What Poverty in America Looks Like

[ronnieraygun]

All Things Considered, July 17, 2008 · A generation ago, the livelihood of Gloria Nunez's family was built on cars.
Her father worked at General Motors for 45 years before retiring. Her mother taught driver's education. Nunez and her six siblings grew up middle class.
Things have changed considerably for this Ohio family.
Nunez's van broke down last fall. Now, her 19-year-old daughter has no reliable transportation out of their subsidized housing complex in Fostoria, 40 miles south of Toledo, to look for a job.
Nunez and most of her siblings and their spouses are unemployed and rely on government assistance and food stamps. Some have part-time jobs, but working is made more difficult with no car or public transportation.
Low-income families in Ohio say they are particularly hard-hit by the changes in the economy, according to a new poll conducted by NPR, The Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health. Two-thirds of lower-income respondents, or 66 percent, say paying for gas is a serious problem because of recent changes in the economy. Nearly half of low-income Ohioans, or 47 percent, say that getting a well-paying job or a raise in pay is also major problem.
'I Just Can't Get A Job'
Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job. Instead, she and her daughter, Angelica Hernandez, survive on a $637 Social Security check and $102 in food stamps.
Hernandez received her high school diploma and has had several jobs in recent years. But now, because fewer restaurants and stores are hiring, she says she finds it hard to find a job. Even if she could, she says it's particularly hard to imagine how she'll keep it. She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview. And with gas prices so high, she's not sure she could afford to pay someone to drive her to work every day.
People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.
"A lot of people have told me, 'Why don't your daughter have a kid?'"
They both reject that as a plan.
"I'm trying to get a job," Hernandez says. "I just can't get a job."
Hernandez says she's trying to get training to be a nurse's assistant, but without her own set of wheels or enough money to pay others for gas, it hasn't been easy.
'What's Going To Happen To Us?'
Most of their extended family lives in the same townhouse complex. The only employer within walking distance is a ThyssenKrupp factory that makes diesel engine parts. That facility, which employs 400 people, is shutting down and moving to Illinois next year.
The only one with a car is Irma Hernandez, Nunez's mother. Hernandez says that with a teenage son still at home, the cost of feeding him and sending him to school is rising, and she can no longer pay for the car.
She's now two car payments behind.
"I'm about to lose my car," she says on her way to pick up one of her daughters to take her to Toledo. "So then what's going to happen to us?"
So Nunez and her daughter are mostly stuck at home.
The rising cost of food means their money gets them about a third fewer bags of groceries — $100 used to buy about 12 bags of groceries, but now it's more like seven or eight. So they cut back on expensive items like meat, and they don't buy extras like ice cream anymore. Instead, they eat a lot of starches like potatoes and noodles.


PEEP THIS - THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE HUNGRY FAMILY IN QUESTION:

http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/july/ohio/nunez540.jpg

[Andreas]

Where do the **** end.. THAT is the question

[Winger]

She's now two car payments behind.
"I'm about to lose my car," she says on her way to pick up one of her daughters to take her to Toledo. "So then what's going to happen to us?"

How about you take a fekin' walk? Hard times would do these people good. Bright side to everything.

If they were educated enough they would know about the Great Depression and the true hardships people had to endure back then.

[wildcat]

for probably one months gas, they could buy a bike at wal mart, then the cost would be lower, and they will be healthier.

[AmericanAirman]

I live in OH and I am embarrassed. Clearly the people passing out food stamps have never seen those receiving the stamps.

[therifleman]

oh boo hoo

So food prices are rising? Fine, I guess you'll have to cut back on the twinkies and ice cream. Whatever shall we do without our twinkies and ice cream?

[BigDukaroo]

People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.
"A lot of people have told me, 'Why don't your daughter have a kid?'"Brilliant idea. Hey, if you need more money from the government just have a child, no big deal!

Honestly, people are so lazy. If you live in a city I highly doubt that there wouldn't be any jobs within walking distance unless you consider more than a few feet beyond walking distance.

I wouldn't really consider walking beyond 2-3 miles at most for a job, not because the distance is far but because i'll be fairly tired and possibly sweaty once I got to work.

[KET]

OMFG I'm so ****ing angry right now. These people, these ****ing people... Ah nevermind...

[therifleman]

OMFG I'm so ****ing angry right now. These people, these fat people... Ah nevermind...



I know what you're thinking

[Hellfish]

I hate Ohio. It's like a landlocked Florida.

[Calanen]

for probably one months gas, they could buy a bike at wal mart, then the cost would be lower, and they will be healthier.

For probably one month's McDonalds, they could rent a limo to look for work.

[Power_serj]

They should just feed on their own fat. They would be fed for a long time.

[signatory]

Where do the **** end.. THAT is the question

My guess is somewhere between chin number seven or eight just below the belly... button?

your guess?

[noname]

<P>They are morphing into manatees.</P>

[AmericanAirman]

<P>They are morphing into manatees.</P>


Harpoons. Someone man them.

[Fiber]

Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job.

That's just sad.

