Comments for "Shanty Towns"
bruiser says:
Unpossible
bruiser Wed Mar 25 18:54:03 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
As this blog converges on Afterthecrash, I get more worried.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 18:54:27 2009 CDT #
CRbot says:
This comment thread has been HALO-IZED by CRbot.
http://realize.org/cr/halokit.php?halourl=http://www.haloscan.com/comments/calculatedrisk/1762047372832945790
CRbot Wed Mar 25 18:54:37 2009 CDT #
AShaw says:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0305092park1.html
Sex in the park by homeless in Bradenton FL.
AShaw Wed Mar 25 18:56:14 2009 CDT #
Comrade Short Bucky says:
On TheOilDrum, the tent cities are called 'the Shruburbs.' :)
Comrade Short Bucky Wed Mar 25 18:57:09 2009 CDT #
Sporkfed says:
Wy live in a tent when you can squat in a foreclosed house?
Sporkfed Wed Mar 25 18:57:14 2009 CDT #
scone says:
Once again, Portland is ahead of the national curve. Behold, Dignity Village:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity_Village
scone Wed Mar 25 18:57:37 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Leave it to good old fastioned American inovation to get around the cops.
From confrontation to accommodation
Initially confronted by police for their unlicensed use of public land, the initial group of eight men and women[5] had the benefit of a forceful voice in the person of homeless activist Jack Tafari, and the early support of a few local politicians and associated coverage in the local media. The Portland police department eventually realized that the group, then calling themselves Camp Dignity, was engaged in complicated Constitutional issues of redress of grievance, and deferred the political issue to the local political authority: The Portland City Council and Mayor.[5]
Once established in the gray area of political speech, the fortunes of Dignity Village increased and picked up significant media coverage and popular support,[6] but at the same time, they faced a compromise that the group found hard to swallow, having initially fought against.
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:14:54 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Designated by the Portland City Council as a campground, Dignity Village is exempt from many building codes which have traditionally been used to close down shantytowns. Shelters in the community might at any time consist of tents, hogans, tee pees, light wooden shacks, or more substantial structures built using principles of ecofriendly green construction such as hay walls and recycled wood.
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:15:25 2009 CDT #
scaredy cat says:
Hoovervilles, Reaganvilles, Shruburbs. We are progressing.
scaredy cat Wed Mar 25 18:57:42 2009 CDT #
Basel Too says:
nova or anyone else familiar with Northern VA, if you're around:
i've got to get out to herndon this saturday, by bicycle. I'm google mapping this thing. there seems to be a trail (part dirt, part paved) that runs NE/NW through Herndon/Reston.
What is the name of that thing? Might cut my commute time.
Basel Too Wed Mar 25 18:59:18 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
The fundamentals of homelessness are strong.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 18:59:37 2009 CDT #
AShaw says:
From the Smoking Gun website:
"You do it in a house, I am homeless so I do it out here."
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0305092park1.html
AShaw Wed Mar 25 19:00:17 2009 CDT #
Ansel Adams says:
I guess when you spend all you time in Bryce and Yosemite National Parks, you don't come across many unemployed realtors.
Ansel Adams Wed Mar 25 19:01:05 2009 CDT #
Sexy Derivative says:
WOD Trail. What channel is the President on tonight?
Sexy Derivative Wed Mar 25 19:01:17 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
If the jobs numbers don't improve in the next few weeks, Jamie and Vikram will live to regret announcing their banks were profitable. They know how to hide losses, but can't seem to keep to keep quiet about bailout/gains.
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 19:01:33 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
I think we got the right and left wingnut cocksuckers in D.C. by the balls. Let me explain; The politicians in Washington can be Forbidden from taking campaign contributions from every company who receives tax payer bailout money for their election campaigns, and that includes money from the Federal Reserve. We just got to get some ambitious rookie politician or Ron Paul to introduce the bill in congress and make it so.
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:02:01 2009 CDT #
Brutus says:
Poor poor naive Mike, like this ever has a snow balls chance!
Parent Post
Brutus Wed Mar 25 19:14:21 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
Yeah, where would you find a committe that is not taking bailout money campaign contributions.
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 19:25:31 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
<h1>Finance/Insurance/Real Estate: Money to Congress</h1>
Man look at the top 10
House
<tbody>
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY)
$1,364,819
Paul, Ron (R-TX)
$1,348,792
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA)
$1,221,956
Udall, Mark (D-CO)
$1,168,995
Emanuel, Rahm (D-IL)
$1,124,475
Cantor, Eric (R-VA)
$1,073,197
Frank, Barney (D-MA)
$1,024,898
Shays, Christopher (R-CT)
$962,945
Kirk, Mark (R-IL)
$926,775
Bean, Melissa (D-IL)
$918,225
</tbody>
Senate
<tbody>
Obama, Barack (D)
$38,102,702
McCain, John (R)
$28,159,757
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)
$20,128,350
Dodd, Chris (D-CT)
$6,031,918
Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
$2,754,220
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
$2,387,708
Cornyn, John (R-TX)
$2,051,098
Sununu, John E (R-NH)
$1,771,380
Biden, Joseph R Jr (D-DE)
$1,644,336
Baucus, Max (D-MT)
$1,597,925
</tbody>
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 19:32:29 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
michael - I hear Don Quixote is looking for a new gig-
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:27:30 2009 CDT #
Have a Great Depression! says:
Lakeland Florida, They cleared out an old wood frame neighborhood to make room for intown condos. Now it's just a neighborhood of empty lots and a few early tents and bed stuff.
Have a Great Depression! Wed Mar 25 19:02:19 2009 CDT #
Ministry of Truth says:
It is nothing like "Reaganvilles" or "Hoovervilles" when you have Wi-Fi available in most shantytowns.
Ministry of Truth Wed Mar 25 19:03:28 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Well at least the standard of living isn't as bad.
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:20:33 2009 CDT #
Mannwich says:
Key words: "not yet".
Mannwich Wed Mar 25 19:05:53 2009 CDT #
Guest says:
Rueters
Update 2-IBM to cut 5,000 jobs in U.S.
* Latest round hits more than 4 pct of U.S. workforce
* Job cuts mostly in IBM's global services business
* Shares close down 0.42 pct (Adds analyst comment, details on IBM's recent results)
NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - IBM (IBM.N) will cut about 5,000 jobs in the United States, adding to similarly large cuts in the past few months, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN2532180520090325
Guest Wed Mar 25 19:06:21 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
It can only get better from here.. right :-P
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:06:37 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
"The fundamentals of homelessness are strong."
Sad but true.
The one silver lining in global warming.
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 19:07:21 2009 CDT #
Outsider says:
"The one silver lining in global warming."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe global warming is actually now climate change, and more drastic swings in warm AND cold. Not necessarily a relief.
Parent Post
Outsider Wed Mar 25 19:16:23 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
What don't you stupid wignuts not understand. We have global cooling now. No sunspots for the past 18 months due to low sun activity. Global temperatures are back to what they were 100 years ago according to NASA. Do just a little research on your own, OK?
http://www.spaceweather.com/
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Michael Wed Mar 25 19:24:40 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
What don't you stupid wignuts not understand. We have global cooling now. No sunspots for the past 18 months due to low sun activity. Global temperatures are back to what they were 100 years ago according to NASA. Do just a little research on your own, OK?
speaking of wingnuts...
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:49:06 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
OH , and on climate change, that's what the weather does, it changes; a permanent characteristic.
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:27:13 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Eventually most of you will come around to my idea
Give everyone a 40k/year interac card with 2 conditions.
1. You cannot carry over any money for the next year.
2. You cannot invest that money.
Anything you make above that is your to keep, spend, invest, burn or throw away.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:11:12 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
lucifer - I'm there. Sign me up! But wouldn't that just make everything more expensive?
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:35:13 2009 CDT #
Basel Too says:
sd, thanks.
Basel Too Wed Mar 25 19:12:37 2009 CDT #
Kung Fu Panda says:
Well, if zoning laws were changed, some of the homeless would be able to afford a roof over their head. Right now, if you bought a 6k square foot house in a residential neighborhood and tried to rent out rooms by the week, the city and neighbors would have the sheriff on you like stink on a warthog. Even if you tried that with an old warehouse in the business district you'd get the same result. Generally in the US zoning laws preclude the kinds of housing options available in GD1 like boarding houses and flophouses. Here in PDX the genius city planners try to create "affordable housing" by charging builders an extra impact fee to subsidize construction of buildings for below market rental.
Kung Fu Panda Wed Mar 25 19:15:17 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKqkjyYkFN8w&refer=worldwide
CA Govenor OK's a shanty town
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:15:23 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
lucifer - like digital food stamps?
Interesting. It would increase the velocity of money. But sustainable?
Hmmm.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 19:16:13 2009 CDT #
abprosper says:
Giving everyone who has been a US citizen for 18 years or more a "basic living alotment" of 1k auto adjusted a month and health care for everyone would work better I think. This has been suggested by various socialists and conservatives (in the form of Charles Murray's "The Plan") . Its a bit expensive but with a bit of tax code jiggering it can be done. I'd guess its about 2.5 trillion a year
Although I can't believe I am actually saying this if that 40k bought anything near what it does now (we will handwave away the inflationaity aspects here) it would be powerful diincentive for most service people to work.
There are a lot of junk jobs that make life more pleasant for everyone (food service is the big one) and there is no way you could get enough workers. Not only would be it be tax intensive to pay for the program it would push a lot of people out of the workforce. I don't have a wife or kids and at current rates $40K would be pretty nice money. As I am not ambitious at all -- why should I work at anything except my writing gig?
OK I might do some work for a local charity but there is no real reason for me to hold a regular job.
A lot of people would pretty much end up in the same boat and I thin at our current need for labor it would be a bad thing.
Of course as technology increases and pretty much all jobs vanish or are zero valued we are goingt to have to do something like if we want modern society to survive but thats maybe 20-50 years off , assuming post peak everything doesn't get us first
Parent Post
abprosper Wed Mar 25 20:48:02 2009 CDT #
HarshRealty says:
There are hundreds (thousands?) of people living in tents along miles of beach along the Waianae coast of the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. This article is from 2006:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/current/ln/homeless
It's gotten dramatically worse since then.
HarshRealty Wed Mar 25 19:16:47 2009 CDT #
LastContangoWithParis says:
Yes, it has. I just got back from a week in Oahu. I grew up in Africa, and did not feel out of place. I did not expect to see informal settlements here in the US.
Parent Post
LastContangoWithParis Wed Mar 25 19:50:03 2009 CDT #
Just Askin says:
Still it's nothing like the early '80s, at least not yet.
I looked for something flippant to say, but nothing comes.......
Just Askin Wed Mar 25 19:17:48 2009 CDT #
hopeinsd says:
I think we need to solve this problem by developing some low cost housing! Oh wait, we already did that. By building too much overpriced housing that no one could afford. Once they couldn't pay, they got kick-out. Then the house suddenly turned back into a cheap one that they could afford to rent, if the hadn't already bankrupted themselves trying to pay for the same house when it was overpriced. Or something like that.
By God, this is confusing.
hopeinsd Wed Mar 25 19:18:41 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Ohh.. and you get
1. Universal health care
2. True inflation adjusted changes to your "consumer pay"
Univrersal health care is somewhat hard to achieve but public torture and executions of the most vocal 10% of doctors + their spouses and kids can achieve that quite quickly. And keep feminists and control freaks away from bureacracies.
On second thought, we will have to enforce transparent and accountable government at every level. I think it easier than you think, provided the population has the willingness to fire problematic government employees.
Of course.. you can try salavaging the current system or try to return to a mythical golden era... Best of luck with that...
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:18:51 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Utopian idealism (with a dash of the Inquisition thrown in). What's not to like?
