Economic casualties pile into tent cities

[Liberal_in_LA]

Source: USA today

Economic casualties pile into tent cities

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Jim Marshall recalls everything about that beautiful fall day.
The temperature was about 70 degrees on Nov. 19, the sky was "totally blue," and the laughter from a martini bar drifted into the St. Petersburg park where Marshall, 39, sat contemplating his first day of homelessness.

"I was thinking, 'That was me at one point,' " he says of the revelers. "Now I'm thinking, 'Where am I going to sleep tonight? Where do I eat? Where do I shower?' "

The unemployed Detroit autoworker moved to Florida last year hoping he'd have better luck finding a job. He didn't, and he spent three months sleeping on sidewalks before landing in a tent city in Pinellas County, north of St. Petersburg, on Feb. 26.

Marshall is among a growing number of the economic homeless, a term for those newly displaced by layoffs, foreclosures or other financial troubles caused by the recession. They differ from the chronic homeless, the longtime street residents who often suffer from mental illness, drug abuse or alcoholism.

For the economic homeless, the American ideal that education and hard work lead to a comfortable middle-class life has slipped out of reach. They're packing into motels, parking lots and tent cities, alternately distressed and hopeful, searching for work and praying their fortunes will change.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-05-04-new-homeless_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[Blue_Tires]

1. k+r

[CoffeeCat]

2. Oh, but don't worry--things are getting better!

There are so many negative economic indicators. Those indicators (unemployment, falling wages, eroded 401ks, etc) seem
like they make or break the economy.

But we're now constantly hearing from the MSM, and other big shots (Bernake, Warren Buffet) that the worst is behind us
and it's all roses and smooth sailing from here out.

WTF?

[phantom power]

4. just keeping the herd pacified.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Do you think the herd is headed off a cliff?

I just posted about this, and I'm very interested in what others have to say.

Do you feel that we're in a period--where they're telling us "remain calm...all is well", in order to keep
us in the dark about how awful the economy really is?

[conscious evolution]

19. Absolutely

And deliberately so,too.
The herders are gathering now for the final drive.

[pokercat999]

5. "They", the elites, the politicians, the top 10 percenters

will do or say anything to keep you from joining with the bottom 90 percent to take what they have. They don't want you to even have an EQUAL share, not even a partial share, only what falls off their plate is for the dogs.....and we my friend, we are the dogs.

[DemReadingDU]

6. That's it!

The 'elites' want whatever is there, now, before the rest of the herd figure it out. That's why there is so much happy talk to distract the herd. Once the herd figures it out, there will be nothing left, and the system will collapse, whereby the herd become paupers.

:(

[CoffeeCat]

16. You know...I'm very interested in that...m

...point of view, because it's what my gut tells me is the truth.

It's a little maddening to feel this way--while the media, Ben Bernacke, Warren Buffet and various economists
tell us that the worst is over, and pretty soon this will all be over--and we'll be swimming in economic recovery!

I used to know that the economy was desperately on the wrong track. When things started failing, unemployment
began soaring and the housing market tanked--I felt like I understood a thing or two.

My instincts tell me that the party is over, and that our entire economic model is imploding. Even though we may be
able to artificially pump up things temporarily--ultimately, we're on a collision course. That's what I believe. I
don't want it to be so. It's just what my instincts tell me.

So, all of this stuff from the MSM can make you a little discombobulated. Their musings are counter intuitive to what
I sense is happening.

Do you feel this way too? Anyone? Anyone?

[Skittles]

18. I hear you CoffeeCat

I see a dismal time ahead no matter what happens - because everything is stacked against us plain hard-working folk - no matter what we have, we know it can all be gone very quickly

[sendero]

20. You are not remotely alone..

... I agree with you completely.

The pump-action going on right now has many purposes. One is to fleece the morons who haven't figured out that the "stock market" is a rigged racket one last time.

Two is to try to ameliorate panic. If most folks knew how bad it really is they'd rise up against these disgusting bank bailouts, and we can't have the proles getting in the way of our looting operation now can we?

Third is the belief, no matter how factual or not, that a huge percentage of an economy's health is based on "confidence".

Of course, no amount of confidence will fix our bankrupt banking system, but hope apparently springs eternal. Or that's what they'd have you believe.

And yes, those green shoots are a joke, a few infinitesimally small bright spots among a sea of bad reality.

[Soylent Brice]

3. K&R

[hay rick]

7. Further indignity.

Many of these people will no longer be able to vote for lack of proof of residency and a mailing address where they can receive a new voter registration or confirmation of previous registration.

[santamargarita]

8. Not tent city, Bushville - call it what it really is

Remember Hoovervile in New York?

[L0oniX]

10. We call it Bakerville in dishonor of Rick Baker, the mayor of St. Pete...

who wanted to get the homeless out of down town because he wanted to make it look nice for tourists. This tent city is a long way from down town ...about 5 miles and without a buss pass it's a long walk. The lucky ones have a bicycle.

[L0oniX]

9. Been there and seen it. west on 126th ave from 49th st. I help feed the homeless every weekend in...

Clearwater. We call the new place tent city. Mayor Rick Backer wanted to clean up St. Pete and moved em all to tent city. Unfortunatly they will not accept food or clothing there if you try to donate. Where we are at we can give out cloths (usually socks, buss passes and food. We get anywhere from 40 to 70 people every Saturday afternoon. Hey ...if I become homeless I know where I will eat and its good food too.

What you see in the picture above is like a luxury hotel compared to where I've seen our group of people sleeping.

[mike_c]

11. as usual, the NIMBYs are disgustingly adamant that the homeless...

...not be housed near their neighborhoods. :grr:

[XemaSab]

14. Hey mike

Where do you think the homeless in Arcata should live? :shrug:

PS I posted a new thread for you in e/e. ;)

[mike_c]

15. I dunno....

Lots of folks seemed content with living out on the south spit, back in the day, and Arcata Endeavor has been providing beds and meals (but it's fate is uncertain now). I've never really thought about it, however, beyond believing that they SHOULD be provided some housing options. Not everyone likes to sleep on the streets or camp in the community forest.

[sarcasmo]

12. Might not be a bad investment, just in case.

[brentspeak]

13. 30 years of both GOP and corporate Democratic policies have enabled this