LOOK OUT the window today and count your blessings. An increasing number of our fellow Americans have no homes to retreat within, no windows to look out of.
Homeless people were the nation’s largely invisible shame in the years before the economic meltdown. Now, as their numbers grow, they are becoming visible as they gather in tent cities on open land in cities around the United States.
The old excuse for not trying to help the homeless went like this: Most of them are drug- or alcohol-addicted or just plain crazy, and their troubles cannot be solved just by finding them places to live and making sure they get enough to eat. In short, the homeless were not really human, but the wilder cousins of “normal” people and incapable of living in a civilized society.
That excuse doesn’t work any more. The evidence is all against it.
The Institute for Children and Poverty reports that more than 1.35 million children from 600,000 families are homeless in America. The ranks of the homeless are growing as more people lose their jobs and homes. But not all the homeless are without jobs — they just have jobs that no longer pay enough to allow them to rent a place to live. That’s something for Kansas lawmakers to keep in mind as they make a big production this week of deciding whether to raise the state’s minimum wage, which has been pegged at $2.65 an hour for the past 20 years.
The new homeless are a frightening reminder of just how flimsy the nation’s safety net has become. Too many American families live one paycheck away from the streets, and those paychecks are less and less certain as businesses lay off workers or shut their doors.
So we have the sad spectacle of families living in tents or cars, while in the same cities, hundreds of foreclosed homes sit abandoned and decaying.
It makes no sense, until we consider that they are members of a society that pays a favored few millions of dollars to make deals — no matter how crooked those deals may be — and pays others pennies to make useful things, grow food, guard the nation, teach children, enforce the law, fight fires and care for the old.
The homeless need homes, but they need much beyond that. They need to be treated as our neighbors. They need useful jobs that pay a living wage.
They need a small measure of justice.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
noel_stanton (anonymous) says...
Bravo, Mr. Kelly. Well written and true.
Noel Stanton
Moerlenbach, Germany
March 29, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I certainly agree and empathize, but your comments unveil a major problem in this nation and why so many are in such dire straits.
People don't save anymore. They buy expensive cars they don't need, luxurious homes they can't afford, and electronic toys no one needs.
I was raised being constantly lectured on the importance of saving a significant portion of my earnings. If I needed it but couldn't afford it, I saved up until I could pay for it then saved some more.
I can remember as a young single man in the 1970s, working for just above minimum wage, having my last three uncashed paychecks lying on my bedroom dresser until I found time to take them to the bank and deposit them into my savings account. I saved 20% of every dime I earned for my entire adult life. Most of the time I was not one paycheck away from being homeless; I was more like ten to twenty years away from being homeless.
At the age of 59 I was laid off during a corporate buyout. I didn't care. I had more than enough to live comfortably on so I retired. I supplemented my savings with social security when I reached 62.
I drive a very nice and dependable 10 year old car. I live in a very nice home I bought five years ago for well under $100,000. We don't take lavish vacations, own a plasma TV, or waste money on booze and partying. We do entertain, take an annual vacation, give to charities, and put a daughter through college.
We eat good, dress well, and live in comfort... because we always made sure our money went into our 401Ks and investment accounts before it went into checking or our pockets.
So, yes, I feel bad for those who are suffering in these hard times, but that's why my father always advised me to save: to be prepared for hard times.
Our society seems addicted to consumerism, materialism, instant gratification, credit cards, and "keeping up with the Joneses."
Millions are now feeling the painful result of that kind of thinking.
March 29, 2009 at 12:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
P.S., Mr. Kelley:
It sounds to me as if you are advocating "redistribution of wealth", a term banded about a lot of late. That is, expecting those who worked hard, earned well, saved, and amassed a "safety net", support those who did not.
I agree. But by choice, not by decree from a government favoring socialist ideaology.
March 29, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I don't mind being charitable to those in need, especially those who have fallen on temporary hard luck. I do, however, have a problem with helping those who seem to be chronically in need, or those who accept help yet still continue to live unproductive and undisciplined "feed me, feed me" lives.
