Tag: Poverty

Healthcare, politics

On Healthcare and Pre-Existing Conditions

I was a thirty-four-year-old, divorced mother of three, in college and working part-time, when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was not a result of anything I did. Despite exacerbations where I lost vision, lost the ability to walk, suffered pain, and spent most of my time physically drained, I continued moving forward. I had children to support. Did I plan to be married … Continue reading On Healthcare and Pre-Existing Conditions

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Book Review, Memoir

“Son of Sam Was My Catcher and Other Bronx Tales” by Ian Lowell

Son of Sam Was My Catcher and Other Bronx Tales by Ian Lowell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Ian Lowell takes me has taken me back to my youth, growing up in New York City in the 50’s and 60’s, in his wonderful memoir “Son of Sam Was My Catcher and Other Bronx Tales”. Although I was in upper Manhattan and he was in … Continue reading “Son of Sam Was My Catcher and Other Bronx Tales” by Ian Lowell

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Homelessness, Hunger, Poverty, Unemployment & Economy

Lions and Lambs?

On Thanksgiving St Bartholomew’s Church in New York City hosted an unusual dinner. Guests who paid $100 a head shared their holiday dinner with the homeless. This was an interesting experiment to say the least. About five hundred extremely diverse people eating dinner in a church. And apparently this was no slap dash meal prepared by the ladies guild. The meal was prepared by chefs … Continue reading Lions and Lambs?

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Homelessness, Poverty

Housing Budget Cuts and the Homeless

  Most people have forgotten the government sequester that ended in December 2013. However, across the board cuts in services that took place last spring have had effects that are still impacting the poor and homeless. Housing programs that were available to families with children, the elderly, and the disabled to prevent homelessness have suffered, leaving those populations struggling to find housing. The effects of … Continue reading Housing Budget Cuts and the Homeless

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Unemployment & Economy

Raising the Minimum Wage- Pros & Cons

  In his February State of the Union address President Obama proposed raising the minimum wage in order to provide low income workers with a living wage. There has been considerable disagreement about whether raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 hourly to $10.10 an hour will help or hurt the economy.   One group (Republicans) maintains that raising the minimum wage will kill jobs. … Continue reading Raising the Minimum Wage- Pros & Cons

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Unemployment & Economy, White House

The State Dinner

  Michelle Obama wore an extraordinary designer dress to the State Dinner on 2/11/14; a dinner which cost between $200.K and 600.K in taxpayer dollars. That’s about average for a dinner of this type which honors French President Francois Hollande. Entertainment was provided by singer Mary J. Blige.  The guest list included Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bradley Cooper with Suki Waterhouse, basketball player Jason … Continue reading The State Dinner

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Food Stamps, Hunger, Poverty, SNAP

Children and Poverty

                                                   Children and Poverty With the recent cuts to SNAP/Food Stamp benefits I decided to take a look at how children are affected by this decrease. How poor are America’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens? According to an article published by the Children’s Defense Fund 16.1 million children in America are poor, … Continue reading Children and Poverty

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Uncategorized, Unemployment & Economy

Things Are Getting Better Mr. President?

                Let’s talk about poverty in America today. In his 2014 State of the Union address President Obama stated the unemployment rate was the lowest in over five years. He stated the manufacturing sector is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990’s. He stated we have a rebounding housing market. “The lowest unemployment rate in over five … Continue reading Things Are Getting Better Mr. President?

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