Please Understand --- A View From The Bottom Rung

[bobbolink]

First, this is not a request for a defense of John Edwards, or an explanation of his tactics, or anything else.

It is a request for understanding how things look from the bottom rung of this society. In short, it hurts.

Yesterday, I was pleased that the book a librarian had requested for me, Edwards' Ending Povery In America, was in. I was looking forward to reading it. However, when I sat down with it and looked through the chapters, there was NOTHING that pertained to my life. NOTHING. It is all about jobs, and savings accounts and education.

Like many other poor people (including 2 or 3 others on DU, and who knows how many more), I'm not able to work. I'm old, I have a BA and I certainly don't have enough $$ for savings accounts, or owning my own home.

I thought I still mattered. I thought I was worth something. But, more and more I'm realizing there is NO place for me. There is no place for the thousands like me who don't fit into some handy category that makes political points.

Having given up on DU asking for action to be taken on bills and issues affecting me and thousands of others because they sank from lack of attention, and having finally given up explaining to people because they really aren't wanting to know... they just want people like me to go away, and facing a complete dead end, this book was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.

I got so discouraged I could hardly hold my head up.

There seems to be NOTHING that pertains to me, anywhere. And, I will repeat, there are thousands in the same predicament.

I don't ask that you "explain" it to me--in fact, I DON'T want any more explanations. I don't even ask that you take any kind of action. I don't ask, nor do I wish, prayers on my behalf, or assurances that things will get better.

I just ask that you understand and care what this state of affairs does to people.

The loss of hope, the sense of being left out of everything with one's nose pressed against the glass, watching others being able to fit in.

I ask that you understand and care about the awful and deadly isolation this causes for people like me.

The view from the bottom rung is one of futility, isolation and uselessness. I was shocked when I saw a DUer refer to herself as a "useless eater", but there are so many of us who have come to the place where we see that, as far as this society is concerned, (and that includes liberals and other Dems), that's about all we are.

The time has come to understand.

And to care.

[saracat]

1. I understand. And you are correct. We must work together for the answer.

And I am closer to your situation than farther from it. I can't explain the lack of coverage but I would still have confidence that only John will address any kind of poverty.I can't rec from this forum but I will Kick!

[bobbolink]

2. I'm rapidly losing confidence.

The local Edwards group let me know that, even though I'm homeless, I'm still "rich" compared to people other countries.

Isn't that sweet?

Geeeee, I feel so much better, and a lot less cold in my car, knowing that.

I just need people to understand the pain, and to CARE.



And, no, you can't recommend from here. That's OK... this isn't something I would post on GD and get scalded from the flames.

I just had some hope that Edwards people would want to understand.

A vain hope..?

[smokey nj]

4. I care, bobbolink. I'm on your side.

It's incredibly disappointing that Edwards supporters would respond to you in such a dismissive and condescending way.

[bobbolink]

5. thank you, smokey. I appreciate that. Being this alone really stinks.

Thank you for understanding, and taking the time to let me know.

It isn't the popular thing to do.

[smokey nj]

6. The way I see it is, we're all in this together.

If you're hurting, I'm hurting.

[bobbolink]

11. Yes, smokey nj, we ARE all in it together!!

How can people not see that??

Many years ago, I remember a priest saying something very powerful in his sermon, and I wish that John and Elizabeth would speak up on this.

When asked (at the time, there was a lot of talk about community standards of pornography), what he thought pornography was, this priest replied, "My idea of pornography is the whole concept of "US" and "THEM"."

I still think that is brilliant and to the point.

Yet, I get regularly discounted as "THEM".

Thanks for understanding... it means more than you know.

[saracat]

7. Some people are just like that. Just be assurred that many of

us can relate. I am so sorry that they were dismissive. During the last election cycle I actually had a job taken away from by some Kerry kids me as they said I was "too old" I am over 40 but very energetic and I "needed' that job.I was also told someone with my qualifications didn't "need' the job the way a 16 year old did and the pay was too little.It was 5K a mos and I was making nothing ! And I was already doing the job for nothing. Sigh.Campaigns can be vicious and unfair.You are not alone.We are in this together, and I still have faith in Edwards!

[Two Americas]

3. the real fight

The real fight is not to get Edwards elected, it is to change the competitive and greedy and self-centered ethic that rules our lives, the ascendancy of the beautiful people and the pervasive social pressure to conform to one particular way of viewing life - rather than the golden rule, the rule of those with the gold. Liberals can sugar-coat that with all sorts of bullshit - non-profits, good causes, making the "right choices" and all of the rest - but too many of them embrace and promote the core right wing "values" of every man for himself and win at all costs and God loves the winners and "why don't you just..." and "they have no one to blame but themselves."

Yes, there is no place for many of us. So many of us. The truth is that there is no place for most of the people in the country. The "winners" as portrayed on the TV commercials represent 10-15% of the people in the country, yet we arwe supposed to see that as "normal" and anyone not measuring up has no one to blame but themselves.

What about the children growing up in crushing poverty, what about the millions of elderly warehoused away and forgotten, what about all of the people whose skills and talents are no longer needed and wanted, what about the aging workers outsourced, down-sized, cut back, displaced and let go?

We must see the Edwards campaign as a mere start - a first step, a tiny crack in the door.

Yes, the time has come to understand and to care. People have been conditioned to not care and to not understand. Far more people are being tossed to the side than not - it is the central theme of modern society, and yet people cling to some shallow and brittle "success" model that only works for a few and they refuse to see the human suffering and despair all around them. Millions are living in fear of being tossed aside, and will attack and exclude those who are suffering so that they don't have to think about their own precarious position.

[waiting for hope]

8. I care bobbolink,

Please, don't despair! I think that there are many here that are one to two paychecks away from being in your situation and may not be able to work as well. I'm in my middle 40's and know that I'm going to have to work while I can until I can't - I don't have investments, I don't have a savings account and I do have two children (6 and 3) - I still see Edwards as our best possible hope for a better future, one that includes us all. :hug: I have always enjoyed your posts and look forward to reading them.

[Plucketeer]

9. I care

And I mean that with sincerety. I lived out of my truck for a time in the early 80s. It ain't fun. I ate the cheapest food and shivered my ass off on winter nights. It IS a feeling of worthlessness if you let it eat at you. Of course, in my instance, I knew I'd eventually find a job and work myself into SOME kind of indoor living. I was in my mid-30s and in good health, so it was just a matter of finding steady work within my skills and that DID ultimately happen. But living like that - even for just a couple of months - it gives you a new appreciation for the have nots!

I agree it was pretty harsh to tell you that you're well off - compared to some third world resident. Point is, we're NOT a third world nation. There's opulence and wanton excess everywhere you aim your eyes. And I wouldn't be the Edwards proponent I am unless I'd heard him say repeatedly that he'll remember those 37 million Americans in poverty. Even on the bottom rung, you're included in that statement to my way of thinking.

Bobbolink, you're of value to me and to the rest of your friends here on DU. At the risk of sounding callous, don't look for YOUR name to be spelled out in that broad brushstroke utterance of "37 million in poverty", but trust that you ARE of that group and John says he'll work and speak on your behalf.
I'm gonna call your screen name out as the clock gongs Midnight tonight. I'll be hoping for a Happier New Year for you. :hug:

[bobbolink]

12. THanks for your caring--I'm really needing that support right now!

No, I'm certainly not looking for my "name", but when a whole book about poverty doesn't address the REAL needs of yourself and thousands of others, it's not only sad....

IT'S FRIGHTENING!!

Who is in our corner?

We can't do this alone!

"I'm gonna call your screen name out as the clock gongs Midnight tonight."

Heh... now, I never heard of someone doing that before..... THANKS!

That's really cool to be remembered that way!

I was tucked in my sleeping bag in my car, on a Mississippi night (about twobelow--tupelo...ehehehe), so I heard neither the gong nor my name called out, but I really appreciate being remembered!

[lisainmilo]

10. I completely understand

I have been there and my brother is currently in that situation, he is in his 40's. I was much younger when I found myself in the same situation. Please don't give up hope. :hug: