Michelle Obama Serves Soup, Nation Misses the Point
Published March 06, 2009 @ 10:00AM PT
Yesterday, Michelle Obama became the first presidential spouse to volunteer at Miriam's Kitchen, a 26+ year free meals program located near the White House. Her gesture was meant to inspire volunteerism to help the less fortunate. Instead, it has turned our nation into a bunch of chatty Cathy's asking one question: Where did the homeless guy get the cell phone camera?
Here's the background from the LA Times:
The first lady served up mushroom risotto and broccoli to a long line of homeless men and women during part of her lunch hour and in these photos poses for a picture by one homeless diner obviously excited to be in the first lady's presence.
Obama said she hoped her service would cause other Americans to volunteer to help the less fortunate in their own communities.
And here's a sampling of the blabbering blogosphere. First, the LA Times:
It doesn't detract from the first lady's generous gesture or the real needs she seeks to highlight to ask two bothersome journalistic questions about these news photos:
If this unidentified meal recipient is too poor to buy his own food, how does he afford a cellphone? And if he is homeless, where do they send the cellphone bills?
Next, conservative Michelle Malkin:
Via Andrew Malcolm, here is one of the homeless cell phone owners snapping a pic of First Lady Michelle Obama - ruining what was supposed to be a sob story photo op of the compassionate Mrs. O catering to the downtrodden.
Some folks are wondering where the cell phone bills get sent. The answer is obvious: ACORN headquarters.
I realize half the nation will lose sleep worrying about this issue unless these questions are addressed. So if I may...
First, let's point out the assumptions these critics are making. For one, they assume that every person seeking a meal at a soup kitchen is destitute or homeless. This is not always the case. Staffers may partake of the food line fare (especially with the first lady shows up to serve). It's also possible this man is "doubled up", recently unemployed, or working poor. In any of these situations, he could have a cell phone from a previous life when money wasn't so tight.
Where is his phone bill is being mailed? If he's not actually homeless or if he's doubled up, that's easy enough to figure out. It's also common for transitional shelters to accept mail for guests. Many homeless folks also use post office boxes for their personal mail.
But let's get down to the most important question: Assuming this man is homeless. why is it a big deal if he has a cell phone?
We expect way too much of poor people in this country. Let's face it, you'd have to be a magician with inpenatrable immune system to stretch a minimum-wage job to cover housing, transportation, food, healthcare, childcare and other incidental expenses. We expect homeless people to compete in the workforce without a cell phone, regular computer access, or proper interview attire while struggling to survive on the streets or in shelter. We hear so many amazing stories of people who have successfully fought their way out of homelessness that it becomes too easy to forget how challenging it actually is to beat the odds and get off the streets.
So yes, this guy has a cell phone. If this means he has an important job-searching tool, a way for him to keep in touch with loved ones, or a way to call for help if he becomes the next victim of a hate crime, then we should be grateful that programs exist to provide these invaluable services to folks who are struggling.
Finally, if that cell phone camera allows this man to snap a picture when he's starstruck by an unexpected encounter with the first lady, good for him. He'll have at least one inspiring memory from the difficult circumstances that led him to Miriam's Kitchen in the first place.
Share this Post
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
StumbleUpon
Delicious
EmailRelated Posts
-
Congress Passes the HEARTH Act, Obama Expected to Sign Today
-
Obama "Heartbroken" Over Homelessness
-
Can Obama End Veteran Homelessness?
Comments (127)
Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.
Author
-
Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
Featured Homelessness Actions
-
-
Tell Seattle Officials to Stop the Sweeps!
352 People
-
Tell Seattle Officials to Stop the Sweeps!
-
Nothing to say, but "well said."
Posted by Robin Shreeves on 03/06/2009 @ 10:07AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This is the same jerkwater mentality that suggests the poor can't really be poor if they have a TV in the house. Because being poor means you lose the right to be even minimally entertained, or something.
It's another version of oppression Olympics, where the reference case for being 'really' poor is government housing and welfare, or being completely homeless with barely a shopping cart to your name, and anyone who's marginally better off than that deserves neither sympathy nor help. And even the people who do fit that description, they'd better be virtuous by some measure, consistently good decision makers who through absolutely no fault of their own came to reduced circumstances, (which would entirely rule out helping AIG.)
And then maybe, perhaps, if all conditions are right, the vultures will allow that a person or family might be deserving of some help stopping their downward slide into oblivion.
Utter bastards.
Posted by Natasha Chart on 03/06/2009 @ 10:15AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
These are the same idiots that signed up for Prop 8 which will soon be overturned!
Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/06/2009 @ 02:18PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
if you receive money from the government to buy food, you shouldn't have hdtv/cable in your house... if you can afford the 70-100 dollar cable bill, you don't need the 100 dollars worth of food stamps from the government sends you.
its called a friggan BOOK?!? a library card is basically free buddy (they even rent vhs/dvd movies there!).
Posted by Matt hod on 03/07/2009 @ 10:27PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hey no offense, but that's goddamn right. If you are destitiute and borrowing money from my family's coffer's you better actually be broke.
I won't speak to the conditions in Africa, South America, and Mexico, but please. Whether this picture is an actual representation of the situation is debatable, but the fact is if our homeless in America are cruising around with 1.3 Megapixel cell phones we have a lot to be thankful for.
Remember that next time you think the world is ending...
Posted by Jason B on 03/07/2009 @ 11:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I would've loved to see the first Lady take that crew of Culinary students that prepared the First State dinner over to Miriam's Outreach and let them cook a special meal for the people. Now that would've been a media event to remember!
Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/08/2009 @ 10:37AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I would've loved to see the first Lady take that crew of Culinary students that prepared the First State dinner over to Miriam's Outreach and let them cook a special meal for the people. Now that would've been a media event to remember!
Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/08/2009 @ 10:38AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I am greatly concerned by the apparent curmudgeonliness of several of your contributors.
First: Mrs Obama does not need to score Brownie Points with voters at this time. Mr. O. is already in the White House!
Second: She can only "lead" by example.
Third: any fool can recognise this as no more than a "gesture", yet other fools can always find something negative to say about this scenario, that only impresses an equally simple mind. But the mind boggles at the focus on a cell-phone photographer when these phones are found on the hips of most teen-agers. The people who lost their jobs last month (and the months before) are not the "homeless". They once belonged to the productive sector of the US economy.
Fourth: It is noteworthy that some of the "customers" were wearing suits. Apparently the desperate situation of many citizens has not been appreciated by some of your contributors who, not only possess computers, but can continue to fund their ISP expenses! This does not provide license to scoff at cell-phone subscribers seeking to find re-employment assisted by use of said implement.
Finally: It is my fervent hope that not all "Conservatives", fed on a daily diet of "Fox"(es) and "Limbaughers", will begin to think for themselves, to abandon the unacceptable and exploitative aspects of Capitalism and, in doing so, embrace the significant American "Underclass" that includes that 45 million of their fellow Americans who have no access to health care.
Posted by George Nicholson on 03/08/2009 @ 12:32PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
"that includes that 45 million of their fellow Americans who have no access to health care."
Tell me george how many of them could actually be receiving medicare coverage if they wanted. Or how many of those Americans are actually citizens.
Better yet tell me how that soup kitchen is going to do when their contributions are cut due to new tax laws. And personally I think it's about damn time the Obamas gave something back. My family gave more to charity with a tenth of the income then the Obamas and the Bidens gave. Tell me, did she bring any food over to contribute to the cause of just her precious time. I know in these tough economic times the Obamas have had to tighten their purse strings right? We should just be grateful that she gave of her time.
Posted by Keith Thom on 03/14/2009 @ 05:46PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Some of your analogies and figures are not accurate. Entertainment and INFORMATION are critical for sanity.
70-100 for cable? your kidding right? I pay $14 for cable and get pretty much any channel you could want.
Only someone with cash to splurge and not so great an IQ pays that much for cable (unless your well off them by all means!)
Library card? your joking right? my locak library is too far to walk too and a bit too far to RIDE to on a bicycle (about 9 miles from me) thats 18 miles round trip minimum and thats as the bird flies so add at LEAST another 4-5 miles each way by taking roads and I consider myself lucky to have one so close :-)
ok so lets take the car. Great now your goig to spend $3 on gas to GO to the library. goto the library once a week and you just paid for basic cable.
Plus I get bored in libraries. There "stuff" does not change often enough. I buy massive lots of books off ebay. I just spend $76 on 6 lots of books. 144 books! that will keep me entertained for maybe 8-12 months or so :-) hehe
I have an obsession with reading and read a lot 4-5 books a week most of the time.
Renting Movies? your joking right? have you SEEN how much they cost? even $70 cable is cheaper than blockbuster :-) hehehe
now if you have a red box near you and you use the internet to snarf up those free day coupon codes they give out then it gets interesting since you can rent movies for NOTHING but you still have to pay for the GAS to go get it and return it unless your really really close to one.
I would never take food stamps. I have enough family to support me that if it ever got bad I would not have to resort to food stamps.
if your LUCKY and HAVE transportation and live in the right area you can eat very well for very cheap. We eat pork loin porkchops spaghetti ravioli ham roasts ground meat for burgers and meat loafs. Sometimes I can even get sliced lunch meants for $1 to $1.40 a pound.! I am lucky however to live in an area where this is possible.
I get all of those things for about $1 a pound at the local discount shop! I have 2 freezers and I stock up when they have that killer deal. Man 3 weeks ago I got 10 pound boxes of pork chops for $10.95 a pop!
The problem here though is a welfare state. Welfare states are bad news and WE ARE ONE.
You complain to people fo rusing food stamps etc.. etc.. for using welfare. Well you would have to be a MORON not to use it if you have it.
I KNOW someone who is on "ssi" (another part of the welfare state)
I tallied up what he "gets" on welfare. I tallied up what "I" would have to earn on a paycheck to be able to BUY privately what he gets for nothing.
I would have to bring home $4500 a month before taxes in order to EQUAL what the state gives to him.
How many people hear earn close to $60,000 a year? I know I don't. Not even remotely close to that.
so why the hell would one NOT stay on welfare when it pays THAT GOOD especially if your smart how you use it?
and you wonder why people use it? what a joke.
WELFARE is not a bad thing PERSAY. state sponsored welfare IS a bad thing.
I like obama but him and I have a wee problem. He just spent MORE MONEY in his first 100 days in office than all the presidents of more than 100 years of this countries history! the LAST 100 years not the first 100 years.
he signed a budget for 3.4 trillion dollars.
The difference between bush and obama? where they spend your money and obama is on a shopping spree.
