In Seattle there is a small publication called “Real Change,” which advocates for the homeless population. Yesterday I parted with a dollar to read the latest issue, which contained a few stories on (guess what) housing issues. There was a story of one homeless couple taken in by a scam where agents promised to do the “leg-work” in finding affordable housing, but after taking a $250 fee they suddenly forgot what they had promised. The proprietor couldn’t produce the name of a single renter or rentee who had “benefited” from the service; not surprisingly, there were so many complaints that her business has received an “F” from the BBB. Yet this company is still in “business,” continuing to steal money from those who can least afford it.

Then there was a story about how University of Washington president Mark Emmert declined to allow an oft-moved Nickelsville tent city briefly on university property, an idea being promoted by social work students. Emmert seems to have been persuaded by a small cadre of fear-mongering students protesting the crime and sexual predation surely to follow—even though police reported that there was no increase, but rather a decrease, in crime in locations that the tent city previously occupied. Obviously the real problem was the usual suspects: class, race, paranoia, narcissism, so on and so forth.

This is yet another example what that Ayn Rand fellow Alex Epstein would call “volunteerism at work.”

Bret Thiele, a human rights lawyer based in Switzerland, contributed an article stating that the U.S. is virtually alone among the nations of the world that has not ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Admittedly this sounds like a mouthful and a royal pain to enforce, but one of its principles that ought to be supported is that everyone has a right to adequate housing. If a government cannot or will not provide adequate housing for everyone, then they (and the police) are constrained not to obstruct efforts by the homeless to find their own “adequate” shelter. Forced evictions through no fault of the renter or homeowner is also condemned. But in the U.S., if you fall on hard times, and wind-up on the street unable to find work because you have no address, you are strictly on your own—unless, of course, Alex Epstein “volunteers” to help.

In Gregory Nava’s film “El Norte,” new arrivals Enrique and Rosa were amazed that their rat and roach-infested motel room/home has an electric light and flush toilet; there are millions of people in this country who would consider this a room at the Waldorf.

Tad's points about privatizing Mail is killed itself. Notice that he calls Government Postal services a "monopoly". His SECOND sentence talks about how Email is overtaking snail mail, because it's too expensive. Monopoly is total stake in an industry or enterprise. okay... the discussion just got worse. I love taking a hidden agenda or lie and exposing it using the proponent's own words. Great calm under hysterical banter.

I read a story recently concerning a gigantic floating debris field in the Pacific Ocean, made-up of mostly nonbiodegradable garbage like plastics. Much of this debris cannot be seen but by close observation, since it has been broken down by interaction with sunlight and floats just beneath the surface. This debris has a toxic effect on the production of plankton and fish that inadvertently feed on it. While larger objects can be cleaned-up, it is almost impossible for the more dangerous tiny pieces.

Some of this garbage is produced by maritime activity, but most of it is land-born. It is interesting to note that while some municipalities mandate recycling, most do not, and people who wish to voluntarily recycle usually must travel long distances out of their way to recycling pick-up points, so for some it doesn't seem worth the effort (the disposal of hazardous waste, like petroleum-based paint and the bi-products of do-it-yourself auto mechanics, is another can of worms). There has not been a serious national effort to mandate recycling in a long time, and unseen catastrophes in the making will eventually have very seen consequences.

Thom, instead of getting rid of the child tax credit (which actually helps balance our tax structure in favor of the lower class) why not add a credit for getting steralized. . . . Say a $5,000 credit the first year and $1,000 every year after that? Totally elective, of course.

@ sebillah:

AARP wants ‘healthcare reform’ . . . They just don’t want a single-payer system or a strong public option. In short, AARP has gotta be able to profit from ‘healthcare reform’ and it looks like folk in the White House are willing and happy to comply with their desires. Thank you Rahm Emanuel & Kathleen Sebelius . . .

The caller, Mark, is by his own words, a "tea bagger".

Maybe he and Larry Craig should have their own "tea bagging" party. Just imagine all of the closet Republicans they can invite.

This guy is a clear picture of the kind of minds (lack of) that just blindly goose step to policies that is clearly not in their best interest.

Obviously, he doesn't realize that if he or any of his family had a serious illness, his bartering and cash that he purportedly pays for medical services, would not get him far.

@Mark:

Folk can smell the chip on your shoulder through their computer . . . take responsibility for the government you own. Be part of society.

Fusion of government and corporate . . . Thank you President Obama for appointing the Goldman-Sachs revolving door to the financial oversight of our country.

Sorta makes me proud to have voted . . . ur . . . um . . . Sorry . . . Purchased a pauper’s share in him at the ballot box.

Mark - I, too, was saddened to read your opening post this morning.

I was born into a Jewish household, so technically I'm not "white enough" either, but I do have quite the light complexion, and usually pass muster as a "REAL Amerikun", if the observer doesn't delve too deep. I have also often found myself feeling uncomfortable, out of place, and essentially unwanted in crowd situations where I've shown up alone. I cannot claim to know what the world looks like from behind YOUR eyes, but neither can you ever truly know what's going on in anyone else's head. Is there a possibility that your discomfort comes as much (maybe even more) from your own prejudices as from those of the"mob", as I recognize that mine often does?

AARP is no longer a advocacy group/discount club for older folk . . . I got ate by the corporate health insurance industry.

I hate the throw-baby-out-with-the-bathwater totally-trash-the-government-cuz-Republicans-farged-government-up conversation. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CLUB FOR GROWTH IS WORKING FOR!!!!!

Grow the hell up and take responsibility for the government you own.

What's the point? Talk doesn't cost you anything. Acting does.