On the day the government reported a tenth of a point drop in the unemployment rate and two days after news of a second straight quarter of 0.6 percent GDP growth proved the nation is not in a recession, Friday's NBC Nightly News delivered a ridiculously shallow story, based on two anecdotes and a couple of advocates, to prove rising prices are forcing the elderly out of their homes and into vans and soup kitchens. Anchor Brian Williams promised “an interesting look...at the toll that rising prices, of things like gas and food, is taking on Americans living on fixed incomes.” [audio available here]
Chris Jansing [that's her by the van] traveled to Northridge, California, just north of Los Angeles, where she found 82-year-old Betty Weinstein, stunned by a water bill, turning to a second reverse mortgage to stay in her home. But she at least still has a home. Jansing then highlighted an even sadder case:
Rising rents forced Scott and Kate Bishop to move out of this blue house and into their van, sleeping on a mattress in the back.But it got worse: “And now high food costs have meant, for first time in their lives, the Bishops have gone hungry.” Jansing cited no source for her claims as she asserted: “Soup kitchens and food banks are seeing record numbers of seniors asking for help for the first time in their lives,” but “now donations here are down as middle class donors struggle to feed their own families.”
Topping off the story, Jansing featured this from Weinstein: “It's not the golden years anymore, it's the tarnished years.”
A little reality check. Inflation in March, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 0.9 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For “Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA,” the area which includes Northridge, it was at 1 percent. A Thursday Reuters dispatch about rising food prices actually revealed that, overall, food prices are hardly growing at an astronomical rate:
Consumer food prices normally rise by about 2.5 percent annually, but they increased by 4 percent in 2007, the biggest increase in 17 years. And forecasts for 2008 are pointing to a another rise of 4 percent to 5 percent as retailers pass higher energy and commodity costs to the public.Let's exaggerate and put it at 10 percent already. That means your $100 trip to the grocery store in 2006 now costs $110. And so that puts you on a mattress in your van? Obviously, the Bishops are not typical.
The pathetic excuse for a news story on the Friday, May 2 NBC Nightly News:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: We have an interesting look tonight at the toll that rising prices, of things like gas and food, is taking on Americans living on fixed incomes. From Los Angeles, our report from NBC's Chris Jansing.
CHRIS JANSING: For 42 years now, Betty Weinstein has called this modest ranch house in Granada Hills, California, home.
BETTY WEINSTEIN: I have a power bill and water bill that shocked me.
JANSING: But rising costs have made it impossible to make ends meet.WEINSTEIN: Right now, I have in my checking eight dollars.
JANSING: At 82, Betty's looking into a second reverse mortgage so she can stay in her home and still pay her bills. And she's not alone.
JOHN ROTHER, AARP: That's a tragedy all across the country. We certainly hear every day from people who are now thinking that they have to leave the home because of rising energy costs, especially, and rising costs for everything else.
JANSING: Rising rents forced Scott and Kate Bishop to move out of this blue house and into their van, sleeping on a mattress in the back.
SCOTT BISHOP: If you told me this ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed it.
JANSING: And now high food costs have meant, for first time in their lives, the Bishops have gone hungry.
So you literally go without eating?
SCOTT BISHOP: We have, yes.JANSING: Experts estimate that two-thirds of retirees -- that's tens of millions of seniors -- rely primarily on a fixed income to live and increasingly they're having to make the kinds of tough decisions they never dreamed they'd have to make. Soup kitchens and food banks are seeing record numbers of seniors asking for help for the first time in their lives.
AVA DOWELL, FAMILY WORKS: You see hunger in their face. You see frustration in their face.
JANSING: And now donations here are down as middle class donors struggle to feed their own families. Betty spends hours a week scouring the ads, trying to stretch her food dollars.
WEINSTEIN: It's not the golden years anymore, it's the tarnished years.
JANSING: And Scott and Kate live on the hope that some day they'll have a home again.
SCOTT BISHOP: With her sticking by me, I know we will. Huh, honey?
KATE BISHOP: Yep.
JANSING: For the Bishops, that hope, and each other, are nearly all they have left. Chris Jansing, NBC News, Northridge, California.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
JANSING: And now high food
May 2, 2008 - 21:22 ET by MidAmericaJANSING: And now high food costs have meant, for first time in their lives, the Bishops have gone hungry.
So you literally go without eating?
Oh my!... This is a terrible situation. Even during the Reagan years the media reported that the seniors had dog food to eat.
