Americans on the Edge of Survival - Those with Mental Difficulties

There is a peculiar idea floating around the US these days. Every time we have one of our periodic mass shootings, a fairly frequent event, gun control advocates, including our current President and those running for that office, bewail our need for greater mental  health care. I am not sure they understand, although I think they do, that they are stigmatizing those of us with mental difficulties. This creates a very unnecessary negative reaction to any one suffering any mental trouble.

Not all people who have psychological issues are ranting, drooling maniacs awaiting the chance to open fire on the rest of us. Such people do exist, but they are exceedingly rare. Most mental issues, while serious, are not that extreme and are pretty well treatable. Depression, attention deficit disorders, manic-depression are all controllable. Even the milder instances of schizophrenia are manageable. Just because someone has a mental problem, even one that has required hospitalization, is no reason to panic when they come around. These people need shelter, food, work and, maybe most importantly, patience and understanding, just like we all do. Is that really asking too much?

There are also those with another form of mental difficulty, those who just cannot learn too quickly. The tendency, for far too long has been to shut these folks away. Why? They are as human as you and me, often are pleasant, warm and loving, and, more often than not, capable of functioning in the workplace and in social situations far better that many think they can. Helping these people move into the society we all live in is not that hard; it just requires a little patience and time, and is way more important than most things we waste our time on. Far more rewarding too.

Another type of mental difficulty I will admit to knowing nothing about is autism. I will not pretend to know how to deal with that but, I will say that for some reason, it is growing rapidly more prevalent and it might be a good idea to figure out why. In the meantime, from the little I have heard, these folks can be successfully socialized and as that happens we all need to be kind and patient.

The Government leaders need to stop calling for mental health initiatives only when another nightmarish shooting occurs. That only makes people grow wary around those with mental issues. Instead, as I have said about almost every issue I have discussed in this series, they need to stop wasting our money fighting unwinnable wars and giving tax breaks to the wealthy corporations and devote some of that money to helping those of us who need it. And the rest of us just need to be compassionate and patient when dealing with folks who are really simply having trouble understanding. That is not asking too much.

Americans on the Edge of Survival - Gimme Shelter

Ever been homeless? I have. My wife and I spent 4 days with no home and it was very strange. The daytimes pass okay. There are always things to look at; you can wander in and out of malls, hang out in parks, visit the library, that sort of thing.

But, nights are a different thing, especially in an urban setting. There are folks who stay in wooded areas and survive fairly well, but we were in the middle of Fort Lauderdale, Fl. No place to go. No place to hide. You are wary of talking to anyone, strange people roam the late night city. You cannot stay in one spot for long without the cops starting to pay attention. If you do find a place out of sight, you cannot sleep because if you find that spot, you can be sure others will too. The sleep is the big issue. After 3 days of no more than a few minutes light dozing here and there, you are more than exhausted; mentally you are just fried and hallucinations become an issue.

My point? Not everyone on the streets is a worthless drug addicted, alcoholic bum. Sometimes, life just deals you some funny cards and you have to play the hand until the deck is reshuffled and a new deal goes down. Do not judge the homeless too harshly, especially in these economically difficult days. Remember, many of them are veterans and about one-fourth are children. I cannot imagine what it is like to be out there for long periods but I understand that the longer you are, the harder it is to get back to normal.

Shelters? I know some who have stayed in them and many would rather stay outside, that's how bad they are. If you stay in one you have to be constantly on your guard.

There are those who live in sort of a nether world. They are not on the streets or in shelters. Instead, they have managed to keep enough ahead to pay rent in extended stay motels. That is our currents state, one that is about to end soon. They are better than the alternatives but, often, still dangerous. A good many who stay in these places are transients and none too stable. Others are dealers in various substances who find it to their advantage to have no permanent address. On the other hand, there are many. like us, who have simply had some rough times and, sadly, a lot of families, sometimes with 3 and 4 kids are forced to stay in these places.

How bad are they? The one we are in now is really not too bad. Some are dreadful, filthy places a cockroach would not want to call home.

Here is the problem. Once you move into one of these places, you are stuck. If you are working a low paying job, or like us, on a fixed income, you will have difficulty saving enough to move to a nicer place, one requiring first, last and security. You have to pay rent in extended stay weekly and it is brutal to save. You do get your utilities included, but without a full kitchen, it is hard to prepare food that is economical.

The solution? Well, I do not have one. Sorry, I am fresh out of ideas except to say that much of the fault lies with big businesses. I do not mean run of the mill businesses, I mean the huge corporations. I have shown in earlier posts how the mega-corporations have manipulated the American economy into the sewer. That must change, but I do not know how that will happen.

I will also add that I am disappointed by the Churches. Often, too often, they preach charity and the only thing they do is, maybe, provide a wee bit of cheap food. Here and there, they may help with a week's rent. Yet, they have enough to build grand Churches, while paying their Pastors huge salaries. Again, let me be clear. I am not talking about the little Church on the corner or storefront Churches. I am talking about the grand Mega-Churches, the ones raking in a whole lot of cash and using it to build luxurious buildings where they can meet and pat each other on the back, assuring each other of their piety. I do not believe that is what Jesus had in mind.

America - Thoughts at Easter

I will continue my series America on the Edge of Survival on Monday. This is Easter weekend and I do not think it is the right time for that. Besides, I was depressing myself. Easter is a time for celebration.

But, before I get to that, I have a couple of things I need to say. To Donald Trump: I thought this election could not get any lower, but you have proven me wrong. To Ted Cruz: As a self professed Christian, you have no business diving into the muck with Trump at this, the Holiest season in the Christian calendar. The 2 of you should be ashamed. You have turned the election process into something from a bad tabloid. Maybe we should just elect one of the Kardashians and admit that this whole process has become a low farce.

To Hillary Clinton: What is wrong with you? After the horrific Brussels bombing, you dared to come on and, in essence, say that we just need to keep on with the Obama policies. The economy is constipated and the chaotic Middle East has spread to Europe and is headed here. In case you have not noticed, you twit, Western Civilization, something I and many others have grown fond of, is under attack and very likely will lose, unless we change our tactics radically. You have the gall to stand their and sanctimoniously lecture us, telling us that we have to allow immigration by the same kind of folks who immigrated to Europe and are now blowing up big chunks of the Continent. You tell us that we cannot place Islamic neighborhoods under surveillance. Who should we watch? 90 year old Irish-Catholic women? 12 year old Baptist kids? If there is a riot in the inner city, do you send police to the suburbs?

Okay, with that out of my system, I want to wish all of you a Happy Easter. Celebrate the Holiday. Relax and have some fun. But, come Monday, get up ready to get busy, because this Nation has a lot to do.

Americans on the Edge of Survival - Veterans

We should be ashamed. The treatment of our veterans is inexcusable. These are men and women who did their jobs, who went to war in good faith, convinced of the rightness of their action, and they come back to a Nation that loves to say how much we honor them, but does little to actually help them.

Let us for the moment forget how we feel about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Just for the record, I opposed them, however, once we were involved, I thought we should end it as quickly and efficiently as possible, then get out. None of us, including those who were sent to fight, thought we were going to be involved in a never ending engagement. We were also told that we were after ben Laden in Afghanistan and that his death would make a difference in the War on Terror. It did not. We were told that Iraq had the infamous 'weapons of mass destruction.' They did not. We were told that those who had lived under Sadam's dictatorship would welcome us with open arms. They did not. But, put that aside for now.

We know that something funny happened in the First Gulf War and that a lot of soldiers came back with Gulf War Syndrome., a peculiar disease. Smart money says that something 'experimental' was tried on them. Remember that during the MKUltra, the Military and Intelligence agencies dosed folks with a mind numbing array of chemicals, so they have an established record of using soldiers as guinea pigs. Again, leaving aside what we cannot prove, we know that many came home physically damaged. Things have only grown worse during the last 2 wars.

The situation with the Veterans Administration is not acceptable.  Waiting lists are far too long and by all accounts the hospitals are filthy. Things were not always this way. My Dad, a WW2 veteran, got fine treatment. Things began going awry during the Vietnam debacle and have gone downhill ever since.

There also seems to be little in the way of counselling available for those having difficulty coping with the return to civilian life. That, combined with the horrible economy, has led to the deplorable fact that many of the Nation's homeless are veterans.

Folks, it is all too easy to go on and on about how much we appreciate the efforts and sacrifice of our veterans. Politicians do that all the time,  but the time has come for the Nation to put some money where its mouth is and actually do something to help these men and women. 

Americans on the Edge of Survival - Exploitation of Adolescents

There is a seldom talked about problem with young people, generally adolescents although sometimes younger, sometimes much younger. Regrettably and disgustingly, these young people are all too often sexually exploited.

The human body is a strange thing. Our, minds, according to neurologists do not mature until about 21 years old. The body, at least the sexual aspects, mature in the early teens. Your body is saying 'let's go' long before the mind knows just where it is going. There in lies the problem.

Adolescence is a time when kids need special attention and care without being smothered. That is a delicate balancing act and I do not envy parents of teens. Often, such care is lacking, and even when the parents do everything they know how, by their very nature, kids rebel. That is just the way things are.

Kids run away. Kids are thrown out. Kids may stay home but, when unsupervised, they run loose. Always, there are those ready to take advantage. This is not new by any means but, in our current bizare era, it happens more frequently.

We used to live near Atlanta. Investigators there learned that a large percentage of the area's prostitutes were underage. It seems that this is the case in most urban areas. These young people are also exploited by the porn industry. Do not think that this applies to just girls. Boys are also targeted.

The kids, when out on the streets, have few options. They cannot get jobs and panhandling is seldom lucrative enough to get by and there are always those who will prey on the homeless young. Once involved in prostitution and/ot porn, it is hard to get out. This is a National disgrace.

What can be done? First, parents, pay attention to your children. Just listen to them. You are the parent; you need to be just that, not their buddy, their parent. Also, you may need to curtail a few of your own activities when the kids are around. Watch your alcohol consumption, your language and what you view on TV and the Internet.

For the kids who have left home, there have to be shelters, clean, safe shelters and councilors to help them find a way out. They are kids, and kids are not capable of raising themselves. If we stop wasting money on wars and subsidizing industries that should stand or fail on their own, we would have that money.

The other thing that can be done is to make enforcemenr of child pornography and child prostitution laws a top priority. If the police do not have the funds and manpower, find a way to get funds and hire more police. This is an intolerable situation and if we allow a few dollars stop prevention of these crimes, then we should be ashamed.

Finally, we need to learn a lesson from England. It seems that the death of entertainer Jimmy Saville led to disclosures of his depraved sexual exploitation of children. Those following the trail he left have learned that some influential and important figures in English politics and entertainment have many of the same habits he did. There have been several attempts to cut off further investigations. Seemingly, these attempts to shut things up are failing and hopefully English police will bring to justice the creeps who are hiding behind important positions and friends. In much the same way, the Vatican covered up child abuse by priests for many years and have, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, been forced to deal with the issue. American officials have got to get a grip on this problem.

Will we? Maybe, maybe not. A disturbing phenomenon has been going on for years in the entertainment industry. Young people are pushed into performing acts that years ago would not have been allowed in public. They are getting rich doing this, but their bosses are getting far richer. It seems that this phenomenon has a pattern. The performer catches on in their teens, grows in popularity, gets wilder and wilder, then burns out, gets used up and tossed aside, often having a public meltdown. Think Brittany Spears or Miley Cyrus. I am not a prude, not by a long shot, but what is acceptable for grown ups is not acceptable for kids

Americans on the Edge of Survival - Children

Children are supposed to be prized and nurtured carefully. So say one and all in this Country. Sometimes, the lucky ones are. For many, childhood is not even a nightmare anymore. They are so beaten down that their lives are geared toward sheer existence, Nightmare implies a contrast, an awareness of benevolence. A lot of kids see little hope for that.

Stop and think what it is like to be raised in poverty, never knowing when or what you will eat, wearing used clothes donated from some charity. How would you feel going to school and knowing that when you get home, Mom will not be there to greet you and, in fact, will not be home until late at night because she is working at least 2 jobs? Dad, well, if Dad is even still around, he likely is working even more hours.

How would you feel watching TV and seeing others dining on roasts and  fish and chicken surrounded by good vegetables, bowls of fresh fruit on the tables, yogurt and milk and eggs in the refrigerator and knowing that you are going to do well to get some generic sugary cereal, a cheap hot dog, and some spaghettios for your meals, if you are having a good day?

How  would you feel if you, as a child, had no home and were forced to sleep on the street, in a car, or maybe in a cardboard box, or, if you are very lucky, a shelter? Shelters are about as dangerous as the streets . Maybe, once in a while, Mom or Dad can scrape together enough to stay a few days in a cheap motel. Let me tell you; I know from personal experience, many of those are not a lot better than the street. Think that does not happen? Statistics show that one fourth of all the many homeless in this land are children.

Suppose you do have a home and a Mom and Dad. You likely will not see them a lot because they are always working. Children should not be alone most of the time. They should not be forced to raise themselves because they just do not have the experience to know what to do. Maybe, if lucky, they get supervision from Grandparents but, that is not the same. Each generation should raise its own kids, Grandma may be well meaning, but she is from a different time and will not, cannot know the nuances and dangers of the current culture.

Perhaps worse are children who have abusive parents. I am not talking about a dad that occasionally swats Junior on the rear end. I have seen parents who think nothing of beating the utter crap out of their kids. Yes, kids have always been physically abused but it seems to be an increasing problem, especially as the rates of alcohol and drug abuse continue to rise.