I LIKE HIM. I like him a lot. I almost voted for him. If it looked like phsyco McCain was going to take PA I was ready to toss in a vote to obama to keep McCain out. (I wrote in Ron Paul) to me NOT voting for someone you want IS by definition a wasted vote. in fact the mentality that your wasting your vote by not voting for the primary two IS HOW we ended up with a 2 party race to begin with! dumb mentality.
I WISH I had bought 3 or 4 boxes because unlike the last time they got these (1/4inch think chops) these were sick amazing almost 3/4-1 inch thick pork chops! wow.
As for Mrs Obama's precious time. Well I won't fault her on that. Her "time" has more potential VALUE than some of our yearly salaries do!
SHE IS THE FIRST LADY. that title goes a long way in the real world whether it should or not.
I am glad she is using some of it for what seems like a good purpose.
But you guys are clueless about these numbers.
TRILLION do you have any idea how big a number that is? I am a pretty smart fellow and I CAN NOT even begin to comprehend what a TRILLION is. its a meaningless number its so large only mathmeticians have any real use for the name.
Lets say you started campaigning for Obama January 1st 0AD
2009 years ago.
your immortal. your keep your office open 356 days a year. YOU NEVER CLOSE not one day in 2009 years.
you bring in ONE MILLION dollars every single day without fail.
how many trillions do you have now 2009 years later?
well keep at it for another 691 years and you will FINALLY have your FIRST SINGLE trillion dollars.
thats right. earn a MILLION bucks every single day FOREVER without fail and it will take you 2700 years for each trillion.
that should give you SOME clue to how utterly INSANE even uttering a use for a TRILLION dollars is.
Here is an idea for you. take ONE THIRD of a trillion dollars. ONE THIRD of one TRILLION.
thats enough money to give every citizen in this country a MILLION BUCKS cash.
see what THAT does to our economy.
before you go WHERE the hell we going to get a third of at trillion. Go ask obama he just signed 3.4 TRILLION out of thin air for the federal budget.
thats enough to give every single american citizen on this planet over 10 MILLION dollars each.
If I had 10 million dollars short of starting my own space agency or buying massive parcels of land I would not need to save a single penny. If I lived to be 200 years old I COULD NOT SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY!
and your concerned over someone with $100 in food stamps? your kidding right? your really serious? I mean come on is that some sort of joke?
We gave over a TRILLION DOLLARS to "wall street" as FREE MONEY to bail them out (THEY CAUSED ALL THIS!!!!)
and we FIGHT over 25 billion to the auto industry (I would rather see GM DIE than you very much for what they did in killing the electric car and selling the battery tech we so badly need to texaco.chevron may GM rot in hell)
Your joking right? I can't help but LAUGH and feel pity for how pathetic this once great nation has become.
Here is something most people simply fail to comprehend.
How much money does the government have? if you know the truth you do not need to think any longer. No books no stats no figures. its a very simple FIXED answer.
$0
thats right. its an oxymoron. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GOVERNMENT MONEY. It does not and CAN NOT exist. its FICTION.
what you call "government money" is TAX PAYER MONEY.
Mr Obama just wrote a 3.4 TRILLION dollar check out of all our bank accounts.
If you wanted to pay that 3.4 TRILLION dollars back it would take you over 9,180 years if you deposited a MILLION bucks every single day back into the treasury and this assumes ZERO interest.
STOP worrying about $100 in food stamps.
STOP worrying about $70 cable TV
STOP worrying about cell phones
STOP worrying about First Lady Food line visits
START WORRYING about our constitution and our budget which obama just threw out the window.
TRY just TRY to vaguley comprehend how INSANE 3.4 trillion or ANY trillion truly is.
About the only way to count anything on the scale of trillions is to start counting ATOMS.
THAT is what we should be worrying about. HOW THE HELL are we supposed to pay back a number that large. Lets not forget INTEREST since we GAVE all our money away to the FED and have to BUY IT BACK from them.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 02:26PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I have a cell phone and I don't get a bill. I have a prepaid phone because I prefer it's payment structure - you don't need an address and it's very economical. The ignorant like to label the homeless as "losers" and question their values if they don't appear desparate enough to deserve the label. Of course, they consider homelessness a moral failure rather than a societal moral failure. I have known homeless individuals to have laptops, cell phones, digital cameras (often donated) and occasionally even jobs. It's like some people want homeless people to be punished by being denied all human experience because they are unable to afford a home. I do not understand this kind of hatred.
Posted by Julia Gregory on 03/06/2009 @ 10:26AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
the guy clearly isn't homeless... that doesn't mean he can't eat at a place that gives free meals. if times are tight, then yes, its totally acceptable. if he works there, then obviously...
that phone looks expensive. he could have a cheap prepaid phone and have some extra cash to pay for a meal. but has an expensive picture phone.
Posted by Matt hod on 03/07/2009 @ 10:33PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Let's try it from this angle. It's called being responsible. Let's see I can't afford to put a roof over my head but I think I can afford a cell phone payment each month. Insted of doing without lets get a laptop and a digi cam. Which of course need batteries and electric. Who cares if I can't pay my electric bill oh wait I don't have a home to pay electric. Get a job get a place to live. We've all done it. I've lived places I would rather not but I had to till I could move on.
Posted by Keith Thom on 03/14/2009 @ 05:51PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Dear Keith...
When you dont have a home or a job...cell phone is needed to get one and a computer sures help in securing a job when you dont have a car. You can get a prepaid cell phone for as low as $20 and internet service for $12... Tell us how $32 a month would be better spent trying to get themselves out of the situation their in. It wont pay rent........
Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 03/28/2009 @ 02:29PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
NO we have all NOT done that. I know me personally I have NEVER "gotten" a job and then "gotten" a place to live. Not once in my life.
I doubt you have either. I doubt more than a FRACTION of the people posting here have EVER "Get a job get a place to live"
Most of us STARTED with a place to live ALREADY (you know the odd carbon based parental units that raised you?) yeah those things.
You lived under THEIR ROOF.
You started with a place to live already and THEN got a job and once you were able you moved out into your own place.
THAT is a hell of a lot easier than "Get a job get a place to live"
I KNOW people who live like this. The only place they can LIVE is weekly motels. ever price those? 90% of there income goes to that motel to have a roof bed and shower over their heads.
living on the STREET they would be unable to keep a JOB in most cases (sleep cleanliness etc..)
SO now how does this person find balance? one might say they are STUPID renting an apartment would cost a fraction of what the weekly rate is on a motel.
Except that to rent an apartment you need first and last months plus security plus utilities plus be APPROVED.
really easy to try and wait when you have a PAID FOR roof over your head (parents)
NOT so easy when 90% of your income is going to your weekly motel rental.
Unless your lucky enough to have parents or friends who can take you in FOR FREE so that YOU CAN get a job so you CAN save up enough money to actually get your own place.
Its a viscious. You finally get a job finally get a place to live but this place is SO EXPENSIVE your UNABLE to "move up" to more affordable but higher up front cost of living.
so instead of paying a hotel $250 a week you should rent an apartment for $600 a month.
well if you can afford $250 a week then SURELY you can afford $600 a month right? hell for now leave the electricity OFF if you have too.
well not so fast there partiner. That $600 is a MYTH. it does not exist. you see you need $1800
so if your making $300 a week you need 6 weeks to get up enough to get an apartment ASSUMING you get approved.
OOPS wait a minute $1500 of that $1800 is GONE now because you had to pay another 6 weeks in that motel. so now your down to $300 and then you needed 6 weeks worth of FOOD there goes another $150 now your down to $150 a month assuming ZERO and I mean ZERO other expenses.
now your looking at 12 MONTHS MINUMUM before you can even THINK about an apartment and thats assuming no SURPRISES come up and you can some how get your clothes for free of craigslist or freecycles.
This also assumes you live in an area where it possible to GET BY without a car. This assumes no health problems. THIS ASSUMES that job LASTS 12+ months.
so take your "Get a job get a place to live" and shove it back up your ass exactly where it came from.
99% of the people in this thread NEVER had to do that. half would probably FAIL if they tried.
I know I have NEVER had to "Get a job get a place to live" and I hope I am fortunate enough to never have to try it.
How long can you SURVIVE with almost NO MONEY working you ass off for almost ZERO GAIN for almost ZERO benifit as 95% of your income it eaten up by a roof and food.
How long before you go nuts? or simply burn out.?
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 09:24PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This is the kind of stuff that irritates me to no end about people who spew garbage online - do homeless people need to be living in cardboard boxes, hobbling around on a crutch and eating ketchup packets to be considered poor/disadvantaged? And if that were true, what does that mean to those who have more? Does that mean flipping a homeless person a quarter makes you feel even better if they are surrounded by vermin on a street corner? This is the kind of notion that perpetuates a low level of giving to people in need. And now all the snobs everywhere can nod their heads, turn up their noses at the actual happiness of a homeless individual. Sad. Well done, Michelle - thank you.
Posted by Andre Blackman on 03/06/2009 @ 10:44AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
the reason people give homeless people money is because they think he doesn't have enough money to eat or have a warm place to stay. everyone knows what it is like to be somewhat hungry and cold. this is how people relate to each other. "wow, that guy must be so cold and he looks hungry... i also know those feelings"
would you give money to a beggar wearing a 3,000 dollar armani suit? i wouldn't... thought the government seems to be doing a lot of that lately. a cell phone is a luxury. luxuries can only be had by people who can afford them. that is why they are a luxury. having a picture phone is not a 'right'.
Posted by Matt hod on 03/07/2009 @ 10:37PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
YES it is a right. it absolutely IS a right.
OWNERSHIP of what is YOURS is a right.
that phone belongs to him therefore he has a RIGHT to keep it. Its his PROPERTY.
I have a very nice Blackberry 8330 smart phone. Its quite literally a COMPUTER by any normal standard.
If I lost my job tommorrow and was on the STREET next month. Your saying this piece of property I ALREADY OWN is not my RIGHT to keep? that because I am living on the street I LOSE the right to my property and I have to GIVE IT UP?
You can get a camera phone for $9.99 with a month's free service from cricket. No contracts No rebates. Pay $9.99 and you have a camera phone with a free month of unlimited talk service.
who the hell are YOU to decide what is and is not a luxury. Property is Property if you own it YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO IT.
that it what is means to own PROPERTY.
Your definition of luxury is all right out of your fraking ass.
by YOUR definition of luxury I can deduce the logical counter definition fo NECESSITY.
Food is a NECESSITY. Many of those people can NOT afford FOOD.
but according to you it should be GIVEN to them its a NECESSITY. so you go give them YOUR food.
a single gram more food than you NEED to survive is by your own definition a LUXURY.
A cell phone is not a luxury. its a piece of property. a damned CHEAP piece of property at that. Collect 100 cans in michigan and you can have a cell phone.
Its NO contract. you can call up each month and order a NEW $9.99 phone and get another free months service. Use a different "friends" address and name each month (with permission of course) and for 100 soda cans on the side of the road you can have a CAMERA PHONE with unlimited talk and text.
YOU need to "get a life" and a "reality check"
I have FOUND more phones lying on the ground than I have OWNED by purchase in my life.
they are no longer "luxuries" they are simple commodites. common place regular simple cheap items. Nothing special. even the service can be had CHEAP.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 09:00PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
The bloggers who are so upset about this gentleman having a cell ought to at least do a modicum of research. Finding this took maybe 30 seconds.
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx
Posted by Evan McLaughlin on 03/06/2009 @ 11:22AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Love it!
Thanks for pointing out that resource.
Great post, Shannon.
Posted by Leigh Graham on 03/06/2009 @ 12:26PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
That program not available in DC and that phone doesn't have a camera but your point is valid. I found this
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?class=prepaid&device=18ae5035-a668-4711-b6e5-9f36ef4122a6
For $30 (that includes $25 prepaid card) and you have a camera phone. Also who says he bought it new? Maybe he bought it used or traded for it, or found it or it was a gift whatever... yes, they totally missed the point.
Posted by No Info on 03/08/2009 @ 08:53AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This is what is wrong with our country today. A cell phone program for homeless people?? Are you kidding me?? Use this money to train people for for a job that pays more then minimum wage, then they can pay for their own cell phone. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Everyone has their priorities wrong. Homeless people don't need cell phones to succeed in life they need training and education. This is a luxury item, why do they need it? Can't the shelter provide a phone call when needed?? Please, I really don't understand this. Especially when there are so many other needs.
Posted by Conejo Malvado on 03/08/2009 @ 09:56AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
So, Conejo. Explain to me where you would have their would be employers call if they didn't have a cell phone? Thier home phone perhaps.... oh maybe that explains the need for the homeless to have a cell phone. Or perhaps you just throw your old phone away instead of recycling it. Isn't this a perfect use of an older phone?
Just try to put yourself into thier position and imagine your need for a cell phone.
Just because we haven't always had them doesn't mean they are a luxury item.
Posted by James Henderson on 03/08/2009 @ 10:52AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Cell phones are far cheaper than land lines and they lack the one thing that makes land lines difficult for these people.
THE LAND LINE :-)
Cell Phones are a lot more profit than you think. Most likely as part of using OUR airwaves the carriers donate some of this time for this function (at least I hope they do)
As for Poor people and TV's ? your kidding right? I am by no means poor though I could not afford to go "buy" a TV. I can get a FREE tv pretty much anytime I want just by hitting craigslist of driving around for 20 minutes (you would be amazed how many computers and tv's I pull from the garbage that are 100% functional) The computers I keep if there useful the rest I give away on craigslist. If there close enough I even drive it to them.
What little I can do I do. TV's are a dime a dozen anymore. Now if you want a plasma or lcd ok thats nuts but just a simple TV is easy to come by for free.
Counches. Freezers, Refrigerator's, Air Conditioners (oddly not too many heaters but there around as well) and pretty much any other piece of furniture all available for FREE if you live in or near a major populated area on craigslist or freecycles.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 03/08/2009 @ 01:41PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
@ Conejo Malvado:
I take it you have never been homeless. Should you have been I think you would look at things different. Instead of yelling 'what is wrong with this country' you'd do your part to make sure there would be more people helped off of the streets. What HAVE you done lately?
FYI: I have been homeless. 1,5 years. And, trust me, it is not the hardest thing to get a cellphone. It is much harder to get some respect off of people. Let alone a smile. Not even thinking about getting help.
A lot of time that is what they need.
In this occurance, this guy might have taken a picture of something that really motivates him. Now he sees that the first lady AND SO the President, know, feel and DO something about it.
So what. A cell phone. God Almighty, am I glad he was able to take a picture of this. He can show this to his fellow mates. They can share a good story. This may spark off positive energy and eventually get them off the street.
You sir, I would dare to just spend one week out side. Make yourself do it. A whole week.
I bet you you couldn't. Until then, you do not know anything about being homeless, what is possible when you are and in general, how much of a small sad being you can become.
Most homeless are not drug addicts or booze heads. They are people in need.
All they need is some help.
I used to be one of them. USED to be.
Posted by walt hans on 03/08/2009 @ 03:48PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
@ Conejo and everyone else that twists classic and well-meaning proverbs to push their holier-than-thou assumptions:
The metaphor is still very much valid, but it stands to be adjusted.
Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and he will still require tools necessary for fishing, and permission to fish in someone's pond.
Don't begrudge someone a fishing pole and bait, no more than you would judge someone willing to give him their fishing pole.
Posted by sarah karp on 03/08/2009 @ 04:02PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Teach a man to fish and they will know how to make the tools, execute the strategy for suvival.
Just walking along fishing holes one finds fishing line and saplings for poles. Simple traps can be made from rocks, sticks and patience.
You do have the point with the "permission" angle, specifically the fishing licenses. I nearly said forget about the license and get three squares, health care and shelter for a while - run into jail. But that would cost one their meager possessions.
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/08/2009 @ 04:32PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I appreciate your humor, Jowey. To clarify my point (I hope I'm correctly reading sarcasm in your post) of course, I was speaking metaphorically there. A person requires certain tools to get a substantial job, more than just the obvious skillset. As has been mentioned time and time again in these comments, a phone number is among those tools required on job applications, as is a mailing address (a P.O.Box has been suggested on here).
So yes, while a homeless person may have the training necessary to qualify him for the job (knowing how to fish), they may not have nor be able to obtain the credentials (fishing lisence, in this metaphor) necessary to compete for that job. There are plenty of perfectly employable people that have faced hard times, despite their qualifications.
On a related note, while we proclaim the right to work for every adult person in a healthy environment, we stick to an outdated definition of personhood: landholding. While a noble pursuit, landholding should not be a qualifier for Human Rights.
Anyway, I hope the fish are biting for you, Jowey!
Posted by sarah karp on 03/08/2009 @ 06:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I appreciate your humor, Jowey. To clarify my point (I hope I'm correctly reading sarcasm in your post) of course, I was speaking metaphorically there. A person requires certain tools to get a substantial job, more than just the obvious skillset. As has been mentioned time and time again in these comments, a phone number is among those tools required on job applications, as is a mailing address (a P.O.Box has been suggested on here).
So yes, while a homeless person may have the training necessary to qualify him for the job (knowing how to fish), they may not have nor be able to obtain the credentials (fishing lisence, in this metaphor) necessary to compete for that job. There are plenty of perfectly employable people that have faced hard times, despite their qualifications.
On a related note, while we proclaim the right to work for every adult person in a healthy environment, we stick to an outdated definition of personhood: landholding. While a noble pursuit, landholding should not be a qualifier for Human Rights.
Anyway, I hope the fish are biting for you, Jowey!
Posted by sarah karp on 03/08/2009 @ 06:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Not total saracasm. Homeless and unemployed puts people into survival situations - knowing how to fish is a skill that could allow one to live another day.
The problems that this society if facing is not skilled individuals (there is the concern with the educational levels coming from the schools). The problem is the lack of opportunities, the competition of cheap overseas manufacturing and disposable commodities. We have turned into a sales culture, whose foundation skill is the ability to sell a product that no one needs or wants. We have given these people the keys to the bank.
Employment is based on luck, social networking, salesmanship and lastly skillset.
To solve the homeless/unemployed problem opportunities need to be provided, connections made and yes the phone is a requirement along with employers willing to hire them.
Till then knowing how to fish, find a fishing hole is a skill that enhances survival - not just sarcasm. The fish may be better than some of that food being handed out.....
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/09/2009 @ 04:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Excellent post. I've worked in homeless services for a while and cell-phones are critical survival tools. For a family faced with constant locational uncertainty a cell-phone provides a stable point of contact.
Funny how our collective philanthropic consciousness simultaneously promotes the use of cell-phones amongst the poor in third-world countries as a poverty fighting tool and decries the use of cell-phones amongst our own poor.
Posted by David Henderson on 03/06/2009 @ 01:44PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Well put. I think certain people jump to judgment when it's an American rather than someone in Darfur who is struggling. I think this is the case because the struggle in America has been boosted into existence by corruption and greed that the most judgmental excused if not downright supported and profited from.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/06/2009 @ 02:03PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
actually the problem is our MENTAL IMAGE we create for what we define as POOR or HOMELESS.
If you made $200-$300 a week YOU WOULD BE HOMELESS.
think about that.
we have this image of what it means to be poor and homeless and its FALSE.
Technology has "changed" the world such that you can have a LOT MORE and still be relegated to the level of poor and or homeless but our MENTAL image of poor and homeless has not changed.
Problem is REALITY does not care what your mental image is.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 02:39PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Excellent post. Thanks. I am so tired of the hypocritical sophistry that dwells on minutia with a judgmental attitude while failing to get the important big picture.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/06/2009 @ 01:53PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Great job as always. The moralists who questioned the person catching a meal at Miriam's Kitchen, is so out of touch with the economic crisis in America, they need prayer! If they live long enough, someone they might know may become unemployed.
"Thank you Evan" for educating the Under-Educated about SafelinkWireless.com but, it may be a regional offer for Florida Residents Only. I have one too. I have had to downsize my entire life and this phone is a lifeline for me. I have roll-over minutes and use my phone for Emergencies Only. I have 180 minutes today.
I am saddened by the mentality of these Americans.
Shame on them!
Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/06/2009 @ 02:16PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Judge Not
Perhaps we should pray for those who miss the points.
Even the Obama's misses the point when it comes to poverty. At least not as bad as many in this nation feel secure wearing blinders .
It is my thoughts that as the article says Michelle Obama served in the soup kitchen to invoke volunteerism. She could be the only first lady to have done so, so early in her husband's office. What she did not realize was she was asking the public to place a band-aid on two of the blatant symptoms of poverty hunger, and homelessness.
WE must fix the monster of "Poverty", not just dole out a sandwich on moldy bread. Not make families leave their homes, bundle up their kids. Then the oldest get blamed for "Stealing food" because the soup kitchen lady failed to see she was helping her mother with the other three children .
Instead, as with Michelle Obama soup kitchen duty missing the point of ending all poverty, those less than compassionate members of our nation got stuck an the irrelevant question of "Where did the homeless guy get the cell phone camera?" Who Cares? Does that question put any added cash in your pocket-NO.
And it does not fix poverty. We are asking the wrong questions.
By ending poverty, we will no longer need to compare our pain to some others pain.
By Jan LightfootLane
Fairfield ME
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/06/2009 @ 04:09PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
It didn't sound as if that kitchen was serving moldy bread, but I do know for a fact that people who received food boxes in Santa Fe when I needed help, before I was too sick to go out, did get moldy this and rotted that. Big boxes of donuts... so healthy must not have been a necessary ingredient when it came to donations. Mostly everything was expired food from some grocery. In fact, when I got tetanus I thought the symptoms were from eating the cloudy eggs I'd been given. I would guess there are tax breaks for donating... and bad food effectively becomes income when used as a tax deduction, does it?
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/06/2009 @ 05:26PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
EDUCATE THE IGNORANT.
you can't get services, med appts, a job, shelter , housing, any access unless you can call and be called. Many times nice phones are given to lure people to sign up with that cell phone company.i survived 8 years homelessness while multi disabled. My advice_-Never give up, unless you have to, and if you have physical disablity in this order cell phone, car, or storage (with min. items, clothes, and where you can store canned goods,all that agency paperwork.) so your not wasting every day just hunting down food and necessities and carrying belongings all around, setting yourself up for harrassment.Take the bus if you can, but use the car to get to better places and services, and if your disabled, when shelters say no -to sleep in.
Not disabled? you might want to give up the car before the storage, depending on your unique needs.
Posted by DARLENE MATTHEWS on 03/06/2009 @ 04:16PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I'm so glad you survived. I'm so sorry to imagine what you have gone through.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/06/2009 @ 05:28PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Good point ... like my prepaid phone.
That people were upset about the guy having a cell phone says a lot about our culture...
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/06/2009 @ 04:50PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This is just completely thoughtless, not merely ignorant. A home, particularly in DC where Mayor Fenty closes down shelters to sell land to wealthy hotel developers, costs so much more than a typical cell phone.
Reminds me of the article I read today that referred to the "war on poverty" as actually the "war against the poor."
Posted by Luella - on 03/06/2009 @ 04:50PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
He got the phone from another homeless friend that had got two free phones
Posted by Walt Vasco on 03/06/2009 @ 05:06PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
People will always try to find reasons to point fingers at the homeless. They're not homeless enough. They're not poor enough. Stereotypes through & through. People who "have" have no concept of those who "have not."
Posted by Lisa Smolen on 03/06/2009 @ 06:53PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
then who the f*ck are you?
Posted by Matt hod on 03/07/2009 @ 10:40PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Millions of Americans do volunteer work and don't need Michelle to encourage us to do so.
Of course when her husband's policies kick in more of us are going to be on the receiving end than the giving end.
Posted by Elaine Biggerstaff on 03/06/2009 @ 10:08PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
How truly shallow. But, I suppose you supported Laura in all and everything, despite the fact her husband's policies were creating this horror around the world. Remember, there are other places the crippling deceit is hitting where people will die because of the increased poverty.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/07/2009 @ 07:47AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Well I have this to say about obama's policies. Its going to continue to bring the END of america as we know it and its going to accelerate it.
but at least his policies only really hurt US and not kill citizens in other countries. At least we have that going for us.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 02:45PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Who even knows if the cell phone is in service. You can take pictures without the cell phone being activated. Also if you have a gold wedding ring do you pond it because you are homeless same as if you have a cell phone (maybe pre-paid) with important numbers in it do you sell it? Come on people stop being narrow minded and think outside the box.
Posted by reunika parham on 03/07/2009 @ 12:16AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
excellent post! ♥
Posted by reunika parham on 03/07/2009 @ 12:18AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I hope that the volunteers are not taking employment/community activity opportunities from the homeless.
Curious as to how many homeless could be occupied by the urban garden projects. How about maintaining foreclosed homes in return for shelter.
After my girlfriend had her injuries and "anxiety" issues she tried to volunteer. It did not pay for transportation or even lunch. I see volunteer initiatives as someone wanting a service done for free. For example if they paid $2/hour that would cover transportation and food for that day.
It was great that Mrs. Obama brought attention to the homeless plight...
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/07/2009 @ 05:11AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Being homeless is a very difficult problem to pull out off. People living on the streets face all kinds of dangers and sometimes their worried relatives buy them and maintain cell phone service for them. There are some cities and states that supply cell phones to the homeless. Let us not be too quick in forgetting who started this big mess, "George W. Bush". As Americans we need to participate in our own democracy by guiding our leaders to obey our wishes...LEGALIZE MARIJUANA NOW!!!
Posted by mitch miranda on 03/07/2009 @ 08:01AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Give e a break. Bush did not start squat. EVERYTHING bush did was already in place had already started LONG before he came into office.
Bush just abused and RAN with it to extreme's not seen before. But don't delude yourself into thinking HE started it. These problems have been a brewing since the early 1900's and just getting worse every since.
If you knew anything about fictional money and inflation etc.. you would understand why all this is ACCELERATING so rapidly now. its a ever steepening curve to MAINTAIN this kind of system.
Compare The Federal budget obama just signed with the budgets of the last 100 years ? interesting ehh.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/09/2009 @ 02:49PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Enough with the phone! Yes moldy food and having enough cash to volunteer is a point. What I want to know is what do people think about ending poverty? This photo op could be just that a time to talk about what it will take to end poverty.
This 59 year old lady wants to poverty end by the time a 6 year old in 2008 graduates high school. To do that we need to change societies way of thinking. All it will call for is believing our creator gave us enough abundance for everyone to eat, be dressed, and housed, and care for our health.
Instead of 70% of America feeling like they are working just to pay their families health care, lets allow all workers an adequate income to pay for the essentials, recreation, and save. Even 29 year old burger flippers.
I personally got moldly bread at a soup kitchen. But even if was a five star meal, cooked by a top cook. Wouldn't you better like to be able to eat in your own home to have enough healthy food to eat? Then having to bundle up to travel to your nearest food kitchen?
I personally am housed and cannot afford a phone. I do not begrudged those who do. They use them to call the Homeless Crisis Hotline for information on overcoming their bout of homelessness. Does anyone have a comment on ending poverty? They call for jobs and apartments. Some ARE Working and still homeless.
Again, from personal and professional experience, I know that the underpaid, are denied aid for which they qualify. They have laws twisted on then in states which has Town Welfare or General Relief, and SSDI. This IS One reason for homelessness.
Anyone out there have any idea how to make public officials not deny aid to those who in fact by reasonable state laws qualified? Oh yes Americans believe those in need and who qualifies will be aided. And media protects the offending officials by not telling us the public how often Abuse of Power, by trusted officials happens.
I say breaking the Imposed Silence is one street to ending poverty. Anyone out their agree with me, that communication of their reality of the underpaid is as important as having a cell phone.
I am officially under the extremely low poverty level, I try not to judge those with more, or less. If I overhear someone at the bank saying "I only want to take $6,000 out of my account today dear-" I do wonder what it must be like to spend in a limited time, what I spend in a year. There IS a tinge of jealousy. But I remind myself I am not walking in her shoes. And life holds so much more than just money.
I could be helping the soup kitchen women feed the hungry. But after sitting at their table once-I preferred the clients table. Those volunteering there time thinks themselves so much better than those they are aiding. Without knowing what is in the hearts of the underpaid, the soup kitchen ladies Judge them.
There is no plight to being homeless. It is done by design. The newspapers will say one fell through the safety net when they are pushed by the twisting of aid laws. But refuse to tell of out and out Abuse of Power by trusted officials. The excuse of the press is YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND.
You want to do something to end the hunger and Homelessness, poverty causes? Ask your local newspaper to carry the complete story on end 100% of poverty. Do not be satisfied placing band-aids upon needless wounds, eliminate the causes of poverty.
Stop talking about whether the underpaid has a phone and use your own phone, e-mail etc. telling media you do have an interest in the root causes of poverty. Stop talking about who has phones and talking about using your phone to inform the media you want MORE than Fires and car wreck's in the NEWS.
That if officials Are re-inventing laws that you are just fall outside of being eligible, when in fact you should be aided. Now is the time you need to know about it. Not when you are down on your luck. Even poor Americans are entitled to equal protection of their laws.
And the fact that you hope never to be down on your luck does not mean you will not be fired. But if you are fired you are then, nearly powerless to fix the flaws.
Jan
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/07/2009 @ 08:39AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
A powerful post.
When my social security started a month later than I was told it would, it threw me into foreclosure. I wrote several letters to social security mentioning the CBS news segment that talked about disabled people who were denied over and over again, and finally died.
I wrote that I thought they were denying me so that there would be more money to promote death in Iraq and profit for Cheney.
Then, when I was going to have my water turned off I was exhausted and decided I would not fight it, I would just be as calm as possible and try to raise my mind to higher things until I died. I wrote that and sent it to Social Security and others and then, finally social security approved me for an additional $62 a month (and something more than that but I don't entirely understand -- I have a bit of brain injury).
So, what can people do? I think it may be a mistake to be too polite. I think it's time to stop bowing under insults from people who say they are Christians.
Voting in Obama for President was a start, it showed a cohesion among people that didn't exist when the president had stolen the election through voter fraud.
In the same way that torture and war were treated as okay by highly vocal Christians with the result that war and torture flourished, we as truly concerned Americans can treat poverty and homelessness as NOT okay with the result that they will no longer flourish.
Karen Kline
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/07/2009 @ 11:30AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
My girlfriend was considering volunteering to start "something" after she was dog bitten and could not stand long.
We found that they would not even pay transportation or food. In addition the people were snobs. It was more cost effective for my girlfriend to stay at home and I pay her bills than for her to "volunteer" or "low wage work". The dog bite injury cost her, her mode of transportation.
As an aside the attorney that took her on probono for the dog bite injury deserted after five years, apparently stealing clients settlements. The Virginia State Bar sent her files and discarded her.
This reflects on the legal representation of the disenfranchised. At the time I expected that given the heinous nature of the attorneys desertion the Virginia State Bar an Agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia would protect the "rule of law" and ensure the damaged clients were represented - they did not. To this day we do not know if the Bar used a settlement to pay off "real clients".
This disregard of an individual has been an interesting study of this societies integrity. How many others tried to fight the fight and were squashed by events? Where is the "rule of law" that is thrown in our face?
If I had been an American and left my girlfriend she would have been either killed by her abusive husband or on the streets.
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/17/2009 @ 05:09PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Can we create an action to speak out to the news media who are casting this distraction over such a powerful move by my FAVORITE First Lady EVER!
I'd do it myslf, but I gotta get to work - thanks goodness I still have clients for now ...
Posted by Mayfield Jukes on 03/07/2009 @ 10:04AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Excellent post, Shannon.