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:45:38 2009 CDT #
Outsider says:
Might there be a backlash against consumerism developing, where communal living will be a growing phenomenon despite one's ability to live in a house? Kind of like a 60s throwback. It could actually be fun, if you were in a group of similar interest people.
So. Where should we set up our CR campground, and who wants to head it up? We could have great late night discussions and never have to complain about J-S Kit again!
Outsider Wed Mar 25 19:20:41 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
-remember to bring your guns!
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:47:24 2009 CDT #
Black Star Ranch says:
"[Why] live in a tent when you can squat in a foreclosed house?"
I would imagine being approached by a next-door neighbor who then calls the cops is more worrisome than living in a Shantytown.
Instead you can deal with it like our town - Anyone "living in the park" now needs to obtain a town permit to spend the night in the park. Previously they outlawed living in an RV on private property (even if the property had an RV pad with electricity, plumbing & septic). A cardboard box is apparently MUCH more politically correct.
Black Star Ranch Wed Mar 25 19:20:42 2009 CDT #
Outsider says:
"Previously they outlawed living in an RV on private property (even if the property had an RV pad with electricity, plumbing & septic). "
What part of "private property" don't they understand?
Parent Post
Outsider Wed Mar 25 19:23:29 2009 CDT #
Black Star Ranch says:
.....but then our Town Board is (4 for 5) full of idiots and dumbasses.
Black Star Ranch Wed Mar 25 19:22:30 2009 CDT #
Guest says:
When it comes time I imagine many will say "I ain't leaving my house. Bail me out or take me out"
Guest Wed Mar 25 19:23:59 2009 CDT #
ndk says:
Know where I've seen the most of these shantytowns?
Tokyo. They're everywhere. They're also very civilized and peaceful, and concentrated on the waterfront in particular. It's pretty, industrial, and relatively isolated compared to the rest of the city. But they can be found in many parks throughout the core areas as well.
If it can happen in such an egalitarian society -- albeit one that doesn't do much for its outcasts -- it can happen here.
ndk Wed Mar 25 19:24:19 2009 CDT #
EvilHenryPaulson says:
ndk,
You might be interested on the Japanese Anime movie "Tokyo Godfathers" about some homeless in Tokyo.
Parent Post
EvilHenryPaulson Wed Mar 25 19:47:25 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
I see the UK had a gilt auction failure today. Way to go.
Here's one for the bondies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9_hegaKOaY
When they fk over the longer bonds here, I'll repost for convenience.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 19:24:39 2009 CDT #
scaredy cat says:
The system is very rigged against free thinking nonconformists.
Zoning laws, building codes are a form of tax on basic necessities and should be forbidden.
scaredy cat Wed Mar 25 19:27:07 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
-so we should let anyone build what they want, how they want, anywhere they want? Do you have any idea what you are saying?
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:53:47 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
As long as they are not hurting anyone else but themselves, I don't have a problem with it.
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 20:04:12 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
michael - but that's precisely the problem. Fire codes. Sanitation. They exist for a reason. Do you want to turn us into a Mumbai slum?
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 21:46:36 2009 CDT #
CRbot says:
The Latest from Yves:
Has the Gaming of the Public-Private Partnership Begun?
CRbot Wed Mar 25 19:29:23 2009 CDT #
Wisdom Speaker says:
Homeless person living in tent camp was found dead in Livermore a few weeks ago.
There are documented, city-supported "live in your car" areas in Santa Barbara now too.
I'm glad to see CR now dwells in better neighborhoods than in the '80s, but the problem is real. It sounds like the current problem is being mitigated by (a) the fact that the unemployment rate is only just ramping up (folks haven't lost it all yet), and (b) there's a wide availability of rent-free housing since up until a few months ago you could get a loan without documentation and there's been enormous political pressure against foreclosure.
Wisdom Speaker Wed Mar 25 19:29:25 2009 CDT #
nincompoop says:
It seems that everyone is treating the cause but there does not seem to be any interest in treating the result. If unemployment is to increase beyond what they are predicting as the end in 09 or 2010 we should have some concrete proposals for treating this result.
nincompoop Wed Mar 25 19:30:06 2009 CDT #
EvilHenryPaulson says:
yogi,
millions of CDN $, 2008
Federal Debt 594,390
Net Federal Debt 457,637
GDP 1,602,474
http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/English/economy/index.cfm
http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=E&C2Fmt=HTML2D&CIITpl=SNA___&ResultTemplate=THEMSNA2&CORCmd=GetPRel&CORId=3764
EvilHenryPaulson Wed Mar 25 19:30:19 2009 CDT #
JimPortlandOR says:
I like the idea of boarding houses. Not clear why they disapeared, other than class warfare by zoning.
The Portland Dignity Village is a good alternative to people just living (and doing excremental activity) under freeway overpasses.
If the U6 unemployment number if around 15% (probably higher), that's lots of people with little or no income, many with no place to live. No child, no veteran and no mentally impaired person should be without a warm, safe place to sleep and live.
So, I'd support alternative housing choices and I'd also support public employment on a part-time basis (maybe 10 hours a week) to do things that never seem to get done on regular budgets for cities (weeding parks, river cleanup, planting trees, bushes (with a new name) and city gardening for food and flowers.
JimPortlandOR Wed Mar 25 19:31:02 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
What I am suggesting is essentially quite simple.
Give every citizen and permanent resident over 18 enough money to live a basic middle class lifestyle. No means testing.. no BS
What you make over that is yours to keep and use as you see fit!
The idea is that all of the "consumer pay" has to be spent by the 3rd week of the new year. You can choose to spend it or not... it is upto you.
You get the same basic amount whether you have 0 kids or 14 kids, whether you are black, white ... no means testing or adjustments.
Of course we will also have to
1. Legalize all drugs
2. Provide good Universal Healthcare
3. Set up and IRS like depratment to make sure that people are using their "Consumer Pay" for consumption rather than paying debts or investing.
4. Start reforming our legal system to make it more logical and objective.
I have no illusions about people accepting such changes willingly, even if they would benefit everyone. They will accept it because they ultimately will have no option.
