I cried twice today....

Once were tears of joy. My 20 year old nephew's college baseball team qualified for the Junior College World Series, to be held in Grand Junction, CO next week. I have watched him play since he was 5 years old, I know all the work he has put into this game, how much his parents have done for him. I hugged him and cried after the game.

The second time they were tears of frustration. On the way home from the game about a 2 1/2 hour drive, I picked up a hitchhiker (the first time I have done this since 1980), but the older woman with two tote bags seemed to be in need of help. I drove her about 80 miles. I learned that she was 62, she was en route from Cumberland, MD to Madison WI, to live with her sister. She was divorced, her ex lives in New England, she had a son who died in a car crash a few years back. She was retired having worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse and receives social security. She had lost her rented room, and that's why she was moving. She and her sister also retired, think they might be better off if they combine their retirement income. All this woman owned was in these 2 tote bags, clothes consisted of 2 pairs of pants, 2 flannel shirts, a few T-shirts and a windbreaker. No money for a bus or a train to WI.

WTF is wrong with this country, that we now have senior citizens hitchhiking across the country. I dropped her off at a ramp, told her to be safe, Godspeed. I drove off with my rear view showing me a woman who had about another 600 and some odd miles to go before she could rest her head.

:hug:

People don't want to hear about poverty. About homelessness.

Without hearing it, they can't/won't do anything.

I don't know what to say or what to do.... we need to build some fires under people!

Thank you for caring....:hug:

Other way believing themselves somehow superior in that it would never happen to them so therefore those that find themselves in such horrific living conditions are justified in their minds by blaming the victims as their way to ease any niggling of conscience that might be linked to sympathy,

Far too many humans remain ignorant of that simple fact

Us. And. Them.

What are WE doing to change anything?

Continually blaming the RW is not making any changes anywhere.

Like it or not we on the left of the political sphere have to work along side everyday ordinary citizens whom consider themselves right of the political arena because in reality it is those in positions of power both left and right and those in between whom are not fighting hard enough for "all" the people, proof being in the votes up on capital hill and I see little chance of it changing any time soon.

Having witnessed pretty much the bare minimum amount of empathy and aid given our nations homeless by middle, left and right average citizens I have come to the conclusion that it is as you state, blaming one group will not help to solve anything for those in need.

Watching the amount of coverage I have witnesses by the media for those Americans facing hardships after disaster after disaster the last several years verses say twenty years ago I am coming to the conclusion that there is no doubt left that we the people weather homeless or not have little to no representation interested in vesting, time, money, as well as needful services and are slowing being forced to realize we and we alone will soon have only ourselves to depend on and like it or not may have to resort to a revolution soon if we ever hope to regain any resemblance of standing not only in our country but inside the very offices that sit others deciding our fate simply ignoring if or at all it is a benefit to the majority of average citizens.

It is not impossible to find that one day though never having thought possible that the homeless could become more normalcy for the average citizen than one ever dreamed possible which is the reason that leaves me with the belief that if we do not fight for "us" together instead of this ignorant constant belittling of each other than we are bound to find ourselves losing the fight to regain our country back from those whom have no desire to share the bounty inside our very borders.

What is see is that everyone is still clinging to the idea of waiting for leaders to "do something". THAT is the big reason why we are in such depths of despair.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

There is much that everyday "progressives" can do about homelessness, but it isn't sexy, so it is ignored.

Example #1: Over 300,000 people wrote in support of Keith Olbermann, which prolonged his tenure at MSNBC. Neither he nor any of the other "progressive" media talk about homelessness and actually educate people about it, so "progressives" spout the same nonsense as do RWers. Yet, we couldn't evem get 10 DUers to write to "progressive" media to raise the issue of homelessness. 300,000 vs about 10. Now, tell me, how can this be?

Example #2: As much as I and others have posted about it here, today there were still people expressing surprise that cities outlaw feeding homeless people. STill. ???? How in the world can we be suppressing that much important information about such a large segment of our population??

