http://www.npr.org/2012/01/30/145905246/the-clash-over-fingerprinting-for-food-stamps?sc=fb&cc=fp
This is always a hard subject for me to have a distinct stance on. On the one hand, there are many people who would probably play the system and fraud the government to get more money in Food Stamps. These are the people that are the stereotypes and what uninformed people think of when they think of Food Stamp recipients- people who intentionally don't work, have too many children, etc etc. But I would say most (and no, I don't have a statistic to back it up) people who use Food Stamps actually do need them for many different reasons- low paying job, unemployment, AmeriCorps, disability, etc.
In Minnesota, the process is considered not as harsh as in other states. But I don't know if people can truly understand how demeaning it feels- how you feel like a failure, how all the employees (whether intentional or not) make you feel like you're an awful person. Your time isn't valued at all- I remember when I was in AmeriCorps and was applying- I had to go in for a face to face interview with my mountain of paperwork. But I was assigned a team number and had to interview with my team. I got there at opening time and waited an hour and a half for someone from my team to show up. I remember being very thankful that I was in a position to wait that long- I couldn't imagine being a single parent or someone who's job wasn't so understanding.
But I am truly on the fence- I know something needs to be done so that people aren't so easily able to fraud the system. But I also know I don't want to live somewhere where people feel like convicts just to get some help with food.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
What do black people think of "The Help"?
http://acriticalreviewofthehelp.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/what-do-black-people-think-of-the-help/
This is from another blog, and it's kind of long but a pretty fast read. Since "The Help" is getting award buzz, I thought this was timely although the book and movie have been out for a while. And I'm probably one of the few who haven't read the book or seen the movie. I'll probably eventually see the movie version, some night when I'm bored and I want to stream a movie on Netflix. It's sad that I can categorize my interest in movies as such: will pay full price, will wait until it's at a second run theater or wait until I'm bored and it's on Netflix. It's not that I think I'll dislike the movie...but from what I've heard, while it's moving, it completely ignores a large part of what living in the South was like for African Americans pre Civil Rights. I know the claims that for once, it gives the black characters a voice...but it seems like it also trivializes. I'll never claim to ever be able to come close to understanding the life of a domestic worker, then and now, all over the world, no matter the race (though if you want a brief peek into the life of domestic workers, there's a few chapters on it in the book "Global Woman: Nannies, maids and sex workers in the new economy") and I don't want to say that a white woman cannot write from the point of view from another race. That's absurd. I just don't know whether she did a good job or not...I know many people have said that at the heart of the story is the idea of female love and female empowerment...but I imagine that would be a hard pill to swallow when the African American characters are placed in stereotypical situations (much like past literature/cinema, while the character Skeeter claims to be helping the African American characters, they are in fact helping her achieve her dream of being published).
I just wonder if this book failed because it wasn't able to overcome the period in which it took place. More thoughts when I actually see the movie or read the book.
This is from another blog, and it's kind of long but a pretty fast read. Since "The Help" is getting award buzz, I thought this was timely although the book and movie have been out for a while. And I'm probably one of the few who haven't read the book or seen the movie. I'll probably eventually see the movie version, some night when I'm bored and I want to stream a movie on Netflix. It's sad that I can categorize my interest in movies as such: will pay full price, will wait until it's at a second run theater or wait until I'm bored and it's on Netflix. It's not that I think I'll dislike the movie...but from what I've heard, while it's moving, it completely ignores a large part of what living in the South was like for African Americans pre Civil Rights. I know the claims that for once, it gives the black characters a voice...but it seems like it also trivializes. I'll never claim to ever be able to come close to understanding the life of a domestic worker, then and now, all over the world, no matter the race (though if you want a brief peek into the life of domestic workers, there's a few chapters on it in the book "Global Woman: Nannies, maids and sex workers in the new economy") and I don't want to say that a white woman cannot write from the point of view from another race. That's absurd. I just don't know whether she did a good job or not...I know many people have said that at the heart of the story is the idea of female love and female empowerment...but I imagine that would be a hard pill to swallow when the African American characters are placed in stereotypical situations (much like past literature/cinema, while the character Skeeter claims to be helping the African American characters, they are in fact helping her achieve her dream of being published).
