The Working Poor (They are the forgotten ones unemployment numbers don't track)

Chicago Tribune via Yahoo News ^ | April 25, 2004 | Tim Jones

[jern]

THE WORKING POOR Sun Apr 25, 9:40 AM ET Add Top Stories - Chicago Tribune to My Yahoo!

By Tim Jones Tribune national correspondent

The food line begins to form during the sunrise chill, more than two hours before the metal gates to the Care United Methodist Outreach pantry open.

Hundreds of people like Theresa Ware arrive early because they fear the boxes of food stacked in neat rows will be gone by the time they push their rusty grocery carts to the head of the hours-long line. Ware keeps an eye on her watch because she can't afford to be late for work, not even if the reason is to pick up food.

"This is a have-to case for us. It's humiliating," said Ware, 49, who makes $7.50 an hour working the afternoon shift at a nursing home. This recent visit was one of two food pantry stops she and her unemployed husband, Rocky, make every month.

"We shouldn't have to do this," she said.

Excerpted.

[eleni121]

This recent visit was one of two food pantry stops she and her unemployed husband, Rocky, make every month.

Maybe "Rocky" should get off his fat ass and get a job too. Then they would make 14 dollars a month, but since they give out food for free, these two freeloaders would still go and get it.

[cyborg]

I don't get it. When I was taking the early morning train to Stony Brook, there were day laborers begging for jobs off the street corner. Sounds like excuse making to me.

[kenth]

Or, at least, why doesn't the husband go pick up the food? Is he completely useless?

[eleni121]

In know what you mean...even in western NY one of the worst (and most highly taxed areas in the US) areas for employment there are firms that are begging for workers.

This article is pure theater...limousine liberals getting gushy about the preoletariat.

[jocon307]

"Maybe "Rocky" should get off his fat ass and get a job too."

Hey, he's probably pretty skinny, they're practically starving you know. It's all Bush's fault!

But please, more immigrants, please! That IS Bush's fault.

[cardinal4]

Everywhere I look these days people are hiring. This is just an indirect Bush hit piece..

[cyborg]

Oh yes it is definately a Bush hit piece. There are PLENTY of jobs, just maybe not the ones people want. I'd rather shovel crap than go on the dole.

[goodnesswins]

MOST poor people have POOR HABITS.

[ChiMark]

After the Tribune came today I discarded the front page as usual. It has become a forum for the liberal whiners.

[valkyrieanne]

The rising American serf class. Welcome to the global economy.

[FITZ]

But maybe Rocky is over 50 and McDonalds prefers hiring kids. There is such a thing as age discrimination and the jobs don't tend to go to people over a certain age range. I know of families where the mom or dad were looking just as desperately for jobs as their kid and the kid was hired way before.

[tiamat]

The Mac Rat here LIKES hiring seniors...

Not that over 50 is "senior"!

[eleni121]

If McDonald's won't take him he could try at any number of places that will.

As you know, there are many excuses that people come up with for not working. In the final analysis there is no law requiring him to work...but there should be no law requiring taxpayers to support him.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Wow, the worst Bush unemployment rate is equal to the best Clinton unemployment rate.

Don't you

LOVE

the what ifs...

What if Rocky has poor hygiene habits, like not washing his hands after using the restroom?
What if Rocky has a problem with helping himself to things which aren't his?
What if Rocky always have a problem with getting to work?

[FITZ]

It's good to see that --- I know of a homemaker whose husband left her for another --- and at age 40 with no job history in 20 years, she had a hell of time trying to find a job. She finally did get a part-time job that paid $6 an hour with no benefits and luckily for her she had child support from the over 16 year old child for a year and a half. I've never been in that situation but it really can be difficult for some people.

[MonroeDNA]

Women's lib.

[Little Bill]

It is a funny thing. My kid is a contractor, makes a six figure salary doing jobs that bigger contractors do not want to do. He treats his workers well and pays them well but he has a problem getting people who want to show up.

It is a nitch business, get in get done, you can not drum up work sitting on a backhoe because your operator got sick. His view is that there plenty of work but no one wants to work.

[unixfox]

Ware, 49, who makes $7.50 an hour working the afternoon shift at a nursing home.

This must be one of those jobs that most Americans just don't want. Maybe she should hand it over to an ILLEGAL and "feel" good about herself.

[cardinal4]

The Mcdonalds on rte 6 in Barnstable, MA starts its employees at 8.00. There is plenty of work out there..