Originally Posted by
Bizurke
Since I'm sure this guy can always use some new parts and accessories I suggest you subscribe to the
pay it forward thread. People post stuff that they no longer need and are willing to give away for free. Most people ask for the receiving person to pay shipping costs but I'm sure if they read this post most people would be willing to eat the cost. At least I would hope they would.
This thread really made me happy to read. I see very poor people commuting on bikes daily and always wish I can help them out. The most I've done so far was help some guys by lubing their rusty chains and giving a headlight to a guy I see almost every day riding with a flashlight in his hand because the police bother him if he's riding w/out a light.
As for the Welfare and Food Stamp comments; I understand there are bad apples out there, but the bulk of people who are using these services are actually in need. I myself spent quite a few times of my childhood receiving Food Stamps and occasionally welfare and it was never for my families personal gain, we did it so that we could eat. If it weren't for programs like these countless Americans would starve, if you have to deal with a small number of people abusing the system in order to get food on the tables of people who really need it then I say it's well worth it.
Good idea, Bizurke. Thanks.
Yes, today I passed by the local free-food pantry. Local retailers and manufacturers donate overages and out of date foodstuff and people in need can pick up what they need. The line went around the block. I was glad to know that we have some organizations that help people in need. I know that our friend's wife was probably in that line.
Another sad situation is health care. When I gave the bike to our car-free friend, both he and his wife smiled - exposing a few broken and blackened teeth that needed dental attention badly. Of course, for a family who can't afford to buy all the food they need, taking care of teeth is a luxury far out of reach for the working poor.
The working poor in the USA are probably the poorest of all. By having enough pride to work rather than go on welfare, they make themselves ineligible for food stamps, public medical assistance, and services that the non-working.
In my naive younger days, I would sometimes see people in line at teh grocery store buying food with food stamps - often buying nice cuts of meat meat that I couldn't afford and I thought, "This isn't fair. Shouldn't this person be working for a living?" Now I understand the answer. Why would anybody at the lower end of the economic ladder choose to work and plunge themselves into despair. Honestly. If you are trying to feed and house a family, why on earth would you take a low-paying job and be cast into the street putting your family out of reach of health care, good food, and safe shelter?
Many of the working poor in the USA have it really tough and they push along with no safety net if things take a bad turn.