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Tag(s): Bankruptcy; Corporations; Corruption; Economic; Family; Homeless; Meltdown; Money; People; Starvation; (more...) Strength; Truth (less...)
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May 2, 2008 at 19:30:36

I Faced Hunger Today. Did You?

by Barbara Peterson (Posted by Barbara Peterson) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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What I want to know is how far above third-world status do you think you are? How long before the price of housing, gasoline, food, clothing, and everything else on earth that the corporations can snap up and offer for sale, goes so high that you simply don’t have enough money left to eat? Maybe you could skip breakfast and lunch. It is easier to go to bed on a full stomach than an empty one. How long are you prepared to do that? Forever? Are you prepared for a completely changed lifestyle that doesn’t include regular meals? If you haven’t asked yourself the following question before now, do it - NOW! ‘How long can I survive a prolonged depression?’

Just ask the neighbor you have been ignoring for the last year or so how it feels to go hungry. Have you noticed how he’s getting a bit ragged around the edges? He’s lost some weight, don’t you think? And his clothes! They are a bit on the dingy side. And he doesn’t smell so good either. I wonder what is wrong with him. Maybe you should call Social Services...or maybe you are starting to experience a bit of hunger, and after experiencing it for yourself, you start to recognize it in others.

Maybe you should go over to his place and ask if he is okay, and if there is some way you can help. Maybe a pot of chicken soup would stave off the hunger for a day or two. Cook it at home, because his electricity has been turned off for non-payment. Make all you can afford to because he will be hungry. You see, he wakes up in the morning wondering what will happen when the bank forecloses. He has lost his job because the company went bankrupt, yet miraculously turned up in a foreign country where the wages are low and environmental concerns are an oxymoron. Not only has he lost the income from his employment, but his medical insurance went bye-bye with the job, and the retirement? Forget it. History. “In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a company liquidates its assets to pay its creditors and ceases to exist. Therefore, it is likely your pension and health plans will be terminated” (DOL, 2003).

Ask your neighbor how long he has been going without money. While you’re there, ask him how long it has been since he has eaten. There's a saying that if you go three minutes without air, three days without water, or three weeks without food, you die. I don’t know how accurate that is, but I don’t want to experience it firsthand, at least not just yet. I have things I still want to do, don’t you? Doesn’t your neighbor?

Now ask yourself how long you could go without money. Remember, the banking system runs the world as we know it. With money, you are in debt to creditors. Without money, you are at the mercy of those same creditors. What do you do when you can no longer fulfill your obligations to these creditors? You are at their mercy, and they have no mercy. So, treat them like the foul carrion-eaters they are; get rid of them, and don’t invite them back. Do it now. The longer you are in their clutches, the harder it becomes to stay afloat. When you have no money, you are at the mercy of those who have no mercy, be it the creditors or everything and everyone else around you.

Your house, car, electricity, water, Internet, phone, fax, food, household cleaning products, personal hygiene products, clothing, and everything else that we Americans are all used to, cost money. Without money, you go without all of the essentials you once thought you needed. Ask that neighbor about his priorities. Ask him what the first thing was that he gave up when the money was not there. What was the second thing to go? How about the third or fourth? Ask your starving neighbor how he handled the slide into oblivion. Ask him how it feels to wake up in the morning hungrier than when he went to sleep the night before. Better yet, wait until he is homeless, then ask him how it feels to have lost everything he owned while his neighbors hid behind locked doors, the Social Services button on speed-dial. Get a good, clear picture of that phone on your nightstand with the speed-dial button looking a little worse for the wear.

Angry? Good. Got a clear picture of your enemy? Good. So, just who or what is this enemy? Do you know? Anger has to be directed somewhere. Can we direct it at the corrupt system we are living in? Sure, and the power elite that have the upper hand in this corrupt system, because they created it. They know what is happening, they planned it! But they cannot control all events at all times. Perfect they are not, just look at the players. But it is true that they have very smart people working for them who figure out what to do next so they don’t have to do any of the real mental work themselves. After all, money can buy almost anything.

