if we all had a chance to look closely and at ourselves. . . .we might feel differently. i am not worried about where my next meal is coming from by a long shot now, but in the early 80’s while putting myself through south alabama with noe help from anyone i had some really tough spots. did labor finders one summer jsut to eat. yes it bugs me a little to see the chronically on welfare lazy types but not enough to take the safety net away. i would like to think we are better than that. and i dont mind my money going towards that. better than some of the other things the government is spending it on. we all may rely on the safety net one day. (Oh and because i was a single male i wasnt eleigible for aid when i was in school. i dont mind, buffet doesnt mind, gates doesnt mind, why are my EMPLOYEES who are making 15-20 and hour 30-40k a year so hard on it, when they benefit way more than they contribute to society? (Public school, grants, loans etc.

Cameo, thank you. I woke this morning trying to think of how to verbalize exactly what you said. Thank you. The “Other America” is still with us.

I think people do not want to face that many of us are a paycheck or illness away from real poverty.

” Continued”
About 50% of the homeless are working, a high percent of them are families with children. One study finds that 42% of children in familes expreiencing homelessness are age 5 and under.
While you may not have needed help and that is comendable, there are many real people that do. And each of us can help, if not by giving money, food, clothing and other essientials, then by giving of our time, spending it in the chairities that help so many WONDERFUL people get back on their feet.

People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes.”

A high percentage of these “needy people” do NOT hit up every charitable organization, nor are they lazy, nor do they get 2-3 months worth the food. A HIGH percentage of these ” needy people” are hard working people. They are trying to makes ends meet and trying to keep their families fed.
Then there are the elderly who can’t make it on their SS, the disabled who can’t make it on their SSI, and the single parents who need extra help to feed their children. It was a good thing that you could find work jusme, in economic times when one job is hard to find, and day care is almost impossible to get, it takes everything that parents of low income families can do to make ends meet. There are a few people that do take advantage of the system but not many.
” True hardship cases” are many out there. And there isn’t enough help to cover all of them. So instead of making blasting statements like the ones you made, you need to go spend some time in the chairities that work with these people, to see for yourself the hardships they face.

Yes, I have bungalow - it was years ago, but I was a single parent raising 2 children.  I can’t say it was easy - I worked 2, sometimes 3 jobs, in order to pay for child care for all the time I was working.  It was my responsibility though, not the responsibility of the community or state, or any other organization.  My bills were all paid on time and my children never did without, and, I never took a handout from anyone and made it just fine.  Everyone can make it on their own if they want to.

thanx bungalow

I’m sorry, jusme, but have you ever had to choose between feeding your family or paying for daycare so you can GO to work? What you say may be true in some cases, but a lot people who are physically able to work also can’t find anyone to watch their children, or transportation to a decent job that will pay enough to get them out of their tough situation…Just something to consider.

justme, that is so true. christmas with some is the more the better. christmas for the really hard hit, is i just want to keep my home. people need to eat all year long and have a home all year long. its not a seasonal thing.

only beggars i’ve seen lately are on wall st. , banks , and the auto industry.

We all know that a high percentage of these “needy” people have hit up every charitable organization and church in the county.  By the time they get their food boxes from all these different organizations they have enough food to last them a good 2 or 3 months.  Additionally, a high percentage of these people are able to work, but prefer to take hand-outs.  The true hardship cases are rarely helped - those that when tragedy hits are to proud to beg.  Its those that need the assistance - they are out there working, but circumstances have put them in troubled times for a while.  If we could only sort out the beggars from the hard working hardship cases…..