What to do? First, as I said in my last post, we need to get a grip on how the  Government throws around our money. Get these damn wars over and stop interfering in other Countries' business. Stop subsidizing industries; if they cannot make it without help, they need to go broke and make room for those who know how to do business. Then, with taxes lowered, people can afford to make life better for kids and devote more money toward education and more time to teaching their kids how to be decent humans.

Equally, if not more important, we need to get rid of our obsession with wealth for its own sake. I like nice things and comfort and understand that everyone else feels the same. But, do we all need 3 cars, 5 computers, 4 TVs and a multitude of smart phones. Do we have to dine in 5 star restaurants and pay $200 for concert tickets for some aging rock stars latest tour, $100 for 1 round of golf, and sip $10 drinks after work? Can we not find less expensive ways to entertain ourselves? Are we that bored and that uncreative? Think of all the good that could be done for kids, and, actually for ourselves, if we just used our heads.

I will tell you this. Kids today are being given a very hopeless view of a very unpleasant World. They are growing up thinking they have nothing to gain. Well, logically, if you have nothing, and see nothing to gain, you have nothing to lose, and there is no more dangerous creature on this planet than a human with nothing to lose.

Americans on the Edge of Survival - The Elderly

I am entering the part of my life when some would consider me elderly. I do not think of myself as such and refuse to do so, but I can see their point and can now see the problems face by our Nation's senior citizens.

First, economics. Of course many seniors are in fine financial shape, and God bless them. I, and my wife are okay. We went through some horrific times but now we survive somewhat comfortably and in that regard, we are fortunate. Many, many are far less fortunate. Statistics show that a large percentage of those on Social Security depend on that for most, if not all, of their income. Let me assure you; living on Social Security is difficult, very nearly impossible.

There are programs like Food Stamps to help but here is how that works. We applied and at last were told that, because of our combined income, we would get $40/month. $40. Any of you who have shopped in recent years know how little that buys.

As far as health care goes, our state, Georgia, gives little for Medicaid, and Medicare is too high for anyone on Social Security to afford. Yes, Part A is free, but that just covers some hospitalization costs. Part B would cost us around $170 per month, each. If we lost that much of our monthly income, we would be living on the streets.

Since I mentioned living on the streets, I want you to know that many seniors are doing just that. Others, like us, are living in rent-by-the-week extended stays motels and efficiencies. I will get to those accommodations in another post, but, in short, it is not a great lifestyle. Those needing assisted care have a bigger problem. There are beautiful Senior Assisted Living Facilities but they are very expensive. There are also such facilities that are dumps, unfit for humans to live in. I knew a man in Florida who owned several and I would not have housed a cockroach in one of them.  The deal is this; you give them your Social Security each month and they give you a bed and something resembling food. If you have a specific medical condition that requires constant care, you may, in some states, get Medicaid to pay for a proper nursing home, but that, I know from experience with relatives, is not a lot better.

There is another problem Seniors have that is not financial, but social, even spiritual. Many Seniors who manage to afford living on their own, are just that, on their own. They may have outlived spouses or been alone since divorces. Some never had kids, some have outlived their kids, and many are just ignored, nearly abandoned by the kids they raised. I have known many of them who were living in little apartments, on their own, who were lucky to see their remaining family once a year, maybe get a phone call on their birthday and a card at Christmas. Humans are social animals and do not do well at all when left alone. True, most communities have Senior Centers but I believe that, while it is nice to have friends your own age, it is better to be around a variety of different folks.

The answer, well that really is fairly easy. The Government needs to stop wasting money on idiotic military adventures and needs to stop subsidizing industries that should be functioning without assistance, such as ethanol production, corn growers (who grow the corn for that nearly useless ethanol), tobacco farmers, the solar and wind energy production products, and many more industries. While we are at it, it would be a fine idea to audit the Federal Reserve just so we could see how they are manipulating our economy. Then, I have no doubt, the American people would demand an end to their nonsense (I decide to use polite language) and our economy could finally be restored to the way it is supposed to function. And, on top of both of those steps, we could stop borrowing money to send aid to foreign nations. I cannot see the sense in that and we keep doing it (right as I write this, Hillary is going on and on about our continued support for Israel.  We borrow money, give it to them, then when our own people need help, well, sorry, we don't have the money.)

As far as the social aspect goes, that is even simpler. If you have elderly members of your family, take some time and visit, call, write, whatever you can do, to just let them know that they are thought of.  When you see Seniors on the street, in parks, malls, restaurants, wherever, talk to them. They will not bite and you may meet some new, bright, funny friends. And, if you have a little free time and a few older neighbors, hang out with them a little. You have nothing to lose. You can miss and episode of The Bold and the Beautiful  or a few minutes of one of the countless games on TV each week. It will mean more than you know to them, and I will bet you have a lot better time that you expect. In short, be human and show a little compassion.