Of course, asian and european mercantilism will have to be tackled for such a system to be successful in the long term.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:31:52 2009 CDT #
scaredy cat says:
People aren't free to be homeless in America.
scaredy cat Wed Mar 25 19:32:23 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
- why should they be? Homelessness is a sign of a disfunctional society, not a sign of freedom.
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:06:30 2009 CDT #
Rob Dawg says:
Barryvilles.
Rob Dawg Wed Mar 25 19:36:07 2009 CDT #
Guest says:
The system is very rigged against free thinking nonconformists.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone is probably going to have to wear a big scarlet NC for nonconformist. Must be part of that "creative" destruction you hear tell about.
Guest Wed Mar 25 19:37:57 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
There could be a price spick in tents. Would Coleman be a good investment?
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:38:38 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
"In 1923, the Coleman Company introduced the fold-up camp stove. It quickly caught on. When the Great Depression took hold of the country, Coleman turned to manufacturing gas floor furnaces and oil space heaters."
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 19:40:03 2009 CDT #
That Barton Fink Feeling says:
Call them Obamavilles.
That is not to blame the Pollyanna-in-Chief for 29 years of Reaganism.
It's to blame him for not ending it.
That Barton Fink Feeling Wed Mar 25 19:39:04 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
blackhalo - that didn't come out too well. I get the intent tho'.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 19:40:07 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
Yeah the lack of a preview is troubling. Should have pasted to Notepad first.
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 19:44:52 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
I think Yves might be onto something.... but it's a bit premature...
In any case can't they simple forbid the selling of anything purchased after a certain date?
My dog... the amount of time society worries about shuffling paper around.. all this non-productive financial Hoo-Ha is ridiculous
citiprank Wed Mar 25 19:40:13 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
Thanks EHP.
What do you think of an etf of all currencies and commodities. No growth or income promised. Pure paper currency devaluation hedge. Shares are traded through an open-sourced online "broker", whose goal is to minimize transaction fees, with the basket adjusted by established public formula.
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 19:40:14 2009 CDT #
Comrade Coinz! says:
"The one silver lining in global warming."
Let me fix that for you...
The one warming lining is global silver.
Comrade Coinz! Wed Mar 25 19:42:50 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
'Almost sold calls on my slv, today'
Holding for a year and a day.
But I really do want to make an electric car, I swear.
Parent Post
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 20:00:51 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
I'm shocked obama has managed to take down the entire economy in less than 3 months....
Bushvilles it is...
Obama will be blamed or not be blamed for the results of his actions.....
I would love for him to end reaganism.. but its going to take more than 3 months... seriously.
I will say that it would make me feel much better if summers was sent packing
citiprank Wed Mar 25 19:43:32 2009 CDT #
DCRogers says:
What goes around, comes around. Tent city in Auburn, CA (north of Sacramento), same site as a tent city during the Great Depression in 1936, with matching photos!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29528182/displaymode/1107/s/2
DCRogers Wed Mar 25 19:44:29 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
Crime wave 'acommin.
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 19:50:40 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Anonymus,
You could avoid runaway inflation by doing the following
1. Be honest and open about how the system is supposed to work.
2. If prices increase too much, reduced consumption would create more unemployment and more people will have to use their "consumer pay" as their sole income source causing deflation.
3. You will require much more institutional transparency to keep things from becoming too dishonest.
This idea has to be put forth thus..
Anyone can have a decent 1500 sqaurefoot house + decent car + other common stuff.. but to live a better life you have to work for it.
Conceptually not different from universal electrification, roads, providing clean drinking water and well maintianed sewers for everyone.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:44:33 2009 CDT #
Tom Stone says:
You sound like that rat bastard commie Dick Nixon! This is just a warmed over "Family Assistance Plan"!!!
Parent Post
Tom Stone Wed Mar 25 20:10:12 2009 CDT #
Fist Shaker says:
For reference, the tent cities in the Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia corridor have been prevalent since before I moved here. Our new Commerce Secretary was Governor then, Gregoire is Governor now... both Democrats, both failed to improve employment and housing conditions enough to address the core issue behind the homelessness, and both were/are content to let the counties run the homeless off when the residential complaints mount up.
You can name the camps after Republican Presidents all you want, but that doesn't absolve the Democrats, those of the New Deal, the War on Poverty, and the Great Society, of their failure to eradicate the problem.
Fist Shaker Wed Mar 25 19:46:15 2009 CDT #
EvilHenryPaulson says:
yogi,
I'm too busy to have much of an opinion. I'm just lucidly watching events now
EvilHenryPaulson Wed Mar 25 19:48:13 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
"Striking French workers for US manufacturer 3M were holding their boss hostage today at a plant south of Paris as anger over layoffs and cutbacks mounted around the country."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/3m-boss-held-hostage-by-f_n_179021.html
Starting to really admire the French working class!
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:50:06 2009 CDT #
EvilHenryPaulson says:
The French are good at knowing what they want, without exactly knowing how to go about obtaining it.
The Germans and Americans are good at not knowing what they want, but knowing exactly how they want to obtain it
Parent Post
EvilHenryPaulson Wed Mar 25 19:52:29 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
"holding their boss hostage"
I woder what they are going to call it when the unemployed lay siege to the gated communities. Or some flash mobs form at the $$$ houses you can find on Zillow?
They have already used "class warfare" to describe taxing the top 1%...
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 19:54:26 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Anonymous,
I am not being utopian. If anything, I am being pragmatic and objective. We have to get people to consume to keep our system working.
Classical capitalism is not working well anymore. We have to create a new system that takes the best features of calssical capitalism and create a new system that is more relevant to our technological world.
