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Thank you Albert for giving us the story of your acquaintance. She is a
classic example of LIVING POOR AND DYING RICH!!!!
Let me give you a true account - the American version. A few years ago, I was
invited by a local radio station to do a live talk-program on cancer to educate
their listeners about cancer - prevention, screening, early detection and
treatment. I made it to the radio station about 15 minutes before I went On Air
to coordinate the program. While there, I was listening to the radio program
by an retired person. He was telling his listeners how life is difficult for
seniors, with the rising cost of living. He exhorted his listeners to write to
the government and demand more retirement payments and services for senior
citizens. I was impressed by the speaker's zeal. After his program he came
out of the speaker's room. There was about 10 minutes for the change of
speakers, interviewers and for the radio station to run its commercials.
As the man came out, I recognized him. He was my patient. He told me in five
minutes about his 'plight' as I complimented him about his program. The
70-year old man started working at age 20 at the local Westinghouse plant. He
made about 10 dollars a week. As part of his employment package, the company
took a dollar of his week's pay and gave him 1 share of company stock. Over a
year he had 52 shares and over 40 years of service he had about 2000 shares.
The man's 'problem' was the shares were now priced at 70 dollars a share. If
he sold his stock, he would pay the Capital Gains tax on the amount. So he did
not sell the stock. So here is a retired / senior citizen living poor AND
wanting the government to provide more. Yet his preferred to forgo 80% of his
stock value because he did not want to pay the 20% tax to the government, from
whom he expected financial help.
Many elect others to give them financial help while they refuse to utilize
their own resources. Albert's acquaintance had "her own field" which she could
not cultivate. And my patient had his Westinghouse stock. Yet their children
will have no difficulty to sell their assets for a "nice fantastic price".
Kind Regards, GL
--------------- Albert Desouza
Now the mother grew old in age and found life to be a burden. She could not
work any more nor work in her own field. Life without any money was really a
burden to her. The sons when they came to Goa would not stay with the mother as
the house was old and partly fallen down. The window panes broken and in some
rooms props were erected. The sons would just visit the mother alone and be
with her for few minutes during that time she would beg for money. They would
part with one or two thousand which she would keep somewhere in a box without
using it as she needed that money for her funeral.
The two sons felt that they could have a big building constructed in the place
where an old mud house stood. They got a nice fantastic price for it. The
builder gave the sons a good price. albert
