|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Nov 27, 2020 11:56:50 GMT -5
I don't know if you watch the news but you certainly follow it right? Well the nightly news, which right now all we get is CBS, regularly if not constantly, shows these truly massive lines of cars with people waiting to get food from charities in what is being billed as possibly the worst crisis of "food insecurity" in our country ever.
Condition that premise with other news that the housing market, new home sales, are at record breaking levels. Just one example albeit the other end of the spectrum. Another would be taking a comparison with what you observe. I observe bars, restaurants, but most especially the fast food places, specifically ones like chik fi let, Bojangles, Starbucks, and others are so busy that the drive thrus are causing backups on the roadways.
But I do recall about a week ago that CBS nightly news ran the food insecurity story, complete with eye in the sky footage of the hundreds and hundreds gathered at multiple locations to pick up free food and literally the next minute ran a story about a "In n Out Burger" that had opened in Colorado where people waited for up to 12 hours to get to/in/thru there.
There was a story on a local FB page this morning that showed dozens of people that camped out all night in front of the Game Stop to get the new PlayStation.
Where are we really at right now?
|
|
|
Post by minx on Nov 27, 2020 17:37:21 GMT -5
I think we're seeing examples of the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots.
The haves will always be lining up for playstations and camping out for a burger, while we're also seeing the portion of the population who was living on the edge to start with fall into the abyss. And sadly, many of those people are the ones who also waited in line last year for the latest iPhone or gaming console because they had the money at that time. Now, they're feeling the sting of their peers as they line up in their Lexus to get a box of food (if you can afford a Lexus, you can afford to go grocery shop for your damn self!)
I don't know how (if at all) things can be fixed with the in-fighting we have in our government. Yeah, Amazon is creating jobs at record levels, but how many of them pay enough so that you can rent a decent place? Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos is the richest person on Earth and the conservatives don't bat an eye at how he got there, cause clearly he 'earned' it.
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 1, 2020 12:25:21 GMT -5
Obviously the two groups are just the bookends. We also really need those on the "haves" side of the bookshelf to spend money so that there are fewer "have nots". That's really important and maybe more important now than ever, so by all means, if you have the resources to spend money on chik fil et or buy your kids a nintendo.... but don't forget about the little pizza place down the street or the toy store downtown.
anyhoo.
What bothers me is the have nots being represented by those people spending 1000 bucks on a game or a phone, and then going to wait in line for hours to get charity food, which is in my opinion, really fucked up.
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 2, 2020 12:07:05 GMT -5
While I'm guilty of it myself, I do get annoyed at the whole 'worthy poor' narrative. As in you're not worthy if you have nice nails, a newer (or fancy) car, or designer duds.
Like you can't get a designer outfit at a thrift store, or have someone gift you a phone (friend's kid on full disability was given a phone by a friend when friend got a upgrade plan and get a free phone deal). Or you can't lose everything, but still have a new car that has a car note attached.
It just pisses me off that we insist of stripping people of every dignity or joy in life before we're willing to provide a minimal amount of help. It really made me sick that you had to go through what you did John, and jump through so many hoops before you were given some stability. It's not right.
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 2, 2020 12:59:39 GMT -5
Awe man. I typed a whole thing and my laptop puked. Oh well, much shorter: thanks, and I don't disagree. I just think that people need to use their morals to guide their priorities no matter what their station in life. Need a penny, take a penny. Have a penny give a penny. Neither? Sit pat.
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 2, 2020 16:34:08 GMT -5
100% agree!
|
|
|
Post by k9krap on Dec 2, 2020 19:56:51 GMT -5
Morals and ethics? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 5, 2020 15:39:27 GMT -5
Grab the windex...
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 7, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5
I can't get on board with him. Mainly because a large amount of the people who are suffering economic hardship and can't understand why the government isn't helping THEM are the same ones who voted for Agent Asshole not once, but twice.
I know we don't agree, but I can forgive vote #1. You're desperate for change, ANY change so you figure this asshole can't mess things up too much more than they already are. But a SECOND vote? My fuck bucket seems to be fresh out today. So don't cry to me about the government not stepping up to save your business, your farm, your job or your house. Because YOU VOTED FOR THE MAN WHO HAS REFUSED TO HELP YOU!
