[galligator]

If you couldn't tell. I am working class & have gone through a lot to get where I am. I have never defaulted on a creditor, even when times were tough. I have had ups & downs financially. We bought a lower-priced home than we would have been approved for by a bank (what we felt we could reasonably afford). I do believe that we should as a society help those who are truly helpless (ie, mentally or physically incapable of work) but I really hate the idea that the life we work hard for everyday somehow makes me unworthy of the benefits of hard work. I also, have a less-than-stellar feel for the progressive movement. It tends to focus on emotions & look for victims to save rather than help people become self-sufficient and to find out how they can instead bring success into their own lives. The traditional 'American Dream' was that any person with drive and the willingness to take financial or business risks had the chance to build a successful career or business. I'm not sure when it changed that the dream is an entitlement to be handed out. I work, I risk, sometimes it doesn't work -but sometimes, there's that reward at the end. It's that possibility that keeps me working hard & reaching for new opportunities. If that chance for reward goes away, than where is the incentive to excel?

BTW - back to the original topic...
Women's interests are often marginalized 'Oh that's silly'. There's a lot of cultural baggage that we carry around in regard to gender. It just seems that women get the sighs & criticism for having interest things like shoes, fashion & makeup (particularly on women who confuse femininity with an anti-feminist viewpoint!). It's just strange that you don't get that same type of mockery with men who are 'car guys', or gamers, or many other stereotypically male hobby.

It kind of reminds me of the when a certain 'male performance enhancer' came out. I remember when it was announced, I elbowed my husband saying, "Most health insurance still won't cover birth control...just wait and see how fast Congress works to make sure this is covered". And, what do you know?