so.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW US ALL A LITTLE BETTER... TALK SOME MORE NEGATIVITY... I DON'T CARE! I HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN SAY THAT WILL HURT ME ANYMORE THAN I OR WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURT! Good Day!

I know better than to engage in tit-for-tat yet I can't control myself.

You are entitled to believe what you want about me missing the big picture here. I believe you are missing the big picture. Current TV is ran by Al Gore. Ok, follow the bouncing ball here.

The Starr's possibly were chose for the reason you stated and the email above supports that claim. What wasn't obvious at the time, but turned out to be a priceless discovery for Current/Vanguard and I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that AHA moment... Was the hypocrisy and lock, stock and barrel example of the problems within the RepubliCON party.

I disagree with you saying it was not their decisions. The $55,000 they claimed to have made before the collapse certainly does not warrant 2 hefty truck payments and the dream home with 2 children. $55,000 is NOTHING today. Before they bought the trucks and house, how much did they put away for the kids college funds? Their decisions clearly led them to their own demise. You have to prepare for rainy days. They portrayed the before picture like they were balling out of control with the $55,000. Yes they balled all the way to foodstamps. I'm not mad they are getting unemployment or foodstamps or other assistance for their bills. Not at all. What is upsetting is receiving and relying on that help and then spitting in the face of the supplier of help.

There is help wanted signs at fast food restaurants coast to coast. If he really despised government hand outs and wanted to do it on his own, by all means mop a floor and refuse unemployment benefits. But if you choose not to do that, then STFU!

The nutty tea-party rant about how rich people shouldn't pay more in taxes and nobody should get government assistance was just a priceless "you have got to be kidding, this is comedy gold for Al Gore" surprise.

All I can compare this to is in 2008 seeing a McCain/Palin sticker on a teacher's bumper sticker at my daughters middle school. You have got to be kidding. Here you are, a teacher, getting your salary and benefits and tools and budget cut to hell by the republiCONS and yet you continue to vote against not only YOUR own interest, but the children you are teaching as well.

Now do you see the problems?

You do not seem to understand why this family was selected. They had done everything right. They had played by the rules, paid their bills, and taken care of themselves. They are the victim of stripped opportunity, not personal decisions. They want desperately to do for themselves and take care of their own, but they are at a crux in their lives where they need help. Thank Jesus they are going to get it.

All you kind people go right ahead. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for the day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat forever.
Why don't all you kind hearted folks help the mother? You know, the elderly lady living on a fixed income. She probably needs food, clothing, medical attention and possibly home repairs I'm guessing with that sorry son of hers. The fried chicken tells me the fatty son and fam are not in need.
Coach... You heard Dal4... Here I come!!!
;-)
Mama Starr if you see this, feel free to post. YOU I will contribute to!

Some of us with kind hearts are getting together to help the Starrs. You can go buy another Coach purse.

Dal4,

You are sure right. I did make a grammatical error. Please forgive me. I was a little worked up. As you can see right here though, I can actually admit I made a mistake. The word whoa must have been stuck in my head from the shock of ignorance I was watching.

I can assure you I have been in worse shoes than the Starr's. Guarantee it in fact. I can't even count how many times my utilities have been cut off. That would make me sympathetic to the situation if it weren't for the trucks, cigarettes, playing like they were to good to give up the TV, pressuring the poor mother, focusing on the wrong priorities (video game) and on and on.

I have received unemployment and had no problem with it. I paid into it and have paid my fair share of taxes. The difference here is that I pulled myself out of the mess I created, even though I was a single mother of three girls. I learned from my mistakes and realized absolutely every situation I have been in, bad or good, I put myself in.

You wrote: "The TVs lost value and became worthless the instant they left the store. The cell phones and vehicles are essential tools to help them rise out of the pit into which they have been tossed"

I'm calling pure BULL! $50 is $50 less mommy would have had to sacrifice. A cellphone and vehicle are luxuries and absolutely NOT essential tools. Since the Starr's had no problem getting foodstamps, I believe there is actually a government subsidized cell phone you can get and there is always public transportation which you can also get vouchers for. I drive a 15 year old car. I would love one of those beautiful trucks but I choose not to have a single, let alone double car payment so I can pay my own mortgage and enjoy my luxuries that I prefer.

You wrote: "While I applaud the Loyas for raising money for charity, I wonder: Does anyone really need three homes? Does anyone really need tables and tables of bracelets, trinkets, and other narcissistic trappings? Does anyone really need closets big enough to live in?"

