tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post3766258799352638217..comments2024-01-23T21:51:59.450-05:00Comments on The Gary Baumgarten Report: Growing Number Of Homeless On The Streets Topic On PaltalkGary Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16665260595151901802noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-51874003711420177142009-05-05T12:56:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:56:00.000-04:00On another blog some man was blaming the Republica...On another blog some man was blaming the Republicans for the current economic mess, which is only partially correct. But the truth is that the cause of our current economic mess goes all the way back to LBJ and the massive deficit spending that he undertook to fund the war in Southeast Asia. Some will say, "Well that war only cost a few hundred billion dollars!" Well, that is the way inflation begins - slow and subtle. Once, one president learns that his administration can get away with it, it's so easy for all the others after his to do the same. So many people today are only worried about their own comfort zones and do not want to vote that it is no problem for the covert police state to manipulate them out into the streets and to lead the poor sob's to believe any cock- and-bull propaganda line which meets the needs of the state. Anyone can point their finger at anyone, that they want to in order to pin on the blame for this current economic mess, but the truth is that they do not want to point their finger at themselves for having not voted. And, I must admit - after all the hell that I have been through at the hands of the covert police state in this country - voting never really forces the national security masters to answer for all the inhumanity that they inflict on the innocent citizens of this country and the world at large, because they continue to remain hidden. But remember that dope, booze, obcessions with wanton sex, mindless TV, gambling, pie-in-the-sky religion, etc., does not change much for the better. Change for the better (progress) only begins when you yourself take an interest and act upon the isssues. (FYI,I was forced into homelessness for seven years before the covert police state dumped a criminal case on me and sent me off to their idea of a home for eleven years. And, no I do not hold any one particlular political point of view, although Big Brother would have you believe otherwise, if it suits his designs.) So what am I saying?...."Take a good look around you before you accuse someone else for this mess!" What is truth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-7122353230628098972009-03-26T17:41:00.000-04:002009-03-26T17:41:00.000-04:00Dear Gary,Sometimes I wonder if you truly listen w...Dear Gary,<BR/>Sometimes I wonder if you truly listen when we participate in your show.<BR/><BR/>You seemed to think I was saying "all" or even a majority of homeless are mentally ill. No, I did not say that. However, they are still part and parcel of the mix and should they not be cared about as well?<BR/><BR/>Secondly, I contend that the federal government is the WORST place to help the homeless. States can, if they want to, utilize funds wisely and more specific to the needs of those in their state.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, Obama's solution to his homeless Auntie is to allow her to be deported (she's here illegally- but has been here so for over a decade.)<BR/><BR/>Gary, I am a huge donor to charities. Strangely enough, that seems to be unappreciated. Instead, people cheer when those with an income of over $250,000 get it socked to them. But tell me, who will be giving to help the homeless when my money- and that of others- runs out?<BR/><BR/>-LD McLellanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-73638390560598625972009-03-26T17:02:00.000-04:002009-03-26T17:02:00.000-04:00The National Center on Family Homelessness has gen...The National Center on Family Homelessness has generated headlines today by releasing a report that claims “one in 50 children is homeless in the United States every year.” That would be a total of 1.5 million homeless children, a truly shocking figure. The number is all the more shocking because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says there actually only 671,000 people were homeless in 2007 (the last year for which data is available), of which only about 249,000 were people in families. Assuming even one adult per family would mean there were around 166,000 homeless children, far too many, but also far fewer than 1.5 million.<BR/><BR/>What accounts for the discrepancy? First, the National Center uses an incredibly broad definition of homeless. For example, in addition to those we usually think of as homeless (those living in shelters or on the streets), they also include people “Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.” Under this definition, when your out-of-work in-law crashes on your couch, he’s homeless. The National Center also includes people “living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds,” children awaiting foster care placement, and children of migratory farm workers. And, a child needs only to fall into one of these categories for a single day to qualify as homeless.<BR/><BR/>Second, this study, like the HUD study as well, are not actual counts of the homeless, but estimates and extrapolations based on reports by various government agencies. The Census Bureau does attempt to do an actual head count of the homeless (170,000 in 2000), but that estimate is both out-of-date and generally criticized as an undercount. Still, going from that estimate to 1.5 million homeless children seems quite a stretch.<BR/><BR/>Homelessness is clearly a problem, and for the children involved, a tragedy, but scare headlines are a poor substitute for thoughtful public policy.<BR/><BR/>coutesy Michael Tanner<BR/>posted by LD McLellanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-76234912705522287672009-03-26T16:42:00.000-04:002009-03-26T16:42:00.000-04:00Homeless in the US.........imagine that.......mill...Homeless in the US.........imagine that.......millions of illegal immigrants collecting welfare, food stamps and medicaid and we have prior tax paying law abiding citizens who are homeless..... go figure. Makes alot of sense to me (sarcasm) Maybe if the US would concentrate more on the US instead of sending money to Gaza and inviting them here or sending money to Africa for abortions............ oh well <BR/>TJonnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-49229015505843224482009-03-26T16:28:00.000-04:002009-03-26T16:28:00.000-04:00Gary, you pretty much said it all. These people ar...Gary, you pretty much said it all. These people are victims of the economy and this number is going to continue to grow as long as people keep getting laid-off therefore leading towards the loss of homes. For the time being, until the economy picks back up, we should increase the capacity of shelters and police units should be guiding these people to these shelters instead of telling them to "move on in the morning". Shelters' addresses should be accepted because when they apply for a job, or even apply for government assistance they need some address to put down. Unless they get jobs, and unless they get this much needed assistance this problem will continue to grow.nancy bas mo 3agramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08701816461158993057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-47501130104822500312009-03-26T15:02:00.000-04:002009-03-26T15:02:00.000-04:00The first time I ever remember seeing homeless peo...The first time I ever remember seeing homeless people was during the Reagan Administration, in the 1980s. This was in Midtown Manhattan!!!! They were usually single men. I had no idea why they were homeless except that one of them, who tried to accost me as I was buying a newspaper and was chased off by the kiosk owner aided by a police officer, finally got my attention. I had seen him often as he was a fixture in the subway station I used. This person did exhibit signs of mental illness. <BR/><BR/>In the 1990's I lived in a small community in Brooklyn which had a resident "odd" person. He would have been homeless except that his family took him in. His vocation seemed to be collecting bottles and cans. I was to learn that he was a casualty of the Vietnam war.<BR/><BR/>Now we have entire families who fell out of the middle class living in tents, cars and campers due to this economic condition. I have seen these tent cities on television. They send shivers up my spine because there for but the grace of G-d.......<BR/><BR/>There are more people now who are just one paycheck away from disaster. I saw a segment of 20/20 the other week that highlighted a couple in which the man was making $750,000 a year. He lost his job and is now delivering pizzas. His family is on the verge of going in to foreclosure on their home.<BR/><BR/>The vast majority of our new homeless played by the rules. They bought homes that they could afford at the time. They had 401Ks to provide for their retirement. They even had some savings. A great number of them have lost a large part of their net worth and now find themselves poor and frightened.<BR/><BR/>Where is the help to come from? I know that one person or group of people cannot correct this situation alone. This is the time for all Americans to band together and realize that we raise ourselves by raising the weakest among us. Isn't that what is meant by the "PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE" line in the preamble of the Constitution?<BR/><BR/>Sylvia_LovejoyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-33986907973304271992009-03-26T14:57:00.000-04:002009-03-26T14:57:00.000-04:00well i m agree with the report of gary because now...well i m agree with the report of gary because nowadays the economical crisis of many countries is too bad conditions that effects the whole communityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-43056941625260775922009-03-26T14:24:00.000-04:002009-03-26T14:24:00.000-04:00Like i Was saying before it is ashame of how many ...Like i Was saying before it is ashame of how many homeless people we have in this world , you would think someone will step up to the plate and give them some sort of shelter , instead of living out on the streets , you know there so many complaints these days of people dying in this world , you would think if they would get off there seats and do something about this we would have better chances of people off the streets in shelters and living better.Lorriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05338743444066588462noreply@blogger.com