Fragments From Floyd

It is amazing to think that our view of this "modern" world is quite different to those less privelaged.

I was struck yesterday by a story on NPR about four New Jersey boys almost starved to death by the parents who, after serving as their foster parents, adopted them. There was another foster child in the same home. Where were the social services? the reporter demanded angrily. My guess? Almost starved themselves by a "let them pull themselves up by their bootstraps" public. The story you link to, Fred, is about how the homeless can just pull themselves up by their bootstraps (if only they live near Portland, Oregon, and are not put in jail for vagrancy instead.) We don't have raise taxes to increase the social welfare or education pots, the story implies. Some rich guy will donate an old school bus, the bums'll put drugs and alcohol and mental illness behind them and they'll be fine. That's us. The "do it yourself" democrats.

I thought it was the Repubs who were the TrickleDowners. Do-it-yourself Dems?

There is room for both active and passive involvment in the plight of those who have 'fallen through the social safety net' mirage. I admire folks who find ways to live, in spite of our 'thousand points of light' among the comfortable and cared-for. Light and no heat.

Yes, billions will never take a 'warm' shower but in many places especially the tropics, a cold shower is preferable. Many of those millions, too, will wash out of a bucket, water heated from a fire.

Indulge in your simple pleasure, as winter encloses.

I'll think about this during my next warm shower. Thanks.

I was thinking of democracy the political idea, not Democratic, the political party. My point here was that upbeat pieces like that one paint a rosier picture than the reality. They imply that democracy and a can-do attitude on the part of the downtrodden themselves could just fix their problems. I'm not saying we-the-housed ought to go start shelters and soup kitchens. I think the willingness to write the check for the taxes to cover the social service agencies, the schools, the hospitals, libraries, the half-way houses and group homes is far more important.

Hopes and aspirations are the keys. In my youth, we had one large galvanized steel tub that served in the washing of dishes, clothes, 3 kids, and 2 adults. The 3 kids turned into 3 engineers who hardly recall the "hardships" of our youth. Our programs should focus on keeping body and soul together; but, further on instilling hopes and aspirations.

I heartily agree with Cop Car, probably because I remember being washed in a similar wash tub.
Keeping hopes and aspirations alive is more important than care of the body alone.

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