Okay, I've lived in PSRK for well over 25 years. I have seen people in need. My family has, at times, been some of them. I have even seen tent cities before, back in the 90's. (WOW - time flies...)
But George over at urbansurvival.com/blog has reported some new and exciting twists to my fair state.
"'One in 10 Americans gets help to buy food.' The story then went on to say that more than 2.9-million folks right here in the Republic of Texas get help - a good thing as I see it. Nationally the average benefit works out to something like $112 per person, although in California the benefits are about to take a major jump upward - going up 13.6% - and curiously, California has fewer people on food stamps than does Texas, with only 2.5 million receiving help.
Since tax time is just around the corner, this all gets me to wondering about the proper ‘role of the dole’. Obviously, helping people who are hungry, laid off, homeless and living in tents or cars is the right thing to do. But, how far up the food chain does it go?
...Tent cities continue to spring up around the country. In California, where the Governator opened up state fair grounds, Sacramento tent city residents are saying they won’t be moved from their present location. This all sets up the ugly prospect of something we’ve been eyeing in the HalfPastHuman predictive linguistics for a while to become very real: the potential for a showdown between “authorities” and the homeless, since as KCRA reports “Some at ‘tent city’ unhappy with Cal Expo site” and “Sacramento homeless camp expected to be shut down.”
Head's up, Chaverim - Wally World in Arroyo Grande is still out of small calibers. Has lots of birdshot and some buckshot. The salesman said that the Self-Protection Industry thanks Obama for the increase in sales and helping to keep the shelves nearly bare.
Kind of like what the Food Shelves will be this winter when we figure out that
paying farmers NOT to grow food is a really, really stupid idea.
Especially when the Dust Bowl is returning to Oklahoma and Kansas. (I think I found this on one of George's posts, but can't remember. Old age does that to a gal.)
I continue to
buy canned and dried foods. Since I should finish cleaning for Passover this afternoon (just in time to get ready for Shabbat, of course), I can start plotting my organization of said purchases. I did buy a new shelf storage thingy for the kitchen. (I really need to stop spending so much, even if it is for Capital Goods to improve the living space...I HATE supporting the Obama-Timmah-NaziPelousy-Bawney-HerrReid Complex.)