On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:31:31 -0600, "Pete C."
wrote:

e.

Actually, it all comes down to parental apathy and failing schools. The
ranks of the poor are rapidly growing not just due to the economy, but
due to the lack of education in basic life skills like balancing a
checkbook or budgeting.

Girl in front of me at the PO asks the clerk if they have 1 cent
stamps. She says yes, how many do you need. Ten. We only have nine.
OK, I'll take nine. How much do I owe you? Place went silent to see if
the clerk could hold her composure. The only thing that would have
made it better was the clerk using the calculator.