The first part of 60 Minutes as the saddest I've ever seen. How are

[napi21]

we letting our American corporations live so high on the hog when so many (25%) go homeless and starving? I can't possibly blame it on anhone else! Otsource jobs, cry like babies when you might have to give up some tax loopholes, and so o. I can only hope some of their execs were watching tonight and realize what they've done!

[leeroysphitz]

1. I agree but I do not believe that homelessness and hunger figures are that high.

Yet.

[CarmanK]

9. That's the repug denial syndrom! The numbers are really higher!

This is a rerun, before Rick Scott started defunding programs for the poor. He is slime, the FL legislature is complicit in his assault on the poor, sick, disabled,children and the elderly. This is just a continuation of the Reagan policy to demonize the poor-woman on welfare riding around in cadillac, the poor are poor because they are lazy and satisfied to live off the dole.

[undeterred]

18. Just because you don't see it?

[hlthe2b]

20. You are kidding... I have never seen so many begging homeless

on Denver streets--including residential areas-- in my life. It is a constant source of depression for me as I can not help them all. I try to give food coupons or a few $$ where I can--especially the women with kids or the veterans in wheel chairs. And yes, I have a real soft spot when I see someone with a dog-- I carry little sample packets of dog food quite often to give them.

I have no problem believing the figures may be even higher.

[leeroysphitz]

23. Yes, I understand. I live and work in Detroit, but 1/4 of U.S. population? Link?

[hlthe2b]

36. Ask the source for a link.... I didn't produce the CBS segment.

????????

However, I suspect their definition takes into account those who are not technically on the street, but who have lost their homes and have had to move in with friends/relatives.

When you look for an explanation of a sixty minutes show, including a link, may I simply suggest you go to their website and research it, rather than demand DUers--who had nothing to do with the research behind the story provide you a link, bibliography, or source data. You might be more likely to get what you are looking for.

[leeroysphitz]

44. I see, you make an unsupported claim and I get to do all the homework.

:eyes:

[xphile]

50. I don't think it's all that hard for you to go to CBS.com and look for the episode.

So because you don't want to believe the numbers you decide that the claim is unsubstantiated when it's based on stats given on a show that's available online?

You're being disingenuous.

[hlthe2b]

52. Thank YOU.....

Sometimes the attitudes of posters amaze me.

[hlthe2b]

51. I voiced an opinion--just as you did. Where is YOUR data?

hmmmmmmmm? :eyes:

[former9thward]

27. Population of metro Denver is 2.7 million.

You are saying over 700,000 are homeless in the Denver area? ok.

[hlthe2b]

35. National rates do not equate to even distribution throughout the country...

are you really that clueless?

[totodeinhere]

45. Who is the clueless one? If 25% of our population is homeless that translates to about 50 million

people. There is no way that the figure is that high. And nobody has produced a link or documentation to substantiate the claim that 25% are homeless.

[hlthe2b]

53. Have you gone to the program to see how they defined homelessness?

It is quite possible they are including those not on the street but who no longer have a home through foreclosure, joblessness, or return to parent's home from college. HMM? yes, you are the clueless one for not even having gone to the show online to see what their point is based upon.

Just as official unemploymnent figures grossly underestimate the magnitude of "underemployment," so to does your assessment of homelessness underestimate the problem with affordable housing and shelter-security.

[leeroysphitz]

54. Who cares how they define it. The statistic is preposterous. n/t

[hlthe2b]

55. Actually, I get the distinct impression...

that you just don't give a damn. Denial is a powerful excuse as the Ayn Randian devotees have shown.

[former9thward]

60. So now you believe that anyone who does not believe there are

77 million homeless (25% of the American population) is a Ayn Rand devotee. ok.

[totodeinhere]

58. So someone who returns to their parent's home after college is homeless?

That's preposterous. My grandmother has moved into my parent's home. Is she homeless now too? I will remain skeptical until I get a link to back up this 25% homeless claim.

[former9thward]

59. You said that more than 25% of the people in the Denver area were homeless.

So I did 25% times the population. Are you really that clueless??

[Warpy]

26. Homelessness, no. Hunger, yes.

Food insecurity (AKA slow starvation) is starting to be normal now the way stepping over homeless families on the street became normal during the Reagan years.

This country has lost all sense of shame over it.

[tblue37]

46. I know a few young families myself who, although they work hard,

have a certain level of food insecurity.

You would not see or hear about the fact that they have trouble feeding themselves and their children adequately, because they are too proud to ask for help or to talk about their dilemma, but they are on the edge of hunger much of the time.

I know one smart, talented, college-educated 27-year-old woman who works long hours, including a lot of necessary driving to appointments in her job and a long commute between home and work, who makes sure her 21-month-old son (a very large kid for his age and quite the little chow hound!) has good, nutritious food, but who is very thin and probably never has quite enough decent food for herself to feel quite full and satisfied.

I am always pushing food on her when she visits me most days to use my internet connection to check her scheduled appointments for her job, and she never turns me down. The fact that she remains so thin and never feels too full to turn down food suggests to me that she is not eating enough (I have known her since she was a baby, and she really is thin—partly from stress and exhaustion, but I think also from not getting enough good food). I believe she skips meals often, or often limits the amount when she does eat.

She would not ask for help or complain about being hungry to me or to other people, but I believe she is often sort of on the edge of feeling hungry, though her body probably has adjusted by now to a decreased food intake so she doesn’t notice it all that much. Her constant tiredness is probably related as much too inadequate nutrition as it is to the stress and exhaustion of overwork and being the mother of a large, active toddler.

What I am saying is that there is a lot of hunger or borderline hunger—or “food insecurity”—that you probably never see or hear about because the people who suffer it don’t feel comfortable displaying their situation even to their close friends, much less to casual acquaintances or strangers.

She is not the only hardworking person I know who isn’t getting enough to eat. She just happens to be one that I see almost every day during the week so that I can push food at her.

Just because you don’t see such hunger doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

[MineralMan]

2. I watched that the first time it ran, too.

I believe it dates back to 2009 or 2010. I'm not sure what the current situation in that part of Florida is right now. Very sad business.

[nc4bo]

4. It's a repeat?

I have no idea how difficult it is to find it online but sounds like it's worth watching.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes. It was a repeat. I watched it a second time.

The girl, about 11 or 12, was very articulate, and the sadness in her and her brother's eyes really got to me. According to their update, that family is doing better. Dad has work and they're living in a house. Worth watching.

[napi21]

12. Ssomehow I missed it the first time, or my brain is just a failure.

It's still very, very, disturbing, to say the least!

[nc4bo]

14. Is it Homeless kids: the hard times generation?

I'm on CBS' website now and that's the episode they have for tonight.

[Divine Discontent]

10. it's about the same in central florida where this was filmed. I think it's from late last year

during the beginning of the school year or later. The space industry cut thousands of jobs, so many of those people are out of work now, or will be after this last shuttle launch.

Add to that a horrible governor and a heavily controlled GOP state senate, and I am amazed this state even functions at the level it does. I suppose it will get worse though, as bozo governor's plans go into effect (ie - slashing social programs)

[nc4bo]

3. They don't care.

Corporations don't care just as long as they can make their obscene profits. Corporations are to be coddled and allowed to do what they want and not have to pay a dime (exaggeration on my part) in taxes.

You know it. Most everyone @ DU knows it.

We're the cows going to slaughter and too many don't even realize it.

Hopefully tonight's epi. will be online so I can catch it.

[napi21]

8. I can't believe that ALL execs are that calus. I know they have a

responsibility to their stickholders to make a profit, but they're still human nd at least SOME of them have a human heart. I've known several execs personally...worked with them daily... and I know they're ruthless in business, but still humans with feelings.

[nc4bo]

13. They are out numbered napi21...

too many of the bad are running roughshod over us as I type this.

We need more good guys to combat the bad.

[Kablooie]

17. How many see their company's profits as the problem? None!

They may donate a little to charity, (and get the tax write offs), and consider their humanitarian contribution done.

It's not that they are heartless, it's that they don't equate corporate greed with human values.
These are two unrelated categories to them.

[Occulus]

34. "they're ruthless in business, but still humans with feelings."

The two are mutually exclusive. If you are "ruthless in business", you will make decisions that will harm the employees of other companies, you will knowingly do so, and you will set aside human empathy and compassion in the name of your company's shareholders' interests.

Those are people being harmed by your decisions, but that's how it works.

By definition, the officers of large companies are not "good people". Good people have empathy and a conscience they must live with; by policy and law, these men and women are required to set those things aside in the interests of their shareholders.

We must reform the modern corporate structure or these legal constructs will eat us alive as a society. They have already done epic damage; it may already be too late. Consider the Florida laws prohibiting the feeding of the hungry. A man recently went to jail for feeding hungry people.

Something is very, very wrong with our corporations. We have to find a way to reign them in.

[tblue37]

47. Many of the most powerful and influential ones are, because

the way our predatory capitalistic economy works, a sociopath has all the advantages in the competition to succeed in the business environment. Thus, the more callous and sociopathic a person is, the more likely he is to reach the top echelons of the business and political world.

That doesn't mean that everyone at the very top is that bad, but that many of the most powerful and influential people, the ones who control the way our society works, are that bad.

[marions ghost]

57. that's right +++++

"a sociopath has all the advantages" in a predatory capitalistic society." Accurate statement.

Those are the types who can elbow and grab, stomp on competitors, cheat and steal without a conscience. And they think the rest of us are stupid for NOT doing it.

Many of those in control ARE that bad. Absolutely. It is naive to think otherwise.

[wundermaus]

6. Stick a fork in US... we are done.

The oligarchy feast on the bodies of their slaves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nAvTVeR6o

[WinkyDink]

7. But Formula-1's Boss's daughter just bought a mansion for $80 M! Rejoice!

[Divine Discontent]

11. yeah, saw that. talk about incredibly pathetic...

[MannyGoldstein]

15. And soon Social Security will be cut, which will add to the misery

And it will be cut http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1367982">just to give more tax cuts to the wealthy.

Unbelievable.

[Bozita]

16. link to video at cbsnews.com ...

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358381n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

[totodeinhere]

19. Where did you get that 25% figure? Most estimates I have seen put it much lower than that. n/t

[Mojorabbit]

41. If my memory serves me I think the brooking institute

was mentioned on a backstory video

[L0oniX]

43. 25% of the homeless.

[Jumping John]

21. The complete segment here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7371392n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

[MrMickeysMom]

29. Thank you... that's my old stomping ground...

... and I haven't watched 60 min's in so long, I missed this one.

How shameful is this? These kids never asked for this. Out of everything I watched, the hardest is knowing they go to bed hungry.

No child anywhere in this world should be made to suffer and go hungry. I'm so mad and sad about what is happening every day.

[PDJane]

22. The social safety net is in tatters.

In order to cut the threat of inter-generational welfare recipients, the whole thing was cut to shreds, and that seems counter productive. Education became more and more expensive, and the ability to pay it back became impossible to do.

As it stands now, the absolute poverty rate is about 17%. However, if you use the European scale, it's about 25%, with children and the elderly making up a large proportion of that. Take away medicare, medicaid and social security, and there will be even more 'excess mortality' that the 45,000 or so who die now, every year, from lack of access to health care.

And yes, the American corporation runs the sytem, and they get what they want, including a standing army that protects their interests abroad.

It's infuriating, frankly, and shameful.

[Jackpine Radical]

24. There is no such thing as excess mortality

among the poor, and especially the elderly poor.

[PDJane]

31. I hate that sanitized term for the death toll

attributable to the corporate shills and the lack of subsidized health care for all. And yes, I believe you are right, but it is still infuriating and heartless....which is why the term is in quotes.

I personally think that it wouldn't be excess mortality if the ones at the top were dying at the rate that the poor do.

[Enthusiast]

38. According to many 'right wingers'

it is the social safety net that is responsible for ALL these problems. You know, they think it has made people less resilient, less responsible and less capable of taking care of their needs without government assistance. Of course this notion is absurd. But that is what they are peddling on the RW talk shows and hate radio. Tune in some time, it is very clearly the message. And their minions are buying the message. Until, of course, some misfortune happens to them. This nation SUCKS!

[jwirr]

25. Because a good share of the other 75% do not care or they do not

know.

[Cali_Democrat]

28. What is happening to this country is fucking criminal

:grr:

[Enthusiast]

39. Criminal is the right word.

Because what has happened is in fact criminal.

The way our elected representatives have betrayed us is criminal and the way the media has spread misinformation against the general welfare is criminal.

We need a, "You're either with us or against us." moment. And we need it now.

[OneGrassRoot]

40. Yes it is criminal. n/t

[woo me with science]

42. +1 nt

[mzmolly]

30. I remember reading something about being our "brothers keeper" and caring for "the least of these"

somewhere. Anyone? :eyes:

Especially ironic, given a Koch brother recently purchased a picture of Billy The Kid for 2.5 million. Something seem is very wrong with average Americans who defend tax cuts for the wealthy, and cuts for programs helping the poor, in these times.

[Oasis_]

33. It's time to revive the minimum guaranteed income

proposal argued among the various think tanks that originated (ironic to say the least--given the current times) Republican President Nixon.

Spend on what you like, but it's essential what we at the very least arm our citizens with the most basic of tools to fight poverty and widespread (and growing) hunger.

Oasis

[JuniperLea]

48. I believe it was in that same speech...

By the long haired, brown skinned, sandal wearing socialist where he said he'd spit the lukewarm creeps out and disown them. We know them as bible thumping teabaggers in this century.

See my sigline...

[Archae]

32. Unfortunately stories like this one don't help at all.

People who are homeless have to be helped on an individual basis.
We can't just throw money at them.

Are they homeless due to job loss? Help them there.

Homeless due to being an alcoholic or drug addict?
Help them with that.

I was homeless once, by choice.
I fled from an apartment a vicious dope addict moved into.
After a couple weeks at the Starvation...I mean Salvation Army, I found another place.

[JuniperLea]

49. Many have more immediate needs than that...

Yes, the root cause needs investigated and fixed, but hunger doesn't wait... and not everyone lives in an area where there is a shelter.

[Enthusiast]

37. They did it

but they will cling to the notion that the less fortunate are less fortunate through laziness or poor life decisions. They also subscribe to Ayn Rand's philosophy of greed.

[fascisthunter]

56. sociopathy and corporate fascism