Kwami Kilpatrick (sp?) the mayor (or ex-mayor, lulz) of Detroit moved into our building last Thursday. And tomorrow (sunday) Obama is coming to speak at the Detroit Public Library right across the street. So all the residents here who have suites in the front of the building got a letter notifying us to keep our windows facing woodward/john R closed for security purposes. We're in the center condo, on the second floor so we're going to have a perfect view of all the ensuing chaos tomorrow :p Also they closed the sky bar on the roof of the building for some political meeting, so I'm thinking maybe Kwami and Obama are going to be doing something up there, or it's just closed for security purposes also. Whatever :p I wont be around much of the day anyway, but maybe I'll catch a peek^^
I saw an article on CNN today that really disgusted me. A single parent who was used to making $70,000 a year, was complaining that she now had to go to a food bank. In case you're jumping the gun here-no it didn't disgust me that the economy was "forcing" her into this situation-it disgusted me that someone used to making $70,000 a year could manage their money so poorly that they had to resort to a food bank at all. Even if she had lost her job, it's no excuse. The only reason a person making that amount of money would be so damn broke, is if they were living above their means. And that is their own fucking stupidity. There's plenty of responsible people who make FAR less than this woman does per year- like maybe $10,000 a year, poverty level, who rely on food banks. Though it's most definitely not ALL, a lot of these people have spent their money paying off their expenses rather than adding them to their increasing credit card debt like the vast majority of Americans have done. As a result, they own their home. They don't have a mortgage. They pay their bills on time. But maybe they work a job that other people don't want to-it doesn't pay much, but they're employed (And that doesn't necessarily mean they're uneducated, though they may be-perhaps they came from a poor family in which they couldn't afford college). Point is-they treat their money RESPONSIBLY and still cannot afford to feed their families. These are the people that ought to benefit from food banks, not a woman who is accustomed to making $70,000 a year and living up to her ears in debt because she felt inclined to put a $500 pool table and other junk on her credit card before losing her job-and she even collects unemployment! And the reason this bothers me so damn much, is food banks are not an infinite source intended for thousands of people. The more people that go to them who shouldn't really need to, the less help those who really do need this service, benefit. Now I'm not saying we should let these people starve because they're fucking morons, but for fucks sake, be responsible with your money.
"Before you go to a food bank, please seriously evaluate your need. Do not confuse need with greed. If you make $20 an hour, you *should not* be eating at food banks. If you shop as a hobby, you should not be at food banks. If you shop for items unnecessary for survival on a near daily basis, you should not be eating at food banks. I know a home owning couple who bitch to no end about welfare "scum" using their tax money. This couple spends endless money redecorating room after room in their house, in a revolving cycle, and buying expensive clothing and cars, while they lie to the school district to get free lunches for their kids. They say they are separated, when they are not, to lie about their income for this benefit. This same couple feigned poverty at a mattress store recently and the store practically gave them the mattress. This delusion where the middle class call themselves "poor," and then justify taking resources earmarked for the poor, for themselves, has some very flawed logic to it. These people argue that they deserve the services for the poor since their taxes pay for them. That is a circular thinking that simply leaves the *actual* poor out in the dark with nothing. It is a gross sin, in my opinion, to offer charity, then to use it yourself, when you did not need it!" -Kirsten Anderberg
Oh and in case you think I'm a cold hearted bitch, some comments from CNN:
"She made $70,000 a year and hadn't been able to accumulate enough
savings to sustain her for more than a couple weeks? On top of that
she's took out an interest only mortgage? This article should not be
about how "the system" lets people down, it should be how poor money
management crumple the perception of success.Also - if someone is going to a food bank, they cannot consider themselves "middle-class""
"The middle class has been living way beyond their means for a very long time now. It is crashing down a bit, but with some adjustments they should be able to have food on the table. For one thing, that is way too much house for a person of even her previous income. Everyone thinks they should deserve something that nice, but even before she lost her job that was half of her monthly income! Insane! Second, it will be hard but cut back on things that are not necessities like cable tv, excessive eating out, the middle class "keeping up with the Jones" syndrome when it comes to name brands of clothing and food and other wants, and see those monthly bills decrease because of it. It is hard, but look how people happily live in Europe without much of what us Americans think are "necessities"! Americans have got their wants and needs so screwed up they can't mange to buy their own food while they have a long list of other things they don't really need, even when they thought they were getting a good paycheck."
"I am a single Mom with 2 kids and am scraping by making half of what she does. I don't feel sorry for her that she lives above her means and she better deal with the reality that's smacking her upside her head by moving and living realistically."
"$70,000 is (was) quite a nice salary. I make $32,500 and have substantial savings. She couldn't have saved very much to burn through it in a month or two. Sounds like she was already over her head with a mortgage of that amount of payment and so many bills, probably credit cards. I raised two sons on my own in the 70's and 80's with annual salaries of as low as $9400 and eventually in the $20s. I never expected welfare or food banks to bail me out. People need to be accountable and responsible and live within their means."
"I do feel for this lady but look at the pictures closely. She needs to have a good old fashioned garage sale. She may not like it but it will help pay the bills. She could check out ebay and craigs list too."
And if you're curious, the picture of this woman included her chalk full of make-up standing in the living room of her spick and span home that was obviously the work of an interior decorator. Laughing yet? Cause I sure as hell am.
lol what the hell do I need this blog for anymore? I never have time to post in it.