[CantGetRight]

why oh why cant we just say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done with situations like this one. idk, maybe personal oversight or case managers for individuals receiving govt aid, so people like this can be taken off it, leeches, scum, bottomfeeders, shameful, etc etc etc

[Abbadon the Despoiler]

http://www.alteredstatez.com/images/Smoke%20Crack.jpg

[Niels]

http://www.youtube.com/v/pAMA9P-4qCk

[Andreas]

My guess is somewhere between chin number seven or eight just below the belly... button?

your guess?

I honestly dont know, I dont know wild snorlax biology

[Kaapeli]

She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview.

http://www.hpnonline.com/inside/march%2005/web%20images/bariatrics/Hill-Rom-Lift-Environment.jpg

[signatory]

yeah...


She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview.

Answering "yes" to

'You want to SuperSize that order of one thousand Big Mac Meal's ?'

isn't exactly a interview is it......?

[Abbadon the Despoiler]

http://www.youtube.com/v/pAMA9P-4qCk

what a stupit bitch!

[Klatuu]

It seems the economy is so bad that they can no longer afford to eat meat.

For Some Ohioans, Even Meat Is Out Of Reach (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92592545)

http://www.moonbattery.com/angelica-hernandez_gloria-nunez.jpg

It would be a mistake to identify race as a root cause here, as some will do sometimes. The cause of this is bad ideas, which, if held by anyone, will result in misery even in the most prosperous land in human history.

This is self-inflicted, good-for-absolutely-nothingness:

"Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. "

BINGO

This is what actual poverty looks like, and it should break your heart to see it:

http://pamirtimes.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/poverty-picture.jpg

Anyone telling you that people in the former picture bear any moral resemblance to the person in the latter picture does so only in the pursuit of a political agenda. No other motivation can explain such poor thinking.

[Tokamak]

They should kill those fat women to feed that poor kid!. Just kidding, well kind of. Just like it happens here, some people take advantage of the system living only on benefits. This sucks and I hope the government (Labour or Conservatives) stops all this ****.

[Mousepad]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=138151

[BugHunt]

Damn that bottom picture is very dark and sad..... :(

[Macs.]

Well, atleast they integrated well into their new home country.

[BugHunt]

http://www.youtube.com/v/pAMA9P-4qCk


Wow :| :roll: :bash:


I mean why would you CHOOSE to go on TV if your brains like that?

[Silent Reader]

Wow :| :roll: :bash:


I mean why would you CHOOSE to go on TV if your brains like that?

maybe she didn't think she would get asked questions.. in a quiz :)

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Wow :| :roll: :bash:


I mean why would you CHOOSE to go on TV if your brains like that?

I think Ms Pickler tries very hard to look very dumb. It's kind of her "thing".

[LaoSexMachine]

http://www.moonbattery.com/angelica-hernandez_gloria-nunez.jpg

These are the people I see at the all you can eat Chinese buffet. Two plates? No sir! 5 plates and I'm going to wash it down with Diet Coke so I can sleep better at night.




Well, atleast they integrated well into their new home country.


MUhahahahahahahaha. You silly Hun.

[The Dane]

http://pamirtimes.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/poverty-picture.jpg

Jesus Christ... :-(

[a_very_ex_STAB]

http://pamirtimes.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/poverty-picture.jpg

Jesus Christ... :-(

The photographer who took that pic and then didn't pick that kid up and carry him or her 1 measly kilometer to the UN food camp should burn in hell!!!!!!:bash::bash::bash:

[The Dane]

Agreed......

[Alexandr]

well,salary per year only Puff Diddi or Will Smith have - can boost WHOLE Africa healhcare development for ages forward,but.....


The photographer who took that pic and then didn't pick that kid up and carry him or her 1 measly kilometer to the UN food camp should burn in hell!!!!!!:bash::bash::bash:

did you readed carefuly caption?he commit suicide 3 month after that...

[BearInBunnySuit]

The photographer who took that pic and then didn't pick that kid up and carry him or her 1 measly kilometer to the UN food camp should burn in hell!!!!!!:bash::bash::bash:

I was told that after he took the award-winning shot, he did pick up the child and carried him to the UN food camp. But he did get a lot of criticism for putting the child at risk while he snapped the photo...At the same time, the photograph did raise awareness of the dire situation in Africa so the question that will always haunt this photograph is whether he did the right thing in the end. I feel that as long as the child was eventually saved, his actions were justified.

[Bombtrack]

well,salary per year only Puff Diddi or Will Smith have - can boost WHOLE Africa healhcare development for ages forward,but.....


Yeah its their fault! White rich people shouldn't help out. Just black Americans with distant roots to Africa.

[SBL]

The photographer who took that pic and then didn't pick that kid up and carry him or her 1 measly kilometer to the UN food camp should burn in hell!!!!!!:bash::bash::bash:
Heh, and you're so sure you wouldn't do the same?

[Rudolph]

The photographer who took that pic and then didn't pick that kid up and carry him or her 1 measly kilometer to the UN food camp should burn in hell!!!!!!:bash::bash::bash:

Let's assume his inaction cotributed to him commiting suicide. But, remember, these people see that kind of thing every day. It's like me telling the dirty begging street kid to f off, which may shock someone who comes from somewhere in fantasy Euro land and never saw a small, dirty, half-clothed African kid in such a state. One naturally HTFU.