And I'm assuming that these
May 2, 2008 - 21:27 ET by motherbeltAnd I'm assuming that these destitute seniors are all childless?
And that....
May 2, 2008 - 21:30 ET by Prester John....they don't receive Social Security
...and that during their entire lifetime they didn't put aside a single penny for their retirement?
Well, John, admittedly SS
May 2, 2008 - 21:38 ET by motherbeltWell, John, admittedly SS isn't enough for anyone to live on. So I'm guessing they thought it was..
And I forgot that it's the "government's" job to take care of them...their kids have their own needs.
Of course you know, this is
May 2, 2008 - 21:51 ET by Chris NormanOf course you know, this is just the beginning of these kind of reports...unless or until Obama gets in.
James Taranto, who does
May 2, 2008 - 22:00 ET by motherbeltJames Taranto, who does WSJ's "Best of the Web" chronicles the appearance and disappearance of the homeless, depending on which party holds the White House.
You're right, if a Democrat is elected; these folks will all disappear. From the news, at least.
I just really wished
May 2, 2008 - 22:25 ET by bigtimerI just really wished Jansing would crawl into the back of the van and head on down the road...
I am so tired of her, for so many years...
I will never forget one morning years ago now... Buchanan said "yes Commander" to her ...in a very derogatory manner, which was right on the button at the time, she was there 24/7 just about..
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Living in a van?
May 2, 2008 - 22:33 ET by jefflebowskiAre they, by chance, living in a van down by the river?
Evening Jeff... Hope they
May 2, 2008 - 23:01 ET by bigtimerEvening Jeff...
Hope they brought their fishing poles, cast iron skillets, make wood and a campfire and feed themselves if they are...let alone know how to use that water to clean up...
If not I'm sure Chrissy can show them how.
Me thinks all three would be up a creek without a paddle if they ever really had to take care of themselves.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Hi Big
May 2, 2008 - 23:35 ET by jefflebowskiYes, I agree that Chrissie is probably the last I'd like to have in the foxhole with me. Of course, if he were, I could reach over and give him a slap.
Well, heck, then all we have to do is elect another Clinton.
May 2, 2008 - 22:45 ET by R D HelmThen homelessness will miraculously disappear, just like it did on inauguration day in Jan of '93.
Problem solved. :-^)
Good grief.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
They should eat Little
May 2, 2008 - 23:47 ET by the strugglerThey should eat Little Debbies.Quarter a piece.
What about porridge?
May 2, 2008 - 23:49 ET by the strugglerIs there no gruel to be had?
struggler, and let's not forget the other delicacy-Ramen noodles
May 3, 2008 - 00:20 ET by R D HelmI mean, two cups of boiling water, drop in noodles, cook three minutes, remove from heat, stir in flavor packet and serve immediately.
And you can still get a six pack for about a buck. :-)
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
Come on RD
May 3, 2008 - 00:32 ET by shawn228How in the hell can you forget Kraft macaroni and cheese? :-) If you have a microwave oven all you need is water and Easy Mac. Seriously though, I feel really sad for these folks.
I don't think it is the governments job to feed them but at the same time, I feel there is a sense of denial on this site about how bad things are in the nation right now.
shawn,
May 3, 2008 - 00:49 ET by R D HelmYou know I was just kidding here.
And yes, I realize things are pretty rough in many areas of this country, as I am in the midst of a career change as a result of the housing crunch, which has found its way into the commercial construction sector as well.
Many of my friends in the engineering/surveying industry are out of work at the moment, or have had their pay cut and/or are working restricted hours.
Iv'e been in and around this business for 25 years now. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, and it will not be the last, either. I don't care which party is running things, either.
My problem here is, no matter how bad my situation might become, I would not allow myself to be used as these people have.
I have seen so many of these stories over the years later de-bunked, as it turned out that the people highlighted were not in the dire straights they were portrayed to have been in.
Instead of whining to the media, I'd be out flipping burgers at Micky-D's, door-greating at Wal-Mart, or whatever it took.
Believe me, things are getting a little tight for me, too.
LOL-But not tight enough for Ramen noodles. :-O
At least not yet.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
I know you were joking RD
May 3, 2008 - 01:30 ET by shawn228I know the sky is not falling, but so many members of this site feel that things are good right now and there is nothing to worry about.
Whenever someone mentions how high gas prices are, someone is always quick to say. Well lets adjust for inflation and lets look at the early eightys. Well the thing is the prices in the eightys eventually came down after a few yrs. The price of oil and gas has gone up yr after yr for the past 8 yrs. It does not matter when the price oil goes to 80, then 90 then 100. Whenever the price of oil goes down 1 or 2 dollars, like clockwork, someone will say the msm is not reporting dropping oil prices.
For example lets take a look at some of gas price articles on NB
4 dollar a gallon gas by mid February
NB authors are saying liberals are exaggerating, but at that time oil was around 100 dollars a barrel. 4 dollar a gallon gas is just a pipe dream cooked up by the msm
You will be pay 4 dollars a gallon or more
Now NB is saying 4 dollars a gallon gas is a dire picture, but acknowledge it can happen,
MSM is exaggerating nation average gas price
So a few places in the US are very close to 4 dollars a gallon, so NB feels that that the msm is twisting things once more.
There is no end in site.
Well I guess with many States that have 4 dollar a gallon gas and a 3.50 cent national average. I guess NB feels safe to report no end in site huh? That might not come back to bite them.
With the price of oil at $116 a barrel and still climbing, is it really hard to believe we might even see $5 dollar a gallon this summer?
With the price of oil at
May 3, 2008 - 07:01 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsWith the price of oil at $116 a barrel and still climbing, is it really hard to believe we might even see $5 dollar a gallon this summer?
So which would you rather have, Shawn, gas at $5 a gallon because of increased demand, or gas rationing (CLOSED - OUT OF GAS - SORRY) because of incompetent government regulations, a la Jimmy Carter?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
???????????
May 3, 2008 - 09:03 ET by shawn228Don'tFeedTheTrolls,
I'm sorry, but I fail to see what Jimmy Carter has to do with this. I am simply pointing out one NB's bia's. I realize that that it is the favorite trend to point fingers at a evil Democrat, but they have nothing to do with this.
Yesterday In the open thread I was pointing out that gas prices are high, the housing crises is dire and the economy is not too good right now. PawPaw "who is one of the people that always says the msm never report dropping gas prices" is throwing around statistics, mentioning lots of people at the mall and lots of traffic, so all must be well with this nation right?
People are losing jobs, which means many people losing their homes. Many folks with limited income simply cannot afford the spike in food and energy prices. I do not suggest a bailout, I am just saying that all is not hunky dory right, now, but many on this site refuse to admit that, just because we have a Republican President. If the President was John Kerry right now, I gurantee people on this site would be talking about how terrible things are.
????...????
May 3, 2008 - 09:17 ET by AgnosticYou may be right about what the people on this site would be talking about if it was John Kerry in the WH but the Media would be talking "End of Days" type of economy. They, like they did when former President Clinton was in office and Al Gore was running, would ignore the aspects pointing to the recession and talk in more moderate tones about the "Overall Health of the Economy". The economy is hurting right now, no doubt about that, but is not any where near a recession. The media has reported on a couple of occasions that we are in an economy similar to the Great Depression with dutiful "experts" to back them up. Would you consider this responsible? Or is this even worse than those that don't see the bad elements of the economy that you are lamenting about now? People posting on the topic of the economy are being defensive so their statements are to contradict the 7 years of doom and gloom we have heard from the media about a robust economy that saw way too much spending (which I've seen many on this site complain about). Maybe they are not focused on the negatives during their defensive posts because we are already awash in negative reports.
Agnostic, the US is in a recession
May 3, 2008 - 09:32 ET by shawn228..........according to Alan Greenspan. I believe things will get much worse before they get better. I'm not sure If, I believe what the msm is responsible or not. Only time will tell.
I'm not saying it was as great as the msm said at the end of Clinton era, but we had the highest ownership in history, minus the foreclosures, A federal surpluss, a strong dollar and it was good times indeed. We had the luxury of discussing his DNA on a blue dress as oppossed to war with a country in the middle east, with maybe another on the way.
Thank you for acknowleding that some on this site are defensive.
Shawn - Your ignorance is
May 3, 2008 - 09:48 ET by PeskyDaneShawn -
Your ignorance is staggering. A "recession" is when the economy shrinks, not growing slower. With employment up from 94.9% to 95.0%, I'm really not sure why you and people like you persist with your "sky is pink" paradigm.
Well Pesky Dane
May 3, 2008 - 09:52 ET by shawn228I did not say we were in a recession did I? I said Alan Greenspan did. I realize his credentials are not as good as yours, but he might know a little something about the economy.
Greenspan
May 3, 2008 - 10:04 ET by AgnosticPlease read again these two quotes from the article you linke to:
1) "Consumers are beginning to shrink in, the automobile markets are beginning to contract, production is beginning to ease, and we are in the throes of recession," ...
2) "...and said it would be appropriate to tap public funds to resolve the mortgage-related crisis that has helped pull the economy under."
The first is an actual quote from Greenspan that says we are in the throes of recession and while I agree with his assessment he does not say the economy is tanked like the "reporter" implies in the second quote by stating the economy has already been pulled under.
Greenspan knows that the expansion-contraction cycle is a normal economic event and that things must be done to temper the hard times. The reporter is just trying to paint a bleak picture.
fair enough agnostic
May 3, 2008 - 10:15 ET by shawn228I see your point. The thing is if a person is actually quoted saying "we are in the throes of a recession" doesn't it mean just that?
Throes?
May 3, 2008 - 10:34 ET by AgnosticYes, it means just that. Just like the actual definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. I'm not saying that Greenspan is wrong but since we are technically not in a recession then I have to assume that what he means is that our current condition is one of contraction that will most likely extend out over the next two quarters. That doesn't make anything about the economy actually any better but the focus of the media on the gloom is definitely going to drive down confidence and be self fulfilling.
Funny, no one wanted to
May 3, 2008 - 11:54 ET by PeskyDaneFunny, no one wanted to hear squat from Greenspan while he was percieved to be working for the Repulicrats.
How about some objective data about our slow growing economy?
Or how about these shills spouting the talking points from the vast right-wing conspiracy?
BTW, you do realize that we never saw dime one from the so-called Clinton surplus, right? Even most of the Old Media have given up on that fable.
PeskyDane
May 3, 2008 - 12:13 ET by shawn228"Funny, no one wanted to hear squat from Greenspan while he was percieved to be working for the Repulicrats."
Well, I was not one of those people, so I guess you can't just make assumptions huh?
Again there is a ripple effect felt in the United States now and I feel it will only get worse. Gas prices effect airlines and the price of food. A gallon of gas cost about the same as a gallon of milk, which is around 4 dollars. Airline tickets have gone up, bread is up. I can afford it, but many others cannot.
The price of rice has doubled. New home construction is at a 26 year low, Foreclosures are at a high, which means lenders and title companies going out of business, not to mention lack of work for construction workers.
No Pesky Dane, I did not say, we are in a recession, but I feel these are hard times now and the possibility of a recession is very strong.
PDane
May 3, 2008 - 10:09 ET by ThisnThatI have to agree with you. People like Shawn simply make things up and use their own definitions. You are absolutely right on the recession and unemployment.
The MSM has been after President Bush for 8 years now. And they will try to amplify any bad story into a national trend, as long as it meets their template. We will always have individual hard-luck stories; people out of work; and careers that are changing. But that's no excuse for making up your own definitions of what a recession is. Shawn should (probably does) realize that we're not going to fall into that trap.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
TNT
May 3, 2008 - 10:18 ET by shawn228Again I did not say we are in a recession, I said times are pretty hard right now, for a lot of folks.
"Again I did not say we are
May 3, 2008 - 11:35 ET by ThisnThat"Again I did not say we are in a recession"
I know. And Obama never did hear Rev Wright say those things, either.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Well ThisnThat
May 3, 2008 - 11:55 ET by shawn228Your comparision to Obama is weak. Just as I pointed out to Don'tFeedTheTrolls, the popular defense mechanism to point to a a evil democrat. You said I was making up my definitions and I said that economy is not hunky dory right now. What definition are you referring to?
I said we are in a recession according to Alan Greenspan.No one seems to want to admit these are the highest gas prices in history or we are going through hard times. I guess if we did, it would be an attack on our President.
TNT - you bring up a great
May 3, 2008 - 11:59 ET by PeskyDaneTNT - you bring up a great point. If you predict a recession for 10 years, chances are, you're going to be proven correct eventually given the economic cycles. Then you can say to eveyone - "See, see? I was right all the time!"
shawn228,
May 3, 2008 - 09:53 ET by AgnosticActually I always hated the whole Monica scandal as beneath the MSM to cover the way they did. But as you know they will take the easy story over actually having to work for a living every single time.
The point is that there was a dip in the economy created in part by failing confidence due to an election cycle. Investors have no idea what direction the fiscal matters of the country are going to go towards and they become conservative. That means less capital investments and therefore less growth. You throw in a tech bubble burst or housing market crunch and you have problems but they are temporary.
The media does not depict them in the same manner though. No one heard the word recession out of the media during Clinton’s tenure and part of that might have been the focus on the scandal. I have no way of proving this but I do remember that the first time I heard about the Monica scandal it was with a poll stating that Americans did not really care what happened between the two even though they thought it was wrong. If there own polls showed that few cared then why did they beat the dead horse to a pulp? It was easier than investigating all the other scandals, it was more sensational and in my opinion it did the least to hurt the Democrats.
Most things in economics have a flip side and that is why a free system (as long as no particular factor gains too much control) tends to balance out. Your mention of a strong dollar is a great example but I don't want to run on and on about something you probably already know. But what better than a weak dollar to help the emerging markets around the world. Not saying I agree but with the global ideas of politicians today it is something to think about.
"Strong" is a relative term
May 3, 2008 - 10:16 ET by sarcasmoWhen it comes to the dollar, which has lost 96% of its purchasing power since 1913 and is likely to lose even more. Most of that happened before Clinton, too. The problem is government spending of all sorts, even as politicians desperately try to focus exclusively on taxes. Spending has been out of control & getting worse for my entire lifetime. It has been especially bad in recent years. I see no letup in sight whether we end up with the statist or one of the 2 socialists in the Oval Office.
This irresponsible use of the nation's credit card has naturally led to a spiraling, out of control debt which can only be "repaid" via more inflation, to the detriment of future generations. Life is a party, so keep the party going forever! The economy only goes up if they keep printing dollars! And there will be no hardship for anyone -- even after an event like Hurricane Katrina! Big government is always there to "help" with "free" credit cards, and we know how responsibly those were used. It's not moral, but it's exactly what we're doing, to the detriment of everyone's grandkids.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
even after an event like
May 3, 2008 - 10:40 ET by general companyeven after an event like Hurricane Katrina! Big government is always there to "help" with "free" credit cards, and we know how responsibly those were used.
How nice, most folks used them responsibly, but you still paint them with the same brush as the few. I can name a heck of a lot of better exsamples of poor use of public funds. For a smart guy, your about as narrow as they come. The media shows the negitive and you just cant resist parreting them, good grief.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
The dollar may have lost
May 3, 2008 - 11:42 ET by ThisnThatThe dollar may have lost 96% of its value -- however, that dollar buys a whole lot more than it did in 1913. I can buy packaged foods; airline tickets; fast cars; radios; TVs; cell phones; computers; health care; refigerators, microwaves, etc; RVs; sports boats; health care; life-saving drugs; the list goes on.
So my question is -- what's the point? If my life improves, and if I can continue to affort not only the basics, but some of the luxeries, am I further behind or ahead? I don't think anyone alive today would trade 2008 for 1913.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
shawn, we might even see higher than that, honestly.
May 3, 2008 - 22:33 ET by R D HelmLook, there are a myriad of factors at work here.
First and foremost, supply has not kept up with the explosion in demand. And that isn't just here, but the world over.
But even here, we are still operating under the same number of refineries that we were 35 years ago, yet the population of this country has increased dramatically during that time. Not only that, but many jurisdictions have come up with mandates for all all these different summer blends, which has served to gum up the works even more.
You also have to factor in that much of the world, including the U.S., has moved much of its manufacturing offshore, to places like China. Their recently realized prosperity has caused many in that country to be able to purchase automobiles, whereas ten or fifteen years ago, they were all peddling bicycles, or riding in trains.
We also are dealing with a falling dollar, which, thankfully has shown signs of a recovery in recent days, but we will still have to see. This has had some impact on the prices, but not as much as many think. IMHO.
As I mentioned right up front, the supply has become somewhat scarce these days, which is the most immediate problem. Scarcity in any commodity always causes an increase in the price. Have you noticed what happens anytime a hurricane comes along and wipes out sizeable chunks of certain crops like coffee? The price goes up. When a hurricane hit Avery Island and wiped out the tabasco pepper crop a few years back, my favorite hot sauce went sky high for a while.
Quite honestly, I think our largest impediment to correcting the gas problem is congress, along with the environmentalists. These people have basically hamstrung this country when it comes to developing our own resources. Any time someone proposes building a new refinery, a nuke plant, extracting more coal, or even putting up wind generators, here come the environmentalists, the NIMBY's, and a cadre of lawyers to try and gum up the works. At some point, the energy companies say to hell with it, as it isn't worth the hassle and expense to them to pursue it further.
To be honest here, I can't say I blame them.
Remember what happened a few years back when California decided to not build any more power plants and buy their electricity from other states? Sure, that was a good political move in the minds of some, but when demand began to outstrip the supply, the brown-outs started in earnest.
Look, I know many think alternative fuels (which may work out in a decade or two) and reduced consumption are a good idea, but not if the economy is going to continue to expand. You cannot have it both ways. If you restrict the amount of energy available, whether it is oil, gasoline, coal, natural gas or electricity, you are going to have shortages, as well as the commensurate increase in price.
I know many today seem to think that someone is going to suddenly develop an alternative energy source and, BOOM, we are going to make an overnight transition and live happily ever after.
Sorry, but the world doesn't work that way.
The world economy is dependent on oil, and will be for the foreseeable future.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
"I don't think it is the
May 3, 2008 - 16:02 ET by ckc1227"I don't think it is the governments job to feed them but at the same
time, I feel there is a sense of denial on this site about how bad
things are in the nation right now."
Don't worry, all will be better on November 3 once Obama gets elected. Until then, hide the razor blades. I'd hate for you to do something drastic because 96% of mortgage owners are paying their mortgages on time and are not at risk of foreclosure.
As for gas prices going up, you may as well get used to it. Historically, the price of pretty much every other good has gone up over time, so why would you expect gas prices to behave differently, especially considering that your government has put policies in place to cause this very thing? Is the right to cheap gas found in the Constitution right next to the right to free health care?
Hide the razor blades?
May 3, 2008 - 19:51 ET by shawn228This the third post you have responded to me in the past three days, that is absolutly ludicrous ckc1227.
Are you implying I am happy that people are losing their homes? If so why?
I also never said we had the right to cheap gas, I said expensive gas has a ripple effect and things are pretty bleak for our nation at the present moment. Seriously ckc1227, do you have anything useful to add, except for false accusations and comparing Obama to a child molester?
Perhaps you can come up with something less juvenile, and maybe you might actually make a point.
Don't these people have
May 3, 2008 - 00:27 ET by CrashDon't these people have family? Can't the liberals, who resent traditional family's, take them in? After all it's the world they promise their gullible serfs.
Topping off the story,
May 3, 2008 - 01:04 ET by maggieqpublicTopping off the story, Jansing featured this from Weinstein: “It's not the golden years anymore, it's the tarnished years.”
Uhhhh. Maybe the problem is not the Golden Years but the Golden State. My husband and I live in Northern California and our CITY attaches 8-1/2% each month to the power bill, cell and land line phone bills…. and the City is lobbying for the same from our water and cable TV bills. (And property taxes are staggering.)
Our business is here so we do not leave…. but when we retire, we will go where our dollars have the greatest value. Retirees who remain in California without substantial holdings…. are foolhardy.
Someone's gotta say it
May 3, 2008 - 04:45 ET by ToddonCapeCodScott Bishop looks no where near starving.
LOL!! Yeah, I thought he
May 3, 2008 - 06:22 ET by motherbeltLOL!! Yeah, I thought he looked like he hasn't missed many meals...
I LOVE THIS POST!
May 3, 2008 - 06:14 ET by sentforth5I mean, geeez louise, this is hands-down the OLDEST trick in the lib playbook!
Ava Dowell: You see hunger in their face...
Judging by that gut he's totin' I see beer in their bellies...
America has the fattest poor folk in the world. Uhh, I think NBC has us figured for fools. I am 43 years old and I have heard this EXACT SAME news piece all my life! Christ Jesus said,"The poor ye shall always have with you." He said that to make us aware of the "10%" who will never do well by their own hand. You can give 'em free stuff 'til tuesday and they will never stand up on their own.
And I don't accept the premise in the first place. We are all blessed by God Himself to be freeborn Americans in this last generation.This is obviously a last gasp try at convincing the simple-minded among us that America is on its last legs.
It is shameful.We are the richest nation in the world and we are daily blessed by YHVH The Almighty God Of Israel with all kinds of wonderful freedoms, and all the media wants to do is bring us down. So, if we use our collective good eye, we see that the media is a tool used by satan, and it is senseless to argue with satan; as he is a dead man, and paying any attention to him is futile.
May God continue to bless you all my beloved NBers!!
I wonder what happened
May 3, 2008 - 07:00 ET by ThreePuttinDudeto the ol' gal that was following alGore around in her Winnabago.
She claimed to recycle aluminum cans to pay for the fuel that would allow her to make it to the next campaign site.
It was brought to light she wasn't a homeless tart after all, just a rabid lib talking a little too loud, and a little too fast.
Winifred
May 3, 2008 - 08:26 ET by Seabeach4348Wasn't her name "Winifred" or something like that? She had to choose between feeding herself or buying her medication? And as expected Algore had the answers for her...and as expected he blamed it all on the republcans.
And let's not forget the other famous audience implant: the "pony-tail guy". But I forget what inane questions he asked Algore. ( or was that Kerry in '04?)
BTW, Algore certainly doesn't look like he's not eating these days.
I don't remember he name,
May 3, 2008 - 08:54 ET by motherbeltI don't remember he name, but it turned out she was not destitute. She had a well-off son who was perfectly willing to buy her medicine, and in fact wanted her to live with him, but she refused. She liked her independence and wanted to do things her own way. And it turned out that the Gore campaign had subsidized her trip to Iowa, paying for gas etc.
"Pony-tail guy" who, in 2007, asked about clean energy was a plant; the Clinton team admitted it.
The original "ponytail guy" from Bill's campaign, wasn't. He was a genuine Lib. Said to Bill Clinton that the President was sort of a "father figure" to the country and wanted to know what he, as a "good father" was going to do to take care of his children.
A pathetic example of liberals who think the government should "take care of them."
High cost of living
May 3, 2008 - 10:52 ET by CobraMan"I have a power bill and water bill that shocked me."
What do you expect? You live in California! Your property taxes and utility costs are amongst the highest in the nation. Try moving to a lower taxed state in the Midwest. You're "fixed" income would seem like a small fortune in, say, Montana or Arizona, or even New Mexico, just about any other state BUT California (as long as you avoid most of the East Coast or any liberal counties).
As any reporter could tell you (too bad that they never do), the cost of living varies from state to state and from county to county. If I were these people, I'd hop in that van and move someplace cheaper. The life they save my be their own.
This "story" is as old as the hills. I remember the "news “reporting about how many people were “suffering" just like this during the Reagan presidency but NOT during the Cater years. Can you say biased reporting?
Good grief!! Where does
May 3, 2008 - 14:53 ET by SvenGood grief!! Where does the liberal media find these people? If you aren't happy with your circumstances, find a new job!! Don't get me wrong, I have compassion for the truly poor among us, but this is ridiculous! How much would you like to bet these are typical Dem voters!
Here in northern Utah, if you want to work, there are jobs. This isn't the Depression.
Oh, and by the looks of Mr. Bishop's gut, he's not going hungry. It's sickening the way the Drive-by-Media whore out these simple minded pawns!
Sorry, but most poeple in this country don't know what real poverty is!
Couldn't agree more
May 3, 2008 - 14:58 ET by bigtimerCouldn't agree more Sven....
As if Jansing was on a real search filled mission and just happened to run into this people by chance...they really believe we are all stupid out here...
...plus you are right, there are jobs all over the place, just pick up any paper and look, it may not be what you want...sniffle sniffle...but you do what you have to do until you can get what you want, that is if you want it bad enough...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
BT, Nice to see
May 3, 2008 - 15:09 ET by SvenBT,
Nice to see you!
I hope I didn't come across overly harsh concerning the Bishops. I realize they may be in a tight spot, but sometimes we all have suck it up and get a job...even in our "Golden Years." I'm also clueless on why they would stay in that sorry excuse for a state?!?!
BTW, I agree with you on Jansing. She's a typical elitest "journalist" who wouldn't dream of searching out folks like this if a Dem were in the Whitehouse!
"I'm also clueless on why
May 3, 2008 - 15:35 ET by ThisnThat"I'm also clueless on why they would stay in that sorry excuse for a state?!?! "
Right. They're in a van -- just drive it to where the jobs are.
If the MSM were really compassionate (which they aren't), they could even recommend a particular state, or city, or whatever that needs workers. Unskilled workers, to boot. Anyone with $8 in their checking account could work for minimum wage, even, and grow that account. Their housing costs are zero; they can park the van just outside the gates of the plant so their commuting costs are zero; sounds like they could do something for themselves.
I know these suggestions sound a little rediculous -- but so is this article.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber