A choice: Bread or gasoline?Need for help rises with costs The Post and Courier
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Post and Courier 
Grace Beahm Walter Tucker says he reluctantly went for lunch Monday at the Our Lady of Mercy Church soup kitchen. But it was, 'Come in to get something to eat, or don't eat,' he says. For more informationE. Cooper Community Outreach: eccocharleston.org Lowcountry Food Bank: lowcountryfoodbank.org America's Second Harvest: secondharvest.org The costs finally became too much for Walter Tucker. Three weeks ago, he swallowed his pride and took a place in the soup kitchen line at Our Lady of Mercy Church on Charleston's East Side so he could extend his already stretched food dollar with a free meal. Prices are up so much that many people are forced to make a choice, "either a gallon of gas or a loaf of bread," he says. "It was hard to come to a soup kitchen," Tucker says. "You feel a little hesitant at first, like you may be seen as a bum." But a choice has to be made, he says. "Come in to get something to eat, or don't eat." Sister Pat Keating, who directs this Sisters of Charity soup kitchen on America Street, says the soup kitchen normally feeds fewer than 100 for lunch at the beginning of the month when people tend to have more money on hand. Now, she says, Our Lady of Mercy often finds 150 or more in the food line. "They're running out of money because food is expensive. We're seeing people we have not seen before." The same is true at soup kitchens and food pantries across the Lowcountry, the state and the nation as the triple whammy of a faltering economy, skyrocketing gas prices and soaring food costs push more people into hunger. Oil drives the food crisis These days, everything seems to cost more, a trend driven largely by the dramatic rise in the price of fuel. Oil approached $119 a barrel late last week, yet another record. Oil costs for agriculture and transportation, and some other factors, especially ethanol production from corn that otherwise would be used for food, are the driving forces that have pushed food prices sky high. So high that many parts of the world now face what the United Nations World Food Programme calls a "silent tsunami" of hunger that is threatening to provoke the biggest global food crisis since World War II. And U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon went a step further, saying Friday that rising food prices have already prompted a global crisis. Critical food staples, such as rice and other grains, are up by as much as 40 percent in parts of the world. That, in turn, means beef and poultry prices are rising because cows and chickens feed on grain. Rice supplies have become so tight that the nation's two biggest warehouse retail chains, Sam's Club and Costco, have put some limits on how much rice customers can buy at one time. Food prices rose 4.9 percent in 2007, the biggest increase since 1990, which saw a 5.3 percent hike, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Lowcountry, operators of food pantries, soup kitchens and distribution centers say the demand for food has spiked dramatically since the beginning of the year. At the same time, they say, their expenses have jumped, for food and for the fuel they have to buy to pick up and deliver the food. East Cooper Community Outreach, which operates a food pantry, reports dramatic increases in people coming in for help — 73 percent — during the first three months of 2008, compared with the same period last year. A single mother strapped with health-care debt, struggling with increased gas costs and relying on disability payments from the government visited the outreach's food pantry for the first time last week. She was one of many new clients. "I don't want to depend on others," she says, declining to give her name. "I never thought of myself as someone who would need to use a food bank. It's just gotten to a point where I can't do it anymore." The pinch comes just as the giving season is slowing down. Summer is the dry period for food charities, administrators say. Donations are fewer, energy costs are higher and need is greater. And many transient poor come to the Charleston area during the warmer months, adding to demand. Donations are highest in November and December because of the holidays and giving spirit, says outreach office manager Linda Grausso. The group's Christmas food drive typically results in a supply of goods so large that it lasts for six months of the subsequent year, she says. This year, it was gone by March. Linda Blanchard, food rescue coordinator for the Crisis Ministries homeless shelter, says higher prices mean food stamps buy less and less, and often don't see families through a full month. Increasingly, people rely on pantries and soup kitchens to get them through a lean month's end, she says. Blanchard drives the agency's truck Monday through Friday from grocery store to grocery store, restaurant to restaurant, picking up food donations that range from frozen meats to fresh produce to canned goods. Last year's Christmas donations were down by half, Blanchard says, and that's