I didn't know times where THIS BAD!!

[FTG-05]

My dad has lived in S Florida for 20+ years. He always jokes about "tin can tourists". Some of these folks have 500K motor homes, and pretty much make a game out of seeing how cheap they can live in Florida. The locals say there's nothing cheaper than a tin can tourist.

My uncle owned and operated a RV site for over 10 years. He always said that the larger the RV, the bigger the rude and cheap ***hole who owned it.

 

[rtimgray]

There are some good for nothing folks out there, for sure. They are at both ends of the economic spectrum, being those who walk on the backs of the common people. Some expect everything to be given for no effort on their part while others have no problem in taking whatever they want without producing anything tangible, e.g. Wall Street.

There are, however, hungry and needy children in this country. Just before Christmas this year, our local law enforcement conducted their annual Cops for Kids program. They took needy children to Wal Mart and gave them each $200 to spend as they chose.

One little guy (around 7 years old) spent his entire $200 on instant oatmeal. A little girl bought coats for herself and two siblings. Another boy bought a small propane heater and coats with his money. Another child bought food items and coats while an 8 year old boy bought gifts for his mother and sisters and spent nothing on himself.

The WM checker who related this story said she could hardly fight back the tears as she checked them out.

These are not generalizations, but specific examples of what is going on.

How to fix it, I'm not sure. Maybe the parents are out of work, maybe they are sick, maybe they are neglectful, they could be on drugs. Whatever it is, we are going to have another generation of impoverished people if some intervention is not made.

I witnessed the same thing this past Christmas here, much the same stories. It seems that the children have not picked up bad habits yet and generally seem to think more about others than themselves. It brought tears to my eyes as well.

I have no idea what the stories of the children are or their specific circumstances, but I know that there was not malice or greed in their hearts when they did their shopping.

 

[Bird]

There are some good for nothing folks out there, for sure. They are at both ends of the economic spectrum, being those who walk on the backs of the common people. Some expect everything to be given for no effort on their part while others have no problem in taking whatever they want without producing anything tangible, e.g. Wall Street.

There are, however, hungry and needy children in this country. Just before Christmas this year, our local law enforcement conducted their annual Cops for Kids program. They took needy children to Wal Mart and gave them each $200 to spend as they chose.

One little guy (around 7 years old) spent his entire $200 on instant oatmeal. A little girl bought coats for herself and two siblings. Another boy bought a small propane heater and coats with his money. Another child bought food items and coats while an 8 year old boy bought gifts for his mother and sisters and spent nothing on himself.

The WM checker who related this story said she could hardly fight back the tears as she checked them out.

These are not generalizations, but specific examples of what is going on.

How to fix it, I'm not sure. Maybe the parents are out of work, maybe they are sick, maybe they are neglectful, they could be on drugs. Whatever it is, we are going to have another generation of impoverished people if some intervention is not made.

That sure doesn't sound like what I'd expect. The Dallas (TX) Police Department started their own program many years ago for Christmas. A form was available during the year for any officer to submit a nomination for what he thought was a deserving needy family. The officers donated money, and information in the news media resulted in others donating money, a small committe of officers decided on the gifts for each child and did the shopping. Then a day or two before Christmas, uniformed officers delivered boxes to each of those families. Each box contained food items to make a big Christmas dinner at least, in addition to clothes and toys for the kids. The kids did not do their own shopping.

Now in Denton, TX, they do it a little differently. Police officers go with the kids and their parents at 7 a.m. one morning. The 2010 Christmas was to Walmart, while the 2009 Christmas was to Target. Each child was allowed to pick out $60 worth of toys and $60 worth of clothes. They could decide whether they wanted one big item or several small items. But I didn't see anything in the news about any of them buying food.

 

[jinman]

Those fraudulent panhandlers ruin it for the legit ones.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:
Now that there is funny; I don't care who you are.