Example #3: Recently a DUer posted about the low-income housing buildings of Tuscaloosa being destroyed. Those of us who are willing to READ and UNDERSTAND housing issues know that the chances of that housing being replaced are minimal. I posted the factual information on that. Yet, the original post got little attention, and my posting about it got very little, and NO ACTION. NOBODY was willing to do much with it. Typically when I post about homelessness, there may be a couple or three people who take it on themselves to write an LTTE, or such. The rest...?

Example #4: In a relatively small town, there was a sizeable tent city, which the cops were harassing. There was also a small group of young, not affluent people who befriended the homeless people. These young people worked restaurant jobs, so they didn't have $$$, they didn't have standing and influence in the town, and they didn't have legal backgrounds. When the cops sprayed the sleeping bags and clothing of the homeless people with pepper spray, and slashed their bicycle tires and tents, they called on this small group of young people. They went with cameras and recorded the damage, and interviewed all the homeless people and documented what had happened. They took this documentation to the chief of police, and 2 cops were fired immediately. After an investigation, one other cop was fired, and one quit rather than be fired.

THAT is something that DUers can do! If they can have meetups at peace demonstrations, etc., then they can come together and form groups to protest and intervene in these kinds of harrassment cases.

YEt, there is absolutely ZERO interest in it.

I will keep saying this... we have a Homelessness Epidemic in this country because it is ALLOWED. Because people tolerate it and look the other way. When ALL of us "progressives" come together to change it, it will change.

We need to stop BLAMING the RW, stop wasting so much time posting about Sarah sneezing, and get busy with things we CAN do!

In a very small border town over run with many many border patrol as well as local law enforcement, in towns such as theses believe it or not there are places set up for those unable to pay a thing, I assume the smaller the town the easier it is to receive help, there are those that still stand at stores asking for spare change even when they know it will bring in the law if noticed the reason for that being they are always on the lookout for illegals and drug smugglers. I for one don't blame the private sector that identify themselves as repugs other than asking them why in the world they would knowingly lable themselves such but that is neither here nor there, everyone I see gives when asked regardless of party affiliation.


But I cannot agree that more does not need to be done in pushing our elected officials from all sides to open their eyes to the growing epidemic sweeping the lives of so many American citizens, and the very real fact that far too many find themselves in that position because of the very horrific ignoring of those citizens needing mental wellness care along with the comfort that far too many take for granted such as a working roof over ones head.

There are many many problems facing the citizens of this country and though yes we the average citizen need to get off our butts and find ways to help those unable to help themselves we the people also need to come together as a force to be reckoned with in order to force the citizen elected officials to start once again doing the job they actually get paid for courtesy of those very citizens they continue to ignore

As much as I despise the mindset of the typical faux parroting individual, I also recognize that it is up to us to make them realize that they need us as much as we need them and for once put down the swords used agai st eacother and strike up arms against those that are truly attempting to herd us into one arena

Got it.

And, please STOP equating homelessness (and we are PEOPLE, not "homeless)) with "mental illness". Most of us are no more mentally ill than any people posting here.

Please, there are facts available.. please avail yourself of them. Nothing I say can get through, so please go to the website of the National Coalition for the Homeless and read the fact sheets.

No where have I stated that such does not exist, I do travel outside this little town, but one of my pet peeved with homelessness is that far to many are those with mental illness, to me that is firmly a health care concern and it bothers me to no end that in the light of dear old reagan himself a receipitent of of mental clarity they have been thrown to e streets and to the wolves so to speak, become outcasts Puranas americas forgotten citizens, there are many groups ignored and I for reasons that are personal have pinpointed our fellow citizens that have found themselves a taboo subject in this country and it is as disheartening to me as all those other groups so ignored.....

Not your enemy here nor am I ignorant of the plight of those Americans in need that are daily getting not only ignored but when seen getting treated as animals

I asked you to PLEASE read the facts.

I repeat, you are badly misinformed, and if that is directed at ME, then you need to stop.

NOW.

READ.THE.FACTs.

It all, I just have a personal interest in the 16 percent

Some people have their priorities, and if that is yours, so be it.