made her collection job more urgent than ever, urgent just as gas prices are putting a bigger dent in the budget. She's trying to reduce the number of food runs she makes by visiting several donors at once. The hunger gap widens At the Lowcountry Food Bank in North Charleston, Amy Kosar, food solicitor, says donations are beginning to decline. And certain items now are too expensive to buy, rice in particular. In January, rice cost the Food Bank 23 cents a pound. Three months later, the price was 40 cents a pound, a 74 percent increase. Now the food bank is seeking cheaper alternatives, such as potatoes, she says. The Food Bank serves 154,000 people in 10 coastal counties in South Carolina. In 2007 it distributed 9.3 million pounds of food. The organization estimates another 100,000 people need but don't use its services. About 40 percent of Food Bank clients have at least one working adult in their household, Kosar says. And now middle-class families are part of the mix, she says. Forced to choose between necessities such as medicine, food, gas and childcare, they are increasing the demand for free or subsidized food. "It's tragic, it really is," Kosar says. "That's not a decision that we should have to make." Executive Director Jermaine Husser says food donations from grocery stores are up, but that's a mixed blessing. They would rather give cash donations because dollars can be maximized by the agency, used to procure disproportionately large quantities of food. But a can of beans is a can of beans. And that's what Husser is relying on these days. Local grocery stores are moving less food because of the price inflation. As a result they have more to give away, Husser says. Collecting it, though, presents its own cost burden. Fuel costs are up 57 percent since last year, Husser says. Transportation represents about 22 percent of the Food Bank's budget. Tammy Lanier, customer service manager with the Food Lion on Charleston's Upper King Street, says her store lately has been providing atypical foods to local soup kitchens. "Our sales have dropped and people aren't spending like normal," she says. The result is that meats and deli products, cakes and certain breads are selling less. And since the store is stocked based on last year's sales, soup kitchens have been getting "a steak or two," she says. The elderly on fixed incomes are among Food Lion's customers who are struggling more recently, Lanier says. Ross Fraser, media relations manager for America's Second Harvest, a Chicago-based umbrella organization for 200 independent food banks, says the pain is distributed across the nation. "What we're hearing," he says, "is that new faces are showing up" at food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries all over. Demand is up 20 percent in most places, and 30 percent to 40 percent in some places, he says. Frank Bohannon, 56, gets philosophical as he sips hot soup during lunch last week at Our Lady of Mercy's soup kitchen. He says this country has gotten so used to having plenty of food that we often waste it and don't see those who are hungry. "I've been fascinated how people complain about the price of gasoline when a gallon of milk is higher." Reach Doug Pardue at dpardue@postandcourier.com or at 937-5558. Reach Adam Parker at aparker@postandcourier.com or at 937-5902. |
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Comments
This article has 50 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on April 27, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And out elected leaders are still ever so wasteful and want to raise taxes even more to pay for their pet projects.
Do our representatives really care? They might act like it. But they don't.
Posted by umakebrains on April 27, 2008 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story is ironic, earlier this evening my husband and I were shopping at that same Food Lion, we were very cautios about our spending, which required the clerk to do a price check on one of our items, behind us was a couple with two baskets blowing as if the were annoyed by the temporary hold up, I turned around to notice that one basket had enough junk to open a convience store(corner) the other basket was fulled with what I thought the entire frozen food section. When the clerk returned with our price check we paid the 97.52 in cash, only 2 packs of meat in tow. I forgot something (milk) so when my husband went to retieve the milk I watched the couple behind me, as soon as it was time to pay the man(I use that term loosely)tstepped aside and the female pulled out the wic voucher for her 10 gallons of milk, juice cereal and wahta ever else, and an EBT card to the tune of 412.61. My point? give everybody food stamps until these high gas and food prices go down, I sure would use mine wisely. If you have food stamps how big is your house to store all this Sh----. oh I forgot, you can get a 5 bedroom house any where you want to with section 8, Go figure.
Posted by ForPnC on April 27, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But don't worry folks.
We're NOT in a depression. I mean... um... recession.
