Comments on: The Bad Old Days http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43:22 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: yttik http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1071169 yttik Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:19:55 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1071169 Thank you for the story, I really enjoyed reading it. That kind of poverty never really went away, although it did for me. I still celebrate hot running water. Every darn day. Ironically I just got back from giving someone a ride home from the grocery store, carrying plastic milk jugs full of water, living with a tarp nailed up over the hole in the roof. I go out in this rural county all the time and see some pretty incredible poverty. People living in campers and sheds, cars, tents, or crumbling houses that probably cost more in property taxes then they are worth. Thank you for the story, I really enjoyed reading it.

That kind of poverty never really went away, although it did for me. I still celebrate hot running water. Every darn day.

Ironically I just got back from giving someone a ride home from the grocery store, carrying plastic milk jugs full of water, living with a tarp nailed up over the hole in the roof. I go out in this rural county all the time and see some pretty incredible poverty. People living in campers and sheds, cars, tents, or crumbling houses that probably cost more in property taxes then they are worth.

]]> By: Steve_in_KC http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070911 Steve_in_KC Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:59:26 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070911 Thank you for your kind words, Leslee. They warmed my heart! :) Thank you for your kind words, Leslee. They warmed my heart! :)

]]> By: Steve_in_KC http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070894 Steve_in_KC Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:49:43 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070894 Benny, thank you very much. I should have closed the article with an update that I am now (recently) gainfully employed as Office Manager for a good company, and have company-paid health insurance, just so people don't feel sorry for me. :) But just a year ago, I was selling belongings to pay the rent, because of the age discrimination I have faced in job searching. Age discrimination is really sad, especially considering how many young college grads can't string two sentences together correctly, nor do any math in their heads. But that's another story for another writer. Benny, thank you very much. I should have closed the article with an update that I am now (recently) gainfully employed as Office Manager for a good company, and have company-paid health insurance, just so people don’t feel sorry for me. :)

But just a year ago, I was selling belongings to pay the rent, because of the age discrimination I have faced in job searching. Age discrimination is really sad, especially considering how many young college grads can’t string two sentences together correctly, nor do any math in their heads. But that’s another story for another writer.

]]> By: jdona http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070799 jdona Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:52:47 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070799 There has been that crushing poverty all along. The thing is people are better at hiding all that. I'm 52, and I grew up with no inside plumbing, an outhouse in the back yard, and no drinking water. We hauled our drinking water in 10 gallon buckets through a field from our next door neighbors house who also was my grandfather's nephew. People think that this kind of living standard is only in the deep south or in Appalachia. Its not. It's prevalent. Here in Virginia, the last estimates from the last census was that over 19,000 people in this state still did not have access to clean drinking water and adequate plumbing. I grew up 30 minutes away from Wallop's Island, home of NASA, Chincoteague with a Naval base, Coast Guard base, and you have that kind of poverty there. Here in Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech, the electronic village, celebrated as one of the top places in the country to move, retire, etc. I know of at least 3 houses within a stone's throw of me that still have outhouses, and no drinking water. They carry water in reused milk jugs. I think I am probably just as shocked that people for the most part are unaware of it, as people are to find out it is still an issue. There has been that crushing poverty all along. The thing is people are better at hiding all that. I’m 52, and I grew up with no inside plumbing, an outhouse in the back yard, and no drinking water. We hauled our drinking water in 10 gallon buckets through a field from our next door neighbors house who also was my grandfather’s nephew. People think that this kind of living standard is only in the deep south or in Appalachia. Its not. It’s prevalent. Here in Virginia, the last estimates from the last census was that over 19,000 people in this state still did not have access to clean drinking water and adequate plumbing. I grew up 30 minutes away from Wallop’s Island, home of NASA, Chincoteague with a Naval base, Coast Guard base, and you have that kind of poverty there. Here in Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech, the electronic village, celebrated as one of the top places in the country to move, retire, etc. I know of at least 3 houses within a stone’s throw of me that still have outhouses, and no drinking water. They carry water in reused milk jugs. I think I am probably just as shocked that people for the most part are unaware of it, as people are to find out it is still an issue.

]]> By: Lee Ruth http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070697 Lee Ruth Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:52:43 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070697 cathnealon, I agree with you 100%. cathnealon, I agree with you 100%.