*Side note about African-Americans. Africans often write humourous pieces on the way AAs always go "I'm home" when they visit South Africa. They hate the whole "motherland" thing, and see white South Africans as more African than African-Americans. The latter once shocked an AA journalist who came to interview Lucky Dube. Really, Africans do not for one second see AA as African, even the evil apartheid government labelled them "honorary whites".

[Alexandr]

Yeah its their fault! White rich people shouldn't help out. Just black Americans with distant roots to Africa.

Call me racist,but,yes they should.And white should not.

[LaoSexMachine]

Call me racist,but,yes they should.And white should not.


Because they are black they are obligated?roflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflroflrofl^google.

[Alexandr]

yeah.
what is Africa for a white man?exiting safary,cheap diamonds,cheap slaves.
what is Africa for a black man?ask them.

[Bringer of Greater Things]

yeah.
what is Africa for a white man?exiting safary,cheap diamonds,cheap slaves.
what is Africa for a black man?ask them.


But technically, aren't we all originally from Africa?

[Alexandr]

"technically" i dont know,"technicaly" my nation comes from Babylon to Caucasus 3000 years ago,after that to Dunai,after that in North Russia,what about yours?"technicaly"?

[Bringer of Greater Things]

http://www.moonbattery.com/angelica-hernandez_gloria-nunez.jpg



People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.
"A lot of people have told me, 'Why don't your daughter have a kid?'"


...There are many things I could say about that, but I think I'll just leave it at this: For her, getting knocked up might be easier said than done.

[Bringer of Greater Things]

"technically" i dont know,"technicaly" my nation comes from Babylon to Caucasus 3000 years ago,after that to Dunai,after that in North Russia,what about yours?"technicaly"?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_africa_theory

And it's Technically.

[Bombtrack]

You stay classy, Alexandr!


http://dontfierme.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/ron.jpg

[Alexandr]

Im trying as i can.I have Family Tree that i can look preciosly backward to 900 years and partialy after that..sounds funny?not sure,ask Israely members here how deep should your roots be in your blood.
and i see no reason why African-Americans should have shorter memorie.

[Thor]

Im trying as i can.I have Family Tree that i can look preciosly backward to 900 years and partialy after that..sounds funny?not sure,ask Israely members here how deep should your roots be in your blood.
and i see no reason why African-Americans should have shorter memorie.
Are there really such records in Russia? Having in mind that most Russians didn't have surnames until serfdom was abolished.

How about now, is there a national identification number system?

[Glax69]

easy to say you'd help the child when you're sitting behind your computer. He did not take the kid to the aid station and her fate is unknown. Journo's/photog's were strictly warned not to touch them for fear of disease.
:|

[wildcat]

"were strictly warned not to touch them for fear of disease"

What moron would ask people not to touch/help, you can wear a M95 mask and gloves. If there was an outbreak of Ebola yes I could understand, but if there was Ebola, that little girl would be long dead. mask/gloves I think is a must for any photographer traveling in Africa.

[Tokamak]

Let's assume his inaction cotributed to him commiting suicide. But, remember, these people see that kind of thing every day. It's like me telling the dirty begging street kid to f off, which may shock someone who comes from somewhere in fantasy Euro land and never saw a small, dirty, half-clothed African kid in such a state. One naturally HTFU.

*Side note about African-Americans. Africans often write humourous pieces on the way AAs always go "I'm home" when they visit South Africa. They hate the whole "motherland" thing, and see white South Africans as more African than African-Americans. The latter once shocked an AA journalist who came to interview Lucky Dube. Really, Africans do not for one second see AA as African, even the evil apartheid government labelled them "honorary whites".


Still, to see someone especially a kid in that situation you really must do something no matter if he is sick or were told not to.

[Bringer of Greater Things]

"were strictly warned not to touch them for fear of disease"

What moron would ask people not to touch/help, you can wear a M95 mask and gloves. If there was an outbreak of Ebola yes I could understand, but if there was Ebola, that little girl would be long dead. mask/gloves I think is a must for any photographer traveling in Africa.


They weren't there to help, they were there to report.
What was he supposed to do? Take every starving kid he saw to the hospital? There's a lot of starving kids. He could spend a whole lifetime carrying kids to hospitals and not make a difference.
It's not like everyone on this board is going to now send all their money to help starving kids, even though we've all seen that and other pictures. I don't see much distinction in seeing a starving kid in person and doing nothing, and knowing that there are starving kids and doing nothing.

[Tokamak]

They weren't there to help, they were there to report.
What was he supposed to do? Take every starving kid he saw to the hospital? There's a lot of starving kids. He could spend a whole lifetime carrying kids to hospitals and not make a difference.
It's not like everyone on this board is going to now send all their money to help starving kids, even though we've all seen that and other pictures. I don't see much distinction in seeing a starving kid in person and doing nothing, and knowing that there are starving kids and doing nothing.

Not make a difference?. If only one more baby can be saved by you or your work then you made a huge difference.

[wildcat]

They weren't there to help, they were there to report.
What was he supposed to do? Take every starving kid he saw to the hospital? There's a lot of starving kids. He could spend a whole lifetime carrying kids to hospitals and not make a difference.
It's not like everyone on this board is going to now send all their money to help starving kids, even though we've all seen that and other pictures. I don't see much distinction in seeing a starving kid in person and doing nothing, and knowing that there are starving kids and doing nothing.

Well he took the kids snap shot, and got some reward for it, it would of been the least he could do for that. I don't care, he choose to snap that kid, should of helped.

BTW, I do give to an organization that help set up clean water for crops and drinking also provide tons of meal for the staving, teaches people basic hygiene.

[AmericanAirman]

I hate Ohio. It's like a landlocked Florida.

FYI we're not landlocked, we have Lake Erie to the north.

And that "Are You Smarted Then a Fifth Grader" show is all bogus, they find the smartest 5th graders and give them the questions. Meanwhile they continue to go into the deep South to get contestants aka GED land.

[Pandy]

FYI we're not landlocked, we have Lake Erie to the north.

And that "Are You Smarted Then a Fifth Grader" show is all bogus, they find the smartest 5th graders and give them the questions. Meanwhile they continue to go into the deep South to get contestants aka GED land.

Your completely right about that.

I just finished my contract with the state of ohio, and I found that Northwestern ohio has most fat people of this state... Cinci has some FINEEE ASS.

[Battlebuds]

No sympanthy

[gaijinsamurai]

Yes, there are places, such as Appalacia, where poverty is real in the US, but with a few exceptions, anyone who really wants to get on their feet in America can. I'm a parole and probation officer, and the amount of government assistance I see that is available is truly surprising. There are a couple of public housing complexes I visit frequently, and the recipients of tax-funded dwellings actually have nicer places than most hard-working blue collar people can afford. And you know what? Those places get trashed within weeks of the people moving in.
I've got parolees on my caseload who have four or five kids, and think nothing of having more offspring, because they know the taxpayers will pay for it. They have little motivation to look for a job, because public assistance is much easier, and they do little or nothing to try to teach their kids to have a work ethic.
If we cut these people off from the public through, we'd be better off. Let them starve, or learn to work.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Nearly ALL of them have huge flat-screen TVs, that I can't even afford!

[therifleman]

I's hard to believe someone of that age can be that utterly stupid.


I call BS. It think it was scripted. After all, you can't have every contestant be smarter than a 5th grader. Whats the entertainment in that?

[wildcat]

Yes, there are places, such as Appalacia, where poverty is real in the US, but with a few exceptions, anyone who really wants to get on their feet in America can. I'm a parole and probation officer, and the amount of government assistance I see that is available is truly surprising. There are a couple of public housing complexes I visit frequently, and the recipients of tax-funded dwellings actually have nicer places than most hard-working blue collar people can afford. And you know what? Those places get trashed within weeks of the people moving in.
I've got parolees on my caseload who have four or five kids, and think nothing of having more offspring, because they know the taxpayers will pay for it. They have little motivation to look for a job, because public assistance is much easier, and they do little or nothing to try to teach their kids to have a work ethic.
If we cut these people off from the public through, we'd be better off. Let them starve, or learn to work.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Nearly ALL of them have huge flat-screen TVs, that I can't even afford!

i noticed you are in Oregon, I have a buddy that work in the court house/ Jail for Portland (well the county that Portland is in).

[gaijinsamurai]

I honestly don't give a sh!t about people like this. Let them go hungry.

[LineDoggie]

well,salary per year only Puff Diddi or Will Smith have - can boost WHOLE Africa healhcare development for ages forward,but.....



did you readed carefuly caption?he commit suicide 3 month after that...

Yep, and according to his Suicide note, this was why:"I am depressed ... without phone ... money for rent ... money for child support ... money for debts ... money!!! ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners...I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky.&quot;
Sure as hell seems that Financial problems were primary in his thinking

[philbob]

The point is that there are these awful and disgusting people who think they are in a bad situation when they really arnt and they dont count there blessings

[Lambert58]

It seems the economy is so bad that they can no longer afford to eat meat.

For Some Ohioans, Even Meat Is Out Of Reach (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92592545)

http://www.moonbattery.com/angelica-hernandez_gloria-nunez.jpg

It would be a mistake to identify race as a root cause here, as some will do sometimes. The cause of this is bad ideas, which, if held by anyone, will result in misery even in the most prosperous land in human history.

This is self-inflicted, good-for-absolutely-nothingness


These deadbeats have absolutely 0 to complain about. Holy loserville.

No HS diploma? Never had a job? Yet they still look like they ate half the county? Wow.

Let me make it clear for those non-Americans that visit these forums: there is NOWHERE in America where you can't work if you want to. Near these two whales, someplace, is a Walmart or a Target that will let them stock shelves. Or a Burger King where they can make burgers all day and eat their substantial weight in fries.

If I lost my job today, I'd have 3 by next weekend. I'd be mowing lawns or doing finish work for some home builder or some other low end task x3 and I'd be bringing home $2k a month easy. It's a matter of how much of a lazy ass you are or aren't. Period.

If they were too lazy to finish high school they can't expect to make $100k a year, deadbeat losers.

God I hate lazy people.