Posted by ForPnC on April 27, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And Mr. Walter Tucker? You hold your head high. You've done nothing to be ashamed of. I hope things get turned back around for you soon.
Posted by goodkarmasc on April 27, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of you may not be old enough or learned enough to remember the great depression. Get ready folks, just like his fellow republican did over 70 years ago, GW and his enablers are trying to "limit government" by bankrupting it.
Posted by ChrisPia on April 27, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have to stop giving to other countries and start taking care of our own.
Posted by svilleswampfox on April 27, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ChrisPia - you mean like Nash did for the Romanians? Just kidding - I couldn't resist.
Posted by Dpecora on April 27, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A single mother receivdes a "government Disability" but she doesn't want to depend upon others. What have we become?
Posted by tripsa on April 27, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The truth is that Americans have had it so easy for so long that real adversity is yet to be. True, families are choosing food or gas...but how about cable TV or cell phone or gas?
You can thank the enviromentalists for our gas prices.
Posted by tripsa on April 27, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
goodkarmasc - this crisis, has been long in the making. I guess you forgot about the gas lines under Carter (the terrorist lover)?
we need to drill our own oil, build more nuke plants, and refineries. stop this stupid bio-fuel (FOOD) crap and the government handouts to illegals must stop now.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 27, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya know, I'm by no means rich, but I'm just not seeing any form of hardships. Yea, prices have gone up all over but I can still afford to buy what I want to buy and do what I want to do. Maybe all of that education, training and planning I did when I was younger is paying off? Maybe some others didn't prepare themselves quite as well as they should have?
Posted by JohnS on April 27, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It cost more to fill up a Ford Expedition than it does to buy a keg of beer.
Posted by ridgerunner on April 27, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I TOO HAVE SEEN LITTLE PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS PRICES OTHER THAN CUTTING BACK ON NEEDLESS TRIPS, BUT I SEE IT COMMING VERY FAST, FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS WILL MAKE A DRASTIC INCREASE BECAUSE OF EXTRA FUEL COST TO GET TO MARKET. I SEE A PROBLEM WITH ILLEGALS NOT WORKING BECAUSE HOUSING STARTS ARE DOWN, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR LAWN WORK WILL HAVE TO DO THERE OWN LAWN SO THEY CAN HAVE MONEY FOR GAS TO GET TO WORK, FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY. THE CRIME RATE WILL RISE BECAUSE A REAL MAN WILL DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO TOO FEED HIS FAMILY.WHERE HE BE LEGAL OR NOT!
Posted by moonpie on April 27, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone I know is cutting back and watching descretionary spending. Businesses too are cutting back. We the voting public have to ask why these things are happening. Is it oil, food? Don't blame housing. The people that are going bankrupt are people that shouldn't have been buying a house in the first place. This is a correction. Oil and food spikes are real. I agree we have to take care of Americans first and when that is done help others. Pretty soon welfare will come back to bite us. We are one Katrina or another war away from really seeing what Americans are made of. That scares the hell out of me. You saw the people in N.O. couldn't take care of themselves before or after. Total dependence on the Government is not good.
Posted by RTC on April 27, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not going to give up my SUV, because everyone else thinks that I should. I don't have to drive it to work, and I only fill up about every 2 or 3 mths. It gets good mileage for a larger vehicle. All SUV's don't get poor gas mileage. I had a little Jeep Wrangler that got worse gas mileage.
People can cut back by getting all of their errands done in one trip, and not running here and there simply just to go out.
There is no excuse for gas prices to be this high, and it is going to get worse.
Taxpayers that help to support those that don't work should be able to drive in whatever they feel safe and comfortable. I don't begrudge people, like the gentleman in this article, for needing some assistance. It's the people that don't even try that get my goat.
I have never minded helping those less fortunate than myself, but a freeloader is a whole other story.
Posted by algorelost on April 27, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear all this talk about cutting back, but I wonder how much all the people who complain about food and gas prices spend on cell phones, internet, cable tv, clothes, central AC, and car payments. I guess it is important to pay for the real nessecities before we pay for gas and food.
I am just glad our cars don't run on starbucks,could you imagine what it would cost to fill up your car then.
Posted by Thomas1776 on April 27, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
goodkarmasc,
I agree. All the indicators are there that the USA will sink into a depression. The Arab countries have figure out another way how to hurt the USA. And OPEC is living like Gods at our expense and using whatever excuse to keep jacking prices up. All they have done is set the stage for another World War. Oil is vital part of any countries economy and the well being of it's citizens.
Our elected fools are sticking there heads in the sand and doing nothing about it. Who in their right mind would want someone like Obama as president. Maybe we need him to finish off what is left of the United States. He sure will do it .. and fast.
We're in dire straits headed for a major ship wreck as countless more end up suffering and going homeless.
Posted by scienceguy on April 27, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tripsa:
The ever-increasing price of oil and food has more to do with the ever-weakening dollar than it has to do with the factors you outline.
The cost of the war in Iraq is killing the value of the dollar. (BTW, how much are our European allies spending on this war?) And all the Chinese made products we buy at Wat-Mart allow China to outbid us for oil.
I understand your frustrations. But, keep in mind the words of George Orwell--"Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper." and "Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac."
Posted by jifdeng3 on April 27, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with scienceguy. This has a whole lot more to do with the shrinking value of the dollar more that other causes. Why is the dollar so low is up for debate. My issues with goverment is with the corporate bailout bull that is going on. If a corporation fails because it make poor buisness decisions, or is beat out by competition then too bad for it. Its capitalism, right. Not capitalism in the good times and socialism in the bad times. These CEOs sit around and make poor decisions while raking in 45 million dollar salaries plus insane bonuses, then when their company fails because they lend $500,000 to couples making $40,000 and the bubble bursts they come crying to Uncle Sam to make them whole! Total crap!
Posted by To_live_and_die_in_Dixie on April 27, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the most interesting thing I've read in a long time. It's been around before, but it is a notice we need to recognize. The sad thing about it, you can see it coming.
I had heard about this democracy countdown for a long time.
It is interesting to see it in print. God help us!
How Long Do We Have?
About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
'A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.'
'A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.'
'From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally
collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.'
'The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.'
'During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4 From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage'
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:
Number of States won by:
Gore: 19
Bush: 29
Square miles of land won by:
Gore: 580,000
Bush: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by:
Gore: 127 million
Bush: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Gore: 13.2
Bush: 2.1
Professor Olson adds: 'In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country.
Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in
government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...'
Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the 'complacency and apathy' phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the
'governmental dependency' phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal aliens and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.
Scary isn't it?
Posted by scienceguy on April 27, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's "scary" is that folks circulate urban myths to justify bigotry.
See, http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/ty...
Here's a newsflash--just because it is on the Internet does not make it true. Or as one of my professors used to say, "Cite your source."
Posted by georgebushsux on April 27, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you fail to plan in life, then you are planning to fail in life. Period! The majority of those who are complaining about things they cannot afford probably won't give up the things that are wanted and not needed.
Live life simple and you will be rewarded, spend over your means and we'll read about you in the news.
Posted by blk_avenger on April 27, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry to say this,but people intrigue me. When a regular person has a bad break and needs welfare to help them out, we call them lazy and tell them to stop asking for handouts. But when a huge business starts to go down and asks for govt help we say nothing. Can someone please tell me why do we do this?
Posted by abitskeptical on April 27, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, blk_avenger, some people say nothing & others scream about big business (CORPORATIONS)& the tax breaks, grants, etc they receive, all while having tremendous influence on the entity (the government) from which they get so many "breaks".
Posted by abitskeptical on April 27, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW-America's 2nd Harvest(mentioned in the article) is one of the best places to send your charitable giving dollars that go to work here in the US.
Every $1 donated provides 16 meals...can't get much better value for your dollar. To read about this wonderful organization go to http://www.secondharvest.org/
Posted by BILLYBOB on April 27, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SMOKEY BONES HAS ALL THE RIBS YOU CAN EAT FOR 16.99
Posted by abitskeptical on April 27, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another good charity providing food & much more: http://www.foodforthepoor.org/site/c.dnJ...
n 2007, Forbes magazine rated Food For The Poor as having an efficiency level of 96% in charitable commitment and 97% in fund raising efficiency
Food For The Poor received highest possible ratings from industry observers: four stars from Charity Navigator...five stars from Ministry Watch. Food For The Poor...also meets the extensive standards of America’s most experienced charity evaluator, the Better Business Bureau.
