Give me Patience at the Stop & Shop!

[annabanana]

I hate to go to the supermarket on weekends, and not only because there's no parking, the lines are three times as long and it takes 40 minutes to get down the pet food aisle...

At this time of the year I am assaulted by myriad groups with good intentions, begging for cans of things for the hungry and donations for the homeless. YES they need food and shelter.. . But I really don't believe that the kindness of strangers is a viable domestic policy.

I want to hollar at these rosy cheeked assailants.."LOBBY YOUR CONGRESSMAN FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE FOOD STAMPS PROGRAM! TAX THE RICH BASTARDS THAT ARE GETTING AWAY WITH ALL OUR LOOT! BEEF UP THE MEDICARE AND MEDICADE PROGRAMS!"

I try not to be curmudgeonly as I pass them by. Sometimes I'll even throw the odd alm into their open arms. But I get so frustrated with their cluelessness that it squelches my Holiday Spirit.

[Phentex]

1. I struggle with the Salvation Army kettle people...

I know the SA does a lot of good for people who need it. But their stance on gays makes me cringe.

[TommyO]

3. There are plenty of other groups that do good things that don't discriminate like the SA

I actively seek those groups out and, even though currently unemployed, give what I can.

[Phentex]

13. Do you ever say anything to the bell ringers?

I usually smile and wish them well, but sometimes I'd like to tell them WHY I'm not giving. Do you think that would be rude? Is it best to say nothing?

[MineralMan]

17. In most cases, the bell ringers are not even Salvation Army

people. Volunteers and paid part-timers. They can do nothing about SA policies.

[TommyO]

19. Generally no, since they generally don't ask why you're not giving.

[Crazy Dave]

6. Every group has their own agendas and it's all about money

Even the United Way's CEO makes over $500k a year.

The fact that many qualified people could and would do the same job for less than $100k and the other $400k could go to where it was intended is what makes me cringe.

[Crazy Dave]

2. GM just got a $45 billion tax break

Take a guess who will have to make up the difference?

And since it's not getting a lot of attention, just that their stock price is up again, you won't hear about the over the top Christmas bonuses all their board members are going to get this year.

[Blecht]

4. KnR

I find myself silently shouting the same things.

[hobbit709]

5. One or the main reasons I do my grocery shopping at 7AM

no crowds, everythings been restocked, no running screeching yard apes.

[Crazy Dave]

7. Lack of work has been a blessing in a way

Now that I telecommute and usually have at least one day off during the week I go before noon while everyone is at work. Good parking and in and out.

[hobbit709]

8. Around here the stores are crowded after about 9.

[Dappleganger]

9. Your anger won't feed the poor.

Just saying.

:shrug:

[annabanana]

14. I know.

But there is a crying need for REAL SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS that papering over with "good works" is just not up to. If even a small percentage of the effort these people expend to solicit donations was exerted politically ..the force would prove irresistible,

[Dappleganger]

10. Your anger won't feed the poor.

Just saying.

:shrug:

[MadHound]

11. I seriously doubt that these folks are clueless,

After all, it is the poor and less well off who get hit first and worst in any economic downturn. And despite their poverty and lack of access to multitudes of media, they are generally more informed as to the real reasons for our societies economic hardships than the people in the middle and upper classes.

These are people who, simply put, are becoming increasingly desperate. Sorry that your Christmas spirit gets squelched on a Saturday, but the fact of the matter is that for many people their lives are at stake. What, you would rather the poor simply remain quiet and fade into the scenery so that you don't have to bother your beautiful mind with them during the Christmas season. Too fucking bad. Be happy that the poor aren't knocking down your door yet and taking what they need. If this economy continues to go down the crapper, they very well could be doing just that.

[annabanana]

15. I'm not accusing the poor and less well of of being clueless..

The poor and less well off are more attuned to the situation than anyone else in the Country. I'm MUCH more apt to give to people who clearly need the help themselves than I am to contribute to a basket where some civic organization will get pats on the back and a photo-op with the local chamber of commerce rag.

Please re-read the OP.

[UTUSN]

12. I stopped feeling guilty when the Salvation Army "came out" as homophobe.

Today on the local radio wingnut circus, the host, a rabid T-Bagger had fulminated as usual. On Saturdays he wedges in "community announcements". This is basically other 'Baggers in a circle jerk with him. So a top officer from the Army called in and the two of them supposedly know each other well and did their bromance thing, then the Army dude said he was calling to ask for bell ringer volunteers, that it is an emergency because if they didn't raise a certain amount of dough they would LOSE STIMULUS MATCHING FUNDS!!1

It was hilarious because the radio 'Bagger constantly rails against anything under the government initiates, but he had to swallow this for the sake of his Army 'Bagger pal.

I'm going to call the local Army and leave a message for the dude, pointing out the cluelessness and his hypocrisy.

[xchrom]

16. I give to charities - but I get what you're saying. Nt

[hedgehog]

18. "“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living” - Mother Jones

We can't all do everything, we can all do something. In this case, tossing in a few cans of vegetables for people who need them today doesn't keep you from fighting to change the system.

Sometimes people who are in trouble today can't wait until we go back and fix the root causes. For example, obviously there were and are long standing problems in the Mississippi river delta ranging from the way the levees are maintained and operated to the loss of wetlands, but people were still glad to see the helicopters when the flood hit. People who are hungry today can't wait, either.

[sufrommich]

20. I'd be willing to bet none of the people are "clueless" about

poverty in America.Most probably are active in lobbying their government of behalf of the poor.