And I think it's important to understand what housing and food insecurity are. These are the people who still have housing and can feed their family most of the time - with a small amount of help they can hopefully be stabilized until things start improving.
OTOH, once you move from insecure to the 'less' category (homeless, foodless), then it becomes a lot harder and a lot more expensive to help. Helping someone with the light bill for a few months is cheap. Helping them get a new place to live and furnishings (pots and pans to cook at least) is a lot more expensive.
I wish the jackasses who voted Trump because he would make sure those 'freeloaders' didn't get stuff would seriously take a look at the corporations and CEOs of this world. And then I wish they'd start looking at the assets of their Senators and Congressional representatives and ask themselves how they got all that money. But that would mean they'd have to care about something and someone other than themselves.
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 7, 2020 11:33:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 7, 2020 16:07:22 GMT -5
Goddamn it, can't a woman be a pissed off judgmental bitch anymore? What has our world come to?
|
|
|
Post by bobathon on Dec 8, 2020 4:32:51 GMT -5
It would be cheaper for us to just provide housing for the homeless than to continue with the status quo. But the policy is "We Must Shame The Poor".
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 9, 2020 10:58:28 GMT -5
One thing they could do TODAY is expand the housing vouchers, and I will be sending up some smoke signals about that next month. Hopefully with the incoming upgrade at HUD, replacing the single most unqualified cabinet member (token member) in recent memory, things will change for the better. Unfortunately the history books are relatively incomplete when it comes to how the US deals with housing security for the most vulnerable. Since 2008, we've added millions to the already neglected situation/s.
I got a letter the other day from a HUD/rent controlled property in Louisa VA, yes LOUSIA, that when I applied to get in over a year ago, was given #10 on the waiting list. The letter I got last week said we are now at #9 and they just need me to update our info and if we want to remain on the list. PS- This is not HCV (voucher sec8) nor is it public housing. So as I see it, the problem is more than just funding, it's actual units of eligible housing which appear to be in very limited supply. And just wait until the moratorium on evictions expires.
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 9, 2020 13:56:45 GMT -5
You've nailed it John.
People simply don't understand how tiring it is to be poor or need assistance. So many lines, and so much paperwork. And so many requests for yet more information.
Not to mention lost paperwork, sitting on hold for hours to get simple answers and dealing with workers who are so mistreated that they simply don't give a rat's ass anymore.
I would love to see housing vouchers expanded, and I would love to see incentives towards more affordable housing options.
|
|
|
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 20, 2020 11:31:59 GMT -5
According to the All Things Lynchburg facebook page, the big box type stores Kohl's, Best Buy, Walmart, Sam's Club, and a couple others that were mentioned, were basically all the largest superspreader events of the year in our little corner of poverty engulfed America yesterday. A couple were saying the lines were to the back of the stores and people were on top of one another. I just hope those giving trees don't have a single tag left on them. I heard the Salvation Army in LYN was down about 25k from this time last year. It's weird because one of my new buds is with a local charity organization crushed their goal this year. wset.com/news/local/lynchburg-mustache-growing-fundraiser-reports-nearly-215000-in-donations If I remember right, they had another push and are at 300k.
|
|
|
Post by minx on Dec 21, 2020 10:43:50 GMT -5
I've been doing a lot of 'targeted' giving this past year. Trying to find organizations that make a year-long impact on people's lives, rather than just swooping in at the holidays. And it seems like local charities have lower overhead in terms of salaries and fundraising expenses.
Plus, been trying to volunteer time. So many charities relied on older volunteers who can no longer safely help out - they need younger people to step in.
Still feels like a drop in the bucket, and if one more person says "Wow, you volunteer a lot!" after talking about how they were up all night playing video games I may scream. 2 hours a week at the food pantry is not A LOT. And 2 hours playing with the cats and dogs at the SPCA is not A LOT either. So many of the people who have said this to me are in their 30's and don't have obligations like children - get your ass off the sofa and spend an hour helping out somewhere!!!
|
|