To those that say, "Stop using these poor people as propaganda." I ask, where the hell is the Reich. They sure didn't show any concern in June, when 26 Democrats took the SNAP Challenge to draw attention to House Republicans cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
And no, being poor does not highlight the Darwinian concept of survival of the fittest. To borrow a bit from Aristotle, we are rational, thinking animals who are able to come together to form a society whereby everyone should be properly cared for. Unless of course you are a member of the Reich. Mankind (should) continue to evolve as a society, the so-called law of the jungle, no longer applies.
Here's my point, have we learned nothing in our time on this flying rock we call home. I am not asking for a Utopia here, just some order and stability. Imagine what we (as a nation) could accomplish if everyone had, at the very least, the basic necessities of life; food and shelter (see also this innovative idea: Could a Tiny House Movement End Homelessness?) And yes, I do blame the Reich for their greed, nothing good ever happens when a select few keep everything for themselves when there is more than enough to go around. It is impossible to have a stable society that way.
With that being said, I applaud Senator Murphy for at least exploring this issue by stepping "outside the boardroom."
“I learned what’s involved in getting out at 7:30 a.m.”—when the shelter expects residents to be up and about job searching, going to their support groups—“and keeping your life together until they let you back in” at 3 p.m., said Murphy.
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“This is a guy who’s trying hard, with kids, trying to get a job back. He’s clean; he’s in recovery. He’s worked his entire life. His path is getting himself straight, and then he’s whacked by a bad economy,” said Murphy.
Of course the picture is complicated. Murphy said that he and Fred as they trudged also spent a lot of time talking about Fred’s difficult upbringing, the drug culture from which it’s difficult to break free.
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Murphy said his eight hours on the hard urban streets with Fred didn’t so much provide new illumination as put flesh and bones and shoe leather on what he’d already perceived.
He did say that he was moved by the amount of hope and planning out there.
“As sobering as a day like this is, it’s slightly inspirational to hear these guys think there is still a better day coming. Each of these guys has a path, but without the resources to execute the plan, they’re stuck,” he said.
A Senator Walks In A Homeless Man's Shoes | New Haven Independent
See also:
Senator Spends Vacation Day With Homeless Man To Learn About The Challenges He Faces
His drive to get back on his feet is clearly strong. What was really holding Nick back, however, was his lack of an address. Even though Nick has worked for 20 years and has an impressive résumé, he’s caught in something of a catch-22, Murphy told ThinkProgress by phone Thursday. “He can’t get a job without a permanent address and can’t get a permanent address without a job.” Nick used the address of the shelter on applications, but some employers might harbor prejudice against those who can’t afford a home.
If there’s one thing Murphy took away from the experience, it’s a better sense of how critical stable housing is as a foundation for solving other problems. “Without a place to live, Nick can’t find a job,” Murphy said. “Without a house, it’s much harder for him to kick his drug habit.” But without more affordable housing in Connecticut and funding for the poor, it’s extremely difficult for people like Nick to leave the shelter and break out of the cycle of poverty.
The challenge became even more difficult this week as Nick’s only source of income — $100 in unemployment benefits — wasn’t renewed by Congress. “If we don’t extend unemployment benefits this month, you’re going to see a lot more homeless people here in Connecticut and across the country,” Murphy said.
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