Please Belinda, go into the archives and read my last post in the topic on the Woman that got 43 years for child abuse. I would appreciate it Thank you.

Our Governor was raised in an Ophanage. While I don’t know the details, it is interesting to watch him concern himself with the well being of children. It is a constant in his attention, unlike most men who rarely think about the welfare of children. We here in Oregon have a huge issue with the children of the meth plague, both users and manufactures. They often find kids in the most deplorable conditions and have to remove them. Our foster care system is over loaded. I think orphanges might be a possible solution of we could figure out how to keep siblings together. Maybe even the old fashioned poor farms so we could keep families together. We had one here in Portland just east of town. Over the last several years someone bought it and turned it into a hotel, restaurant, and resort sort of. We might have to buy it back if times get tough.

Thank you for stating the truth in such plain language. I believe the concept of “rehoming” is where we need to focus our energies. We already have orphanages that provided tremendously important services and a “home” to children in need. The Methodist Home in Waco has served children and youth in this manner for many years. We have models of humane ways to deal with the presenting issue and with the underlying issues. There are similar programs in Nebraska as well, just outside of Omaha. Perhaps we in America need to become more aware of those in need around us.

Thank you so very much for what you wrote. I have been trying unsuccessfully to wake people up to the plight of the low income using my own situation as a living example. No one wants to beleive me. I have been ripped apart again and again for daring to speak up. No the orphanages will not come back. Because they beleive that by ignoring the problem they can claim that except in very rare cases it does not exist. Instead they are fixing the age loophole in their law. That way when these children just one day come home to an empty house or get dumped in the woods the press will not get wind of it. These children will either die or get snatched up by the pimps, essencially disappearing. (And you are right these children are dumped not because they are not loved; but, because they are loved. Economics is what drives their parents decisions. If that were not the case then they would either wind up dead at their parent’s hands or get dumped in the woods). Then the powers that be can happily claim that the problem has been solved. They did the same thing with Welfare reform. By putting a limit on Welfare while not supplying the resources needed (childcare and transportation while job hunting) the result is that thousands of women and children are turned out into the streets while the States can truthfully report that tjhe Welfare rolls are down. People are not aware and when told do not beleive that with all our ‘programs’ things can be so bad. Which is why they are. If no one beleives there is a problem then no one does any thing to help. I know all to welle. My granddaughter and I go hungry every day utilizing every aid we can find including our food stamps. I have not been able to manage even one balanced meal a day for several years now. All the so-called experts on how to eat affordably have no idea how to do it on $6.00 a day or less (which it will be come January), neither do I. To top it off we have certain allergies which means we have to eliminate all processed foods from our diets. There are no food pantries for non-processed foods. My body is in bad shape from years of eating so poorly as I try to do a $5.00/$100 split with my granddaughter. She needs the extra especially with needing to bring her own lunches to school and all the experts having their own ideas of what is an appropiate amount of food for lunch.I have one pair of jeans that fits and she is quickly out growing her clothes. Our furniture is so dilapidated that some of it is dangerous (like my bed). My car is in deseperate need of an oil change, tune up, shocks, struts and other repairs. There are no programs, agencies, etc. in my part of the country where I can get help with any of these things. America definately has its own third world country and it happens for two reasons. First ignorance, people do not beleive it, therefore it does not exist to them. Two which is absolutely horrible, is that many people are taking advantage and getting very rich in the name of the needy. I searched the internet and found hundreds of thousands of sites accepting donations to help the needy; but so far, not one single site where the needy can go and state what they need and get matched up with an agency or person that will help. When I wrote to some of these sites they said they did not give out money, they just took donations for charities. When I searched the database of one of those sites all I found was a whole lot of nothing. Nothing that would help anyone barely surviving on the system or even working poor. (As if raising children and caring for one’s household does not count.). I would give any thing to be able to support us myself. I am disabled. But, God blessed me with a talent that is not totally obliberated by my disabilities. Instead it is my financial disabilities that is holding me back. I am a very talented artist, photographer and poet.A sampling of my work is on RedBubble. com, artist name Blueccs. It took me nearly two decades to get the supplies to produce enough pictures for an art show. And I still only have my photos on the computer, printing them up is not doable. I have had a book of poetry finished for a decade, redy to be read by a publisher. When ever I have tried to get help launching my career I have been slandered, verbally abused and told to get off my lazy butt and get a job. I am working my tail off just trying to survive. I have heard so many people say it takes a village while doing absolutely nothing themselves. Even I throw away trash for elderly poeple in my apartment complex and hold doors for people going in or out the buildings. It is not much; but, it is all I have so I give freely. I also make it a point to be a smile millionaire. I want to thank you for being a member of that village that so many people speak of.

Debra - not sure if you think that I am high upon a horse looking down my nose sipping coffee and typing piggishly away on a laptop but I assure you that I am not. I am a mother, I am a daughter, I am a friend and neighbor, and I have many struggles past and present but would never, not in a million years, take any child on my personal journey through hell. Some people are simply not fit to parent and need to see themselves with a clear eye, unencumbered by pride, ego or selfish desire and give their children a decent shot at a good life as early on as possible. My point above is that this should not wait until the child is a teen. Though there are some instances where a family’s course changes for the worst overnight (or some short span of time) that is usually not the case. It is disgusting that many people string their children along for the ride years only to wash their hands of them when the seeds they’ve sown blossom into a something they are unwilling to deal with and want to blame on their children or anyone other than themselves. Perhaps the parents of the children that you foster are not to blame for their children’s problems but that does not in any way wash away the sins of countless others.