Posted by tripsa on April 27, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
scienceguy,
A few questions - if we could drill off our coasts and in ANWR, plus build new refineries, dont you think that the supply would increase? We would not have to import oil.
We may even be able to export oil and increase the value of the dollar.
Blame Clinton, greens for high gas prices
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PA...
Blame the green environmental extremists who block every effort to expand domestic energy supply, whether in offshore oil reserves, expansion of clean coal production, or the construction of new nuclear energy facilities. It's just plain dumb to allow the shortage of readily available energy to drive prices so high that the entire economy and food supply are in jeopardy.
Using food crops for bio-fuel is foolish and will only cause more problems.
The war in Iraq, has nothing to do with oil prices or revenue for the government,
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/21/o...
in fact, its all the social programs that cost much much more. Shoot, WW2 boosted out econemy.
and then you have useful idiots that want to blame CEOs and big business for problems. they get their pay voted on by share holders. These are companies and people creating jobs and paying huge amounts in taxes. not to mention create retirement investments for many americans.
Posted by abitskeptical on April 27, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While corporations do create jobs, & pay taxes they have an inordinate amount of influence on their own tax breaks, via lobbying. They might be paying huge amounts in taxes compared to individuals, but they are not paying, relatively what they should..i.e. the proverbial fair share...what ever the heck that is.
If you research taxing laws, corporations were one of the main entities to which the 'income tax' was intended to apply. Gradually over time, because of the growth of their influence & power corporations have managed to heavily influence their tax payout under the guise that it will stimulate the economy, help provide jobs etc.
Posted by DontSpamMeBro on April 27, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Time to make some hard decisions. The greatest nation in the world is about to collapse. Time to wipe out all those Iraqis and put that oil to good use.
Posted by lillycollette on April 27, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with scienceguy: ... [A]s one of my professors used to say, "Cite your source."
Posted by lillycollette on April 27, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Quick example:
http://www.restoreliberty.com/answerpg1....
It is plaintiff's firm position that the Federal Government has no authority to directly tax the earnings of laborers, but only has the lawful authority to tax persons who function in a corporate or a quasi- corporate capacity who are in business for gains and profits.
Plaintiff is not liable to Title 26 USC and therefore the federal taxing authorities have no right to his books and papers (4th Amendment, U.S. Const.), nor do they have the right to try and arbitrarily despoil him of his labor (13th Amendment, U.S. Const.).
He owes nothing to the public so long as he does not trespass upon their rights." Hale v. Henkel 201 U.S. 43, 26 S. Ct. Rptr., pg. 379.
Hence the question: What has happened that has perverted the income tax laws to nationalize the labor of the people? The answer is, quite simply, the massive social programs and subsidies. The money has to come from somewhere and since the bulk of the national income has always been represented by the money people are paid for their labor, it is only logical that labor must be burdened to some degree for the purposes of redistributing the national income and supporting the massive bureaucracy that supports such a scheme of government. Hence, we can see that Mr. Lorimer was correct when he raised the question of whether or not any form of liberty could survive under a process of socialism, even of the gradualist variety. It has taken over six decades for the burden upon the labor of the people to go from 1% of their earnings from labor pursuant to the Social Security Act of 1935 to the levels we see today. The peoples' free labor market is dying the death of slow poison. In addition, it is common knowledge among the people that more social programs have been added at the federal level since social security in 1935, which further burdens the labor of the people as the additional social programs expand themselves. For such a scheme of government to continue, the labor of the people must be perpetually burdened to some degree. This has happened in America over the past six decades. It was a grave error to circumvent the Constitution to gain a footing on the peoples' labor. The gradual process of socialism which has been ongoing for six decades has made it necessary for the political authority to perpetually burden the labor of the people. This is simply KING COTTON all over again in another form.
