THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR
Posted by Catherine Morgan on January 16, 2007
picture by © romepictures
THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR — by Catherine Morgan
We have a growing crisis in America today, and it is our own countries blatant neglect of the homeless, the hungry, and the working poor. It was recently reported that there are 744,000 people that are homeless in the United States today. Even worse, over 40% of the homeless are families. Reuters reported that more Americans went homeless and hungry in 2006 than the year before and that children made up almost one quarter of those in emergency shelters.
Children and families are the new faces of the homeless and hungry in America, and it seems to me that most Americans, as well as the government would just like to turn a blind-eye to this growing crisis. Why is that? We are the richest and most powerful country in the world, surely we can help are own citizens? We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq alone, it seems shameful that we don’t even spend a fraction of that amount on helping the most needy in our own county.
Many people seem to take the attitude of….We shouldn’t give “hand-outs” to the poor, they just need to work harder….They wouldn’t be poor if they just worked harder. Contrary to popular belief, the poor don’t want to be poor. The truth is, that many of the poor in our country are part of the growing number of “working poor”, they work very hard, very long, and still don’t have enough money to feed their families. So, if how hard a person works really was a determining factor of whether a person would be rich or poor, many of the rich people in this country would suddenly find themselves poor, and the currently poor would be basking in the glory of their new-found wealth. Many American citizens work hard and get very far in life, and many others work hard and get nowhere in life…..that’s just the sad reality. Most of the working poor in our country actually work forty or more hours a week at two, three, or even four different jobs. I assure you, these people work very hard.
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Some other facts you might be interested to know:
U.S. Census Bureau, In 2004, the most recent data available, 17.6 million people lived in a working-poor household. This translates into 8.2% of all American families lived below the poverty level even though there was a family member that worked.
A report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that in 2002 more than 25% of working American families were classified as low-income, with incomes at 200% of the federal poverty level. This translates into more than 9.2 million families.
I certainly do not claim to have the answers to solve this growing crisis in our country. However, I do think that most of us need to change our attitudes toward the poor and the homeless. A little bit of compassion, and a little bit of empathy, can go a long way. (Jewel has a great song that says: In the end….only kindness matters). Think about this before you pass judgment on others, because it is so true….in the end, only kindness matters.
We will never be able to eliminate poverty in our country. But, we can try. We can also choose to be more kind, more compassionate, and more generous to the people in our country that are less fortunate than ourselves.
ALSO SEE: HAS THE WORLD LOST IT’S EMPATHY
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January 20, 2007 at 1:20 pm
We can also put a stop to things like legalized gambling that are simply corporate/government collusion to suck money from the pockets of the people who can least afford it. It’s scary, as the ability of the big companies to manipulate people has increased, they have succeeded in blaming poor people for their plight. The upward transfer of wealth has been accelerating since the 80s, God knows where this will all end. I agree it’s a terrible problem, but darned if I know the solution. JMO —Doug
January 23, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Yes I agree it is a serious problem that needs the attention of us all. There used to be a common feeling amongst Americans, a social responsibility if you will, a willingness to put a hand out for those in dificulty.
I feel the media, ALL of them are to blame. There is an escapist plague being pandered to, from the president on down.
When a serious national crisis happens, we are advised by the president to go out and shop: distract yourself, avoid thinking about it. Be a good consumer!
That friends is NOT the way of a Democracy. Democracy demands participation, in the solving of problems, in the discussion, in the decission making process. Citizens need to inform themselves and get out and tell their gov’t what to do.
By abdicating our responsibility; by allowing the dumbing down that is constantly presented on TV, radio, and in the movies, we short out the evolution to a higher plane of awareness. We become the goofs we see projected on the screen.
I believe in a country that is as rich as ours we need to demand a living wage for all working people. Regardless of the job. If that means some at the top need to release a little of their wealth, it MUST be done. It was not that many years ago that almost any job provided a wage that allowed a man to get married, buy a house, and raise a family. Today we see both parents working and still struggling. Is this progress?
Yet the rich get richer, and the president and the cesspool in Washington allow THEM not to have to pay taxes.
Well SOMEONE has to make up the difference! The workers of course are not allowed to deduct - taxes are deducted straight off the top.