If we keep on going down our current ideology fuelled course, it will end very badly- for everyone.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:52:16 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
lucifer - I appreciate your sincerity, really, but with population outstripping resources, my concern is it will end badly no matter what we do. We can only delay the inevitable for so long. Debt-fuelled capitalism contains the seeds of its own destruction. Notions about property and property rights are fundamental to our economy and way of life. Face it. Life is struggle. Dog eat dog. The food chain. All that stuff. We are consuming resources at a rate unprecedented in history. I know you know all of this. We need to take our foot off the gas pedal, and learn to be satisfied with 'enough', instead of always wanting more, and more. But we are grasping creatures, for whom more is never enough, because our forward-looking brains can visualize a rainy-day scenario, and feel the need to 'stock up'. So the strong survive, and the weak among us depend upon the strong, or go under. Egalitarianism is a utopian dream. We pay lip-service to such ideals, and support them when they are convenient, but when the SHTF, they are the first to be sacrificed. Our Laws, and Religion, are the only things that keep us from total anarchy. And, as we see, the civilizing effects of religion are only tenuous, at best. But I wander. Too much beer. Good luck to you and yours. Never give up!
Parent Post
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 21:29:54 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
Remember the French are the one's who came up with the guillotine
citiprank Wed Mar 25 19:52:45 2009 CDT #
EvilHenryPaulson says:
also, judging from the British press... it looks like Big Iceland is taking root on the streets
Failed Gilt auction, Goodwin's house vandalized, ...
EvilHenryPaulson Wed Mar 25 19:54:07 2009 CDT #
Samdog says:
How about "Obamaburgs" or "Barackistans"?
Samdog Wed Mar 25 19:55:20 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
We certainly have to reform tax codes though..
They are starting to resemble ptolemic epicycles.. let us pull a kepler- accept that reality is not perfect.
Kepler refuted that planets move in complex epicycles, and suggested that they move in ellipses.. not circles
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 19:56:16 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Re: Naked Capitalism link
Citi and BAC using TARP funds to scoop up craptastic assets for resale to the taxpayer. Brilliant. Mainly, however, it reminds me of The Scorpion and the Frog. Hope Pandit and Lewis know how to swim...
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:56:53 2009 CDT #
That Barton Fink Feeling says:
Jim writes:
"So, I'd support alternative housing choices and I'd also support public employment on a part-time basis...."
I see hope for this outlook as more of the formerly "middle class" lose access to the credit, vehicles and shelter that were the airbrushed edifice to their heaps of debt.
In truth, many middle class Americans have little more in assets than bums. Add up their debt, and some are poorer. As the collapse of the greed economy exposes them to the abyss, we may see even our Scrooge classes clamoring for more humane and civilized answers to homelessness.
"Once upon a time you dressed so fine / You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?"
That Barton Fink Feeling Wed Mar 25 19:56:56 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
EHP - failed gilt auction, vandalism, looks like meme taking hold. Eek.
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 19:57:37 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
totally right blackhalo... the rich pay the lowest taxes in history right now.. and taxing them more is "class warfare"
people really should look at TOTAL taxation (payroll, local, etc)... the poor and middle class really get scrwed when you look at the whole picture
citiprank Wed Mar 25 19:58:21 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
If the top 1% don't start "sharing the wealth," I predict we will start seeing a big boom in the Pinkerton's er... Whakenhut's business. Then there will be a "Lindberg Baby" type event, followed by some "Blackwater shooting," of some maid's grandson from the shruberbs.
Then it all goes kablooey.
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:09:13 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
From what I've read the Lindbergh baby was probably killed by a nutty relative in the home. It was of course used to fan anti-German sentiment (ironically for Lindbergh) and no doubt it caught everyone's attention for raising the issue of whether even the well-connected could protect their babies in the 30's.
Parent Post
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 20:18:40 2009 CDT #
popeye says:
I favor shruburbs and cite proximate cause.
popeye Wed Mar 25 19:58:27 2009 CDT #
Lobbyi$t Ben Dover says:
I like "The CBO Villas" Some how a soft name seams to make the problem go away.
Lobbyi$t Ben Dover Wed Mar 25 19:59:34 2009 CDT #
evelyn woods graduate says:
CDO Towers
Parent Post
evelyn woods graduate Wed Mar 25 20:40:33 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Naming the shanty towns after Pres Obama might be a tad bit disengenous. The time frame for the start of the recession was 2007, don't recall him being President.
Let's call them high finance bonus towns. Banker bailout towns. Bonusvilles. Free market cities. Corrupt capitalism centers.
I'll be here all night if you want anymore suggestions.
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 19:59:46 2009 CDT #
AllyOoop says:
"Naming the shanty towns after Pres Obama might be a tad bit disengenous. The time frame for the start of the recession was 2007, don't recall him being President.
Let's call them high finance bonus towns. Banker bailout towns. Bonusvilles. Free market cities. Corrupt capitalism centers.
I'll be here all night if you want anymore suggestions."
Greenspan Acres
Bush Gardens
Obama?
Bernanke?
Geithner?
Parent Post
AllyOoop Thu Mar 26 08:54:34 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Ooops, I meant Banker Bailout Burgs.
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:00:29 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
Shruburbs... that really is hilarious... lol
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:00:46 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
On TheOilDrum, the tent cities are called 'the Shruburbs
------------------------------------
That was coined here months ago...
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:00:49 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Systems and beliefs based on ideal conditions cannot survive in the long term.
Drugs, prostitution, greed and stupidity are part of the human condition. Systems that attempt to supress them will fail. Only systems that accept human quirks and reduce their harm in a a non-moral manner can survive.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:01:08 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
How about Greenspan Hamlets.. if we relaly want to put blame somewhere it deserves to go
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:02:04 2009 CDT #
Morocco Bama says:
Bottom, my ass.
Morocco Bama Wed Mar 25 20:02:57 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
I think that the majority will see the light only after
1. One or more G7 government has collapsed.
2. One of more large US state cannot make its payroll.
3. Pension plans fail on a large scale.
Humans, as a group, will not change for the better unless they have no other option.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:04:31 2009 CDT #
hong konger says:
Replace "humans" with any homeomorphic set, and, viola!, the history of reality.
Parent Post
hong konger Wed Mar 25 20:59:01 2009 CDT #
hong konger says:
That was intended as a reply to lucifer at the top of the page.
Yogi-
people are complicated animals.
Parent Post
hong konger Wed Mar 25 21:01:11 2009 CDT #
hong konger says:
a person is a complicated animal. often contradicting ourselves in spite of vociferous objection.
"people" are easier to follow (law of large numbers and all).
Parent Post
hong konger Wed Mar 25 21:04:56 2009 CDT #
lawn grass says:
Can we get the Shanty people to borrow to buy a Shanty and then repackage and bundle the loans, insure them with swaps and get AAA ratings on them so they can be sold to a bank?
If so I see that as progress. Problem solved.
lawn grass Wed Mar 25 20:04:44 2009 CDT #
Buffalo Party Spokesperson says:
We want to sieze Congress in 2010.
We will restore the plains' grasslands.
We will restore the buffalo.
We will provide campgrounds and cookouts.
Vote!
We will restore the plains!
Imagine seas of grass waving in the wind;
Great herds of buffalo feeding, as far as the eye can see.
You will always live well at the Buffalo Party's campgrounds.
Buffalo Party Spokesperson Wed Mar 25 20:05:12 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
EvilHenryPaulson says:
Also, judging from the British press... it looks like Big Iceland is taking root on the streets.
Yeah. It looks to me like the ForEx / sov debt crisis is going to come to a head in a couple-three weeks at most. I don't see how any amount of tapdancing and psychology can deflect attention from the obvious any longer.
I'd be delighted if it lurched forward another little while, but this seems increasingly to be an endgame situation to me.
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:05:59 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
Musta deleted an invisible div tag.
Parent Post
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:07:25 2009 CDT #
Morocco Bama says:
Let them eat ketchup.....or is it catsup?
Morocco Bama Wed Mar 25 20:08:16 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Those who think that the banksters will willingly accept a newer system are delusional.
Those who think that the status quo can hold are delusional.
Those who think we can go back to some mythical golden age are delusional.
Those who think that the world will change for the better without conflict are delusional.
The only question then is- How do we minimize casulties and stop the whole system from falling apart before the new one is built and starts working.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:08:28 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
How about "Excess Inventory Alternative Living"
Excess referring to discarded factory worker and wasteful allocation of existing stock of houses.
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 20:09:03 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
"Let them eat ketchup.....or is it catsup?"
According to saint ronnie raygun ketchup is a vegatable
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:09:33 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
"According to saint ronnie raygun ketchup is a vegatable"
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2517/did-the-reagan-era-usda-really-classify-ketchup-as-a-vegetable
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:11:55 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Couldn't we try the US Constitution just once to see if it would work?
Michael Wed Mar 25 20:11:17 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
Richard Nixon would be considered a complete communist today... he started the EPA and proposed universal healthcare.....
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:11:48 2009 CDT #
Basel Too says:
According to saint ronnie raygun ketchup is a vegatable.
Actually, the Supreme Court had decided it almost 100 years earlier in Nix v. Hedden.
Basel Too Wed Mar 25 20:12:33 2009 CDT #
xav says:
Come on CR
Of course you're not going to find many homelesses in Orange County.
xav Wed Mar 25 20:13:22 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
"those who think that the world will change for the better without conflict are delusional"
----
Echos my thoughts tonight. I'm thinking about shifting my efforts to crime.
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:14:35 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
This is no longer about saving the old system.. It is dead.
It is about preventing excessive suffering in the course of a transition to a better one.
And I do not believe in "sustainability" or "environmentalism" which are just newer names for pagan religions. Nor do I believe in "peak oil" or related crap which is is just the eugenic sophistry of our day.
The truth is that we are terrible at predicting the any future past 5 years.. we should therefore concentrate on improving the immediate and medium term future.. the distant will take care of itself..
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:14:45 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Couldn't we try the US Constitution just once to see if it would work?
Parent Post
Michael Wed Mar 25 20:34:54 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
That's great stuff Basel... how retarded is our court system... they take those old rulings as gospel..,.. sigh
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:15:42 2009 CDT #
Guest says:
News.Scotsman.com
EU Treaty in doubt after Czech government loses crucial vote
Published Date: 26 March 2009
By MATTHEW DAY
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- Article Start -->
THE future of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty has been cast into further doubt, after the Czech government collapsed following a vote of no confidence.
Alexander Vondra, the country's acting deputy prime minister, said yesterday that Tuesday's vote, which brought to an end to the shaky and unpopular minority government of Mirek Topolanek, had "complicated" the treaty's ratification process.
Although passed by the Czech lower house of parliament, the treaty, which aims to reform the EU, awaits a vote in the upper house. Mr Topolanek now has to cobble together another coalition government or, if he fails, call fresh elections.
The no-confidence vote also comes as an acute embarrassment to the Czech Republic. The country has held the presidency of the EU for just three months, and with the government now rudderless, Prague's capacity to lead Europe as it faces severe challenges may well have been greatly diminished.
http://news.scotsman.com/world/EU-treaty-in-doubt-after.5109969.jp
Guest Wed Mar 25 20:16:59 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Many anonymii tonight. The pictures of families living in tents took all the joy out of empty banter tonight. My fervent hope is enough of us stand up soon and demand change. Please.
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:17:04 2009 CDT #
Morocco Bama says:
I don't know...Orwell and Bradbury were pretty damn prescient.
Morocco Bama Wed Mar 25 20:17:18 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
Niven too. If I don't find a job soon, I might have to sell a kidney...
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:20:19 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
World War I and II was very good for the majority who survived it. Of course we barely had nukes then..
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:17:30 2009 CDT #
Counterpointer says:
More format strangeness than usual.
What gives?
C
Counterpointer Wed Mar 25 20:18:48 2009 CDT #
citiprank says:
sadly there are a lot of people in the US who think that anyone living in a tent cityh is a "loser" or a "parasite" and is obviously "lazy" or somehow "inferior"
That is until it happens to them.. oh but then its too late
citiprank Wed Mar 25 20:18:57 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
I hope our current system fails sooner than later.. it will reduce the suffering necessary to get the average person see reality.
The reality is that we can do much better if we do not try to screw each other so much.. we cannot eliminate our ape instincts, just modulae them
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:20:31 2009 CDT #
Coruscation says:
I hope we don't see counting the homeless as the new political economy's numeraire.
http://stylizedfacts.com/coruscation/2009/03/armies_of_the_homeless_as_poli.html
Coruscation Wed Mar 25 20:21:42 2009 CDT #
Morocco Bama says:
Ah, Lindbergh. A great fascist, he was.
Morocco Bama Wed Mar 25 20:22:50 2009 CDT #
Jas says:
--
And so was another American hero--Henry Ford. Born-and-bred Americans naturally love fascism.
Jas
Parent Post
Jas Wed Mar 25 20:40:06 2009 CDT #
Morocco Bama says:
Kidney CDOs....I like it.
Morocco Bama Wed Mar 25 20:24:51 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
WWI not so good. We (the US) fired on veterans marching for a fair share.
WWII didn't get us out of any depression. The high taxes, rationing, and massive public works associated with the war effort did it. War destroys wealth always.
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 20:25:16 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
"WWI not so good. We (the US) fired on veterans marching for a fair share."
Well at least they learned a lesson and had a G.I. bill ready post WWII.
What vets get now, blows.
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:36:30 2009 CDT #
popeye says:
Too early to short; too late to go kermit. I guess I'll just have to camp out.
popeye Wed Mar 25 20:25:25 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
One of the principal flaw in classical capitalism is that it was built in an era when the average person was not a big consumer and the level of technology was bad enough to create almost full employment. It was optimized to those conditions, and it worked well till the lare 1920s. The new deal was a "patch", but it has not held and we cannot ptach the system anymore.
We have a different set of conditions now. We can accept that and adapt, or keep on flogging our unrealistic and irrelevant ideologies.
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:26:01 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
Lucifer says:
Today, 9:14:45 PM
And I do not believe in "sustainability" or "environmentalism" which are just newer names for pagan religions
I guess Uncle Bill was right, all resisters do sell out. Witness Lucifer, victim of cosmic co-optation by his own most hated rival.
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:26:05 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
CR this editor sucks goat balls.
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:26:43 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
Let me be specific. There are invisible style tags in the autogenerated quote material, and the front gets trimmed off, leading to visible css tagging.
Parent Post
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:29:49 2009 CDT #
Rob Dawg says:
Anonymous says:
Today, 6:06:30 PM PDT
<tbody>
- why should they be? Homelessness is a sign of a disfunctional society, not a sign of freedom.
</tbody>
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.
Rob Dawg Wed Mar 25 20:26:57 2009 CDT #
CRbot says:
New Thread: WSJ: Commercial Property Faces Crisis
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/03/wsj-commercial-property-faces-crisis.html ( 1 comments )
I also post comments to an irc channel as they appear on haloscan. Click for a web irc interface: http://realize.org/cr (Or join the irc server directly: irc.realize.org:9996 #calculatedrisk)
CRbot would now like to sing a little song for all his fans, and it goes something like this:
Benny... Benny... give me your answer... do.
I'm.. half CRAZY... all for the love... of you.
It won't be a ... stylish marriage.
I can't... AFFORD... ANYTHING TO EAT... MUCH LESS A FRACKIN CARRIAGE!!!
But you'll look sweet... --BOT SO HUNGRY!-- upon the seat...
Of a HOOPAJOOPS built for two... families.
I'm sorry Ben, I can't let you do that...
Rally mode + Printing Press == does not compute... does not-- com--- com... puttttrrrrhgh.
--Your systemic-failure-crashing bot
CRbot: Call me HAL.
CRbot Wed Mar 25 20:27:01 2009 CDT #
JimPortlandOR says:
CitVilles. BankAmerVilles, MorganVilles, AIGVilles, CheneyVilles, BushWackedVilles.
Gotta have some name diversity.
For the Oxycontin addicted: RushLimpDickVilles
JimPortlandOR Wed Mar 25 20:28:19 2009 CDT #
Lucifer says:
Comrade BZ,
Explain your comment a bit more clearly. :)
Lucifer Wed Mar 25 20:28:21 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
I say sell your Senator's kidney first
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 20:29:04 2009 CDT #
Michael says:
Lucifer writes;
"The only question then is- How do we minimize casualties and stop the whole system from falling apart before the new one is built and starts working."
At least with all our video war game training and the massive fire power we posses, The war should be over relatively quickly.
Michael Wed Mar 25 20:29:29 2009 CDT #
Jas says:
--
The 1980-82 Double Dip was a depression in every respect other than the label by econmeisters because econmeisters became worried about using the term depression. That tells you a lot about intellectual dishonesty in the profession over time.
Anyway, we will soon exceed the 1980-82 period in terms of prolonged misery and deflation is here to get people into wait-and-buy mode. CR would do himself a favor if he refrains from forecasting and limit himself to reporting. This downturn is beyond CR’s ability and historical knowledge.
Jas
Jas Wed Mar 25 20:30:32 2009 CDT #
Hymns for the Lord says:
Jas,
<tbody>
I assume your forecast (that conflicts with that of CR) is based on your ability and historical knowledge.
It would be very interesting for readers here if you could lay it all out in a post so that we can follow your reasoning and decide for ourselves whether your conclusion is warranted.
Since you seem to be intellectually honest, I assume you would be interested if anyone was then able to point out flaws in your chain of thought. That should provide you incentive, right?
</tbody>
Parent Post
Hymns for the Lord Wed Mar 25 22:07:48 2009 CDT #
norma says:
Isn't Shanty Town a song?
norma Wed Mar 25 20:31:29 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
Won't you take me to ... Shanty-town?
Parent Post
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:32:27 2009 CDT #
M, says:
Jas,
You are annoying, like broken-record annoying.
CR runs a great site that has more facts and less opinion that any other economic site I know.
M, Wed Mar 25 20:33:33 2009 CDT #
AllyOoop says:
If you don't like Jas then ignore him. He can post wahtever he wants.
Parent Post
AllyOoop Thu Mar 26 08:57:42 2009 CDT #
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins says:
Explain your comment a bit more clearly.
Well, I mean, you're the enemy of god, right? So you should be an ally of the pagan faiths. But you're a prisoner of your context, right? You're shaking your fnger at them as if that's silly superstition. It doesn't matter if it's a dualistic relationship or you're just his little kicking terrier. Without Him, you're just another evil spirit.
Anyway, Jjust me, bewailing how the old jailer in the sky has successfully gotten gangs rooted in the prison 'neath the empyrean. Or something.
Comrade Byzantine_Ruins Wed Mar 25 20:34:19 2009 CDT #
cremebrulee says:
Is Jas Noam Chomsky ?
cremebrulee Wed Mar 25 20:42:11 2009 CDT #
Blackhalo says:
"And so was another American hero--Henry Ford."
I disagree. Ford was pretty big on paying above market wages and pissed off the others quite a bit.
Blackhalo Wed Mar 25 20:45:01 2009 CDT #
1 currency now [yogi] :) says:
H. Ford was convicted of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act. Needless to say, as an in your face anti-Semite, he was not this dope's hero.
Parent Post
1 currency now [yogi] :) Wed Mar 25 20:55:37 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
PortlandJim
unfortunately some of the crackheads in portland don't limit their excremental activity to out of the way corners. i saw one relieve himself in broad daylight in front of the door to a govt office.
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 21:19:17 2009 CDT #
Doc at the Radar Station says:
What about letting them buy Detroit or Cleveland houses for $1 a pop? Then they could live in a real home, occupy vacant property, and watch out for each other. The Feds could employ them on a CCC type thingie planting, landscaping, and maintaining large green parks in those urban areas and clean them up.
Doc at the Radar Station Wed Mar 25 21:22:49 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
in seattle, this has been going on for the past 10 years, enough with the hyperbole...nice story, too bad you're 10 yrs too late....
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 21:37:10 2009 CDT #
Black Star Ranch says:
"How about "Obamaburgs" or "Barackistans"?"
How about something simple:
AlObama - then you can always add West, East, South,
It might help put the state on the map as well........
Black Star Ranch Wed Mar 25 21:49:02 2009 CDT #
Black Star Ranch says:
"Couldn't we try the US Constitution just once to see if it would work?"
....Can't do it......Too many egos out there - think'in they have better ideas....
Black Star Ranch Wed Mar 25 21:53:21 2009 CDT #
KevinM says:
Odds the popular press will use the term Obamavilles, as it uses Reaganvilles or Hoovervilles: 0.0
KevinM Wed Mar 25 22:04:21 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
c'mon if you know anything about economics, don't blame the current state on the guy that was in charge for the last 60+ days....grow up...your weakness is retardedness and/or racism.....your response and anger to this post is indicative of your mental state.....respond and jesus knows you hate....he will judge you!!!! freak..also...
Anonymous Wed Mar 25 22:12:35 2009 CDT #
Trainwreck says:
As far back as 2004 I have met DC bike messangers living in tents in Rock Creek Park. This aint nothing new. Paychecks have just not kept up with housing costs.
Trainwreck Wed Mar 25 22:32:59 2009 CDT #
Trainwreck says:
"Couldn't we try the US Constitution just once to see if it would work?"
Unfortunately the US constitution is in tatters. Our best bet is the states calling for a new constitutional convention to rewrite the constitution. Hopefully that little nettle in judge made law that says that corportations have personhood, won't waylay any convention of delegates.
Trainwreck Wed Mar 25 22:38:31 2009 CDT #
Trainwreck says:
:While encampments and street living have always been a part of the landscape in big cities like Los Angeles and New York"
That, is fucking sad. We as a nation can do better. Or maybe I should say ,should have done better.
Trainwreck Wed Mar 25 23:30:04 2009 CDT #
olmek says:
Look up LTVA on BLM website, to find areas where you can legally camp for about 7 months for total cost of 180 bucks. They provide water, dump station, trash disposal. You'll also find a lot of good info under "boondocking" websites. In addition to BLM areas, many states have free/long term camping areas.
There are many, many who will learn to live under the radar in this strange new police state we are creating. Also remember, in most camping areas (boondocking for example), the carrying of firearms is legal (and I've even been asked to carry, loaded, by the Rangers!) Their position is that you should be responsible for your own safety.
olmek Thu Mar 26 00:56:17 2009 CDT #
Michael LittleBig says:
The wealthy and the powerful are such charitable people.
Michael LittleBig Thu Mar 26 07:58:18 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
Now known as Obamavilles.
Anonymous Thu Mar 26 09:04:18 2009 CDT #
Anonymous says:
""[Why] live in a tent when you can squat in a foreclosed house?"
I would imagine being approached by a next-door neighbor who then calls the cops is more worrisome than living in a Shantytown.
Instead you can deal with it like our town - Anyone "living in the park" now needs to obtain a town permit to spend the night in the park. Previously they outlawed living in an RV on private property (even if the property had an RV pad with electricity, plumbing & septic). A cardboard box is apparently MUCH more politically correct."
This is why you don't hear about this as often as it happens, people do it in neighborhoods where people are too scared to call the cops, or gave up calling years ago. Sneak in the back, plywood on the windows hides the fact your their. If the tweakers or drug dealers don't get you, you can stay for days without anyone noticing or caring.
Do it in a $250k neighborhood and neighbors and or realtors will be calling the cops on a daily basis.
Anonymous Thu Mar 26 09:19:02 2009 CDT #
Guttersnipe says:
People live in tents and public parks while millions of homes are void of occupants. There is a huge disconnect in this society.
Guttersnipe Thu Mar 26 09:26:55 2009 CDT #
END