Comments on: Bad Economy, Decreased Services Force More Vets into Homelessness

By: splashy

splashy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:12:53 +0000

Universal health care by passing HR 676 Medicare for all would go a long way toward helping vets get care. If they could go into ANY hospital, doctor’s office, or other health care provider’s place of business, they would be much better served. If they have to go to the VA, which may be miles from where they live or stay, they may not do it.

Making it easy to find help, that’s a biggie.

By: scottdavene

scottdavene — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:52:20 +0000

I have experienced the misery of homelessness at several points in my life and, although there is a certain sense of freedom to it, it is a dangerous and miserable lifestyle that is hard to rise out of. Contrary to popular belief, most homeless did not become so out of choice and not because they are lazy, stupid, or immoral. Many homeless people are victims of abuse in the form of neglect and abandonment by their parents or other caregivers. Like many victims of abuse, a lot of them have chemical dependency problems. Their pain is so deep that they use alcohol or other drugs as an escape. Some of them are simply victims of life’s tragedies, such as hurricanes, fires, or other catastrophes from which they simply don’t have the resources to recover. Also, there is a snowball effect that occurs with homelessness. After all, who is going to hire someone with no address? Most homeless people don’t have the resources to even do their laundry; who is going to hire someone in filthy clothes? Also once a person has fallen to the level of living on the streets it is very difficult for them to get a job even if they are capable of working, because the condition of homelessness creates a low sense of self-esteem which makes it difficult to relate to other people. It is difficult to find, much less keep a job once a person’s self-esteem is so badly damaged. I invite you to my website: http://www.FreetheGods.com. There you will find an article and pictures I have taken of homeless people. I always give them a dollar or two for the privilege of photographing them. I am often surprised by their cheerfulness and sense of pride. Often, they will show themselves to have some kind of talent. There is a fine line between genius and insanity.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:32:17 +0000

Digg is apparently out for a coffee break at the moment. I’ll come back & try again.

Christy, have you e-mailed this to the VoteVets and IAVA folks? I’d also suggest an e-mail to Rachel Maddow. She or her minions DO read her mail. [Rachel@msnbc.com] She’s REALLY good on this stuff, and could probably get Jon Stulz or one of the other guys on to talk about it.

Thnaks for this.

By: karnak12

karnak12 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:32:05 +0000

We are not surprised by this. Right?

By: AdAstra

AdAstra — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:31:01 +0000

OT - Are people tracking this one (she says, lifting her head from grading finals)?
“A controversial midnight regulation expanding health workers’ right to take a moral stance against abortion (or any other procedure that rankles their conscience) sailed through final Office of Management and Budget approval this week and, barring an act of Congress, will soon become law.
It’s one of many midnight regulations we’ve been tracking.

The ‘provider conscience’ rule applies to any procedure performed in a federally funded medical setting that “violate(s) an individual’s conscience,” but it most pointedly singles out abortion. It goes beyond existing laws that bar religious discrimination against workers and protect medical professionals who refuse to perform tasks they find morally repugnant.”

So essentially, if you want to stop birth control, you infilitrate jobs and then refuse, on the grounds of conscience, to actually do the job.

By: Crosstimbers

Crosstimbers — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:24:34 +0000

That is a fine article. Thanks.

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:23:38 +0000

good on ya.

Been there . . . Assembled That

I found a bottle of Baileys to be helpful

By: CTuttle

CTuttle — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:14:54 +0000

Juxtapose that breaking story with this story…

Coincidence…?

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:12:45 +0000

If Bush has his way, no one will be able to sue for damages incurred from this type of accident.

By: CTuttle

CTuttle — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:11:38 +0000

Here’s AP’s take on it…!