Horrible: this is what we have come to, this is the United States now

[Mari333]

Wed Oct 7

Chaos at Cobo: Detroiters turn out for federal help

Detroit -- Thousands hoping to get applications for federal help on rent and utility bills turned Cobo Center into a chaotic scene today.

They came by foot, wheelchair, bicycle and car. About six left by ambulance after tensions rose and people were trampled, according to a paramedic on the scene. One unfortunate soul got his car booted.

Detroiters were trying to pick up 5,000 federal assistance applications from the city at Cobo because Detroit received nearly $15.2 million in federal dollars under the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, which is for temporary financial assistance and housing services to individuals and families who are homeless, or who would be homeless without this help.

Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Firefighters Association Local 344, was looking down from his office window across from Cobo.

"This absolutely is representative of the struggling middle class in America," he said. "We've been betrayed by the government, Realtors and those who've got. The promise has been broken."

pic:
http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20091007&Category=METRO01&ArtNo=910070396&Ref=V2










http://detnews.com/article/20091007/METRO01/910070396/Chaos-at-Cobo--Detroiters-turn-out-for-federal-help

[SmileyRose]

1. K&R - too much need - not enough resources

pretty bad when the very people used to being left out in the cold are panicking

[stuball111]

2. Yeah.. the Richest country in the world...

All 240,000 of them, the top 1% that is...the rest scamper to keep warm in the winter.

[Journeyman]

3. It's unfortunate, but the "promise" should have been discarded some 80 years ago. . .

So long as we remain yoked to an exploitative economic model that permits -- indeed, encourages, corruption and abuse, we will see these scenes played out at almost regular intervals.

When the "chaotic" scene at the Cobo is repeated daily in the halls and offices of our representatives, we can begin to hope we'll see change. Until then, our best bet is to remain angry and hope our fellow citizens see the need to remove the blinders to which their adherence to this system condemns them.

[Subdivisions]

4. Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV2ngvYI_ZU&feature=autoshare_twitter