[Mordoror]

Let me make it clear for those non-Americans that visit these forums: there is NOWHERE in America where you can't work if you want to
just to make it clear for me (as a foreigner i prefear inside info than stereotypes even if i know that the info is related to whom give it to you)

but there is no unemployement in USA ?? i am a lot astonished ....
every can get a job ??? sure ??? even if i precise correponding to its diploma level and area of expertise ??
if i look french stats personns without diploma are those who have the highest unemployement rate and it can be easilly explained
between two personns for the same job (even if it is working in a Burger King or as a street garbage cleaner) the boss will always prefear the personn with diploma
Is it not the same in USA ?? (here i am not justifying the laziness of the examples above, it is just a very candid question ....)

[gaijinsamurai]

i noticed you are in Oregon, I have a buddy that work in the court house/ Jail for Portland (well the county that Portland is in).

That would be Multnomah County, and that's who I work for. I've probably had contact with your friend on more than one occasion, as I have to go to the Circuit Court on occasion to testify in trials, and on a couple of occasions, we've assisted the sheriffs deputies with security in high profile trials with gang involvement.

[Lambert58]

just to make it clear for me (as a foreigner i prefear inside info than stereotypes even if i know that the info is related to whom give it to you)

but there is no unemployement in USA ?? i am a lot astonished ....
every can get a job ??? sure ??? even if i precise correponding to its diploma level and area of expertise ??
if i look french stats personns without diploma are those who have the highest unemployement rate and it can be easilly explained
between two personns for the same job (even if it is working in a Burger King or as a street garbage cleaner) the boss will always prefear the personn with diploma
Is it not the same in USA ?? (here i am not justifying the laziness of the examples above, it is just a very candid question ....)

Correct: there IS unemployment in the US (there will always be SOME number of people without jobs). Unemployment in the US is about 5%, which is, pretty much, statistically as low as you can get. It actually got down to 4.5% or so a few years ago, but it's back around 5%

And you're correct: statistically, those without hs diplomas have the highest unemployment rate. Personally, I figure the same lack of motivation that keeps those idiots from getting a G.E.D. (General Education Diploma = hs grad equivalent... very easy to get, if you're not a total freaking lazy arse) is what keeps them from getting a job, so... yeah.

[wildcat]

That would be Multnomah County, and that's who I work for. I've probably had contact with your friend on more than one occasion, as I have to go to the Circuit Court on occasion to testify in trials, and on a couple of occasions, we've assisted the sheriffs deputies with security in high profile trials with gang involvement.

He always tells me about the latest addition, he was telling me about a dumb mofu from New York hired to assassinate and got the wrong house and family.

[Migs]

i live in ohio and this is what i say......

[INAT]

I's hard to believe someone of that age can be that utterly stupid.


I call BS. It think it was scripted. After all, you can't have every contestant be smarter than a 5th grader. Whats the entertainment in that?


No that was real.Let me tell you why.You see the glazed look that she had? You know the same look you get from your dog when you are trying to teach them a new command.It is the look of simple ignorance.

I know this kind of ignorance is hard to accept but it does exist.

[LaoSexMachine]

just to make it clear for me (as a foreigner i prefear inside info than stereotypes even if i know that the info is related to whom give it to you)

but there is no unemployement in USA ?? i am a lot astonished ....
every can get a job ??? sure ??? even if i precise correponding to its diploma level and area of expertise ??
if i look french stats personns without diploma are those who have the highest unemployement rate and it can be easilly explained
between two personns for the same job (even if it is working in a Burger King or as a street garbage cleaner) the boss will always prefear the personn with diploma
Is it not the same in USA ?? (here i am not justifying the laziness of the examples above, it is just a very candid question ....)

I live in Houston. I see pan handlers who look physical able but pan handling is easier then actually working. I know people who got laid-off but refuse to accept a lower salary. I can understand that but when you are unemployed for a year or so it's time to suck up the pride. In America unemployment benefit is not much and it don't last long.

[Rudolph]

No that was real.Let me tell you why.You see the glazed look that she had? You know the same look you get from your dog when you are trying to teach them a new command.It is the look of simple ignorance.

I know this kind of ignorance is hard to accept but it does exist.

Well, she seems well looked after/kept. So, I'm guessing not trailer trash, just have lived a very, very protected life. Never had to learn or understand anything...

[brainplay]

Anyone can get a job in the USA. Its not going to be the best job nor the most glamorous but if you're poor you take what you can and go with it. Yeah we make fun of people working at McDonalds but its still steady income. Throw in the amount of overtime that you can work (because fast food shops are always under-staffed) and you might actually make a decent living on it assuming you put both of those whales to work. Lets not forget that many of those places tend to pay over minimum wage because it hard enough to get kids to do those jobs. Expensive stuff like meat? WTF? You can get 10lbs of meat for cheap and use extend it for quite a while. Try not putting 5lbs of it in a single dish. Geez.

Who wants to be these girls spend most of their money eating out and I don't mean on the dollar menu?

[Moledet]

Let me make it clear for those non-Americans that visit these forums: there is NOWHERE in America where you can't work if you want to. Near these two whales, someplace, is a Walmart or a Target that will let them stock shelves. Or a Burger King where they can make burgers all day and eat their substantial weight in fries.

If I lost my job today, I'd have 3 by next weekend. I'd be mowing lawns or doing finish work for some home builder or some other low end task x3 and I'd be bringing home $2k a month easy. It's a matter of how much of a lazy ass you are or aren't. Period.

If they were too lazy to finish high school they can't expect to make $100k a year, deadbeat losers.

God I hate lazy people.
It's not that they don't want to work, they simply want to work in their profession.

[Loki77]

PEEP THIS - THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE HUNGRY FAMILY IN QUESTION:

http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/july/ohio/nunez540.jpg


They need to diet and exercise to lose weight!!

[brainplay]

It's not that they don't want to work, they simply want to work in their profession.

Well thats just tough for them isn't it. If you're poor you suck up your pride and take what you can. Otherwise you end up in their situation. There's no excuse for not getting a GED, going to a temp agency or job locator business, and learning to manage your money. I find that fewer people are willing to go that route though. :roll:

[wildcat]

Gloria Nunez's family was built on cars.
Her father worked at General Motors for 45 years before retiring. Her mother taught driver's education. Nunez and her six siblings grew up middle class.



Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job

Middle class upbringing and could not finish High School. they says I was injured 17 years ago, 40 - 17 = 23 year old loser.

This Fat B!tch is a loser, and I don't care if she starves to death. she full of it. I cannot believe the media ran this story.

[stuntman]

<P>They are morphing into manatees.</P>


Oh noes!!!!!!!
http://homepage.mac.com/barthold.van.acker/realbasic/ohthehumanity.jpg

[Pete031]

Those beef a****s are hot!

[Lambert58]

It's not that they don't want to work, they simply want to work in their profession.

What is their profession (the two nitwits in the picture, specifically), fatass?

[delio]

http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/july/ohio/nunez200.jpg (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:void%280%29;)

http://download.npr.org/anon.npr-www/chrome/icon_enlarge.gif (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:void%280%29;)Enlarge (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92592545)

Katia Dunn/NPR


Katia Dunn/NPR
Angelica Hernandez (left) and her mother, Gloria Nunez, struggle to make ends meet on a very limited budget.
Enlarge ..hehe.

Is NPR trying to out-onion The Onion? I wonder it the reporter was able to keep a straight face throughout the entire thing.

[Mackie]

Suggestion:

This
http://www.medienwerkstatt-online.de/lws_wissen/bilder/324-1.jpg
must be cheaper than this
http://www.minerva.unito.it/Alimentare/McDonalds/Immagini/bigmac.jpg

[brainplay]

What is their profession (the two nitwits in the picture, specifically), fatass?

Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job. Instead, she and her daughter, Angelica Hernandez, survive on a $637 Social Security check and $102 in food stamps.
Hernandez received her high school diploma and has had several jobs in recent years. But now, because fewer restaurants and stores are hiring, she says she finds it hard to find a job.

Profession seems to be welfare sponges. I just like to point out that the daughter has had several jobs which appear to have been in the restaurant industry or shopping stores. My question is, why didn't she just stay with one? Did she eat the clients dinner's or maybe she's one of those types with the disagreeable personality.

[BearInBunnySuit]

Suggestion:

This
http://www.medienwerkstatt-online.de/lws_wissen/bilder/324-1.jpg
must be cheaper than this
http://www.minerva.unito.it/Alimentare/McDonalds/Immagini/bigmac.jpg

If you have spent any meaningful time in Safeway's fresh produce section, you will know that is not so. I'm not sure how much that set at McDonald's costs but a pomegranate goes for about $2-3 a piece and persimmons aren't that cheap either. Even imported grapes (from Chile, I think) are like $4-$5 bucks a pound.

I heard a theory about 20 years ago that poor people tend to be more obese than the rich because healthy food--I guess fruits and vegetables--on the average are more expensive compared to junk food.

[INAT]

Why is everyone getting on about these two
There is no correlation between being poor and fat.
These two could have glandular problems so back off.


They are people too.
Maybe the area they live in is underdeveloped

You guys expect them to work? Well why work if we can get money from the government.

Poor people must be discriminated against.
Ok lets have the comments roll in.




I am joking of course.

[BearInBunnySuit]

Why is everyone getting on about these two
There is no correlation between being poor and fat.
These two could have glandular problems so back off.


They are people too.
Maybe the area they live in is underdeveloped

You guys expect them to work? Well why work if we can get money from the government.

Poor people must be discriminated against.
Ok lets have the comments roll in.

I am joking of course.

Joke noted but I do feel that if adults make a choice to be obese and unemployed, then ultimately, it is their choice and they are the ones living it. We have people with so many "alternative" lifestyles in America that I do find it a bit strange to see people being so harsh on them. I know that being healthy is a good thing but so is minding our own business and not being so hostile to people who are different.

[Winger]

Joke noted but I do feel that if adults make a choice to be obese and unemployed, then ultimately, it is their choice and they are the ones living it. We have people with so many "alternative" lifestyles in America that I do find it a bit strange to see people being so harsh on them. I know that being healthy is a good thing but so is minding our own business and not being so hostile to people who are different.

Until they are a burden and robbing tax money due to their ignorance. Fat stinky porpoises.

[Chapstique1567]

Oh noes!!!!!!!
http://homepage.mac.com/barthold.van.acker/realbasic/ohthehumanity.jpg

lol nice :D

as for those two in the pic...they have no excuse as to why they cant find a job

[deagle]

they couldve been so hungery they ate their family perhaps ? who knows.

[tim-e]

People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.
"A lot of people have told me, 'Why don't your daughter have a kid?'"
The very idea that these two are capable of procreating is making me sick. Please, please, even if you do go for fat chicks, don't go there. Save their unborn children by keeping them that way.

[helomech]

Joke noted but I do feel that if adults make a choice to be obese and unemployed, then ultimately, it is their choice and they are the ones living it. We have people with so many "alternative" lifestyles in America that I do find it a bit strange to see people being so harsh on them. I know that being healthy is a good thing but so is minding our own business and not being so hostile to people who are different.

People are being harsh on them because they're openly complaining about being unemployed and no education;this is the one of many countries in the world where if you want to get an education then the resources are there;no high school diploma or GED in todays America?Unacceptable!Not having a job and saying you can't find one?100% Bullsh1t!As it was already stated,there are plenty of jobs out there,you just may need to work more than one to do so.Their obesity is appalling as well.You don't a car,you've got the shoe leather express-start walking!

This is not poverty,this is lazy pure and simple,someone needs to tie their picture to the Fatasss thread too.

Those two need to be slapped for being being whiny a_sshats'
:bash:

[el borracho]

i live in ohio and this is what i say......

What the hell is all over that guy's sleeve? Is that a massive pitstain? If so, the riot cops are doing him a favor by giving him a shower.

[mi35d]

I graduated from college with three degrees. The market was flooded so I was unable to get a job in my chosen profession.

I did not go on unemployment.

I did not whine and apply for government assistance.

I did not max out my credit cards and then declare bankruptcy.

I took a job as a night baker, as a photographer during the day and I worked weekends in a band. Why? Because I had bills to pay and a family to support. At other times in my adult life I've worked as a bus boy, a limo driver and as a sales associate for a marketing firm.

(The rest of my 30 years in the job market has been in the military.)

Have these jobs been glamorous? No. We're they easy? No. Boring? Yes.

But I did them again, to support my family and to be a productive member of society.

To the slugs and scumbags who think the guvmint "owes" you something, get a life. You're sucking off MY tax dollars. (And I don't want to hear crap about how you pay taxes with your 15 hour a week MickeyDees job. You get more back at the end of the tax year than you put in.)

My wife and I have had to cut back but we never went hungry nor did we expect someone else to bail us out when things were rough. We conserved where and when we needed to, limited ourselves to necessities and took any additional work that came our way as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden.

We're now doing fairly well and it pisses me off when a welfare scumnut will say, "must be nice to have money for a house and a car". Well, sh1tbag - you had the same opportunities as me. There are numerous programs out there to improve your education or trade skills and here's a thought - WORK. EARN. SAVE. LIVE.

[Rudolph]

If you have spent any meaningful time in Safeway's fresh produce section, you will know that is not so. I'm not sure how much that set at McDonald's costs but a pomegranate goes for about $2-3 a piece and persimmons aren't that cheap either. Even imported grapes (from Chile, I think) are like $4-$5 bucks a pound.

I heard a theory about 20 years ago that poor people tend to be more obese than the rich because healthy food--I guess fruits and vegetables--on the average are more expensive compared to junk food.

The funny thing is, before WW2, type-2 diabetes was rare. Degerative diseases were considered a priviledge of the rich - as the joke goes! Things like refined sugar and ice cream was too expensive for even the middle-class. We have certainly moved backwards on this one. These types of foods should never have become so common.

*And a side note, I love the way (some) Christians talk about the body being the temple and all that when the whole church board is filled with overweight middle-aged men and woman who do whatever they wish when no one sees them. When the church berated my one friend's dad for smoking, she said he too believes that it's "wrong" to smoke, but that unlike smoking, overindulgence is actually mentioned by name in The Book... needless to say, they said nothing and never mentioned it again.

[wildcat]

The funny thing is, before WW2, type-2 diabetes was rare. Degerative diseases were considered a priviledge of the rich - as the joke goes! Things like refined sugar and ice cream was too expensive for even the middle-class. We have certainly moved backwards on this one. These types of foods should never have become so common.

*And a side note, I love the way (some) Christians talk about the body being the temple and all that when the whole church board is filled with overweight middle-aged men and woman who do whatever they wish when no one sees them. When the church berated my one friend's dad for smoking, she said he too believes that it's "wrong" to smoke, but that unlike smoking, overindulgence is actually mentioned by name in The Book... needless to say, they said nothing and never mentioned it again.
It is not so much the sugar, it the corn syrup that the real evil, if we replaced that with sugar we would be a lot better off.

[wicked_hind]

I'm with you on that one, wildcat. High fructose corn syrup is practically in everything and is much more unhealthy than natural cane sugar. Back when I was working graveyard at my old job, I used to be one of those persons who would drink 8 sodas a day. For almost a year, i've dramatically gone down to having just one soda per day, if not every other day. I've gone to shopping organic, doing everything I can to avoid processed foods, and my fruit and vegetable intake has tripled. I just don't want to end up regretting the way I treated my body as I get older.

[Rudolph]

It is not so much the sugar, it the corn syrup that the real evil, if we replaced that with sugar we would be a lot better off.

I do know that sugar was actually taken off the list of specific stuffs that contribute to diabetes. It's about the amount of insulen released, which can happen from a lot of eating simply, as well. But, still all these "modern" products seem to often have more drawbacks than good. Not that I don't enjoy my McDonalds burger now and then. It's about the only good thing that came from the end of apartheid, McDonalds opening in South Africa! ;)

[wildcat]

I'm with you on that one, wildcat. High fructose corn syrup is practically in everything and is much more unhealthy than natural cane sugar. Back when I was working graveyard at my old job, I used to be one of those persons who would drink 8 sodas a day. For almost a year, i've dramatically gone down to having just one soda per day, if not every other day. I've gone to shopping organic, doing everything I can to avoid processed foods, and my fruit and vegetable intake has tripled. I just don't want to end up regretting the way I treated my body as I get older.
I been making the transition, I been out the army 2 years, and now have to break those habits, so I can get down to my target weight again, I have cut down my soda, and carbs, increase meat and fruit/veg.

[wicked_hind]

I been making the transition, I been out the army 2 years, and now have to break those habits, so I can get down to my target weight again, I have cut down my soda, and carbs, increase meat and fruit/veg.

That's great to hear, good luck! Going back to the topic, what really pisses me off is that these two women could probably make the transition to better their lives-getting a job, finishing school, changing their diet, etc.- but to me it seems that not having a job, leeching off our tax dollars, and eating fast food appears to be simpler way to live. And they expect us to show them any sympathy? Make a f**king effort, you know what I mean?

[Rudolph]

That's great to hear, good luck! Going back to the topic, what really pisses me off is that these two women could probably make the transition to better their lives-getting a job, finishing school, changing their diet, etc.- but to me it seems that not having a job, leeching off our tax dollars, and eating fast food appears to be simpler way to live. And they expect us to show them any sympathy? Make a f**king effort, you know what I mean?

Plus, they expect you to pay for their healthcare when the lifestyle catch up. Billions are truly wasted on people who just don't care what they put in their mouths (and other places).

[wicked_hind]

Forgot about the health care, thanks. I'm off to bed.

[Bushranger]

This family is a joke & they need to be sat down & told there a waste of space & they can only blame themselves for being in the situation they are in, anybody who is brought up in a first world country cant complain about not having opportunities & then bludging of the govt. They need to be taken out of the gene pool.

[Media]

Where do the **** end.. THAT is the question

Hahaha... take it easy will you, but yes they are endless:)

[Moledet]

What is their profession (the two nitwits in the picture, specifically), fatass?
I am not sure, looking at the picture I'd say that one is a bachelor in Pre Socrates philosophy and the other is yiddish singing waitress.
Now try finding them a job.

[Mordoror]

It is not so much the sugar, it the corn syrup that the real evil, if we replaced that with sugar we would be a lot better off.

yes it seems that highly modified industrialized food with low cost elements (corn syrup, hydrogenated fat and a arm long list of additives) is one of the major element (by the qualitify and being unexpensive the quantity absorbed) that leads to a high percentage of fat people with all the metabolic diseases associated

i think this is a fu*** endless hellish circle : you are somewhat fat, it becomes more difficult to get out of your coach and go for a job or a run or sport or whatever. So as you move only seldomly and you are poor because not having job, you buy high caloric low cost junk food and become more and more fat and lazy .... there is no end to that (until the coffin)

[Rudolph]

Although the French are believed to me the slimmest of the Western countries... true, in your opinion? Apparently people eat slower, take longer lunches, eat whatever they want, but in smaller helpings, and walk a lot.

[Mordoror]

Although the French are believed to me the slimmest of the Western countries... true, in your opinion? Apparently people eat slower, take longer lunches, eat whatever they want, but in smaller helpings, and walk a lot.
in fact percentage of fatty personns is growing (especially among the poors and the youngs) and a lot of alert signals are given

yes the French used to be slim (perhaps not the slimest but slim anyway) because they use to have three meals a day at regular hours (which means no junk food eaten every 15 minutes by small quantities but which are highly caloric)
And european cities (french ones especially) are not done to be travelled quickly and easilly by car but they are small enough that you can travel them by foot or public transport ... so yes people walk a lot

however as i said those habits are on a way to be lost
young are more and more fond of junk food and bad food habits because of laziness (it is easy to put a pizza in a micro wave oven than to make a prepared cooked meal). The main difference that save us yet is that it is still somewhat expensive to eat at a fast food instead of eating properly at home

anyway, as said above percentage of fatty personns is growing in poor populations as good food become more and more expensive and industrial food (bad nutritionnal qualities, rich in sugar and fat) becomes less and less expensive

so yes there is a correlation between poverty and fattiness
some states showed (to my sruprise) that even in some countries in Africa percentage of fatty personns is growing. The same in south america or SE Asia

[Marshall_Nord]

I's hard to believe someone of that age can be that utterly stupid.


I call BS. It think it was scripted. After all, you can't have every contestant be smarter than a 5th grader. Whats the entertainment in that?

One of my friend’s wife tells a story about an idiot college room mate.

They were playing a trivia board game and the answer to the questions was “Russian” and the dingbat got the answer right. She then confessed how surprised she was since she didn’t know anything about South America! :cantbeli:

Yes, out-of-touch people such as Ms. Airhead do exist - and they can vote!

[California Joe]

Pretty sure this thread has run it's course and a concensus has been reached.