A Tragedy of Two Cities Times Headlines (Los-Angeles begins to sink)

EDITORIAL ^ | 30/11/2002 | United Way Report

[Frohickey]

Los Angeles is home to multimillionaire movie execs and billionaire developers. When it comes to the overall value of its goods and services, L.A. County does better than Switzerland, Sweden or Austria. It is also the poverty capital of the nation.

Thats because Switzerland carefully watches the people who enter its borders, and only residents that have jobs, and are not a burden to the welfare system are allowed in.

[TheOtherOne]

Given that illegal mexican children do not stay in school or graduate even now that they have the opportunity, just how many sales clerks and security guards are needed anyway?

I guess making up the facts to support your conclusion makes arguing easier.

[Morrigan]

I was surprised to see that I am not much above the poverty limit for a family of four. Huh. I didn't know I was that poor, lol.

When my husband and I were both working, his entire check and some of mine went to fund daycare. We were broke and miserable, and dissatisfied with the idea of our young children being raised by someone else. What to do?

We decided on a radical idea: I had more skills and earning potential than he did. We decided he would quit his job and be a stay at home dad.

Our money situation improved! We were saving almost five hundred dollars a month! Our kids were much happier. My husband was happier, because he was no longer frustrated at working for nothing. I was happier because I began to see my family prosper. It worked out well for all of us.

I make about 28 thou a year--ten thou above the poverty level. Yet we buy our own groceries, pay our own rent, and pay our own medical coverage (which is outlandish!) We may not own our own home, but we don't live in a crappy area. We rent in a nice, quiet neighboorhood. My building is surrounded with a lawn and big oak trees.

We are not rich, by any means. I would say we are middle class. We won't be buying a brand new car or boat anytime soon, but so what? We don't need a brand new car or a boat. All we need is a few extra bucks for dinner and a movie, and we have that.

What I don't understand is why so many others that make about the same I do live in such worse conditions than I do. Anyone have any answers?

[Bahbah]

It doesn't matter which end of the boat is leaking. It sinks anyway.

[samtheman]

It doesn't matter which end of the boat is leaking. It sinks anyway.

My original implication.

[madfly]

ping

[samtheman]

SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS

A truism that the one-party-state-of-California is going to prove with a massive bankruptcy

The rest of us will probably forced to pay for a bail-out.

[Sloopy]

Sorry, I thought Barbra still had a home in Malibu, and I wasn't sure about the others, they just came to mind because they seem to do the most preaching.

However, none of them seem to mind picking up their paychecks in LA.

[Bahbah]

Yes. I just thought I would add my 2cents to making the point.

[madfly]

ping!

Anyone wanting ON or OFF my border lists, please freepmail me.
thanks

[winodog]

That made me smile. I am happy for you and your family.

[staytrue]

United Way supports literacy classes, quality child care, affordable housing and other ladders to the middle class

Perhaps they should try family values, no teenage pregnancies, making the women demand that men have honor, a stronger work ethic, a stronger educational ethic, believing in investing and not immediate consumption, and understanding delayed gratification and basic economics.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Uncle Hal]

I moved out of LA in 95 to N. Cal. At that time there were parts of LA that were exactly like any city in latin america. LA is already lost. This editorial is a day late and a dollar short. LA is already rich enclaves surrounded by a huge ghetto.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I hate what has happened to my birthplace. And the birthplace of my father and gran.

My family was there for over 100 years. Now it's home to overflowing welfare Mexicans who refuse to learn English.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

There will be no "endless generations of poverty." They will eventually take what is there.

[DumpsterDiver]

What do you guys think???

I think, and know, how really sick and tired I am of seeing these dang hand-wringing articles. I also thnk I'll go out back and burn a "have-not" in effigy. Living in L.A. is getting on my last raw nerve. PATOOIE!

[MissAmericanPie]

This "fact" is well known, I'm suppose to educate you now? Visit google.com and do your own research.

[FITZ]

Just guessing, but the invaders from the south are industrious

Are you assuming that NONE are living in low-income government housing projects, NONE are using county hospitals and don't plan to pay their medical bills, NONE use food stamps or welfare, WIC, headstart? A few might be industrious but our Socialism is attracting a non-industrious type ---much of the LA poverty is being imported.

[FITZ]

The last census showed alarming rates of school drop out rates ---often middle school drop out rates ---about 40%.