If the Loyas want 10 homes and they can afford it, who cares? If big closets and bracelets are narcissistic trapping, I'm one narcissistic b*(ch. LOL I can assure you right this moment in my life, I absolutely need every Coach purse I own, every one of the 100+ pair of shoes, every single item of clothing in my oversize closets (yes, plural). Today I need them. Tomorrow if I need to eat and circumstances prevent me from being able to afford it all my luxuries become expendable. I promise I won't refuse to sell one of my Coach's for $50 because I paid $500 for it.

You can keep your Texas hope warm in your back pocket and see if that will feed the Starr's.

I'm not trying to be mean, I'm being realistic. Yes, I said and admitted a few things weren't nice. Oh well, I was restraining my TRUE feelings. When I was down and out holding my hand didn't help. It enabled. It was the kicks in my ass that got me to stop sitting on it!

Shame on some of you people for your pithy comments about a family when you have never walked in their shoes. Some of those comments are downright hateful and undeserved.

And the phrase is "woe to me" not "whoa to me." Talk about ignorant.

Rock69 is exactly right. I noticed all the same things. I couldn't believe he was agreeing with Newt. These are typical Republican voters....praying, bitching about the government helping people, and flying the flag. I

This documentary was done very well and shined a lot of light, or should have, on some of the serious problems in this country. Unfortunately the light completely missed the mark with people who needed it the most, people like the Starr's.

My head spins to even think where to begin with their mental issues. At first I was actually feeling empathy for them as their situation does indeed mirror what millions of Americans are dealing with in the light of this current economy.

The first time I raised an eyebrow was with the invoking of god. Praying didn't bring rain to Texas (shoutout of Ricky) and it sure isn't going to solve your financial problems. Apparently the god you pray to wants you in this situation because she sure put you in it. However; I hadn't lost empathy yet. Where the turn started was the phone call to his elderly mother on a fixed income, which consists of that evil government hand out called social security.

His tone with his mother was absolutely disgusting and sure sounded to me like he was guilting her into giving him a handout. I don't understand a grown man with a wife and two children asking his mother to stress over his bills, or possibly miss meals to pay his light bill because he can't budget and I'm sorry, but he is living beyond his means.

Fast forward to the republican debate. My jaw hit the ground. Did he really just say that American's shouldn't be getting unemployment? I really hit rewind and sat in awe and disgust. This, right here people, is the core of everything wrong with America. People like this ignorant man! You should never have filed for a single claim if you felt that way. You shouldn't be getting foodstamps and then have the audacity to bitch about how little it is or be turning to government subsidized programs for help with your bills. If your broke ass really believed what you said, never in your life accept another dime of any government program. Never mind that YOU actually paid into Unemployment Insurance and people pay into Social Security.

Complaining you would only get $50 for a TV that you overpaid for years ago and in the same breath play the whoa is me card about how broke you are and can't pay the bills is embarrassing to your family. As a mother I did feel a little bad for the wife because she was stressed, but she is as out of touch as he is. Yes it's hard when your child wants something and you can't give it to them but they don't need video games. You can't eat a video game, wear a video game or read a video game. Crying about that contributes to the problem of unrealistic expectations.

The trucks? Really? 2 HUGE gas guzzling newer trucks are a necessity? Smoking? That infuriates me. Smoking is a LUXURY, a disgusting nasty expensive luxury that poor people shouldn't have and then be able to poor mouth. Tell fat ass to give up 1 week of smokes so his child can have the video game he NEEDS so bad then everything will be better.

The final thing that irked me... So he finally gets a job and then whines and cries about how he is doesn't want to go. Wow. The wife sobs and breaks down because he is leaving? If I had the likes of him as a sorry excuse of a husband I would have thrown a party and he couldn't have left fast enough! I hope she had a boyfriend waiting at the backdoor for him to leave. LOL Sorry, I know, not nice.

The subtle nuance I absolutely adored that hasn't been mentioned and I truly wish to thank the producers... The fact that the wealthy family has a Mexican husband who is a millionaire. LOL I love it. You know fat white Texas men despise Mexicans thoroughly and to see the white man be depicted as lazy and ignorant and the Mexican to be successful and a contributor, well all I can do is relish that little gem!

While I would like to feel sorry for the wife, she chose him for a husband so any sympathy I may have had went out the window. The true victims are those boys. Let's hope they have the wherewithal to educate themselves better than hillbilly bob and they stop voting against their own interests.

Paul, you impressed me with your ability to keep your cool on the phone with the different utilities. However, there was so much missing from this report that it made you the bad guy. I hope the crew at least bought you dinner. You are in a matter of need now, not want. Yes, we all noticed the trucks. You don't NEED two trucks. A paid for truck like one of those can be traded in for car of the same year that gets twice the gas mileage, and lower insurance, quite possibly for no money exchange. You talked about the food stamps, but I never heard one word about food banks. You wife can go to ALL of them at home and you can go to all of them while you are away at work. Cigarette, back when I smoked, a cigarette could take the place of a meal that I couldn't afford, so I do understand. However, it's my understanding that the long cigarettes cost the same as the shorts. So buy the longs and make a mark at the half way mark. Stop smoking it at the halfway mark and finish it later. It will cut your smoking expense in half. You have 2 adults that can sell blood to the blood bank, one every 3 weeks. It's not much, but it helps. Since your wife is not working and takes care of the kids, don't you think other people would pay her to watch their kids? You have a totally fenced in yard. Not a bad setup for a daycare. And lets not forget church. Building full of people wanting to help. Don't forget, every little bit helps and it's the little bits that make or break you.
Seaniemo, we have a black president. Quit using race for an excuse. Those days are over. And anyone who thinks that social security is money from the government is an idiot. It comes from the people. His mother is only getting her own money back. Typical thinking of a dumb a$$ democrat.

Both families are typical of the Houston area and yes, everything is big in Texas. Cars, light bills, cigarette prices, expectations and egos.

The Loyas are just like many of my clients and the Starrs are like my friends. My feelings for the Loyas are better kept to myself; as for the Starrs, take the moral of the smart car commercial ... small!

And Mr. Starr, quit smoking. 6 bucks back in your pocket per pack per day and it keeps the chemo/bypasses away.

I do wish you good fortune and as for my friends, that you remind me of, they overcame the same difficulties and are now doing just fine.

As for me and my wife... we're somewhere in between both families!

I am stunned at the comments about the "nice" house the Starrs lived in, their politics, the TVs, the cell phones, vehicles, the fact that they are overweight. Stunned.

That house is not in that great a neighborhood. As for their politics -- they are from Texas and believe in the goodness of others, that doing for yourself is the right thing to do, and that hope is not something you lose or misplace.

The TVs lost value and became worthless the instant they left the store. The cell phones and vehicles are essential tools to help them rise out of the pit into which they have been tossed.

And overweight? 50 years ago, overweight meant you ate well; thin meant you couldn't afford to eat. Today, overweight means you cannot afford to eat right; thin means you get to go to the gym.

While I applaud the Loyas for raising money for charity, I wonder: Does anyone really need three homes? Does anyone really need tables and tables of bracelets, trinkets, and other narcissistic trappings? Does anyone really need closets big enough to live in?

Current wealth distribution statistics are appalling and destructive to society. The truth is this: there is only so much wealth on the entire planet. You cannot create any more. You can make it look bigger by inflating it, as in printing more paper that no longer has a standard. But in the end, there is only that one single amount of original wealth and it has to go around to be enough for everyone through opportunity. But opportunities are increasingly out of reach for more and more people as the weight of that wealth flows to one side of the scale, where the few collect as much as they can for themselves. The more opportunity they deprive others, the more wealth flows their way.

The Starrs are suffering not because of personal decisions, but because of decreasing opportunity. The Loyas are thriving because the same forces that drove down opportunity for the Starrs, increased their opportunity.

The forces that drove one family to the heights of wealth and security are the same forces that drove another into poverty and insecurity. I doubt seriously that the Loyas would be as wealthy as they are if they were not taking advantage of the energy crisis that is forcing so many others from their employment and homes due to a drastic downturn in the economy, most of which hinges on energy.

There is nothing wrong with making enough money to support 1000 families. Nothing at all. There is, however, something wrong with destroying 1000 families to make it. There are forces in play that some families can take advantage of while other families get crushed. Where is the balance and who must suffer to benefit the other? Suffering is relative.

I've recently watched this episode the other day, and it's in my top 5. People are aware of how hard it could be to support your family today, but don't realize what some families have to go through to do so.

Vanguard journalists often are commended for their courage. However, often times, true courage can be found in their subjects. Thank you to the Loyas and the Starrs for bravely opening up and sharing your lives, in order to prompt and contribute to this important national dialogue.

Let me begin to tell all of you that it is not easy, by any means to go through the things we have been through. And then to do this documentary for Vangaurd, which truly was an honor to be a part of, we allowed all of you to see into our lives fully. We weren't always in our best clothes, I did not do my make-up for the camera.. We were as real as everyone should be. And it's very easy for some of you to get on here and try to tear us down for the things that we do or have..

Gosh, aren't we all Americans, or do we only act civil to each other during days of national rememberence like 9/11.