The people controlling the present-day economic meltdown are very formidable, but these vipers are not your personal enemy, and their plan to control the world’s population via economic chaos, along with the reckless worldwide corruption of food, water, and natural resources by their multinational corporations, will eventually backfire on them because no man can think to control everything without some very serious results. These so-called ‘elite’ vipers cannot escape the consequences of their actions no matter how much money they use to make things ‘disappear.’ When all is said and done, all they are left with is moral bankruptcy, nothing more.

Meanwhile, you have to survive this nightmare you are being thrown into against your will. To do that, you must know who your real enemy is. The enemy is not your neighbor who is trying to survive just like you. This enemy is much more personal than the crooks in the White House and their masters.

When all is lost, the enemy you face is staring at you from a reflection in the bathroom mirror. Get used to it.

Now that you have defined the true enemy, the real question becomes, just what will you be left with when all is said and done and the economy collapses in a heap right in front of you? Where do you go, how do you get there, and most of all, how do you convince the enemy in the mirror that there is something to live for?

Aaron Tippin sings,

You've got to stand for something
or you'll fall for anything.

You've got to be your own man,
not a puppet on a string.

Never compromise what's right,
and uphold your family name.

You've got to stand for something
or you'll fall for anything.

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5 comments

Margaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Margaret BassettMargaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Good article, Barbara

I have a hunch I'm old enough to be your mother. But that doesn't mean I have better answers than you. Just for starters, what do you think will happen to us "recipients" who worked for, paid into, and enjoy Social Security? It's a numbers game. No one could have told me in1987 that I would be around 20 plus years later. Blame me or blame good doctors, Medicare has made 90 the new number to celebrate in Senior housing. We octagenarians have lost status.

This is not about my peer group, but about yours and your children's. The aging of the world is a major new wrinkle in the equation. I look at what has happened since I went on Social Security. Ronald Reagan was ready for his second term back then. Carter and then Reagan made "exponential" a common word when discussing inflation, and we are in for more of the same these days.

To get around the inflation problem--in classic economic theory--supply must increase and demand must decrease. Let's go for the decrease option. What if? Children bought no electronics for a year. Adults avoided eating in restaurants unless extremely hungry with no other source of food. You, I and everyone you know bought no new clothes for year. And other contrary suggestions?

Then we would surely be forced to help kin and neighbors who really were hungry. As manufacturing decreased they would surely be out of jobs. Well, I know you see my point. To taper off of runaway consumerism has consequences. I guess that's what talking heads mean by a "soft landing." Be careful about slowing the I-wannas too quickly. In the back of their minds, they seem to think the 1930's are upon us. I have a different take. There are so many more human beings who see the possibility of a roof over their heads and three squares in their bellies.

This is not your FDR recession/depression specter. It is a case where the global communities are leveling their playing fields. Yes, I'm about to arise from this keyboard to take a few cans of vegetables to our residents' food pantry. I can still afford that. But what I spend the rest of the time doing is trying to convince the newer generations that you don't have to click on every button and hope the debit card is accepted. That would be a good start to feeding Americans and the rest of humanity, IMHO.

by Margaret Bassett (31 articles, 1969 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 1282 comments) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 9:04:40 AM

Barbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Barbara PetersonBarbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Hi Margaret

You wrote:

Just for starters, what do you think will happen to us "recipients" who worked for, paid into, and enjoy Social Security?

I wish I knew. I read today somewhere that illegal aliens are now allowed to get Social Security benefits. My mom worked most of her life, and wasn't allowed to "double dip." This meant that she was only allowed her civil service retirement, which amounted to a little over $900 per month. Collecting SS was considered "double dipping." She is probably rolling over in her grave right about now.

by Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 9:46:07 PM

Just a plain working person that is sick of the lies and our ego driven complacency about those lies.
arlen custerJust a plain working person that is sick of the lies and our ego driven complacency about those lies.

Margaret think about this a min.

Yes a very good article so why can't you face facts? Stopping buying all this crap today could not have the consequences you suggest. All that junk people buy is no longer made in this country. So Americans won't loose good jobs if no one buys it. WE lost our good jobs long ago to corporate greed. Isn't that exactly how this country's economy has gotten into this mess?

by arlen custer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 279 comments) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 4:52:01 PM

Graduated Class of 1965, Hueneme High in Southern California, when I feel there was a large split in society between those for the status quo and those for a better world. I also have 5 plus years of university units with no degree. Activism and politics entered my life just before Bush I. I am a single mother (never married) of 2 adult daughters (ages 38 and 31) one a brittle diabetic since age 4 requiring a life altering amount of hospitalizations for 12 years. I presently live in the Lagun...

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ljsGraduated Class of 1965, Hueneme High in Southern California, when I feel there was a large split in society between those for the status quo and those for a better world. I also have 5 plus years of university units with no degree. Activism and politics entered my life just before Bush I. I am a single mother (never married) of 2 adult daughters (ages 38 and 31) one a brittle diabetic since age 4 requiring a life altering amount of hospitalizations for 12 years. I presently live in the Lagun...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Basics

I have said this before but it needs saying more. All those preparred foods are expensive and getting more so as are clothes. One of the biggest reasons I see why immigrants survive with so many banded together is that they can share food made from basic ingredients and not preparred foods.

A white sauce for noodles or cooking lentils or beans or non-instant rice can seem a daunting experience to an American. But, if one can tough it out and learn how, your food budget will go down and you will have more to share.

Here are two real easy recipes I am trying to teach ones I love who are eating in unhealthy ways trying to eat cheap. Here are two recipes, one more healthy than the other but both good: These can be made with 99 Cent Store ingredients or bought from a healthfood store as you see fit:

Lentils, rice, onions and tofu (or sausage or leftover meat of whatever kind)

In a frying pan, put in a couple tablespoons of oil (olive oil is best but whatever) then add chopped spanish onion or whatever kind was cheap and a cup of chopped celery if you have it and cook on medium until they turn shiny then dump in a couple cups of water. Then add 2 cups of uncooked lentils and a cup of rice (brown has more nutrition.) Cook this for about 30 minutes or until a piece of rice tested can be smashed easily. Lentils cook faster than brown rice and will be done when the rice is done. Either thrown in browned sausage or tofu (browned in the pan before the onions and celery) gets thrown in this cooked combo and there you have it. Give some away, freeze some -there will be lots. Won't empress anyone but high in protein and satisfying. A side of a piece of baked hard squash makes it even better.

Noodles, veges, meat with canned cream of whatever soup.

Cook noodles. When done add a can of creamed soup of some sort soup (straight from can,) then add a couple handfuls of frozen veges or leftover veges and that leftover meat or some tofu or 99 Cent store sausage. Mix it all up and heat it. You can put it in a long dish and put bread crumbs on top and toast in oven until crumbs are crunchy. Enough to share, freeze whatever. Not impressive but makes lots to share and very filling and healthy. Brown rice insead of noodles is even healthier.

Cream sauce instead of canned soup - a couple tablespoons of butter or such or even oil and a couple tablespoons of flour and mix in med saucepan until it smells toasty (will be lumpy at this stage) then put in a tablespoon of milk or water if that is all you have until it makes a pasty thing then add more milk or such until it is slightly more creamy and do it again until you have a thick sauce. Jazz it up with cheese and spices to your taster. Then dump this on the noodles instead of that can of creamed soup. Not fancy but cheap and easy and healthy with lots to share.

Another thing is to cook while the temp in your house is cool like while you make your morning coffee so that heat can be used to help heat up the house rather than fight the air conditioner in the late afternoon and later just reheat the amount needed for dinner.

This all seems so simple to those born before TV dinners but I have know people to go hungry because they did not know how or have the nerve to venture forth and do the basics. Fast food is not a necessity for life or a God given right or guaranteed in our Constitution. An old cookbook printed before the 60s will have lots of good recipes for cooking with the basic ingredients.

Sewing your own clothing or shopping at the thrift store for clothes can relieve a lot of suffering in the world too. And, how about a tomato plant and a pot of lettuce on your balcony. Fresh veges I find cause me to drive for food more often than anything else and cause spending more money on gas.

Life in the US is just not going to be the same ever again and adjusting now will make it pinch less as this economy comes down heavier on us. The more you adapt now, the less you will feel it in the future. This is not going to be easy but we can do it together sharing the love through sharing what each has to share.

by ljs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 55 comments) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 11:45:14 AM

Good tips

These are very good tips. Would you mind if I post them on my website at www.survivingthemiddleclasscrash.wordpress.com ? Or, you can go there and post them yourself under the "share ideas" tab at the top of the page. Thank you!

by Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 9:50:09 PM