CNN: Woman, 90, shoots self inside foreclosed home

[justiceischeap]

This is what it's come to ladies and gentleman. While some of us are arguing over sexism, gay rights, the bailout bill or any other major issue affecting the US right now, 90 year old people are dealing with the more tangible realities of life.

A 90-year-old Akron, Ohio, woman who shot herself as sheriff's deputies tried to evict her from her foreclosed home became a symbol of the nation's home mortgage crisis Friday.

Addie Polk is being treated at Akron General Medical Center after shooting herself at least twice in the upper body Wednesday afternoon, her city councilman said.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, mentioned Polk on the House floor Friday during debate over the latest economic rescue proposal.

"This bill does nothing for the Addie Polks of the world," Kucinich said after telling her story. "This bill fails to address the fact that millions of homeowners are facing foreclosure, are facing the loss of their home. This bill will take care of Wall Street, and the market may go up for a few days, but democracy is going downhill."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/eviction.suicide.attempt/

This story makes it plain as ever we need a change and we need that change now.

[napi21]

1. That's so sad. Unfortunately, I doubt hers is the only story like this.

One of our neighbors lost his job and couldn't pay his bills anymore and shot himself while he was at home and alone. That happened about 5-6 weeks ago. We live in an older neighborhood (homes are about 30 years old) where the homes are nice, but the gragarious mini mansions they're building today, but although none of us are overextended...at least in mtg. debt...there's still a lot of desparation.

[thereismore]

2. Yeah, culture of life. nt

[stuntcat]

10. right, how much do evangelist sperm-savers care about elderly people losing their HOMES?

where are they right now? busy figuring out ways to stop "free" women like me from getting birth control pills? :eyes: Fuck them.

[justiceischeap]

17. Well ya see, she's not of sperm-carrying age any longer, so she's no longer of use to them. nt

[workinclasszero]

13. Yeah the thugs are pro-life till your born

Then they tell you to go fuck off and die you socialist, welfare bums. Wall Street excluded of course.:mad:

[Citizen_Penn]

3. Sweet Jesus, what is wrong in Akron?

Is this woman alone?

[maseman]

7. Nothing is wrong with Akron

She was a victim of predatory lending which has happened everywhere. It isn't an Akron problem it is a US problem.

[TooRaLoo]

4. Holy &*$%, how horribly SAD. :(

I can't wait for Obama to get to work on getting this country back into the upswing.

[bdamomma]

8. it won't take one man to conquer all the problems that we

face in the country, it will be many of us to confront and to send a clear message to those who made us this way.

[TooRaLoo]

28. Yeah, that's kinda what I was getting at...

since that's exactly what we would be doing by electing him...

[Jersey Devil]

5. Watch this tragic video - "Foreclosure Alley"

It is not about the poor woman who shot herself, but it demonstrates the despair and depression of those in her position.


http://kcet.org/socal/2008/09/foreclosure-alley.html

[vaberella]

21. Horrible. I hate the commentator Val Zavala---she was smiling throughout the tape. ugh. n/t

[maseman]

6. This happened on Akron, OHIO

It was in our local newspaper the Akron Beacon Journal. Here's their article. So DAMN heart-wrentching.

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/30240349.html

[justiceischeap]

9. It kinda reminds me of the story's from the Great Depression

where people would throw themselves out of buildings.

[vaberella]

14. Check her age...she lived through that era. n/t

[justiceischeap]

18. Which would explain A LOT! Thanks for pointing that out. nt

[Raschel]

11. I guess she's one of those whiners that Gramm was talking about.

The bastard

[vaberella]

12. Dear God. Lord...and you know she suffered through the depression.

Shit..she worked hard and then they're kicking her out and where does she go? Fuck. Fuck.

[nam78_two]

15. That is so tragic

...

[palintology]

16. What are the banks doing with foreclosure homes?

Sorry, I life in Canada.

We have a much stricter banking system, and I guess we are therefore not really affected by this mortgage debacle.
Anyway, I don't see any houses empty in and around Montreal.

What are the banks doing with foreclosure homes in the US? Are they simply left empty there?
Wouldn't the banks make more money if they would simply lower the mortgage payment?

Is it a criminal offense to re-enter a ('your own') foreclosed home?
Do you have families living on the street or in the backyard of 'their' foreclosed home?

From what I understand, it doesn't make much sense to me.

[justiceischeap]

19. The homes will sit empty or...

The bank will auction it off or someone else will buy it. It's not likely the original family would get back in because they would no longer qualify for a mortgage since they defaulted.

[palintology]

23. I understand there are whole area's full of foreclosed houses ...

Where do people (families) go to?

I haven't seen tent cities on the news, but they must find shelter somewhere?

What percentage of houses / families are affected in suburbs vs poorer area's in the cities?

[justiceischeap]

26. To be honest, I'm not sure where they go

Either with family members or rent apartments.

I also don't know the breakdown of who is losing more. I'd guess suburbs because that is where most of the job loss is--middle class families. Lower income folks have what's called Section 8 housing, where it's govt. subsidized housing.

[uponit7771]

20. sad

[derby378]

22. Hang your head low, Mr. and Mrs. America...

This is what one of your own has been driven to by Reaganomics, Bush-style. :cry:

[renie408]

24. This is awful. I wonder if she was one of those 'greedy' people that McCain/Palin

like to harp about?

[demokatgurrl]

25. good Lord.

Kucinich is 100% right, the innocent people caught in the spiral are getting no help.

[Bubbha Jo]

27. I saw that on one of the local poll links last night....

I'm glad CNN picked it up. This is the bottom line of the years of GOP rule.