Respectfully submitted this 16th day of March, 1998.
Adrian C. Banks,
Pro Se
Posted by majorjohnson on April 27, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the nation is going to collapse it's thanks to both the people and the government. Government keeps promising more and more, and the people keep saying take more from them to give more to me. And keep doing that while I ignore my needs and attend to my wants. I want government to provide my health care while I provide for my wall sized HD TV. My retirement is governments problem, my need for 200 cable TV stations is a priority for me. It's not very pc to say, but hunger is an excellent motivator. If you feed me and pay my rent and give me medical care at some other persons expense, why would I bother with trivial things like getting a job or an education or a saleable skill?
We have too many people being pushed into government funded college educations who would be very good plumbers, carpenters, electricians, masons (who make a very good living). Instead they are pushed into college, given government funded loans and grants for an overpriced education (thanks to government grants and loans), end up failing and not paying back their loans and instead get education degrees so they can teach our children about the wonders of socialism and government dependency.
We have too many people who consider air conditioning, cable television and cell phones neccessities for the existence of life. A monthly car payment is required for life to continue...don't even bother suggesting that someone save and pay cash for a used car.
Live with someone else because you can't afford your own private place? Posh! Just ask for a section 8 subsidy. It's everyones right to have a private residence.
Life is far too easy in America, thanks to the socialist partys infiltration into the American mainstream. Before President Bush I actually thought that the democrat party had been taken over by the socialist party, but it's pretty obvious now that both sides of the aisle are reeking with socialists. If we reverted to a real republic with a real capitalist economy we could have a real good life, but with the socialists controlling both sides of the aisle we get promises of how well we can live on someone elses money, thanks to the government. This country used to be known for allowing more people to lift themselves out of abject poverty than any other country in the world. We're quickly lowering ourselves to the status of having the dumbest fat poor people with the most toys living at other peoples expense in the world. I again state my opinion (from my own experience) that hunger is the greatest inspiration to achieve that has ever existed.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings;
the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. "Winston Churchill"
Posted by outrage on April 27, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Big Business does not pay taxes, they collect taxes. You raise the corporate tax and they raise the cost of the goods, or services. Then the move the jobs overseas.
Has anybody on this thread read "The Fair Tax" by Boortz and Linder?
Fairtax.org will answer any question you have about a better tax system.
Current tax code - over 60,000 pages and over 2.5 million words. Get informed and vote!
Posted by luvmydogs59 on April 27, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So far, I've been able to pay for the groceries that I need, however, soon that is going to change, as my savings are running out. I'm fighting for Social Security Disability, and who knows how long that's going to take (our government at its best). Gone are the days that I could just get what I wanted...now I stick strictly to my list and only get the necessary things. I will also do without some things (buying new clothes, for example) so that my dogs have their dog food. To me, that's not a sacrifice...they love me and protect me. I do not receive food stamps...I'm trying to keep doing things on my own till I just can't anymore. But I know that sooner than later, I will have to give up my pride and get them. I own a home (fortunately mortgage free, thank God) and a nice car, and to look at me and my surroundings, you wouldn't think that I was in a financial bind. So if you see people using food stamps that look like they don't need them, don't always judge and try to realize that things aren't always what they seem to be.
I recently found out about a wonderful organization that helps people buy food at a very affordable rate. I will be checking them out soon. Their services are open to all. The web site is http://www.angelfoodministries.com. It's nice to know that there are places and people willing to help when we might need a helping hand.
Posted by georgebushsux on April 27, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want this and this and that! I can't afford it but it's ok because it makes me feel good and my friends will think I have $$$. Typical american attitude?
Posted by scienceguy on April 27, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You and Martin Neil Baily, the director of the business initiative at the Brookings Institution, may believe that the War in Iraq has not contributed to the sorry state of the economy. But, you are probably not in the majority.
I think our energy problems will require a comprehensive approach. If we do not conserve, plan our cities better, and find alternative fuel sources, drilling in Alaska will be a drop in the bucket.
Brazil has become energy independent because of biofuels. Could this work here? The oil companies do not want us to think so.
