News-Record.com

Not a great book but with exposes problems one may not otherwise notice:

http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0805063897/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3308464-2246432?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178006140&sr=8-1

I don't think it's in this book, but one problem that hunts me is the lack of grocery stores in densly populated urban areas = no place to purchase "healty" foods at a fair price, but a McDonalds on every corner!

We sub-urbanites are spoiled with a real address to put on our job applications, decent clothing to show up to the interview for, reliable transportation to get us from a place we can afford to the best paying job we can find ...

with = ??? :)
hunts = haunts
densly = densely
healty = healthy

"responsible reporting would have mentioned the above options/issues along with food stamp hardships"

'responsible reporting' and a story about bleeding heart democrats' vote buying schemes is like oil and water.

Lamestream media defined.

Responsible reporting could have prevented the Bush Middle East Boondoogle and saved over 3,200 lives!

Maybe the LTTE writer should attempt to live/survive using food stamps (if he has not had the occasion).

Shalom

JDR,

Having lived in the ghetto in more than one location, I can attest that there is normally a Food Lion within walking distance.

Having lived off food stamps, I can also attest that the amount is MORE than enough. I gained weight while living off food stamps. I only had them for a couple of months but it was a nice couple of months.

I once saw a lady purchase a $100 in halloween candy using food stamps.

Seriously, though. I've seen some serious abuses in my life.

One lady I know received Section 8 housing, Food Stamps, spending money, and an Earned Income credit of several thousand dollars (don't ask me how cause she didn't have any kids). She was living better than me and I was working 3 part-time jobs and doing work on the side.

If we can allocate monies for freebies to every illegal that crosses the border, why are we having such a hard time accepting that our own homegrown citizens need help also? I say cut all food stamps, assisted housing programs, medicaid, free health care, free translator programs, free everything for illegals. That should provide much needed monies for our own disadvantaged and needy people.

I agree with the your theory, Yvonne.

But I don't know about agreeing with you in practice.

If an illegal immigrant showed up at Moses Cone with a broken arm and no money, are they to turn him out? What about the child of an illegal with a nasty infection? Leave him out as well, knowing that an untreated infection could lead to death? A laboring illegal immigrant? Tell her to deliver the baby on the front steps and then take the child inside and provide free healthcare for it, as it is an American citizen by right of birth?

It would be a very harsh alternative, perhaps that is the only way to do it. But I sure wouldn't want to be the one that had to send them packing.

The food stamps, housing, etc. would be much easier to implement, and more palatable as well.

As a member of the health care community, I am really interested in your opinion on what I raised above though. I'm not trying to play Devil's advocate, but am legitimately curious. My wife works in the medical field and her views are somewhat more absolute and harsh than my own, so I was just wondering your take on this.

I do not doubt your experience, NP .. but do doubt it is universally true (NYC for example). Consider also if you are feeding several, that's a lot of walking to the grocery store.

The real point was that McDonalds will certainly state they are on every corner because the Market demands it.

So, JDR, what's your explanation? McDonald's nefariously colonizes the urban center while grocery stores avoid it because of racism? If McD's is on every corner, it is because the market demands it, just as the market doesn't demand grocery stores (because if it did, they'd be there).

Not a theory, Brian .. and not nefarious. Just a fact that's been studied by minds brighter than my own:

McDonald's colonizes urban centers because they sell a lot of fries there. Grocery stores avoid urban centers because they require LOTs more space (investment) and profit margins are low. Additionally, inside a big store, crime is really easy to commit and really hard to control.

It's a simple fact ... exactly as you say: the market demands McD's on every and doesn't demand grocery stores. Why you being so defensive?

I will further say this reality makes eating well much more challenging for those living there. Being poor sucks, and the challenges needed to get out of the poor loop are much greater than most folks realize, especially folks like you and I that were raised with a full refrigerator, a back yard with good role-model neighbors, and especially those given a free college education. You want to challenge that too? Chill dude.