Just remember the homeless people who are mentally ill are only 16% of the homeless population.. that leaves a whole lot of us who are not.

http://www.richardcohenfilms.com./taylor's.htm

This is what ALL of us are allowing.

The way this country ignores it's elderly never mind those of lesser age, your story adds another outrage that I feel anytime I am faced with the so or self called pro lifers, you know the ones, the ones who fail to follow through in their religious doctrine force fed nonsense that has them in streets holding up stupid signs and bothering innocent people while the weak and hungry continue to be ignored....

First time was when I found out my 4 day old granddaughter (child of my middle stepdaughter), after being home two days, was admitted to the hospital with a condition that, if left untreated, could have caused brain damage.


Second time was when my stepdaughter's younger sister, up here from Texas for the birth of her niece, was at the hospital with her sis while the baby was put into NICU, and had a miscarriage herself.


Everyone is fine now, but it was an awfully hard day for all.

Is your granddaughter going to be okay? I'm glad you said "everyone is fine now"--that sounds promising. It's so hard to tell, in a baby that little, what's normal and what's not normal--somebody must have been very alert, which is great, but near misses are scary.

I'm really sorry about your other stepdaughter's miscarriage--that's just awful. What a horrible day. :cry:

that was trying to walk miles to the bus station for similar reasons. We saw her walking down the highway by the house on a pair of crutches stumbling along.

She told us a long story and then told me to feel her legs so we knew she was not lying. She had all steel plates in her legs. She also had quite a cough that sounded to me serious. She did not want any medical help and just wanted to get to her relatives.

We took her to a major bus depot miles away, bought her bus ticket for her and give her about $100 too for meals and some spending money to help her on her way.

She was in her 70's.

There are a lot of people in this country in absolutely miserable situations and they are swept under the rug in this country, out of sight out of mind.

The US really really pisses me off on how this is the country for corporations and profit at any cost, but not for ALL people. It really disgusts me.

I know, other countries are far worse, but the United States could do far better IMO!

Maybe she asked you to, and you had already been kind to her. But if I saw that, had picked her up, and was in the position of having to drop her off on a freaking highway -- and I had a working credit card (something I know a lot of people don't have these days) I'd have bought her a bus ticket.

Did she have any money for food? For a hotel? Anything but the two tote bags?

where I dropped her off, was a very busy area for traffic, trucks and personal vehicles. I wish I could have done more, but I'm not working, either. And she was asking to be near truck traffic for her journey.

I wish you could have done more but as you say you're not working. I hope the best for you both.

Thanks for caring and writing this up. It made me think.

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town-I did the best I could. You should have seen the deserted road I picked her up on. There were no businesses within a thousand feet from that area. You will not make me question what I did. And that is a fact.

next ride at a crossroads.

The ramp would be the place to get the next ride.

n/t.

but I can appreciate many are not in the financial position to even do that right now. Please think a bit about that.

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Is an ocean of rage the depth of which most will never really see. I know it well. Too well. I'd like to be free of it.

It is the embodiment of every pain, sorrow, and injustice. It it the reaction to all those as well as every treachery on Earth.

There are powers that strive toward an ultimate abyss.

Thank you for acting against them, no matter how small such acts may seem.

They are greater than you can imagine.

but I understand that in these troubled times, some of us can do no more than that. You shortened her travels and her travails by 80 miles. You picked her up when perhaps a hundred motorists passed on by. Thank you for your humanity

the OP didn't. She cared enough to stop and pick her up. Kudos to the OP for caring and doing what she could to help.

Hope it will serve as an example to others. :thumbsup:

Thank you for your kindness to this woman.


Even though I am thankful to be an American, this kind of stuff that makes me frickin hate this country some days. Some are more equal than others. Opportunity can be purchased. So can justice. And we largely pretend not to even see the lives that we throw away.

and heartless.

They do nothing that is good. Not a single thing.

:thumbsup:

And voters who vote for them, too, the dumbasses.

over substance.

You only got her side of it.
She was a licensed nurse and now in retirement her life is in financial ruin?
I wonder if you asked people close to her if she has abused alcohol, prescription drugs...things she did not tell you about.

prescription drugs..."