I just wonder if this book failed because it wasn't able to overcome the period in which it took place. More thoughts when I actually see the movie or read the book.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
West Memphis 3
http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/arts/television/paradise-lost-3-purgatory-on-hbo-review.html?ref=arts
The West Memphis 3 has been a case I've been following since high school, mainly because of these documentaries that were aired on HBO. I'll be interested to see this final installment, as well as two full length movies that are slated to be made (one's by Peter Jackson!). Want to see the failure of the justice system- look at what happened to these 3 guys.
The West Memphis 3 has been a case I've been following since high school, mainly because of these documentaries that were aired on HBO. I'll be interested to see this final installment, as well as two full length movies that are slated to be made (one's by Peter Jackson!). Want to see the failure of the justice system- look at what happened to these 3 guys.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Obesity Campaign
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144799538/controversy-swirls-around-harsh-anti-obesity-ads?sc=fb&cc=fp
Interesting campaign in Georgia against childhood obesity. Should the govt be intervening on eating habits? Is that crossing a line? C'mon libertarian friends- let loose!
It's an interesting approach- using the same approach as anti tobacco and anti meth ads. Maybe to some it may seem extreme- but maybe we just want to ignore how dire the obesity epidemic really is. It's kind of weird...because as someone who tries (somewhat) to live healthy (stupid diet and exercise...I want pizza!) seeing these awful habits start early and translate into such awful health situations upsets me. But I also know many people in my life whose weight adversely affects their health- and I don't hate them and I'm not mad at them. Hate the addiction, not the addict, I suppose...
Interesting campaign in Georgia against childhood obesity. Should the govt be intervening on eating habits? Is that crossing a line? C'mon libertarian friends- let loose!
It's an interesting approach- using the same approach as anti tobacco and anti meth ads. Maybe to some it may seem extreme- but maybe we just want to ignore how dire the obesity epidemic really is. It's kind of weird...because as someone who tries (somewhat) to live healthy (stupid diet and exercise...I want pizza!) seeing these awful habits start early and translate into such awful health situations upsets me. But I also know many people in my life whose weight adversely affects their health- and I don't hate them and I'm not mad at them. Hate the addiction, not the addict, I suppose...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Land of Opportunity
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/01/08/is-the-us-still-a-land-of-opportunity
You should be well aware for my affinity for Room For Debate with the NY Times. Lately there have been some good topics after a dry spell of just ho hum stuff. This one focuses on upward mobility and whether the US still provides the opportunities we love to look back on so fondly in our history.
It's an interesting thing to ponder- I would say most folks in my age group grew up with our parents wanting us to "have it better than them." Of course that can mean many different things. For my parents, it meant going to college for better job security. And I guess in that sense, I have succeeded. But I'm pretty sure my parents never imagined how out of control student loans/college costs and healthcare would become. And for my parents, they're somewhat an exception for their age group- my mom and dad have excellent healthcare and aren't faced with increasing costs as they age (at least not as much compared to others in their age bracket). My dad being a veteran and my mom a nurse means they luckily get coverage and taken care of when they're ill. If my dad wasn't a vet, my parents would be drowning in so much more debt from just medical bills. Ok...let me get back on track.
I honestly don't see myself getting much more "upward" in the class sense. Yes, I have a college degree and an advanced one at that- but that doesn't mean what it used to. The Master's is the new Bachelor's, and the Bachelor's is the new high school degree. Until we can correct this change, I don't see how young people can expect to move upward in society- not with the debt that will beset most of them.