Here are a few topics for discussion:
I believe LUXURY taxes need to be higher.
A FLAT TAX of 10% on EVERY earned dollar would simplify the system, making a greater income for the gov’ts with less difficulty of enforcement. This simple change would increase the gov’t funds enough to provide Health Care for all, and help to those in need.
A tax on every speculative foreign currency transaction could ELIMINATE all income taxes…and help to reduce the fluxuation of monetary value to a large extent. TRILLIONS of dollars a day are traded on foreign currency gambling! Of course people like Soros and Buffet would complain, but they already have plenty!
Would you be willing to pay 10% on all earnings to eliminate sales taxes and all other forms of gov’t fees?
Could you wrench yourself away from the tube long enough to educate yourself and your neighbor (might require going next door and introducing yourself).
Lets talk up a new way of living in this society - other than making war on our neighboring countries at the behest of big oil shareholders and multinational corporate CEOs.
What do you think?
January 24, 2007 at 12:26 am
“Yachtscrew”….Thank you for your very well thought out comment. I would have to say…I agree.
January 26, 2007 at 12:22 pm
[...] stop giving hand-outs to multi-billion dollar companies, when we have over 744,000 homeless people in our [...]
January 27, 2007 at 1:07 am
Those who argue that the homeless are largely mental incompetents or lazy and disenchanted social misfits are proven wrong time and time again by statistics. In my time in various political chats, though, the vast majority of Americans have little sympathy with the plight of the homeless.
Everyone is happy to maintain their lordships in their suburban castles but the time may come when the serfs raise pitchforks and burn down the missions. I’m not promoting it, but I’ve been on the street and I know the anger and complete despair that many of these people face from a society which deludes itself into thinking that everything is hunky-dorey. I’ve lived under bridges and in boxcars and not all the homeless are as simple or dysfunctional as one might mistakenly believe.
January 27, 2007 at 10:56 am
More on this…..
http://catherinemarie.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/has-the-world-lost-its-empathy/
January 28, 2007 at 3:11 pm
here’s a website that’s informing:
http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/
January 28, 2007 at 3:17 pm
“Neilwestbrook” — Thanks, it looks like an interesting site, I will check it out more later.
February 1, 2007 at 2:52 am
Hi,
I think the solutions to this problem has been known at least for the past 100 years, and incrementally there has been progress, and regression. But it’s been a constant theme of struggle.
I think a living wage would be a welcomed first step, and increase in social spending. It’s an economic fact that if you take the amount government spend on subsidies to private industries and transfer it to social spending, the economic effect on production and growth would be roughly the same, but the beneficiaries are different, because the general public would be empowered with this resource.
But there has to be more fundamental goals. If we are serious about democracy, then control over means of production, the economic sphere, must be under democratic control. That means challenging the legitimacy of private capital, in the form of the corporation today, that are essentially totalitarian and not accountable to the majority of the population. In my opinion that would mean challenging the rights of corporations to exploit, and at the same time building alternative industries, that are employee owned and controled, and based in communities and accountable to them. If this can be done on a large scale I think it would slowly replace corporate control of society.
Every time I talk like this people say I live in a dream world or something… but I really don’t think so. It will take hard work and dedication of many people, but there is no natural law that says we much accept the current condition or allow it to go on.
February 19, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Yachtscrew said “It was not that many years ago that almost any job provided a wage that allowed a man to get married, buy a house, and raise a family.”
I thought that statement bore repeating. I’m a working man today, drive a forklift though in the past I’ve been more. Time and again I hear people say “the good jobs are all disappearing” as though the situation were somehow supernatural and unopposable. The working class are befuddled and too busy trying to keep from becoming homeless to really stop and try to understand what is happening. They’ve been sacrificed by their government, Democrats and Republicans alike. I pray that the middle class will wake up before it’s too late for them too.
Turn off your televisions!!!
The working class has been under assault since the 80’s and we are utterly defeated. Time for them to turn their attention to you!
I could list a hundred tactics that have been used to demolish the working class but that’s ignoring the forest for the trees. The real problem is an alliance between Big Business and Government. Everything that has happened to us, everything that has BEEN DONE TO US stems from that. We don’t need more government handouts we need a legal LIVING WAGE.