]]> By: noproblama http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070625 noproblama Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:06:55 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070625 Thanks for sharing Steve. We're in (or were in) the mortgage industry in California and can empathize with your experiences of late. We wouldn't sell any predatory loans so the boom years weren't that great for us either. Entitlement programs are important, but government at the very least should protect us from the kind of greed and incompetence that caused the housing meltdown. I saw it coming for years so the idea that it was a surprise to anyone who is supposedly knowledgeable is ridiculous or frightening. Something at the very heart of our system has to change because now everything seems to be a con job at one level or another. But I'm sure Sir Barky will fix all of that with the Chicago style change he's bringing to Washington. heh Thanks for sharing Steve. We’re in (or were in) the mortgage industry in California and can empathize with your experiences of late.

We wouldn’t sell any predatory loans so the boom years weren’t that great for us either.

Entitlement programs are important, but government at the very least should protect us from the kind of greed and incompetence that caused the housing meltdown. I saw it coming for years so the idea that it was a surprise to anyone who is supposedly knowledgeable is ridiculous or frightening.

Something at the very heart of our system has to change because now everything seems to be a con job at one level or another.

But I’m sure Sir Barky will fix all of that with the Chicago style change he’s bringing to Washington. heh

]]> By: LesleeE http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070599 LesleeE Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:50:29 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070599 Thank you for a wonderful article, I enjoyed reading it so much. As tough as my life is I look back with wonder at what my parents went through and how they struggled to make sure we had shoes on our feet, food on the table and a roof over our heads. They were remarkable and I do wish they were here for me to tell them so. Thank you for a wonderful article, I enjoyed reading it so much.
As tough as my life is I look back with wonder at what my parents went through and how they struggled to make sure we had shoes on our feet, food on the table and a roof over our heads. They were remarkable and I do wish they were here for me to tell them so.

]]> By: The Bad Old Days : NO QUARTER at Hillary Clinton On Best Political Blogs http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070589 The Bad Old Days : NO QUARTER at Hillary Clinton On Best Political Blogs Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:47:03 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070589 [...] The Bad Old Days : NO QUARTER By the time I got to high school age, we had moved up in the world. My dad had inherited the family business when his dad passed away, and he even had some employees. We moved to a better neighborhood. …. by Hillary Rodham Clinton … [...] [...] The Bad Old Days : NO QUARTER By the time I got to high school age, we had moved up in the world. My dad had inherited the family business when his dad passed away, and he even had some employees. We moved to a better neighborhood. …. by Hillary Rodham Clinton … [...]

]]> By: cathnealon http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070580 cathnealon Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:38:42 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070580 I work in a city hospital and have done so for over 10 years.I will tell you this with 100% confidence, the Medicare and Medicaid programs are one of the most abused resources in the United States. If you have worked or had a spouse that worked and are over 65 you will receive Medicare benefits. If you are pregnant and for two years after the birth Medicaid is almost guaranteed which is fine for both of these demographics. No problem. Also, Medicaid for children under 18 is almost always available and of course these last two are based on assets and income. However, every day we see patients under 65, not pregnant, over 18 who have received medicare for disability and medicaid because they played the system, they had connections in the welfare office and they initially received those benefits because of alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and other psychiatric conditions. Now I have nothing against helping provide treatment for those people but this is not what has happened. There is no treatment, they are using the program, using your taxpayer dollars to sit at home(at least 85% are unemployed)when they are so obviously fit to work. I don't think these programs were meant for this purpose, to permanently help people with these kinds of issues. Food stamps are part of the same deal. While those of us who make 40,00 or less are struggling to pay electricity, health insurance, fuel, etc and paying taxes to subsidize the abusers of the system I often wonder if I lose my job and need these benefits will I be able to have the connections to get the help. So although I am so grateful right now when I see people laid off and struggling I think we need to look at these programs very carefuuly and reevaluate them. I work in a city hospital and have done so for over 10 years.I will tell you this with 100% confidence, the Medicare and Medicaid programs are one of the most abused resources in the United States. If you have worked or had a spouse that worked and are over 65 you will receive Medicare benefits. If you are pregnant and for two years after the birth Medicaid is almost guaranteed which is fine for both of these demographics. No problem. Also, Medicaid for children under 18 is almost always available and of course these last two are based on assets and income. However, every day we see patients under 65, not pregnant, over 18 who have received medicare for disability and medicaid because they played the system, they had connections in the welfare office and they initially received those benefits because of alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and other psychiatric conditions. Now I have nothing against helping provide treatment for those people but this is not what has happened. There is no treatment, they are using the program, using your taxpayer dollars to sit at home(at least 85% are unemployed)when they are so obviously fit to work. I don’t think these programs were meant for this purpose, to permanently help people with these kinds of issues. Food stamps are part of the same deal. While those of us who make 40,00 or less are struggling to pay electricity, health insurance, fuel, etc and paying taxes to subsidize the abusers of the system I often wonder if I lose my job and need these benefits will I be able to have the connections to get the help. So although I am so grateful right now when I see people laid off and struggling I think we need to look at these programs very carefuuly and reevaluate them.

]]> By: harper http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070505 harper Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:45:15 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070505 Interesting post. I was expecting a bit more about healthcare reform like the first one. All these safety nets programs are roughly some sort of a ponzi scheme. you work and put money in the system- which will be used to pay for someone else and you hope that when it's your turn, some young worker will be paying for you. These plans work as always as there is a constant economic growth and more and more workers to pay and contribute to the system. Based on that, there is no reason why the US is unable to guarantee the sustainability of these programs. This country is essentially young and dynamic and it has a constant flux of skilled immigrants. The only explanation that i can think of is simply excessive overhead and wasteful spending. Interesting post. I was expecting a bit more about healthcare reform like the first one.

All these safety nets programs are roughly some sort of a ponzi scheme. you work and put money in the system- which will be used to pay for someone else and you hope that when it’s your turn, some young worker will be paying for you. These plans work as always as there is a constant economic growth and more and more workers to pay and contribute to the system. Based on that, there is no reason why the US is unable to guarantee the sustainability of these programs. This country is essentially young and dynamic and it has a constant flux of skilled immigrants. The only explanation that i can think of is simply excessive overhead and wasteful spending.

]]> By: R2D2 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070503 R2D2 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:44:05 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070503 It's an incredible story for those of us who never saw that kind of poverty in the US. It seems to me that the effort that started with LBJ and believe it or not implemented by Nixon, the so called "War on Poverty", made great advances in the well being of those who had been left behind from the mainstream economic progress. Thank you. It’s an incredible story for those of us who never saw that kind of poverty in the US. It seems to me that the effort that started with LBJ and believe it or not implemented by Nixon, the so called “War on Poverty”, made great advances in the well being of those who had been left behind from the mainstream economic progress. Thank you.

]]> By: joy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070446 joy Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:11:37 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070446 It's not the social programs that need to be taken away but Honest People) hired to over see them. If the double dipping was excluded the programs we have could be expanded to other's in need, without upping the cost of those programs as they are funded now. It is hard to work and have co-worers stand around and brag about recieveing $1200. in foodstamps, child care, and still be on welfare, all because(and I Quote these People)I have a hookup in the welfare office. It's not a small problem, it takes in half of the population in Memphis, Tn. You can't report these things, because the insiders are on the take and at every turn the President has tried to investigate and take care of this, he i vilified as you have done in your article. I speak from witnessing the things I've written about and am wondering how widespread this abuse is in other major cities, such as Chicago and Detroit. It’s not the social programs that need to be taken away but Honest People) hired to over see them. If the double dipping was excluded the programs we have could be expanded to other’s in need, without upping the cost of those programs as they are funded now. It is hard to work and have co-worers stand around and brag about recieveing $1200. in foodstamps, child care, and still be on welfare, all because(and I Quote these People)I have a hookup in the welfare office. It’s not a small problem, it takes in half of the population in Memphis, Tn. You can’t report these things, because the insiders are on the take and at every turn the President has tried to investigate and take care of this, he i vilified as you have done in your article. I speak from witnessing the things I’ve written about and am wondering how widespread this abuse is in other major cities, such as Chicago and Detroit.

]]> By: ginaswo http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070385 ginaswo Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:16 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070385 thank you so much for sharing. Many people I think forget or perhaps never knew the poverty that existed before these social programs were enacted. As an example to the yoots', NYC dept of sanitation used to pick up dead elderly people from the streets of NYC, yes, they would die there in the streets. Now we have Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. there is still poverty, but with these safety nets there is hope and food and medical care. God Bless America and keep the safety nets strong! thank you so much for sharing. Many people I think forget or perhaps never knew the poverty that existed before these social programs were enacted.

As an example to the yoots’, NYC dept of sanitation used to pick up dead elderly people from the streets of NYC, yes, they would die there in the streets. Now we have Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. there is still poverty, but with these safety nets there is hope and food and medical care.

God Bless America and keep the safety nets strong!

]]> By: benny http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/01/the-bad-old-days-2/#comment-1070381 benny Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:23:27 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=7368#comment-1070381 Steve, thats an incredible story. Its a little shocking. I know you as a regular poster here. Wow, good luck to you, friend. Steve, thats an incredible story. Its a little shocking. I know you as a regular poster here. Wow, good luck to you, friend.

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