Blaming mass tort lawyers, slick advertising, a college education, or the ACA for the 'lack of meaningful jobs', 'higher healthcare costs', 'crushing debt', instead of poor personal decisions for an individual's plight is totally irresponsible.

That sounds like the type of baseless argument elected representatives in our legislative branch of government use to justify their obstructionist, do nothing, partisan politics. For instance, just read Mitch McConnell's baseless reasoning for not even bothering to consider a SCOTUS nominee. Another glaring example of abdicating constitutional duty, blaming others, and not accepting personal responsibility for your action/inaction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/24/us/politics/supreme-court-nomination-obama.html?clickSource=story-heading&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0


We've got to stop blaming others for our inability to take personal responsibility for what we do, say, and interaction with others. In the case of our elected government officials, if they continue with partisan rhetoric and obstructionist stances, the should be fired by US -- THE VOTING PUBLIC.

Learn to take responsibility, teach that to your children, and we'll all be better off.

Congratulations!

Good for you Tarnation. I went to a small private college in western Pennsylvania that, even today, is touted as one of the best values and great education standards. I had an academic scholarship that further reduced my costs. I worked as a waiter, yes waiter, in the women's main dorm cafeteria to further defer my costs. When I graduated I had zero college debt. After college I spent 6 years in the Navy. After an honorable discharge, I got a job and went to night school using my VA education benefit to attain a masters degree. I still live in the house we bought after I got out of the Navy. When we went overseas to work and live, we rented the house out. We felt that way we would always have a base to return to. While we have done some expansion and improvements, the mortgage is paid off. We have no car payments. We paid for both of our daughters' undergraduate college. My youngest daughter went on to get a masters and her law degree. She has some student debt, but that is being paid off through hard work as she is now a partner in the law firm. We do have two credit cards that we pay off monthly. We use these cards to garner airline miles because we like to travel. Having your financial house in order is the responsible thing to do. That does not mean that you must carry no debt, but the debt you carry must be manageable depending on your personal financial situation. We have saved and have money invested that we plan on using to sustain us after my wife retires. I don't have a crystal ball, so I don't know what the future holds, but I've got a plan of how I'm going to spend my life and money.