The Waste of it all.

Did you know that there are currently enough vacant homes to house every single homeless man, woman and child in the US today?  Thats right, we could ensure every American has a home, just from all the homes vacated or lost in the 2007 economic collapse.  But there is more to this.

True Confessions of a Homeless Man

There we go, me in my humble abode.  Some of you are likely asking how did this guy get here?  His priorities are wrong, he has the internet.  That comes and goes with the wind, and also comes with the power, I get in exchange for work.  Damned it I do damned if I don't currently.  I want a shelter, a place to pitch my tent I have to do work, but if I do not do the work here, I don't have the money to go elsewhere at this time.

I hate homelessness

As much as some people seem to hate the homeless, I hate homelessness, and the greed that spawns it.  I hate the people who look down on the homeless as though we are lepers.  Then there was Maryann Edwards appointed Mayor (council member for a town out there).  Her view is that homelessness is a choice.  She also added that the homeless have refused all help, and seek to prey on the sympathy of others.   

How Much?

How many ticks does it take to get to the center of Republican hate?  The world will shortly know.  Well Americans will shortly know, but that brings up another question.  How many will actually care about Republicans hatred of the middle and low classes of American society.Yeah, they have a lot of hatred.  They hate the poor people, they hate the middle class people, they hate minorities, they hate gay people, they hate non-Christians, and they hate women, but for a party taken over by a religion that allegedly promotes peace and love, there is a lot of hate going around.  

North Korea calling the kettle black

So, amongst my journeys today I came across an article where North Korea lists out some of America's human rights violations.  I know, its ironic as all get out because, well, they have a pretty long list themselves, but lets look at the list, see how it measures up?

Guns.

I very rarely get into the topics of firearms, gun violence, or gun control.  It is one of the few topics, I just do not like discussing.  I am a gun owner, I have a concealed carry weapons permit, I do carry on a regular basis.  But there is a reason I really dislike talking about the subject, and that is, when it comes up, it usually involves the deaths of innocent people.

Prick of the Day

Ah Ben Stein...  Remember Bueller?  I do..  Who is Ben Stein, why is he still spewing?

Welfare Queens and Stereotypes

We have all heard of stereotypes.  We have all likely used them before.  They are a fixed view of a group of people, generally based on race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, occupation, etc.  But here is what is bad about them, they tend to lead to discrimination.

Soul Crushing

So many things are "soul crushing" in this world.  But on the top of that list is constantly dealing with ones on poverty, homelessness, or racism and bigotry they are forced to endure.  People seem to think that the event happens, and then its gone, but the truth is that these things tend to linger and add weight.  They never really go away, they just fester.  The longer it happens, the more your soul dies.

Welcome to the Third World... America

America, the third world country.  Welcome to our humble land, we hope you enjoy your stay.  Oh yeah, if you hear gun shots, hit the deck.

The war on the war on poverty.

So today Mr. Ryan, and some of his other buddies in the Grand Ole Party released a critique of the War on Poverty.  Solutions in the report, MIA/KIA.

I took part in an online conversation...

Well this is nothing new.  I often take part in online conversations with people, typically the conversations range from which is true creation or evolution, the supernatural, aliens, poverty, and any number of political and or social discussions that can happen online.  Lets face it, if it can be discussed, you will find a thread, a chat room, message board, or whatever you can imagine on any subject you want to find.

Global Illumination Council

(Taken from the Global Illumination Council's Facebook page)

Appreciate what you have.

I am probably the last person who should be commenting on this, but given where I have been in the past, given where I am heading in the future, it burns me.  It runs pure fury through my veins, and I find it insulting in a sense.

Capital One...

Several years ago I got an offer from Capital One, and for the first time I had a credit card that did not charge me to use their service.  You know that monthly fee.  I was on top of the world, I admit it, I had made it to the big time in credit cards.  Given previous entries here, you might understand that without good credit, doors are barred, locked, and have a bank safe pushed against them if you don't have any.

It aint easy being.... Poor?

When someone is poor, there are constant choices to be made.  What can I afford to eat, how much money will I need to get back and forth to work, I wonder if I can carpool, or if I can get that second or third part time gig somewhere.  Am I going to have enough for rent, the power bill, phone bill (or can I round up enough money for a prepaid burner phone).  It ain't easy or cheap to be poor, or homeless.  It is the simple things that you take for granted.

The Meaning Behind "The Works"

A thought occurred to me as I was responding to a thread on a another social media account.  I feel that I should have, from day one explained why I chose the name "The Works" for this blog.  Its not overly religious.  Its not religious at all.  The Works, as it stands is meant as a call to arms for like minded people.  People who want to see an end to poverty, homelessness, bigotry.  It is a sounding board of sorts where people can share their ideas, and as a means of spreading the ideas of the contributors and commentators (those who leave contents).

The problem...

Houston we have a problem. As I sit here, listening to the window blow, another burst of Arctic air getting ready to wind its way through the area, I am thinking about many things.  I did not watch the AFC or NFC Championship games, I am not interested as my team barely finished with a five hundred record.  Anyway, I did watch some recaps of the games and the thing I saw was passionate fans.  I have no issue with people being passionate about a team, sport, movie, or anything else they can find something to support.  The problem is, with all the things going on in the world, it seems a waste of good energy.  Sure one day a week is good to blow off steam, everyone needs that release.

He said What?

In a recent press release, President Obama promised the citizens of the United States that the previously mentioned, and feared by some, gun grab by the government forces has been put off until shortly after the 2016 presidential election.  He was quoted as saying, “We just have so many problems right now, with the Chemical Spill in West Virginia and two wars that I am forced to fight, that we just do not have the manpower to take all the guns that belong to all the citizens of the US.  We also want to focus more on the problems that lead to gun violence.”

20 Things the Poor Really Do Every Day (plus my take)

This comes from Bill Irwin via the Huffington Post 20 Things Poor People Really Do

While Mr. Irwin speaks from a third party view, he speaks as someone that has witnessed homelessness, and living in poverty, I am speaking from a first person perspective.

The Obituary of Compassion

We are mourning the loss of a beloved old friend and philanthropist who recently passed away. Her name was Compassion. Compassion originally born in the cradle of civilization, lived a long life but died in the United States from a vicious contagious disease known only as Affluenza.