WTF is wrong with this country?

[unhappycamper]

Boston, MA was number one in a recent poll about smart and dumb cities. We came out smart, but this article tells me that bigotry, selfishness and 'me too' thinking is alive and well in western Mass.

How can people treat others this way? Why do we constantly turn on our brothers and sisters?

Like I said, "WTF is wrong with this country?"




“They’re treating us like dirt, but we’re real people,’’ said Michelle Belleau. “It’s just terrible, ridiculous, that they’re forcing us out,’’ said Jeffrey Spiller.


‘Jungle’ clearing
By David Abel
Globe Staff / October 30, 2010

GREENFIELD — In the copse beside the old rails, hidden by foliage falling from large oaks and birches, are the relics of drifters who have dwelt in these woods for decades: abandoned fire pits, discarded suitcases, ruined tree houses, and weathered tarps, among mounds of other detritus.

Since perhaps as far back as the Great Depression, the site known as “the jungle’’ has served as a temporary home to hobos who hopped the north-south and east-west freight lines that intersect at the nearby East Deerfield Rail Yard, the state’s largest depot for freight trains. In recent years, as the economy has stagnated and the area’s homeless population has grown, the woods have become home to those who prefer not to stay in overcrowded shelters.

Now, after so many years of tolerating the secluded encampments a short walk from the historic downtown, officials in this 257-year-old city have decided to do away with what they consider an eyesore and a potential trouble spot. Citing a burgeoning population in the woods and $90 million in new railway investments from the company that owns the tracks, they have vowed to sweep the area of its remaining inhabitants and cut as many trees as possible to make it less appealing to dwellers.

Local authorities told the residents this week that their tents would be torn down and that bulldozers would move in as soon as today.

“Even though it’s been happening for a long time, that doesn’t make it right; it’s illegal, improper, and unsafe,’’ said Mayor William Martin, who was elected last year. “The idea that we will continue to turn the cheek is not something I’m willing to do. It’s not something the community should ignore.’’

[ejpoeta]

1. because it's in the bible. jesus said, fuck you i've got mine.

[saigon68]

7. Its the upper crust of todays society, brazenly "Cleaning up Society"

In my area the new Upper Class has really turned mean and rotten. The children of the Reagan Days are increasingly in the "Drivers Seat" and the selfishness of their parents in that Era 1980-1992, is coming home to roost on the poor, the downtrodden and the disabled.

The idea that because some one has made it, while the underachievers who haven't are scum and subhumans is in vogue today.

The "I've got mine Jack", is clearly ruling the day

Disturbing to me is the rejection of collective bargaining for workers and the accumulation of vast amounts by the richest 1%.

The hatred of minorities, the gay community and the pervasive dogma of the "christian" churches is stunning. 20% of the population in my state is going contribute to a repuke landslide in my area next Tuesday. These are easily mislead angry people, who have drank the Koolade of the 1% and for hateful reasons are about to tear down humanities last chance at compassion, sharing and hope for decency and the golden rule.

I hope I'm wrong --- but I'll be back Tues to let all know what happened in my little place in the woods.

-John

[ejpoeta]

10. i wish we could get people to realize what they are doing to themselves.

our grandparents and great grandparents fought so we could have a better life and we are just handing everything they suffered and struggled for to the very people they wrestled it away from. as if the rich would give anything if they don't have to. we take for granted the five day work week, the vacation time.....

[BarryMeNot]

31. What vacation time?

:shrug:

[ejpoeta]

32. some people have it.. my husband will be up to 3 weeks next year.

many don't because they work three part time jobs.

[w8liftinglady]

18. John...That blows me away.

My dad was born in Waupaca,and I am...or thought I was...familiar with how Wisconsin was when I was a kid.At the time,there was a big union,working class population....Man,it's REALLY changed.

[saigon68]

28. Its going to be a blood bath

Final Marist/McClatchy Polls for CO, WA, PA & WI

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x494509

http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/misc/WI101026/McClatchy/McClatchy_Marist%20Poll_Wisconsin_October%2030,%202010.pdf

Its unbelievable

[whathehell]

21. You've got it, Saigon68....

We're probably of the same generation, and like you, I barely recognize the place anymore.

[whathehell]

19. Not in the bible and Jesus said nothing of the kind...He said the OPPOSITE. n/t

[ejpoeta]

22. i know. did i really need the sarcasm tag?!

[whathehell]

23. Around here?

I would say yes.

[lib2DaBone]

26. LOL.. the church of IGM "I got MIne"....

[ejpoeta]

27. i like that. it's about right too.

[Syrinx]

2. poisoned minds

[ixion]

3. Grapes of Wrath, redux

I don't understand why people just can't

a) be good to one another, and;

b) live and let live.

To simple axioms that would solve so many problems in the world.

[Fumesucker]

4. A fat wallet complains more loudly than an empty belly..

People are running scared, seeing someone down on their luck makes them uneasy that they might too be in that position at some point, out of sight, out of mind.

Thirty years of morning in the shining city on the hill have brought us to this juncture, I knew when Reagan was elected that he was no friend of anyone without a fat wallet.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. If they thought they might be in that situation one day, shouldn't that make them more

compassionate and empathic, rather than the opposite?

[ejpoeta]

24. no. there is a reason they blame the unemployed and those on assistance as lazy.

there has to be some reason why these folks are in this situation which makes them different than the folks who currently have a job or social security and a pension and medicare. it can't be a reason that could happen to them. it must be something like not trying hard enough because obviously there are jobs out there. why don't the engineer who was making $80k a year go work at mcdonalds! so what if he has a mortgage and car payment fitting that $80k a year. it must be that he's LAZY!! i remember when my sister got laid off. Her husband was bringing her applications from the bank. She went to college for graphic arts. If she accepted a job at a bank she didn't think she'd be able to ever get back into the profession she went to school for because things are so rapidly changing in that area. She ended up finding a job as a graphic artist for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She makes more than her husband now. I am glad she didn't give in. It took her a long time. She found that job just as her extension was running out. Funniest part is.... her husband is a teabagger. IF it weren't for that unemployment they could have easily lost everything.

[Hannah Bell]

5. where are they supposed to go?

[Occulus]

6. WTF is wrong? Incipient fascism.

There are DUers who will applaud the decision to oust referenced in the OP.

There is at least one DUer who HAS NOT BEEN BANNED who openly said that the 'stompee' "went looking for trouble and found it".

THAT is what's wrong with America. It's incipient fascism, yet even here on DU, we're being told that it's not by certain Interested Parties.

[WinkyDink]

9. Not so "incipient," I'm afraid.

[Occulus]

11. Oh, I know.

But there was one dorkowaffulumpus tonight who basically said it can't happen here.

I wanted to preempt the howls of dissent as much as possible by saying we're almost there.

We're there, of course, but even here on DU some will not accept it until the trains are running and the ovens are hot.

[dgibby]

30. +1

Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

[WinkyDink]

8. Revealing how he will NOT "turn the other cheek" instead of "turn a blind eye".

Admitting to non-Christian values.

That man in the photo breaks my heart and inflames my mind to want violence against all billionaires and multi-millionaires (que lastima if that's anyone here).

[DemReadingDU]

12. We had a similar situation where we live

City came in, and moved out all the people. Have no idea where the homeless moved to. Sad.

[w8liftinglady]

20. Gee...look no further than the new Cowboy Stadium.It's called "Eminent Domain"

...then see where the homeless shelter is...three blocks south...NEVER enough beds.
Yeah.

[YankeyMCC]

13. "potential trouble spot" ??

Or in another way to say it "A spot that has until now not been the source of trouble"

[WestSeattle2]

17. A potential trouble spot in that city is in city hall n/t

[messiah]

14. simple

Intelligence with an ego running it = a child with weapons of mass destruction.

History has shown that "Material Intelligence" is not enlightenment.

[TicketyBoo]

15. I haven't read all the other replies,

but the answer to the question "What is wrong with this country?" can be summed up in two words, I believe: campaign finance.

Until politicians figure out a way to keep from flushing billions of dollars down the toilet every two years, nothing is going to change. Do they really enjoy acting as whores for the lobbyists?

It makes me sick to think of how all that campaign money could be used to better this country instead of wasted the way it is on negative campaign ads that do nothing to educate the public on the issues. Absolutely disgusting.

[Atlatl]

29. We're screwed if we wait for the politicians...

to figure out a way to keep from flushing all at money down the toilet. They spend all their time trying to raise more money to keep getting re-elected. Maybe it's time for term limits to finally get newer people into Congress.

Me personally, I'd like to see Lincoln-Douglass style debates on PBS or NPR instead of attack ad after attack ad the last couple of weeks prior to an election.

[corpseratemedia]

25. the attitude of a country in decline

sickening and vulgar as i see it in my neck of the woods

money yet zero class

[saigon68]

33. Yikes

[Odin2005]

34. The elites have declared that the homeless are not human and the Sheep follow.