:wtf: The woman was hitchhiking - not at a social event. Just when do you think the OP met people who knew this woman personally? C'mon... really?

It's called "Charity".

I know nothing of you personally, however as you are posting on a progressive site, a democratic discussion board, I'll assume you are here in good faith, and that you know and practice the basic precepts of Democratic values. (See Civil RIghts act of 1967; Johnson's War on Poverty SOU Address 1964 and subsequent Economic Opportunity Act of 1964; Food Stamp Act of 1964; FDR's New Deal and the poor).

And then there was Christ... not that you may or may not be Xtian, of course, however Christ, Mohammad, Buddha and other prophets of time taught the same precepts of Charity.

And so WWJD in this instance... would he look for and question her worth as you do?

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The OP rocks, and she should be commended for her kindness. Your thought processes however.... not so much.

:applause:

I would only add the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, and FDR's Four Freedoms.

There are those who are just pot-stirrers.... just want to rile people up. But you used the opportunity to post some important precepts, and I thank you for that! :yourock:

for your passionate commitment to issues of poverty and homelessness. As someone who reads daily but posts infrequently, I know that your voice, your words, your passion, and your own personal struggles are known to a multitude of DUers just like me. We may not say much, but we hear you. We do. I do. And we're working to change it. :)

And :yourock: too.

Best, :hug:
Melinda

"We may not say much, but we hear you. "

I appreciate hearing that. I often wonder if it does any good at all to put myself out on a limb.

However, I will say this.. We all need to be acknowledged, and people who speak up for unpopular causes even more so. When people choose not to "say much", they may find that those voices dry up.

We *need* to hear those kind words!

I would be very interested in hearing the work you are doing to "change it".

:hug:

I work for a private non-profit social services agency in one of the smallest Counties in California. I wear a number of hats- at present my main focus (it changes dependent on need) is working within the poorest community in our County seat to develop a Community Garden. This area has a 38% unemployment rate, substantial gang activity, drug use, many hungry and homeless souls, and it is my mission to assist as many as I can so that not only are their material needs met, but that those less fortunate than myself know they are valued and loved.

Some of my duties include providing legal assistance (I'm a Paralegal), referrals to resources, assisting in identifying personal/community issues, providing material assistance (ie; emergency housing), Community Education (many types) and Marketing/Outreach.

Check your email in a moment and I'll send you a link to the agency's website. :)

*Edited to add: I have a 9 week youth summer program beginning in 3 weeks - yikes! lol, j/k... it's going to be fun!! ;)

I don't know if you saw the thread on DU where I talked about the new "Green" low-income housing in Denvoid. Some here talked about the counseling on site that was provided, and several of us are not all that enchanted with that.

More important, I think, is to have on-site legal help! That is actually a much greater need and something that is so hard to find. I would much rather see that provided in a housing situation, as it is both preventative, and helpful to solve ongoing issues. Without legal help, people are literally at the mercy!

It certainly sounds like you have your hands full!

:hug:

We needmore like you in this world...not like poster #10.

who deeply believe in caring for one another in this world. I see 'em all over this thread, and my faith is somewhat restored. Thanks AuntieB, I appreciate your kind words. :hug:

Thank you! :pals: :blush:

What the OP did was based on compassion and charity, not judgment about whether or not she DESERVED compassion and charity.

The post you responded to was the conservative view in a nutshell!

The woman needed help, and the OP gave it. I don't understand this mentality of charity having to be "deserved". Jesus didn't demand that charity be "deserved" by those he fed, healed or comforted.

Because clearly people with addictions don't deserve human dignity. What is wrong with people?

And to the OP, good on ya. If we all did what we could for other people, like you did in this instance, this world would be a better place.

...people who have addictions.

Addictions are people in pain, trying to get a break from that pain. They may
be dealing with difficult issues from childhood, or horrible losses or economic
horrors that most of us can't imagine.

It's time to stop erroneously believing that people with addictions are lazy
or monsters.

They are in pain. Their addictions are symptoms of an overwhelmed and overburdened
psyche. They need our understanding and our compassion, not judgments.

The right wing has taught us to loathe these people. Funny, many in the right
wing are addicts. They're addicted to abusing others and using their power to
harm people and make life worse for the weak and the poor. Sociopathic behaviors
are also an addiction for people who have deep, deep issues--but don't want to
deal with them. So they harm others.

I think Republicans sense themselves in other addicts--and their answer is to
shun and demonize those people. Don't fall for the Republican traps.

Addicts need our help and understanding.

I've never been an addict, but I do understand pain and how important empathy and
compassion are when you're going through a difficult time.

There was absolutely NO indication she was addicted.

To charge that is prejudice.

I can easily see how someone 62 years old may not have the ability to do it anymore, particularly if they have any health problems.

Thanks for that.

Are you aware that a LOT of rich people DO?

Are you aware, for example, that anesthesiologists have about a 90% addiction rate?

Yet, we don't rag on them, do we?

I wonder why that is...........

I don't know how lucrative being an LPN is, but it won't make as much as an RN.

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if she had dared to have the audacity to abuse drugs and alcohol? would you spit on her and say "You deserve this and worse."?

I think you would when you make baseless accusations against an elderly woman obviously in need of help.

You're fearful "What if..." shows what a scared person you are. In this case scared of a senior citizen walking on a lonely road.

:applause:

I think your inner Randian just peeked out a little.

She MUST have DESERVED what she got, right?

health care costs. Maybe she had to choose to pay for medical care or rent.

This is another case of blaming people for being poor by Zax2me.

As patiently as I can because I am having to write this over and over on every damn discussion about poverty so that SOME idiots who do not get the truth hear this.

Brace yourself, I am going to yell because activists for low income people like me have to keep saying it over and over and over:

POVERTY IS AN INSTITUTION BASED ON RACISM, SEXISM, CLASSISM AND AGEISM.

WHY it is kept as an institution????? HMMMM? BECAUSE ALL CLASSES ABOVE IT PROFIT OFF POVERTY, THAT'S WHY.

Now ...you may look at yourself in a mirror and ask, "How does little ol' innocent me profit off the poor?"

1. The next time you buy anything at WalMart, remember the Walton family is making BILLIONS off of not paying a livable wage while locking their workers in after hours and making them work for free. They are using forced labor in places like India, China, Bangladesh, oh and lets never forget the Mariannas where they make goods claiming they are "made in America" while women are undergoing rape and forced abortions and unspeakble work conditions, JUST SO YOU CAN BUY CHEAP STUFF FOR YOURSELF THAT THEY COULD NEVER AFFORD.

2. When you make one of those lovely tax-deductable donations to a non-profit industry who is making money hand over fist while using the poor as their "merchandise" by taking in federal dollars and private donations and spending literally 1000's of times more on themselves than on the "services" they supposedly provide.

3. Baby Boomers are the ONE AND ONLY generation who not only paid for their parents' Social Security, but for themselves, while those before them and those after them pay only the preceding generations. What does this mean to you? THAT ELDERLY LADY ALREADY PAID MOST OF HERS SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO.

4. A welfare mother pays more taxes than you do, because in EVERY STATE the poor pay the highest proportion and make the largest sacrifice to pay taxes for the Commons. Facilities that the upper incomes use far more and the poor do not use as much if AT ALL such as: roads, courts, sports arenas, utilities (phone, electricity, water, etc), property taxes (yes they pay property taxes every time they pay rent), toilet paper, food, they pay WAY more than any other class. BECAUSE OF THEM YOU DO NOT PAY As HIGH TAXES AS THEY DO, THANKS TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE OFF LITTLE OLD LADIES, POOR FAMILIES THEIR LITTLE BABY'S BACKS

5. Last of all and I am going to yell again...if you think substance abuse is only prevalent among the poor, you are wrong. IT IS JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE IN UPPER CLASSES BUT THE POOR ARE ENFORCED AND INCARCERATED 1000 X MORE. Besides the fact these rich deadbeats do not pay the taxes, they still use the medical insurance and facilities as much if not more than the poor ~ and much of that is also tax supported and paid for with low income dollars.

Thus the assumption that this poor woman must have been a substance abuser is just plain ignorant.

Puff, puff, puff. There! All better now...

Cat in Seattle

You go girl! :fistbump:

Thank you for acknowledging this unsung hero! :hug:

This is one of those times. I'd have put her on a plane.
Thanks for picking her up. I thank god my mom and her partner have pensions, unless Chris Christie gets his hands on them. They should be retiring soon, and fortunately they also have savings.

Yet, there doesn't seem to be much interest.

There is much that people can do to change the things that cause emergencies like this.

We need to do them.

It breaks my heart to see elders suffering like this :(.
Thank you for helping the old lady

"It has been reported that since 1993 there has been a 39% increase in homeless elders, and according to a report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the future of U.S. seniors in poverty is dire, with increases rising drastically over the next decade. If current trends continue, the decade between 2010 and 2020 will see a rise from 44,172 homeless elders to 58,772. By 2050, that number is estimated to jump to 95,000."

I have come to a dead end trying to figure out how to get people active in this issue. It just doesn't rank in importance, so therefore it will get worse and worse.

I guess we are comfortable with that.

I wouldn't have been able to let a 62yr old woman walk by herself 600 miles... Of course, how many would have even stopped like you did? Thank you for the 80miles.

there need a simple bus ticket, or a used car, or even a bicycle, to just turn their lives around in a tiny way.

I think the best thing you offered her was a sympathetic ear. Im sure you were greatly appreciated. :hug: Keep up the good work

I would have probably drove her to WI and give her and her sister a little extra spending
cash. I'm a sucker for sharing.

I'm also 62 and back in the 60's we wouldn't think twice about putting our stuff in a bag and hitchhiking all over the country. Most of us never expected to be doing it 40+ years later, though, and hopefully most will not be in the position of the poor lady you picked up. When she connects with her sister she'll be fine. You did what you could and I'm sure she appreciated it.

and life is a crap shoot. Or maybe she should have made better choices in her life, watched her money better, married a better man. Maybe she was one of those "lazy Americans" in her youth that I read about in another post a couple days ago. I'm sure the libertarians will explain the moral in all of this.

The truth is that our "economy" is a reflection of our values. (By "our" I don't me we here at DU, but the country as a whole.) We are taught to regard the economy as a wholly autonomous and self-organizing thing, something that confers value in a neutral and unbiased and yet justifiable way, something as natural as the birds and the bees. It's not. It's a system set up to favor the rich. It strip mines the value of the labor of the many to enrich the few. It's a planet-killing machine that we're all caught in, mesmerized by the hype and the media that convince us that it has to be this way.

When I was in Russia after the collapse, a friend, Horst Von Heyer, who's done international relief work all over the world for 40+ years, made that comment to me. Everywhere in Russia at that time, people were hitchhiking, and often it was elderly people. "You can tell the poverty of a nation by the age of its hitchhikers." It was such a vivid experience/memory that I put it in my book "The Prophet's Way."

it's too bad we couldn't form some kind of chain to give her rides all the way. I hope she makes it okay.

:pals:

I wish we knew where she was now. We could totally organize that.

I would never have the guts to pick up a hitchhiker.

I always watch for homeless people. My heart goes out to them, and I think that the presence of homeless people in our society is the most shameful thing about us.

And, yes, since I always watch for homeless people, I have noticed the increasing number of elderly women who are lonely, old and living on the streets. It is just painful to watch this new development.

Back when I worked in the field, we saw women in their 50s, but not the very elderly women that I am seeing now.

When will the selfishness, the heartlessness end?

I'm too skeptical about picking up ANYONE.

You have to do what you can to help.

Greyhound picks up in Cumberland and goes to Madison. I can't afford the $178 either but I could scrounge 10 bucks and would keep calling everyone I know until I scrounged up the rest.

I'm not judging you at all. Please don't misunderstand. I'm just saying I couldn't leave a 62 yr old woman on the ramp.

may we soon curtail the abuse.

Thanks for the report... and go nephew!

A system that does this to people is "success"?

You can see evidence of that right here on DU.

:cry: