New Poverty Puppet on Sesame Street

[rchristiansen]

Your kid's school must be one of the very, very few that don't have a snack time or allow the kids to eat a snack during their break/recess. .

It could be also, that many parents didn't even realize their kids have snack time. Perhaps this is the case?

Because of all the awareness lately, our family has decided to do a few things - one is sending snacks to share until the teacher tells us to stop bringing them in. Lord knows we have enough stuff in the pantry we forget about - might as well share it. Today, I sent a box of 12 organic snack bars to share in case someone "forgot" - DD9 came home today and said at least 6 or 7 kids had one of those - and today is only Monday. Now, of course, some of those kids could be from families (like I just said) didn't realize there was snacktime, the kids could have truly forgotten, or their parents don't have enough money to send a snack. I'll keep sending the snacks to share to even if that means some kids that don't "qualify" get one.

So what does that sharing cost me - like 5 bucks? For us, it's no big whoop - to some kid that doesn't normally get a snack when they are hungry, it's a big deal.

 

[rchristiansen]

double post

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Sesame Street has always brought the reality of life to children in a way they can understand.
With the amount of children that go to bed hungry and don't have a roof over their head SS does the right thing once again.

Anytime empathy, reality and understanding others is taught to children the entire world benefits.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'd like to again point out that even tho you are in dire straights, a simple thing like acutally owning your own car could make it impossible for you to get WIC and/or food stamps.

Just sayin.

What do you do then? Sell the car you need? Buy a new one so you have payments you can't make?

I don't know why it is/was a stipulation, but it happens.

That is just not true. You qualify for WIC on income alone. If your income doesn't qualify you, there are alternate scenarios that come into play. You must have made too much money and owned your car, which made you inelligible, which is a good thing. Props to you.

School snack-time around here is only through 1st grade. After that, it's kind of silly (unless the kid has low blood sugar). Our parents ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but our kids need to eat 6 times a day? Has biology changed? Don't they need that class time to learn? It's kind of gross and germy to eat in classrooms, anyway.

@rchristiansen: If the only new federal program you think should exist is to help non-food-insecure people feel compassion, then you must agree that there ARE plenty of programs out there that supply food. So, we agree. By the way, I do feel sorry for kids whose parents do not feed them well or who do not or cannot seek out the resources available that would supply food for them. Throwing more money at the situation will not cause these parents to take advantage of available programs.

 

[zstyles]

I hope the poverty puppet gets beat up at least once or twice for being poor..his parents should get beat up too...don't you know its a choice to be poor? Bad move on their part...had it coming...

 

[luvsJack]

It could be also, that many parents didn't even realize their kids have snack time. Perhaps this is the case?

Because of all the awareness lately, our family has decided to do a few things - one is sending snacks to share until the teacher tells us to stop bringing them in. Lord knows we have enough stuff in the pantry we forget about - might as well share it. Today, I sent a box of 12 organic snack bars to share in case someone "forgot" - DD9 came home today and said at least 6 or 7 kids had one of those - and today is only Monday. Now, of course, some of those kids could be from families (like I just said) didn't realize there was snacktime, the kids could have truly forgotten, or their parents don't have enough money to send a snack. I'll keep sending the snacks to share to even if that means some kids that don't "qualify" get one.

So what does that sharing cost me - like 5 bucks? For us, it's no big whoop - to some kid that doesn't normally get a snack when they are hungry, it's a big deal.

That is great! Your kids will see the caring you have for your fellow man and learn from you.

I have always sent in extra snacks too. Its just being aware that their are people in dire straits and children that may be hungry. And its about teaching our children to appreciate what they have and to always realize that there are those that THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN have less than we do.

 

[luvsJack]

That is just not true. You qualify for WIC on income alone. If your income doesn't qualify you, there are alternate scenarios that come into play. You must have made too much money and owned your car, which made you inelligible, which is a good thing. Props to you.

School snack-time around here is only through 1st grade. After that, it's kind of silly (unless the kid has low blood sugar). Our parents ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but our kids need to eat 6 times a day? Has biology changed? Don't they need that class time to learn? It's kind of gross and germy to eat in classrooms, anyway.

@rchristiansen: If the only new federal program you think should exist is to help non-food-insecure people feel compassion, then you must agree that there ARE plenty of programs out there that supply food. So, we agree. By the way, I do feel sorry for kids whose parents do not feed them well or who do not or cannot seek out the resources available that would supply food for them. Throwing more money at the situation will not cause these parents to take advantage of available programs.

In our school most of the kids eat at recess or break time, not in the "germy" classroom (which btw, the kids will get any germs from the classroom whether or not they eat in there, just by touching everything in there).

Our parents did a lot of things that we now know wasn't the best way. Biology didn't change but knowledge does.

As for WIC and foodstamps, there can be very little difference between one family and another and one qualify and one not. They have a limit on income and if you go over that you don't qualify. They have a limit on assets and if you go over that you don't qualify. Been there, done that and seen it happen. For hourly workers, it can be a dice game every month as to whether they qualify or not. And not qualifying doesn't always equal having enough food to eat.

 

[PeterPan09]

That is great! Your kids will see the caring you have for your fellow man and learn from you.

I have always sent in extra snacks too. Its just being aware that their are people in dire straits and children that may be hungry. And its about teaching our children to appreciate what they have and to always realize that there are those that THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN have less than we do.

But as we have learned here, that NEVER happens. It is ALWAYS the fault of the poor person. They have SINNED and must be punished! And their children must also suffer for their sin!

Those of you who enjoy bashing the poor, go on ahead. It obviously makes you feel morally superior to them and convinces you that nothing could ever happen in your life that would put you in a position of needing help from others. And honestly I hope it never does happen to any of you. With that belief system you could suffer some real psychological damage from such an event.

There are honestly days when I don't think I can pray enough for this country.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

That is just not true. You qualify for WIC on income alone. If your income doesn't qualify you, there are alternate scenarios that come into play. You must have made too much money and owned your car, which made you inelligible, which is a good thing. Props to you.

School snack-time around here is only through 1st grade. After that, it's kind of silly (unless the kid has low blood sugar). Our parents ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but our kids need to eat 6 times a day? Has biology changed? Don't they need that class time to learn? It's kind of gross and germy to eat in classrooms, anyway.

@rchristiansen: If the only new federal program you think should exist is to help non-food-insecure people feel compassion, then you must agree that there ARE plenty of programs out there that supply food. So, we agree. By the way, I do feel sorry for kids whose parents do not feed them well or who do not or cannot seek out the resources available that would supply food for them. Throwing more money at the situation will not cause these parents to take advantage of available programs.

It was true when it happened to me. The people at the center looked into everything they could to help me, but because I owned my car outright, I didn't qualify for any assistance. I lived it, I know it to be true. It may be different now (and I hope it is) but that's how it was when I needed help years ago. Regardless of whether you believe it or not. Please don't tell me it's not true when I am the one who lived it.

 

[luvsJack]

But as we have learned here, that NEVER happens. It is ALWAYS the fault of the poor person. They have SINNED and must be punished! And their children must also suffer for their sin!

Those of you who enjoy bashing the poor, go on ahead. It obviously makes you feel morally superior to them and convinces you that nothing could ever happen in your life that would put you in a position of needing help from others. And honestly I hope it never does happen to any of you. With that belief system you could suffer some real psychological damage from such an event.

There are honestly days when I don't think I can pray enough for this country.

Good post. ITA.

 

[eliza61]

But as we have learned here, that NEVER happens. It is ALWAYS the fault of the poor person. They have SINNED and must be punished! And their children must also suffer for their sin!

Those of you who enjoy bashing the poor, go on ahead. It obviously makes you feel morally superior to them and convinces you that nothing could ever happen in your life that would put you in a position of needing help from others. And honestly I hope it never does happen to any of you. With that belief system you could suffer some real psychological damage from such an event.

There are honestly days when I don't think I can pray enough for this country.

LOL. Peter, you have to understand the rules of the dis. Dis world is like the emerald city.
No one is in debt.
No one has a kid who is not a straight a honors student
No one has a kid who makes any type of irresponsible mistake whatsoever.
No one ever, ever needs help. They all walked 20 miles in the snow to get to school, grew up dirt poor but managed to go to college while working 12 jobs so no nned for student loans.
No one has a big house, they all have teeny tiny houses that they paid for.
AND my personal favorite....
They all know some one who is abusing their tax dollars by getting food stamps (amazingly it's always way more than possible) while living in a million dollar mansion while going to disney world.

I mean come on I'm surprised when people here say it actually rained in their town.

Reality has absolutely no basis here in Dis world.

 

[zstyles]

But as we have learned here, that NEVER happens. It is ALWAYS the fault of the poor person. They have SINNED and must be punished! And their children must also suffer for their sin!

Those of you who enjoy bashing the poor, go on ahead. It obviously makes you feel morally superior to them and convinces you that nothing could ever happen in your life that would put you in a position of needing help from others. And honestly I hope it never does happen to any of you. With that belief system you could suffer some real psychological damage from such an event.

There are honestly days when I don't think I can pray enough for this country.

Pray for what? The agenda that everyone should have their money given to them? Sorry but its pretty clear(at least to me) that if you need help from others you weren't raised right. If your poor, its your fault(not you personally, just in general), what are you going to do about it should be what your talking about..or suggesting how they can fix it. Start a business, get two other jobs, network with people around you who are NOT poor, motivate yourself to get out of the slums...15 years ago I was in college, looking at the corporate world and thinking "is this what I want to do?" nope..I started my own company, it has grown from hard work, endless hours of working 6 days a week, 16 hours+ days..and here we are..I made my way, worked hard, didn't sit around and complain about being poor or take the easy way out with welfare/(which is an addiction)..so if someone is poor it is their fault..Blame yourself.."Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks -- if you don't have a job and you are not rich, blame yourself" - HC

 

[eliza61]

Pray for what? The agenda that everyone should have their money given to them? Sorry but its pretty clear(at least to me) that if you need help from others you weren't raised right. If your poor, its your fault(not you personally, just in general), what are you going to do about it should be what your talking about..or suggesting how they can fix it. Start a business, get two other jobs, network with people around you who are NOT poor, motivate yourself to get out of the slums...15 years ago I was in college, looking at the corporate world and thinking "is this what I want to do?" nope..I started my own company, it has grown from hard work, endless hours of working 6 days a week, 16 hours+ days..and here we are..I made my way, worked hard, didn't sit around and complain about being poor or take the easy way out with welfare/(which is an addiction)..so if someone is poor it is their fault..Blame yourself.."Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks -- if you don't have a job and you are not rich, blame yourself" - HC

See what did I tell you, Emerald city. 9% unemployment and it's all their fault, they just have to go out there and "get a job". It's their own fault for getting laid off. stupid people. I mean come on why not just go out tomorrow and start up a business.

Who knew!

 

[zstyles]

See what did I tell you, Emerald city. 9% unemployment and it's all their fault, they just have to go out there and "get a job". It's their own fault for getting laid off. stupid people. I mean come on why not just go out tomorrow and start up a business.

Who knew!

Why does anyone have to "provide a job"...we create our destiny....

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/220499

Meanwhile, some of the unemployed are going in a more productive direction -- one that might actually help America get back on its feet.

They're starting businesses.

Protesters could make better use of their time by joining the nearly 9 percent of the laid-off who've taken matters into their own hands and started their own business. More small businesses distributes a smaller share of power into more hands, instead of letting it concentrate in the hands of fewer large businesses.

 

[rchristiansen]

Why does anyone have to "provide a job"...we create our destiny....

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/220499

Meanwhile, some of the unemployed are going in a more productive direction -- one that might actually help America get back on its feet.

They're starting businesses.

Protesters could make better use of their time by joining the nearly 9 percent of the laid-off who've taken matters into their own hands and started their own business. More small businesses distributes a smaller share of power into more hands, instead of letting it concentrate in the hands of fewer large businesses.

There it is! We solved it, right here on the Dis! Now all they have to do is come up with an idea that will generate ongoing income, obtain the capital to to purchase inventory or technological resources, market their idea, and collect the profits. Brilliant.

I'm a small business owner and it took us nearly 10 years to reach the point where we did not receive income from another job to meet our needs. Maybe these people will be smarter than us and get it done in 5 years. In the meantime, they will just have to suck it up.

 

[mpls_mm]

There it is! We solved it, right here on the Dis! Now all they have to do is come up with an idea that will generate ongoing income, obtain the capital to to purchase inventory or technological resources, market their idea, and collect the profits. Brilliant.

I'm a small business owner and it took us nearly 10 years to reach the point where we did not receive income from another job to meet our needs. Maybe these people will be smarter than us and get it done in 5 years. In the meantime, they will just have to suck it up.

Of course! Haven't you heard? At the SBA, money just falls from the sky. And since you are a woman, you will need a wheelbarrow to cart away all the money they give you. The banks fall all over themselves to lend you money and there are tons of loans and grants that never have to be paid back! You just aren't looking hard enough! And the tax breaks, don't even get me started there. Seriously, I don't know why anyone in their right mind starts a business. I ask myself that every day since I started mine!

 

[luvsJack]

Why does anyone have to "provide a job"...we create our destiny....

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/220499

Meanwhile, some of the unemployed are going in a more productive direction -- one that might actually help America get back on its feet.

They're starting businesses.

Protesters could make better use of their time by joining the nearly 9 percent of the laid-off who've taken matters into their own hands and started their own business. More small businesses distributes a smaller share of power into more hands, instead of letting it concentrate in the hands of fewer large businesses.

Do you have any clue how many small businesses fail EVERY year? Even in a good year its hard, now its even worse.

Besides the fact that opening a business today in no way equals actually receiving an income right away. My family has been self employed my whole life. I have seen the struggle, the hard work and the sacrifice and have done it all myself. Its not all the peaches and cream you think it is.

Not everyone can raise the capital or have the business idea that will succeed. To think that every single person that is poor or out of work can go into their own business is very unrealistic.

 

[luvsJack]

LOL. Peter, you have to understand the rules of the dis. Dis world is like the emerald city.
No one is in debt.
No one has a kid who is not a straight a honors student
No one has a kid who makes any type of irresponsible mistake whatsoever.
No one ever, ever needs help. They all walked 20 miles in the snow to get to school, grew up dirt poor but managed to go to college while working 12 jobs so no nned for student loans.
No one has a big house, they all have teeny tiny houses that they paid for.
AND my personal favorite....
They all know some one who is abusing their tax dollars by getting food stamps (amazingly it's always way more than possible) while living in a million dollar mansion while going to disney world.

I mean come on I'm surprised when people here say it actually rained in their town.

Reality has absolutely no basis here in Dis world.

You pegged it!!

 

[mpls_mm]

You can't teach people empathy on an internet board, people have it or don't. The people that don't usually get a big karma enema at some point. But they don't even realize it.
I have had to listen to MIL complain about freeloaders for 13 years, people have fancy houses and cars and get government help. They just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and work and pay off a house and car like she did. What kind of people take handouts, blah,blah,blah.
She was laid off after 40 years and did get a nice pension, but she can't access it for 5 years. Her savings that she bragged about ran out after 2 years of expenses and some unexpected emergencies and she still can't find work. Now she owns a car and house that both need repairs but no one will loan her money without an income and without putting everything in jeopardy because she couldn't afford any repayments anyway and she can't qualify for any help because she has the house and car. Now we hear that no one will help her because she was smart enough to work and get some assets and she can't get a hand up and all these other people get rewarded because they weren't smart enough to get a house and car paid off. She doesn't even see any irony. Anyone's situation can change in a moment.
Some people will always worry what other people have and how they got it.

 

[eliza61]

There it is! We solved it, right here on the Dis! Now all they have to do is come up with an idea that will generate ongoing income, obtain the capital to to purchase inventory or technological resources, market their idea, and collect the profits. Brilliant.

I'm a small business owner and it took us nearly 10 years to reach the point where we did not receive income from another job to meet our needs. Maybe these people will be smarter than us and get it done in 5 years. In the meantime, they will just have to suck it up.

No, no, no. They're not smarter. It's totally all your fault that it took you 10years. If you had just "provided" yourself with the capital you would be mini Steve Jobs by now.

Im telling you, I'm taking that post to the bank TODAY. I've been working on my bakery business for a while and I realize I'm going about it all wrong. I never knew that all I had to do was walk up to the building owner and explain that I plan on working really, really hard so he should let me rent this building dirt cheap. I'm sure telling him I'm 'creating" my own destiny will count for a lot.

Really I feel so stupid for wasting all this time.