Topic : 07/17 Living on a Prayer

I feel as though this man is not capable of working outside the home because he can not function at all with strangers.  He only functions  in his own environment where he does not have to socialize with people. He feels the need to start his own business.  He has done a good job brain washing his wife.  I think he is to frightened to go out in the world.  I hope Dr.Phil or the minister in the audience can help him come to terms with his fears. 

He has no guilt for the money his in-laws have given to him and their daughter.  He is so wrapped up in himself.  .  I hope they get help.

To me ..I think ppl should leave them alone....

I TOO was raised poor...VERY poor..  aka "doin without modern basics"    and If some ppl dont understand why he wants to send his family into turm oil well, thats their problem, I never had someone to interupt my mamas ways of raising us 6 children on her own...My mother  wasnt even a High School Grad...But There is one thing I did learn about being '' poor'' and ......YOU drive forward and DONT look behind...my 3 babies seen had times...but I have to admit......We NEVER were without the basics of modern life.....I feel If these ppl want to raise thier children in post modern times then they should  get out into the field plant , sow, and milk those cows and DONT ask for help as far as $$$$ ia concerned.....TY BluCue

The first thing I thought while watching this pathetic man was....how can he feed and clothe his family? I wish Dr. Phil would have asked him that question.  They would have to be on welfare or some kind of assistance, other then their families "enabling" him in his useless life.

How can he subject his seven children to this kind of a life!!! 

How can this women prepare food for her family without gas or water?  How does she wash their clothes?  Do the children socialize with other children?  Oh, how I wish Dr. Phil would have asked the questions that I'm sure all of us were thinking!

Maybe Dr. Phil will have a follow-up in several months and prayerfully, this man will turn his life around and see what he is doing to his family.  

 Sorry,, but CPS will not step in. We live in a country  full of homeless children. It is not against

 the law. It is sad and children should never go without because parents won't work. Not having running water, heat,or electricity is not considered abuse, if it were there would not be enough

foster homes to go around. I agree with whoever said that Dan has mental issues, he spoke in such a lifeless manner. It takes more than reading the bible everyday to provide your child an education.

Older children should not be responsible for the younger ones. I hope the mother sees the light soon.

I noticed her patting his back to comfort him, like he was being picked on. I think her parents have stepped a little over the line in suggesting birth control means, but I do understand why.

 I wonder where all the bible training comes from, I didn't get the impression that either one of them

 were raised in a strict religous home. It is just sounds like a great cop out to me.

 I hope I did not offend anyone as far as religon goes.

situation! if u ask me!

JMO!!!!

my main concern is the children

:)

Far be it from me to judge another person's lifestyle. As a product of the 60's and the alternative lifestyle movement, I've actually seen this type of lifestyle work.The one exception is that the lifestyles I've witnessed also found altenatives to providing food, housing and other basics. They did not look for loans and money gifts to exsist. As long as the children are safe, fed, a roof of some kind over their head we really have no right to interfer. Are we next going after Native Americans who choose to live in tepees? How about people living in a cabin in the woods in Montana with only an outhouse and an open well for water? I know people who live in a yurt. Should they lose their kids to the welfare system? And then there are the migrant farm workers---ever see their standard of living? I mean, we could get a Bill passed that dictates we all have to live in tract housing and have a 9-5 job. But that would take away our right to live as we please. Should he work? Yes. But if they want to raise their family in a tent, then so be it. Last I heard, we live in the USA where freedom is an action word, not just written on a piece of paper. Their children will do fine. Mine did. We didn't go quite as drastic as these people, but we lived very humbly and many assumed we were poor. I heard the same rhetoric about too many kids. My husband and I have degrees and all our kids are college grads with lovely children of their own. They have nice homes and we see each other all the time. I respect their choice of lifestyle and they respect ours.  Just because it is not the norm, doesn't mean it is all bad. As far as the mom and step-dad go...put your wallet away, mind your own business and love your family.