Recently, we have learned that people have begun adding to savings accounts more than ever before. This reveals that in the past, they have been spending all their earned income and saving very little or nothing at all. Apparently, it took great fear to get them to save. I hope the trend continues because people must learn to save at least 10 percent of their income. Then they can be better prepared for any hardships that may arrive.
One of the most valuable things to teach a kid is to save a certain percentage of their paychecks and gifts like birthday or Christmas money. I don't think people do a very good job of teaching that concept. In fact, kids learn bad financial habits from their parents.
Neither schools nor banks do a good job of teaching finance for that matter. Every school should have a personal finance course for high schoolers. A full course, not just a silly workshop. It should be taught by bankers and finance counselors. For nothing! For nothing!!! THAT is helping your community you bankers out there. And the message has to be fairly constant in order to instill the bad habits that our U.S. community has seemed to develop.
Every now and then, a bank will have some kind of gimmick like naming a star if you open a savings account after a kid. Barf! Take out a big ad then discuss the value of saving money. Go into the schools and do the same. That's a valuable public service that ensures the future of strong banking.
March 30, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Patrick
When you quote Karl Marx you're supposed to put quotes around it. lol
"It makes no sense, until we consider that they are members of a society that pays a favored few millions of dollars to make deals — no matter how crooked those deals may be — and pays others pennies to make useful things, grow food, guard the nation, teach children, enforce the law, fight fires and care for the old."
I agree with create and bjnemp about teaching people to save and would add to that, teach people to give. My church supports a mission for men in need right here in Emporia. Most people probably don't know it exists. Faith based programs don't get much publicity. If we Christians were doing what we should there would be no need for socialism. The problem within the church is the same as the rest of the country, as bjnemp said "Our society seems addicted to consumerism, materialism, instant gratification, credit cards, and "keeping up with the Joneses."
March 30, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
butterfly (anonymous) says...
I agree with the concern about the growing homeless population in our communities. however, as someone in the 30's I have to say - our generation was not taught to save. our generation was the generation that parents gave everything to the kids - because they wanted their kids to "hav e better" than they did as children - and better to them equaled material objects.
and guess what - we now do the same thing to our kids.
how many of you know children who got the latest gaming system for Christmas this year- bought on credit?
The problem here - we never learned how to live on real money in the real world.
we never learned how to save.
i now live within my means but it was a lesson hard learned after paying off emense credit card debt.
i don't own or use a credit card now.
i pay for everything in cash - and have a savings account.
and my car is paid for. it is over a decade old - but i have a good mechanic who is honest - and i would rather pay him than a credit company.
i don't get to take my kids on vacation - because there is no cash for that.
my kids don't have the latest gaming system - no cash for that.
but we do have board games, sports, and walks - and alot of talking and tv - we do have a tv - paid for in cash.
this is a lesson it is going to take some time for everyone to learn.
they don't need a bail out - they need to wake up, give up the fake nails and tanning packages, buy a used car, and shop at garage sales like people who live in the real world!
April 20, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Maybe yy4u works at the SRS office and had to go to the post office to mail a letter and/or buy stamps after work..... Grow up.
April 20, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
YY4U & crack - I've also seen pretty much the exact same thing happen with AIG execs & others begging for government handouts and then getting huge bonuses & taking lavish vacations. Gee, if they take the vacation to..... japan or china, and we complain, then I'm sure crack will complain about how we're all racist against asians, or if they went to Madagascar, racism against blacks, etc...... well, the AIG execs (I have no clue, actually) - but I'm going to guess a large chunk of them were white males, so it's now obvious how I feel about myself.......
Damn box turtles were eating the lettuce in my garden last year. I'm not prejudiced against ALL colors of turtles..... just the ones razing my garden.... but the 3 turtles that I caught and relocated far from my garden were all fairly identical in their markings, so call me a racist, or a turtlephobe, or a conservative turtle nut who doesn't realize that even though the turtles migrated into my garden illegally, I should have set aside 25% of my garden for them....
