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Explain your numbers to a young family of 3 or 4 people. You seem to have missed the point of the interview. I never said I wasnt making it with my SS check. My question between the lines was how are Families making it.
Bob –
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And my question, still unanswered, is why are you living in your car? 1.) Obviously, the cost of living for a multi-person family is an order of magnitude higher than that for a single man with no dependents, but what's that got to do with your situation? Nothing. Are you saying you live in your car as a statement about or protest against inadequate public assistance for destitute families? If so, you and KNPR failed to mention that in the story. If not, why do you live in your car with an assured, steady income sufficient to rent an apartment or furnished room with enough money left over to feed and clothe yourself? 2.) You DID said you weren't "making it" on your Social Security check. You said you were homeless. KNPR said this was a story about the "secrets of surviving when you're homeless in Las Vegas." If that's not "not making it," I'd like to know what "not making it" is. I am not unsympathetic to your situation, but I don't understand it either.
Bonacker –
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Living on 600 a month, I COMPLETELY understand why Bob lives in his car. I've done the same. Hmm, live in a rat hole in the Vegas ghettos without any money left over to travel to a potentially advantageous job (and be forced to sell the car or drop insurance), or live in your car to stay mobile, stay safer, and maybe save a few dollars for emergency expenses? Yeah, so perplexing... not. "New" poor like Bob sometimes live in their cars because they have HOPE to get back to where they once were in life... Poor seniors who become rubber tramps are the success stories, the more active and less likely to be victims, I assure you.
Shufei –
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Bonacker take the time to do the math. It isnt hard to figure out that living on 1,095 per month is not even close to enough to live with dignity. Obviously your not in touch with what the real truth is. Is it because your not wanting to face the truth about what is going on? Or is it something else. Please go to your local food kitchens and speak with many of the recipients. You will find out they are hard working people from your community that are swallowing their pride and asking for help. They either stand in line and ask for help or they starve.
bob –
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Thanks. There are low paying jobs which will not feed, clothe, and house families. I am lucky that I am 62 or I would be forced into one of these jobs along with millions of others. The jobs will come back once wages compete with the low wages around the world. I am lucky that I only have myself to feed. I am lucky that I have the van. I am lucky that I have the attitude I have.
Bob –
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I am in the bay area. I have been helping a friends sister. He passed in a house fire and she needed help which I could give her. I am happy that I have been available for her. It feels good to give back. She has been greatful and I have felt useful again....
Bob –
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Thanks for your comment. I listened to the piece and I think I may be the voice of many people right now. People seem to think this is a passing phase. It is not. We now have a whole new level of shame to add to the allready tough Karma we have created. The silver lining in all this is that the masses are waking up to the fact that what really matters is Not What We Thought....
Bob –
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Thanks for your words of wisdom. I am making it just fine for now. I do agree with you and if I need them to know and help I will let them help. I always thought teaching them how to survive on their own was important and I want to model that. I also think their may be some important issue within me that needs to be looked at. Again thanks for nudging me in the right direction
Bob –
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Thanks for your comment. If the general public really want to find out what is going on they need go no further than any food bank in any city in the country and listen to the stories. The spin is that the recession is over. Its not and getting worse. At what point do you think this will become clear?
Bob –
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Howdy, Bob. Our society has become too disciplined by the propaganda machine, and too remote from our neighbours to properly hear the suffering going on. Most people probably believe their struggles are unique, and due to cultural expectations (i.e. "everyone" is middle class or can bootstrap) newly poor people often feel the deeply internalized stigma you describe so aptly. NPR itself mostly focuses on the same talking heads and their elite economics rather than the 30 year plunge of the middle class. We need less wall street thinking, more main street. Too bad our media are often so insular; they probably find your situation "surprising". Good luck to you in SF!
Shufei –
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Thanks. I had heard of it.
Bob –
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I have left Las Vegas and am in the Bay Area. I have been helping a Friends sister. She lost him in a fire and the house has been rebuilt. She had many problems with the contractor and if you recall I had worked for a builder so I was able to help her navigate some of the issues. The house is finished and on the market. I have felt very fortunate to be able to help her
Bob –
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Tom sounds like so many of these young, arrogant jerks who are completely unconscious of the fact that time and age does terrible things to people. There is a genuine wave of ageism sweeping through the corporations and companies of this country, and most people over fifty have felt it. I think that Bob is doing a remarkable job in keeping his self-respect, his sanity, and his moral center. I have a question for Tom:
why don't YOU leave Las Vegas??
Gloria –
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