How can anyone not have compassion for these people?

Question

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html

We have a real problem on our hands. To do nothing is positively unamerican. Do you agree?

Answer 1

No. In such a situation, she still keep her dogs.

Either the situation is not as bad as you think

or she don't realize how bad is her situation.

Her problem is the result of poor financial planning.

Many people end up like her because they are too optimistic.

They didn't expect the worst scenarios where they will lose their job/income. So they don't bother to save money for rainy days.

I feel that the older you are, the more you need to save.

Because the chances of getting another job after been lay off is very slim. Older person need to compete with younger people in the job market. Who do you think will win ?

There are people who are much worst than her.

If you need to help somebody, help those with common sense.

Answer 2

Some people don't care.

Myself, I think it is time for a change.

Answer 3

I certainly feel bad for her, but why is she living in one of the most expensive parts of the country? It really seems like she spent her money living lavishly rather than saving for many, many years.

However, you do have a point. There's nothing more American than living beyond your means, accumulating lots of credit card debt, and not saving for retirement. We're addicted to that lifestyle, and that's the problem. It turns any bump in the road (like losing your job or a three-year economic downturn) into a major catastrophe.

What also doesn't help is that a lot of people don't have a family support structure. This woman has three children who basically can't help her. For many people, it's because their other family members are also living paycheck-to-paycheck with tens of thousands of dollars of debt.

Make no mistake about it, that's what the problem is. It's our bad decisions. I'm as guilty as anyone.

Answer 4

IF she is making $8.00 an hour, sleeping in a car, that is enough money to save up to MOVE to an area that is less expensive to live or a different state, and get a job, my good ness.  Jobs here where I live in Hurricane Katrina area are BEGGING for people of ALL kinds.  She needs to get on the internet and put out her resume at the library for free.  She would find a job EASILY if she did that.  

Maybe sometimes people get in these prediciments and just need a PUSH into the right direction for help.  If you were shoved into this position, maybe your thinking facilities would be shut down as to what to do all of the sudden, who knows?  She should have been doing this all along once she learned of her situation, because you just don't loose things over night.  You are warned ahead of time things are going to happen and you know money wise that these things are coming yourself.

But some people push the limits.  They think things will work out.  And when they dont, this happens.

Yes, a counseling thing should be set up for them, maybe there is someplace, who knows?  Maybe they just aren't availing themselves of this and the people of santa barbara know this and are tired of it themselves.  The news people are known for not telling all the story.  We know this.  Otherwise they don't get the sympathetic reader.  That's how they fuel the war too.  By telling lies.