Posted by J L on 03/07/2009 @ 01:12PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Wow! You mean they actually moved on from the sleeveless dress issue?
Posted by Warren Heintz on 03/07/2009 @ 10:17PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
We expect homeless people to compete in the workforce without a cell phone, regular computer access, or proper interview attire while struggling to survive on the streets or in shelter.
Actually, "we" don't. "We" don't expect them to compete in the workforce; "we" just expect them to always be homeless and "we" begrudgingly accept this and pay for their food. But "we" never think that they ARE a part of the economy, they ARE part of the labor market, and they CAN and DO get jobs. But "we" never think about it, because "we" never think of them as anything more than an inhuman steroype.
Posted by Peter Sterne, Jr, on 03/07/2009 @ 11:49PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Although I agree with some of this article, I still believe that if your receiving money from the gov. because you claim your broke, you should be spending it to get yourself out of your situation, not to sustain it. Also, I don't think anyone is dumb enough to be upset over a poor person having a cell phone, thats not bad, it's when you're spending money on $500 dollars on a high-tech phone with a gdamn camera!!
Posted by Emanuel Cabral on 03/08/2009 @ 01:46AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
What? a camera phone costs $500? They lie in all the telly ads! They never say that!
The lies sure remind me of Bush and Cheney and the War and the devastation they've created here and abroad with their immorality. Yuck.
Obama sure is a breath of fresh air.
I'm so excited about what he is doing for education, too. It's depressing to read that one in ten Americans is illiterate, and it's sad to read some of the misspellings and wrong usages of words that you commonly see in forums on the internet.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 08:08AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Damn right.
Posted by Levi Ong on 03/08/2009 @ 04:23AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Learn about Miriam's Kitchen and their programs here:http://www.miriamskitchen.org/LEARN/LearnaboutMiriamsPrograms/tabid/63/Default.aspx
Also... Why not donate to Miriam's or volunteer? Especially those of us who're criticising...
Posted by Dave M on 03/08/2009 @ 04:25AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Having been homeless and having dealt with the homeless, I know it is a very fine line between having an home and being homeless.
And most homeless kitchens will provide food for those who families are having difficulties making ends meet.
On the cell phone... I am one who has one of the pay as you go types because at the house I have my loved one who has COPD and thus I need to stay in touch while I am looking for a job(Just became unemployed after 14 years)
Posted by Sam McKinney on 03/08/2009 @ 05:04AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
say,
Anyone here ever BEEN homeless?
No?
Then I would suggest you to ... please keep quiet.
(Other expressions will not be published I am afraid)
I have been.
And, it shows to me that people who fall over the fact that this man has a mobile with cam( CHEAP nowadays, and heck, maybe he got it as a present, can't make calls, yet can make a picture of a lady WHO IS doing something to help)
You guys should shut up like Bill O'reilly always says.
Shut up and get that country of yours back on track.
That means doing what Michelle does.
HELP
You selfish, selfish people.
Posted by walt hans on 03/08/2009 @ 05:15AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I know this is reiterating what has been mentioned before but felt like it should be said. One of the first things a homeless person needs to find a job is a telephone number. I'm tired of repubs attacking the Obamas every chance they get. His approval ratings are slipping because of it, not because he isn't doing a good job. We have a president and first lady that are actually dedicated to our country and not their and their cronies coffers. If I was homeless the first thing I would do is find some manual labor, save enough money for a cellphone (we have unlimited service companies here for 30 a month without credit checks. That is a dollar a day!) and good interview clothes and try to climb my way out. I'm not working poor but I'm real close. I live check to check like the majority of the U.S. Any catastrophy, big or small, could make me homeless. Someone that is trying to get off the street deserves not only dignity but a fighting chance.
Posted by Roy Spray on 03/08/2009 @ 05:56AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Having been there in the past, it is not so common to see homeless on the streets having cell phones. I carried a pre-paid cell phone in order to receive calls about job prospects. Since I didn't have a home phone number or address for them to contact me at. I only really used the phone for that. Without that cell phone I wouldn't have found it so easy to get a job and get myself off the streets.
Posted by James K on 03/08/2009 @ 08:53AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I see that a person acting like a Christian Republican has sent me a mean "compliment" -- saying that I should earn a living for myself.
The fact is that I have a brain injury and cannot talk very well anymore. I can write much better than I can talk because writing is so much slower.
The most distressing thing in recent years has been to see the ignorance among so many who have no understanding of the Constitution other than that they think it means marriage between one man and one woman. They have no idea about the meaning of due process or the role it is supposed to play in keeping our nation strong.
What I find most troubling about Christian Republicans is that they are so judgmental with so little basic understanding.
Thanks, Mark Pogue, for helping me get this off my mind via a response to your "compliment" --
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 09:26AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I used to work for Workman's Compensation and after reading your plight, I know you are not alone. Claims usually take 6 (six) months or longer to process and by then, most claimants have experienced the indignities you had to endure. I have been writing about Human Rights violations in America and the long delays in Benefit Entitlement Programs is despicable.
As the Recession/Depression deepens in America, more and more Americans will fall through the cracks. As our President has said, this is opportunity for CHANGE in America and move in a direction that is all inclusive.
God Bless you for having survived this vile process.
Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/08/2009 @ 10:22AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
For those of you who have never been homeless..
I wish you had.
For I remember when I lost everything. I had a backpack with some clothes, and a smartphone pda. The phone wasn't active, but guess what? It doesn't NEED A BILL to take pictures on your phone!
Another KID just lost his hope at becoming a journalist.
Thanks you tards!
Posted by Chris White on 03/08/2009 @ 10:17AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Well put. It's so good to show the true picture of what is involved when people are homeless... that is, real, live people with hopes and aspirations, hard workers and reliable people are put through the wringer. It's really important to see people as people and not rely on our "beliefs" to pass judgment.
You've reminded me that I was homeless when I started as a Realtor. I used to sleep on the office couch, I had my clothes in a black plastic bag in my car, I ate peanut butter on tortillas that I kept in the office fridge. I housesat when I could.
I made $5,000 that first year, and a few years later was making over $22,000 a year, and that's when IRS stepped in and put me out of business collection 1984 which I had paid in 1985... but they lost the paper work. U.S.News & World Report used in me in article they ran on abuse by the IRS: http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com/BoundLetters/Messy.html
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 11:28AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Wow....this reminds me of Stewie asking Brian "where'd you get the money for the fake moustache huh!?" as he beats him senseless.
Just because you own a cell phone doesnt make you rich....idiots. Last time I checked you need at least a phone number to get a call back from job interviews...
Wow mainstream journalism is truly dead
Posted by Dare Be on 03/08/2009 @ 10:28AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I myself am technically "homeless"...I have a cellphone (pre-paid)...I have a laptop (bought when I was able to afford it)....I have an address (PO box at the UPS Store)... BUT, I have no house...I make do with what I have, when I have it. This is something most people learn to do if they find themselves stuggling to survive.
Also...I can think of a dozen ways that could explain the man's possession of a phone at a soup-kitchen... he borrowed it for the day so he could find a job... He found it (how many times have you lost your phone)... He bought it for a couple of bucks from a crack-head... He worked at a day-labor place, and bought it... He works at the soup-kitchen and wanted a picture of the firstlady... His house burned down last night and he's newly homeless... Or as has happened to me personally, he was travelling and his vehicle and everthing in it was stolen and all he has left is 97 cents half a pack of cigarettes a cellphone, and an empty belly.
So... in closing, let's not wonder why he has a cellphone and follow the first lady's example and ask him if he needs a couple of bucks to buy some more minutes!
Posted by Lon B on 03/08/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I hope things improve for you, and I hope the corruption is stopped so that when you make a better life it isn't wrongly taken from you.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 11:31AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
"So yes, this guy has a cell phone. If this means he has an important job-searching tool, a way for him to keep in touch with loved ones, or a way to call for help if he becomes the next victim of a hate crime, then we should be grateful that programs exist to provide these invaluable services to folks who are struggling."
Can you explain the next victim of a hate crime part? I thought the story was good up until his point. I don't see why hate crime is even mentioned in this story.
Posted by Erich Elster on 03/08/2009 @ 11:16AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Erich, thanks for your comment and pointing out the need for clarification there (you're probably not the only person who was confused).
Due to a rise in violence against homeless people in recent years, there has been a push to include homeless people in the categories protected under federal hate crime protection. I added a link to the story to a post with some stats that might be interest, and here's a link to a more recent story related to this topic:
http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/hate_crime_protection_for_homeless
Posted by Shannon Moriarty on 03/08/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Thank you, Shannon. It makes sense now.
Posted by Erich Elster on 03/08/2009 @ 06:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I joined Change.org to speak to other like minded people. I am 59 had been homeless, a few times, and been poor all except 5 years of my life. I work pay free to end homelessness. I want society to end the four headed monster of poverty-hunger,homelessness, voilence, and imposed silence, before 2018.
I ask for ideas an how to get the newspapers covering THe Root of poverty People being underpaid. Not for others being attacked for being old enough to get social security.
Karen Kline and others about to lose your house, call up your state governors office, and your Attorney General Office plus legal aid, they should be able to tell you about Saving your home, the bail out is suppose to save house's
As a society we are going to have to start paying everyone working and not working, enough to pay all their bills and feel human, rather than just working to pay the Health care.
I can find many nay sayers, at any newspaper or womens sites. I am glad for the people who speak out because they get it, they were there. My younger two sisters were there along with myself-but they blame the victims, the underpaid rather than the broken system which pays hard working people less the need.
It costs an average of $20an hour in many states for 40 hours, to pay the essentials of life. Yet many jobs are 17 hours so as the employer has not to pay health care.
Are there people out there who wants to see Obama End Poverty? Have 99% of workers paid a livable wage? See Media cover the reality from all perspective? I would love ideas or question on those points
Jan
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/08/2009 @ 11:28AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
You know what, I just love you. You have retained your trust.
I know, however, that in New Mexico where I live when I called Legal Aid after my condo that I had was foreclosed without any hearing and I wanted to redeem it because it was worth money, Legal Aid couldn't or wouldn't tell me how to redeem it and the court wouldn't let me redeem it. I borrowed money and had a cashiers check for $128,250.00 and the court clerks wouldn't accept it and without them accepting the deposit you can't redeem. Then, the judge let a Realtor redeem it for $85,000.
There was no due process because they foreclosed it without sending me copies of the papers, that's how they were able to sell my property behind my back.
And, the governor? Bill Richardson? his office of aging said that judges could do anything at all that they wanted in their courtrooms.
So, basically I'm glad Richardson's corruption has caught up with him in time to keep him out of President Obama's Cabinet.
Thank you for your kind words. I hope to feel better tomorrow when I have to start this fight again.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 11:37AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
It would take organizing some movements.
1. Everyone call or write these newspapers, radio stations, and TV news broadcasters and tell them you will not be a customer to them unless they start reporting on the real in-humane unjustices that are going on... If everyone followed through with this threat.. we would see them in the unemployment lines and/or shutting up shop.
2. Organize the homeless and maybe some of the not homeless to camp on their State capital lawns with signs posted next to their tents saying either why they are homeless either lost job or disabled. Most everyone is on the street because of one of those two. Sure they will get arrested...but its only for one night it would be worth it to get the publics attention and possibly educate the public that they are only one paycheck or on medical disaster from living in a tent. They only hold you for a day... meanwhile you get a bed, shower, food, and medical attention if needed.
3. Take these homes that our government and us now own due to bail outs and temporarily put the homeless that are looking for jobs into these homes. Then they can either buy them or move on. Also, put the disabled into these homes where they have a chance to take care of their health problems or at least make their health not get worse. It would save having to increase the cost of living for SSI and SSDI and save on section 8 rental vouchers or motel money or any other goverment monies that are spent keeping the disabled in poverty. Having their own yards could give them a chance to even grow food. Also, put the returning veterans in these houses....we and the government owe them at least this!
4. Make some kind of business Grants (not loans) to all the above that want to start a business and include business training.
5. Give a tax credit to anyone who hires a homeless or disadvantaged person OR make every coporation we bail out give jobs to them/and or train them while being paid.
6. The government could create jobs in building trailers/small mobile homes that could not only teach the homeless a new trade but also house them at least temporarily. The States and Feds own a lot of land that they could live on.
Do any of these ideas sound good?
Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 03/28/2009 @ 04:00PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Unfortunally I know, those time where red tape, is used to bind. Yes I know How it works and how it suppose to work I moved to Maine around 1971. When I spent all my income and still didn't have a home, I went to the City for Town aid.
That nice lady looked at me and said their was a law, that I had to reside in Bangor Maine for 30 days. When I said I have been here for 30 days she corrected herself, and said 60 days I had been here over 60 days. Not quite 90 days.
Then this polite public official said the length of residency was 90 days. I did not need to be named detector to know she was fibbing to me. I countered her lie with one of my own, I said I had lived here for 90 days. She said she couldn't help.
As walking away I mumbled in a stage whisper " I do not know what you call legal aid up here, but I will call them!" She called me back and did the right thing.
As an advocate I get others who call up the information hotline I run out of my house. And they are saying the town has refused them on a bogus reason. I try to help them overcome the improper hurdle, tell then how to file for a fair appeal. Read the State Laws to them tell them where to find the laws which are twisted. I cry for them. I cry for the people who thinks the system works just fine, until they hit a hard patch and find out first hand it does not Work as advertised.
I filed a complaint in Maines federal court only to WRONGLLY Be told I Have no standing to complain that government is voilating the law in 06. Then If government wasting time was a civil rights matter everyone would be filing a complaint.
Explaining the procedure when things intentionally goes wrong, robs me of time I could be spending with my loved ones-Mother in nursing home, and my better half. It makes me less effective.
This coming week I will file yet another case in Distrist Court. In Sept. The Town of Rockland Maine denied a mother of two and the husband aid-even if she was nine months pregnant. I got an unexpected windfall so paid the rent. The town is saying Because they talked the couple out of applying, They are not responisble and do not need to repay me.
In my complaint I alleged the Town acted illegally. By telling her over the phone that she must return to the town she come from-who did aid with one week payment. There IS NO residency law, in Maine. It was ruled by the US Supreme Court as Unconstitutional, in 1969. She called town aid again and was told its once a month-that is if the rent is a monthly one.
Her husband went to apply in person only to be told they are out of money don't brother making out an application. It is going to harder for the court to say no You are not personally harm, or lack standing when it was my own funds I put up.
I am glad I could help them. But this money should be aiding someone else who really does not qualify.
So yes I know of great corruption and abuse of power. I know of doors being closed. I hope with this group and others Improvement will come. I was alive when Kennedy was in office. Obama could be better than him. After the mid 1976Our courts can start to protect the rights of the poor. The media is ising different tag lines perhaps they will carry the truth in a few months.
I fight with worn out tools, but its better than Not fighting at all. I have my rights weather or not some stupid court admits it or not. They cannot take from me what I refuse to give them.
In 2008 it had been on the lawbooks for 3 decades, that no length of residency was required for General Assistance. Meaning the town you intend to live in, IS, the town of residency and responisiblity. But its ignored.
I often wonder if Towns will not help a pregnant mother of two-Who will tug at their heart strings enough to be aided?
I do not trust. I have seen enough to believe you. I have heard of one town in Maine, dening aid to a recent widow, because she buried her husband. I know the system is broken. I hope it can be fixed. I look for ideas. Not fighting is to surrender. I do not surrender my rights to anyone.
Jan
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/08/2009 @ 12:34PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Wow. Well done. What you say rings familiar. The City of Santa Fe told me there was no help for people with their water bills or sewer and garbage collection bills if they owned their own homes.
Then about two years ago the City turned off my water when I was already sick and within a day I was very much more sick and I could not talk straight at all, much less write correctly.
Now, finally, someone else called the city for me and they had to send me the papers to apply for low income help.
But they still said they wouldn't help me and kept sending my application back until I sent it to someone completely different at a different city address. So for years I was paying full rates when I had below the income level at which there is supposed to be help.
It is important to keep fighting, but it's so hard sometimes.
From my experience, if you begin to get ridges on your fingernails or lose your moons that can be a sign that the stress is seriously depleting your vitamin B12 levels, and that can do serious harm to your nerves and memory. Mainly, that's what my website is about.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 12:59PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Ok several issues with this line of thinking (OP good stuff!)
First we assume its a cell phone. When I say that we assume it has service. Last time I checked the camera's still work whether they are activated or not. You can come by "camera" phones for FREE on craigslist.
Also prepaid is VERY affordable if your smart. You can get a Virgin Mobile phone for $20 ($40 with camera or $10 or free on craigslist)
It costs $20 for 90 days worth of service if you don't burn the minutes. Thats LESS than $7 a month.
Even a homeless person can afford to retain that little bit of contact with the rest of the world for $7 a month.
Its as if people assume if you have a cell phone your paying $50 a month. Few of us can afford that :-)
I HAVE work and I only pay $34 a month for my cell phone and that includes unlimited data. So I would even be able to keep some semblence of internet access if things got really bad.
Assumption is the mother of all F*&K ups.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 03/08/2009 @ 01:31PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
What people don't realize is that being homeless isn't a choice. And how people end up on the streets isn't limited to a small number of stereotypical reasons. Just like anything in life, until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes, you'll never truly know.
The line between being "ok" and homelessness is a fine one.
Posted by Lisa Smolen on 03/08/2009 @ 01:42PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This is a thank you to Jan, who helped me so much today when I was fearing the loss of my home. I may still lose my home, but at least her understanding has helped me fight another day.
: )
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/08/2009 @ 02:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Did any of these idiots consider the possibility that he might be a volunteer also, or affiliated with the shelter? People who work there eat the food too. My dad was the director of a shelter, and often ate with all of the residents.
Posted by Aaron Torok on 03/08/2009 @ 04:27PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Great post.
Posted by De Andre Nickens on 03/08/2009 @ 04:46PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
uhhh...hasn't any of these people ever heard of boost or tracfone? you don't need a house for any pesky bills just $10 for a few minutes to call home and lie about how you're doing ok.
Posted by AJ Hubbell on 03/08/2009 @ 05:02PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Why is the focus on the phone and not the volunteerism for a cause? The option, in this case, isn't between having a phone and being able to eat or have a home. Why begrudge anyone from having an instrument that may potentially aid them?
I, for one, would like to know how I may volunteer at a soup kitchen. The time for action, as Michelle Obama has pointed out, is now. I thought this is what this site was all about.
Posted by William Pointer on 03/08/2009 @ 06:15PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Good job answering, Shannon! Do people want folks to lose all, house, job, and be cut off from future jobs and contact with families? It is a sad commentary on our society if that is the case.
Posted by Andy Bales on 03/08/2009 @ 06:34PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)
17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.
Posted by Andy Bales on 03/08/2009 @ 06:50PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Andy, you sent me a very nice compliment and I need to tell you thank you and explain that the Christians I hate are those who hurt people by their meanness and judgment and by aligning themselves with political campaigns for the purpose of lending power to unlawful acts and the destruction of life.
I suppose I don't mean that I hate all Christians, it's just that for many years it seemed as if all Christians supported the lies of Bush and Cheney et. al. and it was so destructive to ordinary people in countries the lies allowed to be bombed, and to people here in that they knew their country was doing this most horrific thing for profit.
I have huge respect for any true follower of Jesus because what Jesus said was powerful and good and helpful to people.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/09/2009 @ 12:29PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Or it could be a prepaid phone which doesn't require an address or credit card.
Posted by nyokki R on 03/08/2009 @ 09:59PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
This opulent lifestyle of risotto and cellphones is not unique to the USA. Here's a scene from India: http://echopic.com/5a1k/full -- although, I'm not sure if this Slumdog Millionaire dined on foie gras or asparagus that day.
Perhaps Malkin and her friends at the LA Times would wonder where he got that bed?
I'm sure they would also criticise Google for offering their Grand Central phone service to the homeless too:
http://www.grandcentral.com/about/projectcare/
These media blow-hards need some perspective, a picture alone is sometimes not worth a thousand words: http://www.bluemedia.com/blueline/environmental-graphics/bbc-america-sides-story
Posted by rak - on 03/09/2009 @ 02:06AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Michelle Obama, A Profile In CourageMichelle Obama is a truly inspirational person, courageous and honest. Things I find most inspiring about her include (a) when she was misquoted 24/7 by Right-Wing media pundits that "Never in my adult life have I been so proud of America"; (b) when her college thesis was taken out of context and trashed by the same lying pundits; (c) when she encouraged Barack to run for president despite the threats of assassination against him similar to those which caused Mrs. Colin Powell to convince her husband to stand down, with Michelle saying that "a black man can be shot and killed simply by going to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes". She also puts her family ahead of everything, another superb trait. Michelle is a brilliant, beautiful, articulate woman, and a true Profile in Courage. And, if you want an idea of the human slimeballs she has to contend with, just take a look at some of the ignorant, hate-filled postings on other Blogs. St. Patrick killed all the snakes in Ireland. Judging by some posts on other Blogs, there are still many snakes infesting the USA awaiting St. Patrick's tender mercies to put them out of their misery. The currentuproar over a homeless man owning a cellphone is just one more loud braying spectacle from America's hissing snakes.
"Conservatives Are America's Real Terrorists"
America's Real Terrorists" http://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/
Posted by Charles Prentiss on 03/09/2009 @ 06:26AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
That was as good as a cup of coffee for getting me going in the direction of good this morning. Thank you.
I sure agree about who the real terrorists are.
Thank you again for the Profile, it is much appreciated.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/09/2009 @ 09:10AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Michelle Obama, A Profile In CourageMichelle Obama is a truly inspirational person, courageous and honest. Things I find most inspiring about her include (a) when she was misquoted 24/7 by Right-Wing media pundits that "Never in my adult life have I been so proud of America"; (b) when her college thesis was taken out of context and trashed by the same lying pundits; (c) when she encouraged Barack to run for president despite the threats of assassination against him similar to those which caused Mrs. Colin Powell to convince her husband to stand down, with Michelle saying that "a black man can be shot and killed simply by going to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes". She also puts her family ahead of everything, another superb trait, and she demonstrates outstanding social consciousness. Michelle is a brilliant, beautiful, articulate woman, and a true Profile in Courage. And, if you want an idea of the human slimeballs she has to contend with, just take a look at some of the ignorant, hate-filled postings on other Blogs. St. Patrick killed all the snakes in Ireland. Judging by some posts on other Blogs, there are still many snakes infesting the USA awaiting St. Patrick's tender mercies to put them out of their misery. The current uproar over a homeless man owning a cellphone is just one more loud braying spectacle from America's hissing snakes.
Please visit my Blog:
"Conservatives Are America's Real Terrorists" http://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/
Posted by Charles Prentiss on 03/09/2009 @ 06:30AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
WOW! Like just because a person needs a helping hand doesn't mean they are destitute. When I was 19 and just married me and my husband moved to California from Cleveland, Ohio. He had a great job as a long distance truck driver and I found a job as a clerk in a fast food joint. We were doing well. Then 10 months later everything fell apart. He lost his great job and started working for a factory. We both worked at the factory 7am to 3pm and I also worked at Burger King from 6 to 10pm just to eat free. We lost our apartment and lived in our car. We were determined to make it. We could never get the money together for first month, last month & deposit. We cleared $250 a week between all 3 jobs and by the time we paid off the food trucks for the previous week of lunches and got gas for the car we had enough to stay in a hotel w/kitchenette from Thursday - Sunday. I even worked at the hotel cleaning rooms for an extra few $ a day. I know it seems like I did all the work while my husband (at the time) relaxed from his 1 job. anyhow, we still stood in soup lines when we just didn't have a dime to eat. It really is tough to be broke and we were so lucky to have the car for our safety as well as roof over our heads. But, some people would say we didn't belong in that soup line because we both worked and had a car (gee what luxury's) and yes they were luxury's.... No one really knows intil they have been in that situation. We eventually went back home to our suburban families, and we were greeted with tears and praise for trying, and for the first time I was ashamed of the praise. Knowing that all those wonderful people we had met along our journey didn't have that option.
God Bless the dude with the phone!
Posted by Barbara Cicerchi on 03/09/2009 @ 08:37AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Barbara, that is so moving. I think that each story of how it happens helps make the truth of homelessness more clear. That's so important because our beliefs about things often don't stand up to the truth.
I love this thread. It helped me SO much yesterday.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/09/2009 @ 09:13AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Forgot to mention I just bought a Cell phone with 100 prepaid minutes for $20. Oh and it was brand new. Has no bill, no contract and of course requires no address. Please!
Posted by Barbara Cicerchi on 03/09/2009 @ 08:52AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I also said in my first comment that no one knows what it's like to be homeless intil they've been homeless themselves. Well, even though me & my husband were homeless for about 4 months back in California I don't think it was quit the same as being truely homeless with no one out there to love you. We could've always went home. The point is: that with 3 jobs between the 2 of us it was nearly impossible to get off of the streets. Sure if we didn't get the hotel for a few weeks we could have saved enough, but do you realize just how hard it is not to lay in a bed or take a shower for days on end. And, the cheapest food is the most unhealthyest food. You can fill your belly at McDonalds for $3 (3 double cheese burgers) but it is so bad for the arteries to eat that every day or every few days. We even went to Mexico and got a bed only hotel room for $3 a night & brought our own little black/white tv. But we were young and strong and healthy. If I had to go through that today at nearly 50 and soooo out-of-shape I would die and now that I have no one really left from my immediate family.
Posted by Barbara Cicerchi on 03/09/2009 @ 09:23AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Yes, as you say working three jobs didn't get you out of homelessness, and for many it's not enough to keep them from going into homelessness.
It is the judgmental, basically false, "Christian" attitude that people who didn't thrive under Bush and Cheney and make lots of immoral profit on things like war are not good people, are lazy and don't deserve help... it's that attitude which infuriates me.
And yes, it is a frightening prospect to think of being on the street, the cement, the cold hard cement, as an older person.
That is a part of what terrifies me about losing my home.
And what angers me about being threatened with losing my home is that Wells Fargo got bailout billions and used it to buy Wachovia. Wells Fargo refused to give me 10 days to pay them when I was selling a property I had rented, and the refusal of Wells Fargo set in motion what I am suffering today.
Well, I have a bit of a headache now, so I better go back to my legal work in the hope of saving my home and getting damages so that I can contribute to help others.
Thank you, again for your writing to help show what this is all about.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/09/2009 @ 12:37PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Phone home. The question???? in this article is poverty.
Some of you claim not to be poor but you cannot buy a TV. You might be one of the 80 million uncounted people of poverty. The Us Poverty level account for the cost of FOOD Alone. It was meant as a first step. But guess the government decided a level 6 times under the real level is good enough. Then those who cannot afford to buy rent-will still think they are middle class.
Thank for saying I helped you to fight, Karen.
Back to imposed silence one of the 4 heads of the poverty monster. I am now told I cannot place an editorial in Maine's largest Newspaper, because it is PERSONAL, and It would not give unnamed governmental official abusing their power an equal chance to respond.
So I asked them to do a story-It's a safe bet, the story will not get done. Been trying for a decade to get the story told how trusted governmental officials mis-quote laws making them up as they go.
This practice -if happening as I say- affects everyones freedom to have the laws of the land FAIRLY applied.
This imposed silence, this practice, if true-it means citizens are denied US Constitutional Rights with impunity.
Isn't that more deserving of Change.org members time and comments then a phone?
What if towns across the USA deny people who are qualified for General Relief or town Welfare. Not all states have this aid. But it should be applied by enacted laws, fairly applied.
Anyone what to question how people become homeless? It could be that their safety net was not applied-when they did qualify.
Anyone beside Karen and myself been lied to by an official? At one time they said political corruption of Kick backs and gifts could not corrected as back in 1950's. When the newspapers did its job and reported the practice-politician's set right those practices around 69-71'. The imposed silenced only needed to be lifted.
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/09/2009 @ 09:40AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Jan, I'm seething angry as I read your question about being denied Constitutional rights.
When they foreclosed my condo behind my back without sending me the proper notices that was a denial of due process, due process that is fundamental to the "rule of law" of which this country is so fond of touting itself the champion.
But, when I mentioned that on several different forums the "Christians" uniformly attacked me for not paying my mortgage. They said that was the only problem, so now I really REALLY hate Christians because of their meanness and their stupidity and their hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes.
It's not so bad that they in themselves are ignorant and have the misconception they are absolutely right, it's that the way they right and talk they affect other people.
That means that the cohesion we need as a people is deteriorated and those whose voices in unison would help, are silenced by the stupid judgmental and argumentative Christians.
My feeling is that if twenty five people wrote letters in support of someone who was suffering this kind of injustice, that is, the rules in Maine being applied differently than they are written at the whim of administrators and others in authority, that the situation would change.
I say this because when I was a Realtor I worked for some time with a buyer who had been manager of the Greek Theater in Los Angeles and he told me that at that time all you needed to sell was 10,000 books to be on the "Best Seller" list.
Small numbers of people can make a huge difference.
That's why I think Christians as they have developed under Rove and DeLay and the hundreds of pastors who support judgment by individuals attack people, so that slowly but surely they undermine everyone who is not like minded.
As I said, I hate Christians because of the way they have treated me for years. Really, REALLY hate them.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/09/2009 @ 12:25PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Karen,
This is one Christian who doesn't hate you and offers you sympathy with your foreclosure situation.
Don't judge a whole group because of a few bad apples. I would question whether they were really Christians anyway. To be a Christian means to be "Christ-like" and Christ was all about loving others.
Sorry you had such a bad experience.
Posted by Pique Place on 03/26/2009 @ 11:01AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi. I work for a national nonprofit called Community Voice Mail (www.cvm.org), and we provide free voice mail boxes to 40,000 homeless and low-income people a year in 47 U.S. cities, and have been for about 15 years. We know a lot about the telecommunication needs of the homeless, including cell phones. Here are some thoughts based on the postings above:
1. A phone number, if not an actual phone, is still critical for anyone seeking employment or housing, and for staying in touch with case managers, healthcare professionals, and others who are trying to help. It's not a luxury, but a necessity if you're trying to improve your life and get out of a state of crisis or transition.
2. Homeless and very low-income people are still consumers, and whilte they may have very little discretionary income, like other consumers, they make decisions about what to spend their money on and tend to spend it on the things that are most important to them (again, assuming they're actively trying to improve their lives). As many have indicated, a prepaid mobile phone can cost only $20 for more than 200 minutes of use, and most carriers sell phones for $10 (fairly easy to get for free as well). For many homeless people, this is an expense within reach, and a no-brainer in terms of importance.
3. We've asked our clients where they access a phone to check their CVM voice mail and make calls, and 71% tell us they use the free phones often available to clients at social service agencies. 19% use payphones, and 10% use their own cell phone. We've also found that 21% of our clients have mobile phones. The average monthly income for our clients is about $525 (and nearly half report no income at all).
4. SafeLink Wireless (www.safelinkwireless.com) is the first program that provides free mobile phones/minutes to qualifying low-income people using funds collected through the Universal Service Fund (USF). If you look at your phone bill, and you've made any long-distance calls, you'll see a line item for your contribution to the USF. USF funds have been used for decades to provide low-income people with discounted access to landline services, with the thinking being that telecommunications access is critical for people rising up out of poverty. The SafeLink service is (or will be) available in 10 states plus D.C.. We've looked at it closely, and it's a great deal if you qualify and plan to use no more than the 68 minutes/month that are provided for free. If you use any more minutes than this, you have to buy them through TracFone (the carrier behind SafeLink), and the resulting per-minute cost is actually higher than you could buy from Virgin Mobile or Net10 (and probably other prepaid services). You can see our full analysis at http://communityvoicemail.blogspot.com/2009/01/safelink-wireless-when-free-isnt-great.html.
Very glad to see a lively discussion about the telecommunication needs of homeless people!
Steve
salbertson@cvm.org
Posted by Steve Albertson on 03/09/2009 @ 11:29AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
You might check out this article [http://interactions.acm.org/content/?p=1144] describing the role a cell phone plays for the homeless. From the article:
The desire to stay in touch was repeated throughout the interviews I conducted. One 47 year old man talked about the risk of becoming disconnected, “It's one thing being homeless but it's another thing… disappear[ing] from the face of the earth. And that's the biggest danger for homeless people. That's the hardest thing to manage, is when you get disconnected.” Managing personal connections is complicated for the homeless as public phones are less common and communication is presumed to occur via personal devices; where once a few coins enabled a phone call, comparatively expensive service plans and handsets have taken their place. Moreover, mobile phones were often the only stable connection they had to their pre-homeless lives—one of the women had a friend who continued to pay her mobile phone bill because, “that's the only way [my son] had to get in touch with me.”
Posted by Jon Kolko on 03/09/2009 @ 05:50PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Guess everyone insists on being glued to the phone. It would have been great to swop's a couple ideas on undoing poverty.
I am the type of person who has to check out everything. Even when liberals tell me stuff, I got to check it out. They tell me stuff like its better to fight one case at a time-I finally figured Why That is the only way Lawyer type people are going to make money. Instead of removing the problem, they take one case at a time. That is also the only way half way well-paid advocates will keep their grants.
Will see if I can find out how many books needs to be sold to make the best sellers lists, will check a different source.
I know what you mean about idoits. They are like you and I Only they do not understand the oppression until they become opposed. I wish I had a smart gun which would wise them up not kill them.
But they are just like you and I, they are hurting, the can't pay their mortgage. I had one person walk up to and clarify that she is middle management of a coffee shop-they are not poor. But pays everything but she cannot afford to eat.
That IS poverty lady. She is one of the 80 million un-counted poor. That lady IS underpaid. The cost of living with rent utilities,food, health care, transportation etc, is around $20.00 an hour in most states Maine was $17.16.
Its the government who benefits by us bickering among the have nots, Who has Less. That is why they never improved the poverty level from just considering the COST of Food. Don't know about you but I need a fridge to keep that food cold and a stove to heat that food up. And a roof over my head while I am eating that food.
Jan
Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 03/09/2009 @ 08:26PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I don't see what the nig fuss is about having a prepaid cell card phone like this man seems to have (judging for the model). If you are looking for work, that is the only way!
Let's see if we can find any job seeker with a home and without a cell phone among all these people criticizing this poor man for having some fun for once in his gloomy homeless day!??? Come on!!
Posted by Daniel N on 03/14/2009 @ 12:05PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
okay, I keep getting notices of posts that have been added, but the posts don't appear to be here.
Are they being censored because they are so anti-Obama and anti reality?
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/14/2009 @ 06:03PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Karen, the new posts are in the "replies". It threw me also....
Posted by jowey styxx on 03/17/2009 @ 04:48PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Now this is the kind of story I like to see. I have been deeply saddened that the most we have to say about this Harvard-educated healthcare executive, mother of two, from Chicago's South Side, is that she should reconsider how she dresses. Especially during Women's History Month, when we really need to be talking about how she might set a strong example of how women contribute equally to their male counterparts in society. Read my two cents here.
Posted by I E on 03/24/2009 @ 07:23AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Very well said indeed.
Posted by Tish W on 03/25/2009 @ 08:40AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
It's true we don't know the particular circumstances of this one individual but there is absolutely nothing wrong with questioning why someone who is homeless would have a luxury such as a cell phone. (A cell phone IS a luxury, NOT a necessity)
I'll never forget when my husband was working a less than minimum wage job trying to keep food on the table for me and our two young children, we were sitting in our abysmal apartment watching the Oprah show and she was bemoaning the terrible conditions of the projects in Chicago. She took cameras into a woman's apartment to show what deplorable conditions they were living in.
The woman had a nicer television than the one I was watching her on, cable tv, a stereo system, nicer furniture than we had, etc. And I was supposedly richer than this woman.
Poverty is very real, and there are definitely people out there in dire straits who need help. But there are those in the poverty level that would benefit from us asking them the same questions we all are concerning this photo ... are your necessities really luxuries, and if so, what are you going to do about it?
Posted by Pique Place on 03/26/2009 @ 10:24AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
A very studied reply. I guess you failed to read the contributions to this thread that explained why a free cell phone is a necessity, which is of course why they are in many cases made available for free.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/26/2009 @ 10:35AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Karen,
I didn't fail to read the contributions, and as I said in the first sentence, we don't know the particulars of that individual. Nor do we know the particulars of any individual who is homeless or in the poverty level.
My argument is, it's okay to question what those particulars are. It's troublesome to me that to ask those questions is considered being judgemental and those that ask the questions are attacked and silenced.
Posted by Pique Place on 03/26/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Pique,
Yes, the years of horrific behavior by Christian Republicans who attacked anyone who disagreed and judged them and were just horrible are lingering in how I see responses.
The Christian Republicans were always so sophmoric in their very reasoned but ugly responses on forums, which always favored the rich getting richer and the poor being blamed for being poor.
I think what really sealed my opinion of the Christian Republicans was when I watched the video showing Tom DeLay and his group of Christian Republicans reaping huge profits off sweat shops in the Northern Marianna Islands where the Christian Republicans made agreement to abortion a condition of employment and then those corrupted and defiled earnings went to the Family Values Campaign.
I'm just sick and tired of hypocrisy.
Your premise was incorrect. A phone is a necessity in getting a job. Therefore you sounded like a Christian Republican to me and I responded to you as such.
Hypocrisy should be attacked and silenced.
Don't you agree?
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/26/2009 @ 11:31AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hi Pique, I show another response from you in my emails but I don't see it here.
In terms of Christ-like. Sure, but the Christian Republicans were Rove like.
The years of attacks aren't wiped away by some person whose Bush replacement didn't get elected. I am sure that if the economy hadn't been trashed by Bush and his profit loving cronies that another elections fraud might have taken place, but as it was the majority of people would not have bought it, no matter how much the tv networks explained why the polls weren't right.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/26/2009 @ 11:36AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Great comments...all! Idiots often miss the point, or don't want to get the big picture anyway. Too bad too many our still running/ruining things for the masses who end up suffering.
Posted by amy glanzman on 03/28/2009 @ 05:43AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Well put, Amy. Well put.
Posted by Karen Kline on 03/28/2009 @ 08:56AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I can't imagine faulting someone who was willing to stand on line for a free meal because they were hungry. I don't care if they are rich, middle class, dirt poor, or went only slightly hungry because they heard that Michelle Obama would be the one dishing.
We all need to get more in touch with our connection to one another. It should be about nourishing those who need it and receiving a different kind of nourishment automatically in return. It would make all of our lives, regardless of our financial status, a whole lot more satisfying.
We need to reacess our definition of the word value so we can see one another clearer.
Posted by Michele Rodriguez on 03/29/2009 @ 06:01PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I am an educator who makes 45,000/year. my wife makes double that. While my wife is on the cutting edge of technology, always equipt with the lastest electronic gadgets and devices, I am a throwback to the old school. I relinquished my contracted cell phone because I am prone to losing things. I went online and purchased a refurbished phone for 9.99. it is a prepaid phone. I keep a minimum of 5.00 on the phone. I use it only in case of emergency. I think the costs I have stated above are reasonable for even a homeless person. We do not know how he obtained the phone or how much the phone cost. It may be a donated phone that only gets 911 and most if not all cell phones can utilize the photo device for free. He may not even be sending it. He may have taken it just to have her image in his presence for inspiration. How many can actually say they were sereved food by the first lady?
Posted by Hill Haskins on 05/04/2009 @ 02:04PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I think it is great that the first lady is giving a helping hand and concerned she knows that her and her family are blessed and why not give some of the blessings back.
I operate a shelter for abandoned and homeless women and their children in Baltimore, Maryland I would have loved it if the First Lady would visit us and give us a helping hand.
if you have time visit almumtahinahhome.eventbrite.com And give a helping hand by donating to a good cause. God willing.
Posted by Nadia Auxila McIntosh on 05/04/2009 @ 05:13PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I make $80k a year and my cell phone is over 5 years old. Most of the people I know don't have cars that old. The point of the griping isn't the fact that the "homeless" guy has a cell phone, it's that he has a $500 up front, $100/mo cell phone. If it's a prepaid or refurbished model, that would put all us whiners in our place, but I'd give you 10-1 odds that if you found this guy and asked him where he got it, that would NOT be the case. Yes, we're making unfair assumptions, but that doesn't make them any less probable than yours.
Posted by Dave Anon on 06/01/2009 @ 08:16AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Ahh are we looking at the same picture? the one at the top of this page? where do you see a $500 phone? I sure don't The picture is far too small to positively identify the phone but I can tell you this.
Its not an Iphone. Its not a Windows Mobile phone and its not a blackberry.
Those are the ONLY phones that cost $500 or anywhere close to $500. Hell I paid $80 for my Blackberry Curve. (straight up used on craigslist)
I see what is likely a Nokia phone. You know some of the cheapest phones on planet earth.
I bet its under $99 brand new. you can get nokia camera phones for FREE.
Posted by Chris Taylor on 06/11/2009 @ 07:10AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Hey Chris Taylor, way to go!
But $3.4 TRILLION is only the tip of the iceberg. Wait until Obama and the Dems pass socialized medicine and their cap-and-trade programs. No one can imagine the costs of these two redistribute the wealth programs.
Soon, how many "less fortunate" are there going to be compared to how many there are now?
When the overwhelming majority of Americans are lining up for the one bowl of soup per day, who is going to be paying for the soup? Oh, I guess it will be the Chinese since they own us now.
Posted by Elaine Biggerstaff on 06/09/2009 @ 03:29PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I really don't think Mrs. Obama needs to encourage Americans to volunteer to help others less fortunate since we have been doing it for a couple of centuries.
In fact the very organizations and people that have done so much to help others for decades are the ones her husband and other Democrats attack, deride and hope to silence.
Organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities, and Catholic hospitals and other Christian-based organizations who Democrats oppose because they want to live by God's dictates rather than the dictates of the Democratic Party.
Posted by Elaine Biggerstaff on 06/09/2009 @ 03:49PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.