Yes, we do have a nice big home... It is not new by any means new and part of it used to be a mobile home. Which I am ok telling you, I lived in a mobile home many years of my childhood and early adulthood. My family was blue collar all the way, we never had a whole lot and we worked our hands to the bone for everthing we got.
Our lease agreement is for a year and no we cannot get out of it.. and as you can surely see from some of the clips in the show, we are not in a great neighborhood.. at all. Thank goodness the property is fenced or I would not feel safe allowing my two children outside.

Yes, we have two trucks that are not new either.. an '04 and an '05.. that we started buying a couple of years ago when we could afford the notes quite well. And yeah, we are probably gonna loose one and possiblly both if things don't pick up work wise fast enough.

Yes, my husband, Paul, was getting unemployment for a few months until the new job he took. He did not want to have to be on unemployment.. He wanted a good job like he had. He never sat on his butt and did nothing. And thank God we were getting it too or we would have been homeless. Yes, we had to apply for food stamps.. Yes it was only $178. a month... and when there is not enough money to put with that... You try feeding a family of 4 with two boys that love to eat on that.. You can't!
And Yes... my husband and I know that we are over weight... thank you for noticing! But it is not from gobbling up all the food stamp groceries.. There are many days he and I both skip meals all day to make sure our boys don't have to.

Yes, I still have some nice items in my home.. Yeah I have a big screen in the livingroom, that I paid for years ago.. That I can't sell for no where near what I paid for it.. Yeah my boys have tv's in their rooms too... Don't yours. My kids like cartoons and video games just like any other child. We are blessed. I love them and will always give them everything that I can within my power.. wouldn't you.. of course you do!

And every light was on in the house only for filming and lighting purposes... No it didn't raise our light bill one bit, thank goodness. Our lights were high due to every day between Aug. -Sept. it was almost 100degrees or better.
AND the very few other nice things that I have left... after selling off many to survive.. are family airloomes and items that have been past down to me from my grandparents who, God rest their souls, are no longer with us.. I miss them everyday.

Walk a mile in our shoes before you judge, it is not your place to do so anyway. And we did not do this for a hand out or sympathy.. We did it to show that there are alot of familes just like us that are struggling.. so just say whatever you want.. But say it to us all, cause there are so many out there.. just like me and my family, we are not ignorant people, we have made some bad choices... I'm sure you are not without faults.

So before anyone else says anything else bad, mean, hurtful, disrespectful...Remember we are all Human and we are all Americans.
Thank You and God Bless!

LMAO!!!!
Let me tell you a story people... A story that holds true to this day.
Have you ever had the opportunity of driving on an interstate on a long road trip at night, in the south, in the summer time?
If so... Do you ever remember at times how the bugs would smack into your windshield making it harder to drive and how some of the "Bug Guts" would just keep pulling your eyes to them to the point that you would loose focus on the road? Kinda scary huh???
Well... It's funny how life can sometimes work just like that... You've got to keep your eyes on where your going in life... Keep your eyes on the prize and don't focus on the "Bug Guts" life throws at you!!! Never give up people... We will Never give up on our Dreams, Goals and our Expectations that we have for where we want to be in life! That is why We Will Succeed!

What I'm saying is (if haven't been able to figure it out on your own)... Stop being "Bug Guts" towards people!...
Be a Positive, Uplifting Inspiration to people and life for you can and will be SO much more rewarding!!!

May God Richly Bless You All!
Paul G Starr, Sr.

Great show, great families. What I don't get is that the Starr's don't have any money but live in a big ass house and drives a brand new full size Ford. I work every day and can't afford a new vehicle AND my rent is lower than theirs. I even have to get my water delivered by a construction truck and constantly monitor my water usage...they should film me and my pregnant lady,lol.

I was REALLY impressed with the character selection for this film. It struck me right as I was watching, way before the blog post. They were very relatable - and yet unexpected in their reactions, thoughts, choices. I was so impressed. I couldn't get up once the program started. I was riveted.

Talk about biting the government hand that feeds you! Paul cashes the unemployment checks and then bad mouths the government for the help. What a hypocrite! Confused and unemployed Republicans, like Paul Starr, don't think that there should not be any unemployment and government assistance for people in need like him and his family, but they still begrudgingly take money from the government. And then to top the hypocrisy, Paul borrows money from his mother... she’s collecting social security from the “damn government”.

The Starrs can thank the Democrats and Progressives for not being force to live on the streets. Democrats and Progressives fought hard to establish those "Damn Government” programs despite resistance by the Congressional Republicans who Paul supports.

Paul Starr is testaments to the success of the Republican Mushroom Program… keep people in the dark and feed them shit, and then you can get them to vote against their own best interest.

