How long before the resentment starts?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

IMO, the elderly and the handicapped are truly dependent on others for care. They aren't capable of working to contribute, so they need to have services to care for them. No argument from me there, if that's what the other poster meant.

My concern for areas like Houston and Dallas are related to the number of available jobs, houses, etc. in direct relation to how many people are all of a sudden vying for those exact same things.

People on TV are saying they are going to stay here. They are going to get jobs, rent apartments, and stay here. Which sounds like a great plan. My concern is what happens when they get out in the community and they aren't able to find jobs that they are qualified to do that pay well enough to support a family.

I am a professional nanny and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not qualified to do very many other things. I worked in retail management 12 years ago for a total of 6 years. When my last nanny job was coming to an end I was having a terrible time finding a new position because my salary requirements are high. The Gap told me I would have to come in as sales (not mgmt.) because my retail experience was so old. Yes, there are jobs, but can a person (or a family) survive on a minimum wage job? Many lower paying jobs don't have benefits, even for full time workers so health care is another big concern.

Then there's housing. The cost of living is pretty high. Yes, there are apartments that cost $650 or so, but are they in a neighborhood where a family would feel safe? Is it large enough for the family? Are the schools good? Is there adequate transportation? Is there care available for little ones too young for school?

Putting together the whole picture becomes very difficult when you consider the sheer number of families and individuals currently looking for very similar things. The fact is that the affordable housing in decent neighborhoods will be full very soon. The good schools & affordable daycares will be full. The good jobs will be taken. Then the issue becomes what do the rest of these folks do? If they are determined to stay in Dallas or Houston or whatever city they have been in since leaving NO they could face significant challenges because these areas are saturated. How many of them will keep trying, and how many of them will just give up and apply for public assistance? The "safety net" is stretched to the limit already.

The mayor held a press conference earlier today saying that the FEMA response has been dismal. The citizens of Dallas are being asked to do whatever they can to help move these people out of the shelters. She said these are the WORKING people who don't qualify for assistance but don't have the resources to pull it all together and move on with life. I went to go have lunch with DS in the middle of the coverage so I hope they will run it again so I can hear the whole speech. TD Jakes (the same guy who was touring with Bush the other day - he is a Dallas resident and pastor of the Potter's House) and Ray Nagin were standing on either side of her - don't know if they spoke or not.

 

[Crankyshank]

I think the OP's post was fine. I guess it's just difficult to phrase the question in a delicate and tactful manner.

To answer the question, I'd imagine the restment where a large number of the evacuees moved was probably almost immediate. They had TX residents visiting family here call in on local radio stations and complain within a few days of evacuation. There was concern about crime, overcrowded schools, housing - all perfectly understandable, but also people really going off about how dare these people come into my city.

Around here I don't see much fall out because we're getting such a small number of evacuees. we have about 100 college students transfer to local schools and there have been concerns raised about how that's going to affect class size, ability to get classes, and difficulty transfering.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Go on, Brother T_M!! Preach, man, preach!!

Just making an inquiry because I honestly did not understand the poster's comment about eh elderly or handicapped. You might try reading a little bit less into my posts in the future.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I think he meant that those who were physically or mentally unable to work (or exempt from same such as seniors) should be cared for as if they were in whatever place they came from.

Anne

Thank you, Anne, for helping me understand. I wasn't trying to make an issue of the comment; I just didn't understand the individual's point. Your clarification makes sense.

 

[N.Bailey]

I appreciate your post and agree with most of it. Just one question -- how does your opinion change (and why is it "drastically") for those who are elderly or handicapped?

Sorry, I got caught up in another thread.

I just don't think that most of the elderly or handicapped would be able to hold down a job. Both of these sectors probably collect Social Security, but even if they don't, I really have no problem with society taking care of them. It's beyond their control really.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Sorry, I got caught up in another thread.

I just don't think that most of the elderly or handicapped would be able to hold down a job. Both of these sectors probably collect Social Security, but even if they don't, I really have no problem with society taking care of them. It's beyond their control really.

Thanks. I am at the best of times a bit slow -- today, however, I seem to be at a complete stop. I didn't think you meant anything terrible...

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks. I am at the best of times a bit slow -- today, however, I seem to be at a complete stop. I didn't think you meant anything terrible...

I did mention I don't always clarify what I mean very well.

 

[arminnie]

When I read the title "How long before the resentment starts?" I thought the subject of the thread was about the existing poor in cities like Dallas and Houston who are not getting extra aid.

Because that has already happened. If you are mired in poverty and others come into your city and get ahead of you (in their perspective) it can cause bad feelings.

Forget the race stuff - it's about the poverty.

FYI I've had multiple friends in Dallas and Houston call and say that they were furious that "these people" were being sent to their cities ,and they can't believe that they are saying that because - in their words - their are liberal Democrats.

I'm in Arkansas - it's estimated that we have over 40,000 evacuees here, but I haven't heard anyone making derogatory statements about them.

I'm getting phone calls from people I haven't heard from in years because I have a home in N.O.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Just making an inquiry because I honestly did not understand the poster's comment about eh elderly or handicapped. You might try reading a little bit less into my posts in the future.

Sorry...no need to roll those eyes at me...I agree what your posts state and with the question you posed...that's all.

 

[daleks]

Just making an inquiry because I honestly did not understand the poster's comment about eh elderly or handicapped. You might try reading a little bit less into my posts in the future.

You seem to have a problem understanding people's meaning as you have with mine. There was nothing racist in my OP, it was meant to be entirely the opposite of that. I started the thread as a critisism of racist attitudes and how people will sympathise with Katrina survivors one day, then take a completely different attitude towards them if they move into their neighbourhood. Particularly if they're poor and black.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I think you will defintely be hearing stories of resentment months or maybe a year from now. The job market is already tight and I can hear someone saying "I can't find a job now because they are giving them all to the evacuees."

That being said, I don't think it would matter if the person lost the job to a white evacuee or a black one. It will be just the issue of the influx of people competing for jobs and services, ect......I think any town/city rich or poor that is set up to accomodate, provide services, to X amount of people that suddenly has X amount of people plus 40,000 is going to have some problems and some people are going to eventually feel some resentment.

 

[bz8bls]

Will it make a difference if they are poor and white?

The problem is that black people is this country have been villified and are to be feared when the truth is the majority of African-Americans are hard working, law-biding, tax paying citizens.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Will it make a difference if they are poor and white?

No, I don't think it would. -- If they lose a job, or maybe more than one and it's because it went to an evacuee or they think it did, I don't think it will matter if they are black, white, asian, poor or middle class, just that it was an evacuee. And I'll even go one step further and say it won't matter if the person who is losing out on the job is black, white, poor or middle class....if that person thinks he is losing out on jobs in "their" town because of evacuees, there will eventually be some resentment felt.

 

[bz8bls]

No, I don't think it would. -- If they lose a job, or maybe more than one and it's because it went to an evacuee or they think it did, I don't think it will matter if they are black, white, asian, poor or middle class, just that it was an evacuee. And I'll even go one step further and say it won't matter if the person who is losing out on the job is black, white, poor or middle class....if that person thinks he is losing out on jobs in "their" town because of evacuees, there will eventually be some resentment felt.

WaltD4Me...I think you bring up interesting points. I guess an analogy can be made with AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, where blacks and women were getting what is perceived as taking jobs away from white men...there is/was resentment from white males...at least where I work in corporate America.

The situation has the potential to get nasty, let's face it, with more jobs going overseas, job opportunities are shrinking for Americans.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

You seem to have a problem understanding people's meaning as you have with mine. There was nothing racist in my OP, it was meant to be entirely the opposite of that. I started the thread as a critisism of racist attitudes and how people will sympathise with Katrina survivors one day, then take a completely different attitude towards them if they move into their neighbourhood. Particularly if they're poor and black.

Nope... I understood your post all too well. Your attempt to backpedal it is interesting to watch though...

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Will it make a difference if they are poor and white?

The problem is that black people is this country have been villified and are to be feared when the truth is the majority of African-Americans are hard working, law-biding, tax paying citizens.

Excellent point!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It started the day they were moved out of Lousiana. We had people right here on the DIS moaning about it from cities these poor people were brought to. Some people can't look six inches past their own face, unfortunately.

N.E.D.

 

[daleks]

Nope... I understood your post all too well. Your attempt to backpedal it is interesting to watch though...

Well you obviously didn't understand it because you've got it completely wrong. If you can't, or don't want to accept my explaination, (and you seem to be in a minority of one who didn't get it), then I won't waste any more time trying.

 

[nuke]

It started the day they were moved out of Lousiana. We had people right here on the DIS moaning about it from cities these poor people were brought to. Some people can't look six inches past their own face, unfortunately.

N.E.D.

Or 6 inches past their safe comfortable home to have some compasion for those that had little and lost it. I totally agree with your post.

 

[Planogirl]

People who have trouble getting a decent job often start to lose all sympathy for the world in general. I was once closely associated with a employment website and some of the comments were interesting to say the least. I can only imagine what the fears are now.