Poll | 04/03/2009 11:00 pm

Some say that people crave simple pleasures in trying economic times. Which of these do you turn to when the going gets tough?

Cynthia McFadden wants to know: Do you think lipstick and chocolate are any kind of bellwether to the economy? Click here to read more.

Read more about: Cynthia McFadden, Economy, Recession

99 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Dona, I adore fresh celery in my potato soup, but I also like to mince white onions in it, too, and when I’m feeling highly rebellious, some "Real Baconbits."

By C jay on 04/07/2009 5:53 pm

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I am digging through the dumpster for clothes to wear. I cannot imagine the luxury of lipstick or chocolate. I live in an America that looks different from parts of India, Africa and other Third World Places simply by the standards of this country. In other words if I would leave my 7 year old home alone all day to haul someone else’s belongings across country so I could buy a bowl of grain for the night’s dinner I would be jailed for abuse and neglect. Every paper would rail against my misdeed. But, the Third World mother would be hailed as a hero by the same people who string me up for my crime. Setting standards aside I am no better off than the Third Worlder. In tough times I work harder to spread my wealth. I am a smile and compliment millionaire. I pick up anyone’s trash, hold open doors for anyone, offer to scrape an elderly lady’s windshield, whatever I see I can do I do. I may walk with a cane; but, I can do a lot with my free hand, for that I am eternally grateful. I find joy in the sun on my face. I cry tears of gratefulness on the days that I smell the slight tang of salt on the breeze. I have not set foot on a beach in 20 years. I kiss the budding plants and stop my car to marvel at God’s handiwork when I spy a deer peeking out from the woods. I pray patiently for the day that someone will understand that God’s hands are our hands. That Americans need and deserve help too. I pray for someone to understand that no one and I mean no one succeeds alone. It iIS who you know. It DOES take money to make money. Sometimes not a lot. But to someone searching the garbage for clothes, furniture and other needs even a dollar is an uncomprehensible fortune. I patiently pray for the day that some one will judge me, not my wallet and find me worthy of their help. The day some one will help me start my career, the works are done, now they just need to be seen and sold. I pray, I meditate, I thankfully acknowledge my many blessings. Most of all I pray that when I am finally helped that I will never forget where I came from. That I will always stay humble. that I will always treasure most the most priceless of treasures that God gives me freely, my granddaughter that I am blessed to raise, the sun, sky, nature, seasons, silence, laughter.

By Christine Cline on 04/04/2009 8:05 am

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You are an inspiration and you write beautifully. You are well aware of your blessings and remind all of us to count ours.

I hope that you take full advantage of all the so-called safety nets that the government provides. Moreover, since you are a person of faith, I hope you belong to a faith community that can provide some help for you. It IS, as you say, "who you know" and it DOES "take money to make money" but, perhaps, there are people or organizations who can help you. And don’t be too proud to accept help; we’ve all been blessed with or taken advantage of someone else’s help at some point in our lives.

Here’s a hug for you and for your granddaughter!

By Sam Mirando on 04/04/2009 10:16 am

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Thank You Sam. Yes, I am already on every state and govenment program that I qualify for. But those programs are decades behind. Welfare never gives cost of living inreases. SSI does; but, they take 90% of it back out of my food stamps. So I am trying to survive on the same amount as Welfare gave decades ago. I am not a part of any church. Churches have little love for those who can never contribute to their own budgets. Nor do they have any lcompassion for those who are chronically poor and accepting Welfare. That is why Nadia Sulemann is avoiding Welfare, because the minute she does every helping hand, every word of kindness and encouragement will be instantly withdrawn. That is exactly what happened to me when I had to accept Welfare to leave my abusive husband; but, a previous work injury had left me unable to work outside of home again. There a thousands of women that have experienced the same thing. There are no organizations in my area that can help. As for individual people that are willing to help that is why I turned to the Internet. I have been trying for over a year on the net to find someone. So far I have been ripped apart, slandered and worse numerous times, a few times received words of kindness and encouragement and zero tangible helps. I appreciate every kind word and thought sent my way. Saddly I can not buy food, clothes, transportation or start my career with kind words or thoughts. I can not imagine receiving tangible help; but, I woul gratefully appreciate it.

By Christine Cline on 04/05/2009 12:11 pm

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I understand you so well. Poverty is a fact of life, but poverty in a rich country is downright immoral,

I live in Argentina & in December 2001 we had a financial crack + political turmoil so devastating that at first, people were just paralyzed. There was no money in the banks, credit cards were not acceptable in most places. just hard cash would buy you food or medicines. This used to be a very rich country, the urban middle classes had no idea how misery looks like.

For the first time in our lives we saw thousands of people searching the garbage bags every night, I am sad to report that even now in 2009 we still see them, day in, day out. There has never been a contingency plan to support these poor, just periodical hand-outs when election time arrives. How they survive you may wonder. Just plain solidarity, there are many organized NGO & religious centers doing this job but the secret is that most of us are helping one or more families out of our own pockets. It is good for the soul, as you give and receive at the same time & it also makes you more responsible in the use of your resources. I guess you people are going to live through the same kind of experience. It’s very scary at the beginning but you’ll be surprised how powerful you’ll become when the outer trappings of wealth just fall off & the joy of a good deed done makes your day & discover blessings in places you never saw before. Toughen up & be of good cheer as my Grandma used to say.

By marta pont on 04/04/2009 11:02 am

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It is good to hear that the people of Argententia mostly as a whole learned humility and compassion for all human beings. It is not so here, at this time. I know what you mean about the middle class. The talk shows here are flooded with people complaining about how hard their lives are. I hear advice like, eat out less, scale back to one phone, get a cheaper cable connection, cut back on credit cards, buy a little less make-up and I can not relate. All that is way beyond what I have. Almost never have I seen a talk show address the needs of the truely poor and never have I seen one help someone on Welfare. There is so much finger pointing and judging. Very, very, few are ever willing to turn the pages of one’s life whose book cover title reads "Welfare". I too think that poverty in a rich country is down right immoral. I tell people that I live in Third World America. That is not a lie. It is a horrible truth. This landscape may be America; but, it’s heavily populated with ostritches, ostritches with their heads buried in te sand. Even worse America prides itself as a religious country; yet, Jesus never walked up to someone and said : "Get over it", " It’s your own fault", or "Help yourself", or "Have a nice day" to someone who was hungry, hurt or homeless then walked home to his own nice comfortable well stocked house. No matter the reason for the person’s need he had compassion not pity. Jesus helped. Simple as that.

By Christine Cline on 04/05/2009 12:30 pm

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Dear Christine perhaps you’ll have to realize that denial is the first stage of the process. What we are facing right now is so compelling that understanding of the basics will arrive sooner than expected. Hold on tight!!!

By marta pont on 04/05/2009 1:18 pm

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You are right about the denial. I had not hought about that. As for the rest I can only pray that the people here are not too dense to experience an awakening. All the same I’m holding on tight. Thanks.

By Christine Cline on 04/05/2009 9:44 pm

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Christina, most Christiansdo not know how to provide direct help; in fact, they’re fraught with fears about "other people" in re their safety, and security. I’ve always taken people in to our home, even when raising my family of 7 - there was always at least 1 "abandoned" woman and her child(ren) living with us until she could get on her feet. I founded Project: Abandoned Mother and Child before domestic violence was accepted (it wasn’t nice then to use the term "abused," much less God-forbid "abandoned (but many men leave their ‘mate’s’ clothing at hospital front desks after the woman has given birth, and then they take "off."). It’s read - very real. Whatever, they must have reliable shelter, and healthful living options, to get on their feet.

What you say is true - in fact, all the prophets went after the "one" - not the masses - that needed help. How quickly our churches forget this. People wear a bracelet with WWJD on it, yet haven’t an apparent clue what that really means. It’s too bad that we have to look to someone else, in fact, to give us motivated to "be." WWJD may not be an excuse to act - it should not be necessary, in fact.

Where do you live, may I ask? We need to help you. This is ridiculous. I knew an anchor newswoman who became homeless because no one, her family, friends, and colleagues refused to think she wouldn’t "make it," after she lost her job.

The stark reality is that the higher one is on the ladder of success, the harder it is to find another job, much less a job. There isn’t any family that cannot afford to share - something.

Try hard (this is terrible to tell you, now - I realize) but try to understand that people who are the most "staunch" are those who are terrified of change, they’re abused people who in fact have very little control over their lives, but do not realize it, and any change threatens them. Once they can let go, and let the "universe fill in," they learn that life does go on without them, and/or without controls. Life is so much easier then.

We care, Christine.

By C jay on 04/07/2009 6:07 pm

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Yes, Marta, to give and receive is the way to go. I’m in a program that does both, and I’m doing better now, after months of feeling that I’d never be able to just sit down and breathe quietly. The pressure of being in need is terrible on the mind and body. If you or anyone here wants to give and receive to help someone and yourself, let me know. I can really help.

patbook2000@yahoo.com

By Patrice Baldwin on 04/05/2009 4:36 pm

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Patrice, I am confused as to why you did not make this offer to me. I just looked at www.mindspring.com~patbooks and saw the links for artists. I am an artist with works ready to sell. Just no way to do it as matting, framing, boxing, postage, transportation, etc. are beyond my current means. You mentioned helping others, am I not worthy?

By Christine Cline on 04/06/2009 12:10 pm

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Or is it that I have made a mistake and your offer of help can not extend to me as I am too poor to receive it? That your helps are for those who already have a level of quality of life that is beyond my understanding; and yet, to them is seemingly offensive as they too can not comprehend the level I reside at. Do I reside at the level that to few exists whether by innocent or chosen ignorance. Because I speak to you plainly. I am a woman worthy of respect, worthy of life, deserving of better than merely survival. I am a woman worthy of teammates to assure my successes in life. No man is an island unto himself except to assue failure. If that were so God would never have created Eve as a helpmate to Adam.

By Christine Cline on 04/06/2009 2:30 pm

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Be calm, Christine. I understand exactly where you are. I have just arisen from that deep hole myself. The help I offer is a program that has helped me dig myself out in short order. Please, just go to this website and you will understand how the gifting plan works and how you can join the others and help yourself - with my assistance. http://www.giftandreceivebig.com
I didn’t mean to leave you out from disrespect, I am sincerely sorry if you saw it that way. This is a good way for anyone here who needs to help and be helped.

By Patrice Baldwin on 04/06/2009 4:47 pm

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Patrice I went into the site link you gave me. I then tried to email you through the email link you gave in here but it said there was no such user. Please contact me at: cccline@peoplepc.com

By Christine Cline on 04/07/2009 4:29 pm

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Christine many do know and understand. Though you may not see them/us there are many walking the same path beside you and many who pray for the ability to help people like you. Keep to your path of light, be ever thankful for the blessings and inspired by what you sense is the true meaning of your own life. Please know that though there are people who are blind to the importance of our interconnectedness it is you who is richer and far more advanced because you do see it. Keep reaching out, creating and seeking through your loving spirit.

I wish you love, light, peace and an influx of resources. E

By E . on 04/04/2009 11:50 am