Oh! And the infantile praying to God to solve financial problems; that didn’t seem to bring any money for Starrs! But applying for unemployment and getting money from the government did.

Paul, you ungrateful neocon! Live by your principles, no matter how inconvenient they are! Give the money back and go live on the streets!

Am I the only one who sees that the Starr family is typical? They were successful and continue to have hope that they will once again have the opportunity to thrive. I have been in that same scenario -- right on the cusp between total collapse and the step back up.

I understand why they held onto their trucks; they would not have qualified for loans to replace them, and they both needed transportation. As it turned out, they made the right decision. Having only one vehicle would have prevented Mrs. Starr from eventually securing employment.

It would be wise for Mr. Starr to quit his health-damaging, expensive cigarette habit. But I can understand that stress and nicotine cessation don't quite go together. Still, he is depriving his grandchildren of his love and attention.

The Starrs probably had to keep the TV cable to maintain the Internet connection because to have terminated the bundled contract would have added fees. They needed the Internet connection for job searching. And the cell phone service might have been bundled in with all that. It could be that they were caught in the "bundle" trap.

Every day is another day of hope that the worst is behind you. And each day that passes without the fulfillment of that hope brings on thinning resources and takes you closer to eventual collapse. The Starrs weren't there yet, but very, very close. I've been right where they are and completely understand.

I too was disappointed in the Starrs. It was very clear to me that they live beyond their means. She stated that they cleared 5 to 6 thousand a month. That equates to about $66,000 a year. Having two new extended Ford pickups that appeared to be loaded, tv's in every room, both were not starving ect ect. What the Starrs need to learn is how to budget their money and live within their means. They get no sympathy from me.

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I was glad to see national television focus, for at least an hour, on this issue.

Don't usually watch the Vanguard series, because focus has been on problems in other countries....All worthy issues..... but.... face it.... we have a lot of "TV worthy issues" in our own country..

At the conclusion of the program.... I had lots of mixed emotions. However, I came to one conclusion....

There are only two Americas..... the rich..... and the rest of us.

I had a lot of sympathy for The Starr family..... until the very end. This is a man who will always vote against his own best interests.

I'm glad Mr. Starr finally found a job... Best of luck to them in the future.... I have a feeling they are going to need it.

Yeah, I agree with blonde7327, I wasn't a little disappointed while watching this. I felt bad for the Starr family, but I just didn't picture them to be the family when I first heard about this episode. This episode needs to be redone and show more diveristy.

They also wouldn't have much of a story if they made the right decisions to keep them afloat during their unemployment. They could start by selling the trucks to get rid of their payments, getting rid of a diesel when it is around $4 a gallon, stop smoking cigarettes at $5 a pack, at probably a pack a day, and neither look like they are starving... But who is to say that they can get enough to pay off their truck loans even if they could sell their vehicles. And if they could sell them, they may not be in the position to get financing for a 40 mph Kia. It is hard for people to make such drastic changes until they absolutely have to. They are trying to hang on to what they had, even though it is no longer the reality.

I like watching vanguard because it shows what other shows usually dont. However with this I feel it should be call "Three Americas" The richer family was the perfect picked, but the other not so much. I don't feel the Starr family was the right pick. They have a huge rental house, Two large trucks, Cell phones, bluetooth, Tv's in every room, every light in the house is on while they call the eletric company to keep their lights on. I want to the see the story of the people in the trailier across the street who acutally had thier lights cut off. While I see the starr family is having a really hard time, it seems they still have a lot of downsizing to do before they become one of the "Two americas". They want to hold on to their old life style so bad, they don't seem to be living within their means. They just need to really downsize, find the balance and they will be fine. But if there is another one can we please see the real other side

I feel like an awful human being but I lost all sympathy for Paul and April Starr once I saw they were paying for cable television and cigarettes in addition to a nice pickup truck. The fact they hold a view that "someone will always be looking out for them" and do not need government is laughable as they have absolutely no means to provide for their children not to mention provide for their own healthcare or to accumulate meaningful savings for themselves. While Paul and April are a lost cause the real tragedy of the documentary is that their two sons are highly unlikely to experience any type of success in their lives.

Another fine piece. I feel for the Starrs. I was out of work for eight months, and it was hard. I hope they have been able to fully get back on their feet.

Great documentary. Bizarre that Paul Starr when asked whether he was voting against his self interest said basically that government shouldn't be paying unemployment as someone else would take care of them. If so, then I would have expected him to not accept government help and take that "other" help out there. The reality is that it doesn't exist.. He is accepting food stamps to feed his children. Would he really rather let them go hungry? Of course not!