April 20, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
butterfly (anonymous) says...
Open eyes gives a fabulous illistration.
Do you think if American born citizens decided we preferred life in Japan they would set aside 25% for us?
What about Canada? I bet the Canadians would let us have 25%.......
is there any other country in the world that a population can force itself on and get benefits for it?
April 20, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
crack, of course you are right, we don't know her actual situation. It might be as you portray, or she might be a drug lord/axe murderer. Some of the AIG execs getting bonuses might have recently lost their entire family in an accident, had their house burn down and the insurance won't pay on a technicality, and just found out they have terminal cancer. None of us know. We all begin judging at the cover, and we all need to be reminded that there may be more to it.
But you have to admit, you stereotype AIG execs as rich and undeserving. Forgive people for raising an eyebrow and thinking it looks just the tiniest bit suspicious to see a person in a fancy expensive car getting food stamps and mailing money to Mexico. Besides, you make the assumption that she is an American citizen. Do you know for sure? Maybe some of the AIG execs are even here illegally, and have been for 20 years? We really don't know anything about anyone, when it comes right down to it. I TRY to give the benefit of the doubt, but in this country these days, sometimes its tough. My first reaction I recognize isn't always the reaction I want to see in myself.
April 20, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Do you think we shouldn't cater to the deaf/blind either? After all, it's their problem they have a handicap. Why should we have to provide services for them? (rhetorical question)
I know you didn't want an answer but here it is anyway.
deaf/blind IS a handicap. Not being able to speak English is NOT. There are things that can be done about this and should be done. I'm pretty sure its FREE too. Call me what ya will I know ya wanna say I'm being racist sooo badly. I don't care. I'm just stating a fact you missed. Smile its all good right?!
April 20, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
You are right about us not knowing her situation. Sorry I forgot to add that to the first post. I do try and give credit where credit is do. But 9 times outta 10 if it looks, walks and sounds like a duck.... you know the rest.
April 20, 2009 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I am amazed at how in a few short minutes a serious conversation about the plight of the growing number of homeless people in this country...and what needs to be done about it degenerates.... into racially charged remarks about a hispanic woman in a Cadillac Escalade cleaning out the "welfare trough" and sending the money off to Mexico. Even if the story is true we have no real information as to the reality of the woman's situation. So the only thing we have done is diverted attention away from the real problem to focus on racial stereotypes and prejudices. Of course I'm sure seriously folks is going to want me to define what I mean by racial stereotypes...once again diverting attention away from "THE" real problem.
April 20, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks...I owe you an apology....aquick check back to another discussion on this site confirmed my fear that I had mis-identified you. I'm sorry! Since the poster I intended to identify has not yet commented on this subject I will withhold any further comment about that. Mia Culpa
April 20, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
bisquitboy
Could you please define for me what you mean by "racial stereotypes". Just kidding.;) I don't want to distract from the self-righteous feeling you and crack get from pointing out the fact that everyone is a racist. Carry on.
April 20, 2009 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks....could you please explain to me where I called you, or anyone else for that matter, a racist in my aforementioned post of April 20th, 2009. I accussed YY4U of using racilly charged remarks to accomplish racial stereotyping of hispanic people. But I did not call him...or you...or anybody else....a racist in that post. please why so defensive. I have described people and some activities in a general sense racist....and I have said others made themselves sound like racist....but not in this post. Try to keep up. But as Weltha has already pointed out....."if it walks, talks, and smells like a duck....".
April 21, 2009 at 2:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
YY4U
That's right. It all boils down to, legal = good, illegal = bad.
