Exclusive: America Has Now Become a Nation of “Tent Cities”

reply to post by BubbaJoe


Don't feed me that!

I've got a metal knee, a stainless steel arm, half a gut, and I work my ass off.

As a former military officer, I set an example. I worked through my disabilities and ignored any offers to opt out. Live your life however you want to live it. I tried to set an example to my people. Just because you hurt doesn't mean you can't work.

I'm going to call it as I see it.

beezzer
reply to post by BubbaJoe

 

Don't feed me that!

I've got a metal knee, a stainless steel arm, half a gut, and I work my ass off.

As a former military officer, I set an example. I worked through my disabilities and ignored any offers to opt out. Live your life however you want to live it. I tried to set an example to my people. Just because you hurt doesn't mean you can't work.

I'm going to call it as I see it.

Why do you think everyone is capable of doing what you have done? You also say to live however you want but you really don't mean it. Set examples all you want, but leave the rest of us out of your delusional standards. Did the other guys that served with you, capable of being a officer?

LDragonFire

beezzer
reply to post by BubbaJoe

 

Don't feed me that!

I've got a metal knee, a stainless steel arm, half a gut, and I work my ass off.

As a former military officer, I set an example. I worked through my disabilities and ignored any offers to opt out. Live your life however you want to live it. I tried to set an example to my people. Just because you hurt doesn't mean you can't work.

I'm going to call it as I see it.

Why do you think everyone is capable of doing what you have done?

Because I'm no-one special.

You also say to live however you want but you really don't mean it.

Sure I do. But you have to own what you want and what you do.

Set examples all you want, but leave the rest of us out of your delusional standards.

As an officer, I was supposed to set the example. Don't feed me that tripe!

Did the other guys that served with you, capable of being a officer?

edit on 13-12-2013 by LDragonFire because: (no reason given)

Some did and still are. (We Facebook)

BOTTOM LINE is that there are indeed homeless people out there who are homeless because they lived outside their means, they took out loans, got credit cards, took a gamble and lost. I also agree that there are lazy homeless people out there, I knew a homeless guy who was on the streets through choice and I knew a homeless guy who wouldn't have taken a job even though he was offered.

HOWEVER the sharp increase in homeless in the US is largely due to 'rotten apples' being sold as fresh ones. At the end of the day, if you are not well off, you want a better life and some bank offers you it all, no matter your situation? Of course people are going to jump at it! It's what they wanted! You can't sit there and say 'they should have known better', the general public should not have been offered those loans and mortgages! Why else would there be a SUDDEN rise? It's not like the national average IQ dropped to mentally retarded over-night.

Think about it people, both sides are right in this argument, but never say the banks didn't play their part and aren't getting exactly what they wanted, their bosses are sitting in their multi-million dollar mansions with a big smile on their faces.

BubbaJoe

deathmode
I know I will likely take heat for this but the housing bubble was the fault of the consumer. There was a study done and something like 70% of the issue had to do with straight of lying by homebuyers on their financial situation. Bottom line; they signed the papers, they agreed to balloon payments, they lied about income to get into the big house. Did any of them go to jail. No.

As for unemployment, I've spoken to people getting benefits and they honestly told me they didn't decide to get off their ass until the benefits ran out. They also did nothing with the time to improve their situation like getting a new skill or seriously looking for work. Nothing.

This may not be the case for some but it the case for many. They want all the stuff but are not willing to do what it takes like making uncommon sacrifices. Delaying having kids, marriage, buying crap, or planning way ahead. I'm not even empathetic because I see this stuff at work of co-workers talking about their struggles but they are also showing me things on FB on their smartphone. Screw them. I went for years without a phone, no TV, a POS car, and was responsible with my money. I finally have the things I've always wanted because I worked and paid my dues for those things. I also would do it all over again and d start from the bottom if I had to without complaining. I would work at effin Taco Bell if I had too with a smile on my face.

You quote a lot of things to be facts, please provide your sources.

reply to post by beezzer


Your not the rule but the exception, and many other ATS'er would agree.

You have set a high bar for yourself and you admit "some" could lead, yet you set the same bar for all when its obvious not all can achieve it. Some people do not have the tools to thrive in this current system of control we call society.

You have the benefit of years of governmental training paid for by tax payers, yet you don't wanna give a inch.

LDragonFire
reply to post by beezzer

 

Your not the rule but the exception, and many other ATS'er would agree.

Bull-spit, I am hardly special! I believe in a work ethic.

You have set a high bar for yourself and you admit "some" could lead, yet you set the same bar for all when its obvious not all can achieve it. Some people do not have the tools to thrive in this current system of control we call society.