I am listening to Bush's speech on his veto....What a freaking joke!

Nit, If you think Food Stamps are such a waste, then what the hell do you think of the Billions wasted in Iraq? Can't wait to hear that enlightened answer.

Regarding Yvonne's comment of 9:38 AM and swanks' reply thereto three hours later ... how about a combination of the two points of view, to wit:

If an illegal shows up at Moses Cone with a broken arm, a serious infection or in labor, TREAT their medical condition as we would an American citizen in similar circumstances. THEN, when they are healthy enough, report them or turn them over to ICE for deportation or other legal remedy as prescribed by law.

By so doing, we have taken compassionate care of the urgent medical problem AND helped to stem the future drain on our resources by illegals.

Yes/no?

I was in Wal Mart today, and the lady in front of me had, three children, each had a cell phone,she paid for her food with the food card. She paid for her beer, and carton of Marlboro with cash. We went to Sheetz, to get a coffee, and this lady shows up in a late model Buick, and buys lottey tickets. A lot. Saying that I did meal on wheels for years, you see things that make you sick. We had this one house, that I could not go in, my wife had to do it. Saying that, many of our stops where big houses and nice cards. I agree with Yvonee, to heck with these illegals. The right answer, if you are healthy and young enough,make them get a job. If they are llegals, round them, send them home. Then their would be plently of jobs, of course there are many jobs any way. Welfare should be for people that honestly need it.

Swanks,

I should have been more clear. I was speaking of giving any illegal a medicaid card. Almost every illegal who presents to the ED where I work has a card. They show up for non-emergent care like it was any doctor's office. They abuse the heck out of the system while old American citizens come in half dead because they can't afford to go to the doctor or buy the meds they need. All the illegals have to do is go across the street to the clinic and get their meds for one to eight bucks.

I am not advocating refusing to help someone who needs emergency treatment. I am saying we should have the right to refuse treatment for non-emergencies. We should make every attempt to collect for emergency treatment rather than placing that burden on US taxpayers. Also no routine meds for free; only dispense for emergency situations.

In other words, I think the medical treatment issue should be handled as JA suggests. Treat them for emergencies and send them home (as in back to their home land).

To me, all this madness must be stopped somehow. Sometimes harsh situations call for harsh decisions. It is most unfortunate we have no one in power with the gonads to make these decisions.

It reminds me of a 60 Minute episode I saw years ago. A young pregnant woman was killed in an auto accident. Because she was pregnant, emergency personnel put her on life support in case the child was viable (they had no way of knowing how far along she was).

The mother arrived at the ED and insisted the baby be delivered and revived. She didn't care what extent of brain damage or lack of development the fetus had suffered. The upshot of it was, the doctor's had to do what was requested. The child was eight or ten when the episode was filmed. He was in a chronic vegetative state, was kept alive with feeding tubes, had undergone 12 operations for developmental (GI tract, urinary tract,) problems, all at the expense of the taxpayer. Not only that, we, the taxpayers, were paying the grandmother to stay at home and take care of him.

As long as no one has the gumption to say enough is enough, we will always have these struggles. I personally do not know how we can keep giving away the store and still stay in business.

As an aside, what do you think of the march today by illegals DEMANDING they be given citizenship?

Yvonne,

Thanks for the response and clarification. I agree with you on pretty much every count.

As for the march by illegals, I am somewhat perplexed by it. What was it, a year or so ago when there was a house bill on the table that was seen as being strict agaisnt illegals. They came out en mass and demonstrated against it, and our politicians backed down.

That is what perplexes me the most. Where does their political base come from, and why are our elected politicians seemingly unable to stand up to such protests? Many people can see madness in this, but our politicians don't seem to care one way or another.

They want citizenship? Then apply for it, the same way someone from Armenia would have to.

“This is what perplexes me the most. Where does their political base come from…?”

Go to Houston for the answer to your question. It is the forth most populous city in the country.