It is sad that there are folks from other countries that come here illegally and make the ones that come here legally look bad. One bad apple spoils the bunch, that sorta thing. While I personally try not to judge an entire nationality of people or stereo type them because of the bad apples, I do understand people's frustrations with the problem of illegal immigration and how it can lead to harsh feelings. I work in a local factory and have known people that have had 2 or 3 different names and every time claimed that that was their real name. This is a problem. For society to function properly we need to be honest about who we are. Who is it that you always hear about having an alias list? It's criminals. This is only one problem with illegal immigration, there are a lot more. I know it doesn't "sound nice" to be against illegal immigration but some times you just have to tell it like it is in order to fix a problem. I'm ever so sorry if I've hurt anyone's delicate sensibilities.
April 21, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Bite your tongue, you 2 :). You're going directly against our self-proclaimed "Most Powerful Woman In America", Pelosi.
Her recent statements on record as of late:
"Speaker Pelosi told an audience of illegal and legal immigrants that they were "very, very, patriotic" in a recent speech at St. Anthony’s Church in San Francisco.
She also said enforcement of the immigration laws by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents was "Un-American."
’We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits tax could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as ‘Americans’..’
-------------------------
So the 2 of you (and me) are just plain un-patriotic un-Americans. You should know by now that in this country, we are NOT to follow the law. That's just un-American.....
April 21, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
The subject of this editorial is the homeless population. How is the dialogue switched to immigration? And why did it switch to immigration? Two entirely different conversations.
April 21, 2009 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
We tend to stray, sundance... :). Why did it change to racism?
April 21, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
There are problems with illegal immigration....and illegal immigrants are often victimized as much or more by their own people than by people in the host country. But what does that have to do with a woman in an Escalade cleaning out the public trough to send it all to Mexico. Unless YY4U left out some very important information from his post he has no idea weather the woman was legal, illegal, or an American citizen. Just because you drive an Escalade....speak Spanish, and send money to Mexico does not bar you from being a citizen of this country. In addition...I too question why he suddenly shifted the topic from American homelessness to immigration. Could it possibly be because he was having a hard time finding a way to segue the first topic into making inciderary remarks about hispanics. I am not accusing...I'm just asking. But, at the very least, His Escalade escapade might possibly make him sound racist to some people. If one does not want to be accussed of sounding like a racist...one should be careful about saying things that sound racist.
April 21, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I read somewhere that Jimmy Carter's shoe size is 9 1/2 E.
April 21, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
Correct, we do have a noticeable homeless population in California. These unfortunate and needy souls choose to find their way to the cities across the nation knowing those who live there will be more charitable to their cause. Another noticeable difference between red states and blue states. In the blue states, we see ourselves as one community serving to benefit all. Red states; selfish. Refer to Mario Cuomo's speech at the '84 DNC.
April 21, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
“If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be.” William Allen White
It would benefit you to put a face to those whom you see and speak of as outcasts. Homeless, immigrants, persons of different faiths (or none at all), race, sexual orientation, etc.
April 21, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
Again, you've not admitted to lacking compassion for your fellow man. And by that I mean towards those who do not look, think or act like you.
The good thing is that with the passing of time, the number of bigots will dwindle.
April 21, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"Red states; selfish."
I wonder if anybody is going to jump all over sundancekid for stereo-typing people by what state they live in? Probably not. I personally support and have worked with our local men's shelter and I live here in Kansas, a red state. I guess stereo-typing is OK depending on who it's coming from. I think I'm starting to figure this out.... kinda sorta..... no........... no not really.
April 21, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I hope I'm just uninformed but I'm not sure because no one has told me for sure yet.;)
April 21, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
YY4U - You need help. Having friends whom you think should go back to where they came from? The state rests its case.
April 21, 2009 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I think the single most bigoted, uninformed, racist, hypocritical, stereotyped statement on this whole board was made with "Red States: selfish".
You see, ignorant stereotyping is OK for some, just not for others. AND, it's never stereotyping when YOU do it, because you're right: Only when others do it, because they're wrong.
Obviously.