Cry me a river! Sometimes, life is hard and work sucks. You push through it and succeed!

You have the benefit of years of governmental training paid for by tax payers, yet you don't wanna give a inch.

I've give 32 years of my life, my left leg. My Gall Bladder. A good part of my right arm.

And you are upset because I don't give an inch?

Give me a break.

beezzer

LDragonFire

beezzer
reply to post by BubbaJoe

 

Don't feed me that!

I've got a metal knee, a stainless steel arm, half a gut, and I work my ass off.

As a former military officer, I set an example. I worked through my disabilities and ignored any offers to opt out. Live your life however you want to live it. I tried to set an example to my people. Just because you hurt doesn't mean you can't work.

I'm going to call it as I see it.

Why do you think everyone is capable of doing what you have done?

Because I'm no-one special.

You also say to live however you want but you really don't mean it.

Sure I do. But you have to own what you want and what you do.

Set examples all you want, but leave the rest of us out of your delusional standards.

As an officer, I was supposed to set the example. Don't feed me that tripe!

Did the other guys that served with you, capable of being a officer?

edit on 13-12-2013 by LDragonFire because: (no reason given)

Some did and still are. (We Facebook)

Beezer, as much as it might hurt you to admit it, you are an exceptional man. You have had your ass handed to you and you just put it back on and made it into an ass of steel. Not many people can do that.

I know lots of musicians and my wife and I are, as well. What if we held everybody to the basic standard of "if we can naturally play music, so can everybody else"? What if music was what made everybody successful or not? A lot of people hate music and can't even drum a steady beat on their bellies. Would that be fair to expect everybody to be able to naturally improvise on random instruments? You are asking the same thing.

You are that exceptional genius who has no patience for the people with average intelligence. You are that music master with no patience with people who can't play. You think your gung-ho attitude is inherent in everybody the same way I feel many of my traits are. But they aren't.

The best lesson I ever learned as management is to not expect everybody to be me and the best thing I ever learned working for others is never expect myself to be like them.

So, face it, Beez. You are special. Just deal with it.

reply to post by beezzer


You don't have empathy and I feel for you. Its not my intention too piss you off, you seem like you have more than your fair share of rage.

I wonder why you side with the same political ideology that sent you to war? Has it served you? Or hurt you?

Take me down to the tent city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty, ohhh won't you please take me home yaaa yaaa!

reply to post by LDragonFire


I don't have a dog in this fight but...

I've read all of your replies. Seems you are more preoccupied with dissecting others. Do you offer ANY solutions of your own or do you have anything else to contribute or is your game to simply and poorly attempt some sort of half ass psychological evaluation of other members?

LDragonFire
reply to post by beezzer

 

You don't have empathy and I feel for you. Its not my intention too piss you off, you seem like you have more than your fair share of rage.

I wonder why you side with the same political ideology that sent you to war? Has it served you? Or hurt you?

I think if you look at the progression of my posts throughout the past few years you'd see the evolution.

I hate war. I despise war. Because I've seen the ugly side of war.

But I also bow to the heroes, men and women who get up and fight for what they believe in.

I honor the warrior-poets who fight and feel.

Beezer, i have seen your posts on ATS a lot and have always read them and come to the conclusion that you are a well balanced, understanding, compassionate and knowledgeable human being. Until this thread.

SLAYER69
reply to post by LDragonFire

 

I don't have a dog in this fight but...

I've read all of your replies. Seems you are more preoccupied with dissecting others. Do you offer ANY solutions of your own or do you have anything else to contribute or is your game to simply and poorly attempt some sort of half ass psychological evaluation of other members?

edit on 13-12-2013 by SLAYER69 because: (no reason given)

I have participated in this thread the best way I know how. Have you participated to this topic? Or just hoping in with a off topic post on page 4?

Do tell how would you combat these ever growing tent cities by bulldozer or other?

reply to post by Cuervo


Cuervo, I'm not special. I was a REMF for most of my career. My work ethic is no different than someone who wants to make it and works at Hardees.

Look it up yourself Bubba it's all out there.

I live in Australia and forunately we have a decent welfare system (although we'll have to see if the mad monk tries to do something radical like all Tories dream of). It's almost a rite of initiation to spend some time on the dole down under although the calls of 'dole-bludger' are generally scapegoating and apply to a handful of people.

Now I have done a few stints on the dole and I consider it a right. I've worked most of my life since I graduated University, and have worked part-time since I was 12. I am considered to have a professional job, and I earn a mediocre middle class wage. I pay a reasonable amount of tax, and I don't begrudge 1 cent of it. If something happens to me, I am entitled to Centrelink (what welfare is called in Oz) payments, and I would have no shame in accepting them. I've probably paid more in tax than I'd ever hope of getting back, but that's beside the point.

I am happy for my taxes to be used to help those in need, so that they can have a roof over their head, food to eat, and ok clothing to wear. I would prefer these people looked after rather than be marginalised, criminalised, and blamed and harassed for being poor. Maybe they're poor through their own actions, but even that's ok with me. I live in a rich country and I pay a fair bit of tax so that people aren't dying on the streets. We also have universal health care down here, and anyone can receive basic treatment (I received fantastic treatment when I had pneumonia, and I didn't come out of hospital owing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars).

Now some might complain about 'socialism', and money being taken out of their pockets - maybe move to the US. There are plenty of things I don't like about Australia, but the Healthcare and Welfare systems, although not great, fulfil a huge need, and without it, I shudder to think what Australia would look like.

For many peope in Oz, the dole is accepted as a right and fallback if the situation requires it. I don't want to be on it as I'd prefer to work and have a decent standard of living. You're still poor on the dole, but you won't die of starvation.

Yes, some may call it socialism (or the last remnants of it), but I simply call it common sense.

fenian8
Beezer, i have seen your posts on ATS a lot and have always read them and come to the conclusion that you are a well balanced, understanding, compassionate and knowledgeable human being. Until this thread.

I'm the same person that I've always been.

beezzer

Because I'm no-one special.

Are your different blood levels normal? Endocrine system hormones, as well as different levels in brain.

No mental disorders?

You pick up things very slow (low IQ), does even the most basic analysing seems as rocket science to you?

If your answered No, to any of these, you can consider yourself "special" or lucky. These are all quite common around the society and generally we could say every 3rd person you see suffers from one of these.

Respect for you for working through your psysical condition. I do not mean it to somehow lower your achievements, respect for it, although to be honest, at least from personal experience, different mental symptoms can often be much tougher than psysical condition and that is something you do not seem to understand...

I used to suffer from a certain endocrine system issue with some hormones being severely out of balance. If there was no cure to it and I knew I had to suffer it for the rest of my life, I would have traded my leg for losing the disease in a blink, without even thinking, and still would...

One thing is not being able to move well, even worse is not being able to think well. Imagine situation, where even the smallest things would exhaust you, when you would not be able to think clearly at all feeling incredibly tired and dizzy all the time, where you would not be able to concentrate into anything, where your attention span would be near to zero. These are all common symptoms of many different health issues, in some they are worse, in some less worse, but these are extremely tough to live with.. Unfortunately there are way too many people out there, who are not able to understand conditions like that, dismissing these at an instant as "lazy" or excuse.

Where are the lines? In an advanced world we have today, should people still suffer for the rest of their lives due to simply being unlucky - born with the wrong genes? . Should a person kill himself with overwork in order to survive or suffer from the consequences of it for the rest of their lives? Bad nutrition, not enough sleep, not treating the illnesses fully (going to work before being fully recovered), even worse not treating at all due to not being able to pay, can all lead to severe health issues in the future.

I do not see torturing oneself or working to death in order to survive, as being the "right way" in the world of today. We are past the middle ages.

reply to post by justreleased



You know generally I don't wish ill on people but the christmas spirit has moved me after reading your posts. My christmas wish for you is that you see how vulnerable and close to being one of those lazy, irresponsible, worthless, and unworthy of pity people you rail against so much.... Now I don't want you to end up homeless... I just want you to come CLOSE.

Maybe the company you work for will cut your hours suddenly while at the same point something you couldn't possibly have anticipated expense wise will come up at JUST the wrong time.... Either way.

I hope you see that no matter how smart you THINK you are... you're still AT MOST 2 to 12 weeks from living out of your car... until that gets towed too and you have to live in a tent or god forbid carry everything you own on your back and finding something semi dry to sleep under at night.

I've been there myself... well except I didn't come close I fell all the way down. Is it because I was lazy stupid or overextended myself? Considering I have not once in my life even had a credit card in my name because I don't believe in living beyond my means. I have paid for every car I've ever had with cash. Hell when possible I maintain a rolling 3 month reserve of ALL my base expenses as well as a healthy padding for things that aren't strictly necessary but make life more bearable. And Guess what? that didn't save me, and it won't save you if things go wrong in exactly the right way.

Maybe after you stare the specter of losing everyhting you've worked so hard for in the face just for a week or two you'll learn some humility and empathy, but somehow I doubt it.

Even with that being said though I still can't wish true harm upon you. Because UNLIKE YOU I know what it's like to struggle and I don't wish it on ANYONE.