Posted by Sarummission on April 27, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is what happens when taxes are to high. Gas companies only make 9 cents on the dollar, uncle sam makes 45 cents on the gallon. who is gouging? Kick the democrats out of office already. during Bush's first six years gas only rose 89 cents over the last two its raised $1.68 I think its clear why gas is so high.
Posted by ironhorse on April 27, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To those that say there is a war for oil, there never was a war for oil. But if you really believe that, I say it's time to raise the white flag.
Posted by scienceguy on April 28, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tripsa:
I wanted to review the rest of your sources before responding further to your questions. Having done so, I stand by my earlier posts. While drilling for oil in Alaska may be a temporary fix--and that is debatable--we need long term solutions to the challenge of providing for our energy needs.
Incidently, the insurance actuaries now conceed that global warming is contributing to the intensity of hurricanes. They are including this risk in setting our insurance rates.
Why is it that people are still blaming Bill Clinton for the fact that we are not drilling in Alaska? George Bush has been President for 7 1/2 years give or take a week. If drilling in Alaska is such a good idea, why wasn't he able to get a Republican Congress to embrace the idea?
Posted by tripsa on April 28, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Incidently, the insurance actuaries now conceed that global warming is contributing to the intensity of hurricanes. They are including this risk in setting our insurance rates.
No, what they are doing is using it as an excuse to raise premiums. $$$$ its about the money.
Posted by scienceguy on April 28, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tripsa:
Please excuse my spelling errors. That having been said, in order to raise rates, insurance companies have to demonstrate increased risks.
Do you believe forcing all SC homeowners to subsidize the insurance purchases of coastal dwellers is either a form of welfare or a form of wealth transfer?
Posted by Early on April 28, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tripsa is right, they moved the hurricane line from east of 17 to east of 95 and cancelled one third of the insurance premiums last year and plan on doing the same this year to reduce their risk of payment.
Anyway, I believe the increase in fuel price is directly related to the war and the taxes gained form increased prices goes to " fuel the war"
Posted by abitskeptical on April 28, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why Ms. Lilly-you & I might have one issue on which we agree after all.
Posted by lillycollette on April 28, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scienceguy,
If you don’t already have this you may like to add it to your resources:
http://www.fincen.gov/index.html
Posted by lillycollette on April 28, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Note -- I only cited to the Pro se litigation of Adrian C. Banks because of my personal awareness of fraud inside the SSA and my particular disrespect for Title IV of the Act.
Posted by abitskeptical on April 28, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, got it.
Posted by Early on April 28, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As someone pointed out in another article, how does anyone on a fixed income (not welfare) make it these days?Prescription drugs, gas, groceries, medical care and consumer goods have risen far above the income of these folks. Some have loved ones to take care of them but some don't. And if things are this bad today, what does the future hold for my children and your?
Posted by abitskeptical on April 28, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not sure how the topic moved to SS fraud(via the corporations & tax topic?), but I am personally aware of Social Security fraud also.
Remember the stalker case you kept trying to tell me I was mistaken about or was contriving allegations about? Unlike your husband for whose victimization you have advocated, this man is not the victim.
He has been using his grown children's SSN's to get credit cards & Lord knows what else, he used his wife's SSN to do the same...as well as to empty & overdraw her personal bank account. He collected SS disability checks in the name of at least 1 of his children who was not living with him. He claims he is disabled & gets SS benefits yet he has a business for which he had business cards.
The soon to be ex-wife finally was able report this to the SSA. She went to the local office. They told her the soon to be ex-husband already was red flagged. They advised her to make a complaint anonymously from a library computer..that if she made a formal complaint in person,they could not keep her name confidential(me thinks this is BS, since the SSA web site states confidentiality can be honored to the extent that the law allows). However, I will offer the disclaimer that I have not personally researched the procedure & policy for making these complaints in person.
I am just wondering how long it takes to get someone committing this much fraud.
Posted by abitskeptical on April 28, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lived in situations of abundance & situations of not knowing how the bills would be paid.
One thing that was made clear to me:
It is very expensive to be poor.