But could it also be that there is a new attitude? I know many people who are in my age group who would rather live less extravagant but debt free than be upwardly mobile but have debt. Could it be that the idea of moving upward in society isn't as appealing (kind of in a frontierism historiography sense- look it up or ask me to further explain) as it used to be? I certainly don't ascertain to live some sort of high life. I just hope to be able to pay off my debts and be able to have a roof over my head and a job that I enjoy. The rest- family, possessions, etc.- are all perks. Could today's young people be realizing that minimalist lifestyles are more suitable for them?
You should be well aware for my affinity for Room For Debate with the NY Times. Lately there have been some good topics after a dry spell of just ho hum stuff. This one focuses on upward mobility and whether the US still provides the opportunities we love to look back on so fondly in our history.
It's an interesting thing to ponder- I would say most folks in my age group grew up with our parents wanting us to "have it better than them." Of course that can mean many different things. For my parents, it meant going to college for better job security. And I guess in that sense, I have succeeded. But I'm pretty sure my parents never imagined how out of control student loans/college costs and healthcare would become. And for my parents, they're somewhat an exception for their age group- my mom and dad have excellent healthcare and aren't faced with increasing costs as they age (at least not as much compared to others in their age bracket). My dad being a veteran and my mom a nurse means they luckily get coverage and taken care of when they're ill. If my dad wasn't a vet, my parents would be drowning in so much more debt from just medical bills. Ok...let me get back on track.
I honestly don't see myself getting much more "upward" in the class sense. Yes, I have a college degree and an advanced one at that- but that doesn't mean what it used to. The Master's is the new Bachelor's, and the Bachelor's is the new high school degree. Until we can correct this change, I don't see how young people can expect to move upward in society- not with the debt that will beset most of them.
But could it also be that there is a new attitude? I know many people who are in my age group who would rather live less extravagant but debt free than be upwardly mobile but have debt. Could it be that the idea of moving upward in society isn't as appealing (kind of in a frontierism historiography sense- look it up or ask me to further explain) as it used to be? I certainly don't ascertain to live some sort of high life. I just hope to be able to pay off my debts and be able to have a roof over my head and a job that I enjoy. The rest- family, possessions, etc.- are all perks. Could today's young people be realizing that minimalist lifestyles are more suitable for them?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
So I went on a mini hiatus/vacation/celebrating those holidays. The Iowa Caucuses have come and gone- my only comment about that would be this: I totally called the Romney win, months ago. And I totally called the Bachmann fail. Santorum? Eh, flash in the pan.
I've also recently been experiencing the wonderful world of tenant rights. Have flooding happen in your kitchen will do that. So far being a squeaky wheel has worked to my advantage and they're making the repairs I asked for. I still plan on bringing in a city inspector after they're done to see if there's more that needs to be done. Big thing I've learned from this- (obviously this is different state by state, city by city) in the City of Minneapolis, if you feel that your apartment landlords/owners aren't making proper repairs after you asked/complained, you can bring in a city inspector free of charge. If they find anything that needs repaired, they can cite the company to force them to make the repairs. If anything, this experience is definitely an educating one- and if you can come out of them learning something, I take that as a success.
Hopefully this week and next I'll be back into the swing of things- posting news from the fringe and offering my un solicited insight!
I've also recently been experiencing the wonderful world of tenant rights. Have flooding happen in your kitchen will do that. So far being a squeaky wheel has worked to my advantage and they're making the repairs I asked for. I still plan on bringing in a city inspector after they're done to see if there's more that needs to be done. Big thing I've learned from this- (obviously this is different state by state, city by city) in the City of Minneapolis, if you feel that your apartment landlords/owners aren't making proper repairs after you asked/complained, you can bring in a city inspector free of charge. If they find anything that needs repaired, they can cite the company to force them to make the repairs. If anything, this experience is definitely an educating one- and if you can come out of them learning something, I take that as a success.
Hopefully this week and next I'll be back into the swing of things- posting news from the fringe and offering my un solicited insight!
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