April 21, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
YY4U:
May I recommend that the next time you have a relevant story that helps illustrate the joblessness of many of OUR citizens that you use a euphemism. I believe France would work just fine in your story (i.e. sending a money order to France). After all, we can say whatever we want about that country and it's not racist because in this culture, racism is accepted to mean in reference only to darker skin pigmentations. Since they are Caucasian too, we can attack them and blame all our problems on them and it's okay. ;)
biscuitboy:
You called??
April 21, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
CHOCOLATE milk????? That's RACIST!!!! Why not white milk??????? And don't even get me started on "homogenized".......... LOLOLOL.... :)
April 21, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof Yes you are right.....I did call.....glad to hear from you again. ohfortheluvof is the master of the perverted definition of racism and/or racist whereby the words are defined so preposterously broad that they would apply to almost everybody. So if everybody is racist....there is nothing then negative about racism. Using my definition, the one most used by the vast majority of English speaking people at this time, you could attack and blame the french for our problems without being racist because we are the same race...(white americans that is). According to your definition however attacking and blaming the french for our problems would be racist because virtually everything would be racist. By the way...I still remain curious as to why you feel it so necessary to redefine racism so broadly. Is your problem just with the definition of race and racism....or does it extend to the other hundreds of thousands of words in the English lanquage that also have multiple definitions.
April 21, 2009 at 7:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
bisquitboy
Would you say that sundancekid's statement about red states being selfish was stereo-typing and wrong. Would you like to address that since you like to get on here and point out how wrong everyone is.
April 21, 2009 at 8:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
biscuitboy:
I am about done with this topic, but I will try to clearly state my reasoning. I personally hate racism and have falsely accused people of it because I have been over-sensitized to it just as you have. However, this truth was pointed out to me: if I tell you a story in which I disapprove of a white person or predominantly white country, you would have little problem with it. If I change the name of the country to any Latin or Mexican one or the name of the person to a darker skinned person, you would jump all over me for it. If the disapproval has nothing to do with the person's skin or that nationality, it is not racism. I believe the over-sensitized definition of racism to be the perversion. YY4U's story would have made the same point about our economic condition if the country he named had been Canada, but an over-sensitized person jumped on it because they automatically thought of the skin color and assumed it was meant hatefully about that skin color or nationality.
Once again, I brought this up on the other story because I can relate--I'll have to tell the story about when I really assumed wrongly and offended someone badly a different time--once again I'm out of time, but at least I got to respond this time. I hope this helps you understand my perspective whether you agree with it or not.
April 21, 2009 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
A black guy, a Mexican guy, and a jew walk in a bar... No, it's bedtime.... G'night all!
April 22, 2009 at 1:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof Thank you for your well thought out and inteligent explanation of your position. I now understand what you are trying to say and overall it makes sense. I too am tiring of this topic for the time being, and I apologize for waiting so long to respond. I was however in bed at the time you made your post so I can get up this early and go to work. My problem now is not understanding your position....you explained it well. But weather right or wrong...the perception of racism does nothing to move the conversation forward. Instead it sidetracks it into unproductive and silly arguments such as the one several of us have been engaged in here. My point is, the argument YY4U was trying to put forward could have been made with less emotionally charged hyperbole thereby avoiding the counter-productive perception of racism. Of course the point would have then been perceived as dry and stuffy (as are most of my post), rather than caustic and witty (even if percieved badly bymany). Which one is best...I don't know. I do however look at your position now with greater respect....and I hope you get the chance to read this post for that reason.
April 22, 2009 at 6:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
noel-stanton were you a tall gangly kid in the class of 1959 at Emporia High School. If so...this is a Hi from the past. I was a short, blond haired, mildly delinquent punk from the wrong side of the tracks. And though we were never friends...I always thought you were a nice guy. I would tell you my name....but since my post often tend to p---- people off my anonimmity might be best preserved.
April 22, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
moving to a forum:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/...
April 22, 2009 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )