Efforts to stop bullying....

[bobbolink]

I read Dear Abby in the paper today, and a letter was about a girl being bullied in school. These websites were given out:

stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov

safeschools.com

tolerance.org

And there may be more. Since Columbine, there has been a large effort to put an end to the pain caused to children who are bullied.

SO.........why is there NOT an effort to do the same for poor folk who are abused and bullied?

I posted my tale about being homeless to bring to light the issue of abuse in low-income housing. I was told that it would lead to people wanting to take action. To CHANGE the situation. Yet, nothing has come of it.

WHY aren't there Ombudsmen in every place there is subsidized housing?

WHY aren't ther Ombudsmen in every place there are agencies who "help" poor folk?

WHY aren't "progressives" ACTIVE on this issue?

WHY aren't "progressives" looking into the issue of class action suits?

WHY are we on our own with this, and can't get people to even discuss it???

WHY????

What does it take? Another Columbine.... somebody or somebodies being abused in low-income housing who finally goes postal?

WHAT?

WHY?

[saracat]

1. Why isn't John Edwards the democratic nominee? Why?

Because people, for the most part don't care. They don't.If it doesn't directly effect them it is not their problem.

These are only letters to Dear abby and posts on the internet.Results can't be expected for just that kind of effort.And to expend more effort would require dedication to a "cause" and people are no longer dedicated to "causes'. The Obama kids have told me that.They are only interested in "winning" and being "cool" and the rest of us "un-fashionables " can go hang ourselves.Sorry but this is true.And I think you know it.

Women's rights, poverty, child abuse and ageism are not "cool" so don't expect the new Dems to care.They are all off at their keggers and life is "fine".

[bobbolink]

3. Actually, I was TOLD by the Edwardians that they cared, and they would follow up.

They wanted to hear my experiences, so they could get "ideas".

So, thank you for letting me know that I need to learn not to trust what people say.

An important lesson.

[caseycoon]

7. It's sad, but true.

Unless it's right in their face all the time they just space it off. I don't think people lie when they say they will help, but it's too easy to just forget 'unpleasant things' and go on with something else.

[Yuugal]

2. Good questions

The conclusion I've come to is that nothing gets done because we really don't have a party anymore. 16 years ago I laughed at my dad for voting for Perot. He was true blue but he just couldn't take the idea of corporatists running the party and he told me if he was going to be forced to vote for one of his bosses he might as well vote for the guy whose head wasn't up his ass.

I voted Clinton and got Nafta, slavefare, and so much more.

8 years ago I laughed at Nader for saying there was no difference between the dems and reps. I'm not laughing anymore. We have met the enemy and they are us.

Progressives are laughed at and scorned in this party and even on this site. Every day I see posts belittling the poor, the disabled, the uninsured, the list goes on and on. Our party leaders truly put the mock in democracy. "THEY" want us demoralized and voiceless and are winning the class war. I don't see much difference between the blindness of young Obama supporters and the blindness of the Pelosi/Reid enabling machine.

Many "progressives" in this party can only see their issues and noone else's. They will vote feminist issues or gay rights issues or minority issues and ignore the candidate's stances on other issues. The spirit of all for one and one for all is dead in this party and is killing off the progressive spirit of people like me.

I don't know whether to seek out greener pastures in another party, or try to wall myself off on a few acres and ignore the decline, or maybe just give up on this country altogether. One thing is for sure though, after this election I give up on mainstream national politics. Its too depressing and I feel like I am wasting time I could be spending growing food for the local pantry or working on the local level to slow the decline of America in my backyard.

Since I'm in NY I can vote for whoever I like, but I entertain zero notions that it will affect anything. Edwards really was my last hope. I'm standing in the Obama tent recently but that wind of change seems very cold and smells of the same kind of corporate swamp gas I've seen my whole
life from my party. BLAH!

[bobbolink]

4. Ewwwww, swamp gas!

It isn't just a party, or a candidate, or any "out there".

It's ALL.

The people who actually want to do something, rather than just being cool, I can count on one hand.

We need to stop blaming "out there"!

[saracat]

5. Very true.

[caseycoon]

8. This is why I loved Kucinich so much.

He had ALL the issues in mind. He stood up for all the downtrodden, all the disenfranchised. I never expected him to win, but I had hoped he would be able to get his message out & show people what this country COULD be. They silenced him much too soon. Then I happily supported Edwards, & I DID think he had a chance, but no. We got the rock stars. I prefer Obama because I am not as afraid of the things he will do if he becomes President. Great reason, huh? Not as afraid of him as I am of Clinton.
GEEEEEEZ

[apocalypsehow]

6. Another issue that progressives should be in the forefront on

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of concern and/or action in these areas. Excellent post.

[bobbolink]

10. And what do we have to do to get that to happen? Set off firecrackers underneath them???

They can get so fired up about so many issues, but not about abuse of those of us in low-income buildings?

What's up with that?

[caseycoon]

9. Abuse is rampant

among the poor, the homeless, the elderly, but hey! Folks wanna watch American Idol. Let the gov take care of it.
The gov thinks there are a lot better things to spend our tax dollars on like earmarks! Bridges to nowhere! You know... GOOD stuff that lines the pockets of their friends. :sarcasm:
I HATE IT!

[demgurl]

11. K&R.

This abuse must be stopped for healing to begin. We need more understanding and less bullying.

[demgurl]

12. OK, I tried to rec this post but it is too old.

At least I got it kicked.