A congressman recently said that he supports increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hr because “anyone who works full time shouldn’t have to live in poverty.” Excuse me but what do you think 7.25 an hr is?
A legal, reasonable living wage pegged to inflation is the only way out of this mess. Miniumum wage is just being used to keep businesses full of cheap labor. But no labor will ever be cheap enough for them. Case in point. The minimum wage in China is .50 hr. But it’s laxly enforced so American corporations in China typically pay .25 hr. (Think you’re going to be able to buy a $2000 Chineese car because of this? Think again.)
They will not be happy until slavery is brought back. And they have had such great success with us they will surely be emboldened to go after the middle class next. Don’t think it will happen to you? We didn’t think the government would ever let it happen to us either. But the government not only allowed it, it colluded with big business to destroy us.
And you’re next.
March 22, 2007 at 8:17 pm
A lot of homeless are invisible simply because they do own a car, but have no roof over their head except their car. They blend right in. Homelessness will never be solved except helping one homeless person at a time.
April 22, 2007 at 10:28 am
Forty percent of the homeless are veterans. This is an epidemic that no matter whose fault they are homeless something needs to be done.
I have a close friend in Nashville who travelled the world singing before crowds of thousands and on TV each week before millions as a Christian singer, and she left all that to start a ministry for the homeless and poor in Nashville.
Every week she puts on a concert and along with dozens of volunteers they pass out clothes and food. On Thursday nights she takes the volunteers to different projects and they put on a concert and pass out groceries.
http://www.bridgeministry.org
April 22, 2007 at 2:51 pm
That is so great….it’s just ashame there aren’t more people in the world like your friend….but God Bless her.
July 18, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I just wanted to comment that the person in your picture is not homeless… He may seem like he is homeless because he seems to be sleeping on a bench but he is an extremely hung over American student studying in Rome. I play football with this lad and understand that he had had to many adult beverages and was paying the price, at the time of the photograph. He just looks like a homeless guy … Just thought you should know he isn’t homeless.
July 18, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Hi Dave. I did know the picture was taken in Rome (I also have a link to the site I pulled the picture from), and I was pretty sure this person was not homeless (but he could pass for hungry or working poor…maybe?). I really liked the picture for it’s artistic quality, and thought it went well with this particular post. I just happen to think it’s a great photo. However, if you or your friend would like me to take it down, I will. I honestly meant no disrespect.
July 20, 2007 at 11:47 pm
No he thinks its funny and the fact that you said that he could pass for hungry or working poor will give me ammunition to make fun of him for the semester… thank you so much and he would not like you to take it down, i think he would be offended if you did take it down… Thank you so much and continue the writing… Rock on!
July 21, 2007 at 1:40 am
Thanks Dave. I’m so relieved, because I really love the picture. And, I’m always happy to provide a little ammunition for some good clean humiliation.
Thanks for getting back to me, and providing me with a good laugh. You “Rock on” too!
And…Tell your hungry friend I said “hi”, and thanks for being “cool” with me making him the poster child for the homeless in America. Actually, it’s really just under 1,000 people that think he is the poster child for homelessness, in the grand scheme of things that’s not so many.
December 30, 2007 at 2:26 pm
[...] THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR « Informed Voters Quote: [...]
December 31, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I am hoping that Catherine or anyone who has some knowledge will see this. I live in Seattle, on Broadway, Capitol Hill. I started writing a composition in 2004. It is about what gentrification can do to a neighborhood; this involves the rising cost of living, condos, Light Rail, addicts, homelessness. I believe it all connects in understanding what is happening. I live in an affordable housing unit right across the street from where an entire block is being torn down for condos. I’d like to find some sources for numbers and stactistics and facts and experiences regarding those who are working and are homeless. I have personally met one person who was homeless and working where I was; he quit coming to work and I don’t know whatever happened to him; he said he had the money he worked so hard for stolen one night. What I am going to do with this composition when it is finished I don’t know. I usually give my booklets away. I hope it will open eyes. Mine sure have been. I am working with, as much as I can, a local activist, Dennis Saxman, who has taken on the city and the developers and challenged them. His name does come up in a google search.