 

[Taylortractornut]

My friend that was doing the work in St.Augustine told me and showed me something. On a narrow one way street there was a man dressed in rags claiming he didnt have legs. He was on the side walk and had a tip jar and a guitar. He played for tips and had a sign up anounceing he had no legs. My friend rolled up and to the intersection and put his Cummins powered Dodge service truck into neutral and held it down. THe exhaust was covering this person then he fols his sign up and stands up and walks off in shorts. I was amazed he could sit on his legs all day like that.

 

[Cat_Driver]

One of those under cover reporter did a show that vide taped a guy in shambles pan handling for money at the end of an off ramp. He did it for a few hours, then walked a few block changed out of his rags and got into a late model Jeep SUV.

 

[scesnick]

I only give money to "Toys for Tots" or an "Adopt a Family" program. That way I know my money is going to someone who really needs it and appreciates it. Not some shister...

 

[dmccarty]

One of those under cover reporter did a show that vide taped a guy in shambles pan handling for money at the end of an off ramp. He did it for a few hours, then walked a few block changed out of his rags and got into a late model Jeep SUV.

We have a bunch of beggers that hangout on the exit ramps on I40. VERY specific ramps. The ones going to the mall. They don't hang out on the other ramps. Just the two mall exits. :laughing: These guys ain't dumb.

At one exit there has been one guy who has "worked" that corner for years. There are enough "corners" out there that there can be as many as four beggers "working" at one time.

The one guy is old and has a cane. When he is "working" he really works that bad leg and cane. Tis amazing he can stand out there and do a shift in the afternoon. :laughing: Boy does he hobble. One day I was driving up the ramp, it was the end of the beggers shift, and he was walking from his place of "work." I figured Jesus found him working that day! It truly was a miracle! That guy sure could walk pretty well. :laughing: In fact it looked like the shift bell had rung and he was out of there...

But I saw him the next day. I guess the miracle failed over night. Danged if he did not have some real problems with that leg again.

Collections must have been going down so he and the others hit upon a new way to maximize donations. Get a dog. Preferably a puppy. They have been out there with dogs/puppies working it. People will give them dog food. When it is hot they give them bottled water. And I am sure cash.

Later,
Dan

 

[Greenmountain Farmer]

Mark,

So you are saying that we do not have a problem in America with folks being poor and living on the street? Frankly I am not worried about Manila, I am worried about my own country and taking care of our own people. Just my $.02

Mike

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:​

Tom in Vermont

 

[Jstpssng]

Awww...

Somehow I am thinking you do no want to work for food.



But I am sure it is the ice on the roads that are keeping you here... Yeah, Yeah, that is it. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

By the weekend the ice should be gone. We will still have half of the pork loin left and at least half of the beans. I can make up a quick corn bread. :licking: Heck, if I have time I might make Cuban bread. :licking::licking:

All you have to do is show up with the chain saw and put in a few hours of work....



We have been iced in for three days now. Monday evening I went for a walk and checked on some trees that have been down for awhile to see if they could be turned into firewood. One of these trees came down in Fran which was back in the 90s. It is a Red Oak and still good for firewood.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a walk and our driveway and gravel road is solid ice. Never seen that before. I could skate on this stuff. The paved road was in pretty good shape but it was wet and there were patches of black ice that I could not see when walking until I stepped on it. We had a bit of melting yesterday, the temps got to 33ish. But this morning the temp was 25ish. Tis ugly out there. But nice and commfy in the house with the wood stove. :thumbsup:

Later,
Dan

I enjoy putting up wood, it's always been a fall rite. If I had a job where I was less active I would probably put up a few cords to sell or donate to a needy family, just so I could get some excersise when I get home at night.

When I was growing up, every fall we used to hook the trailer up to the 8N and haul the neighbor's winter pile from their woodlot down to their house.
He used to say "wood warms you twice; first when you're putting it up, the second time when you burn it."


I hope things are thawing down there.