Posted on 02/02/2015 2:39:47 PM PST by Kartographer
The story of a Detroit man who has been walking 21 miles a day to get to and from work for over a decade inspired a Michigan college student to launch an online campaign to buy him a car. Thanks to the generosity of strangers, the campaign has raised more than $60,000 in a day.
Since buses don't cover the entire 23-mile route, 56-year-old James Robertson spends nearly all of his free time during the week commuting to his $10.55 an hour factory job in Rochester Hills. According to the Detroit Free Press, which published a front-page story about him Sunday, Robertson begins his trek at 8 a.m. to catch buses that take him to a Troy, Mich., mall before he walks the remaining 7 miles to Schain Mold & Engineering, where he begins his 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift. And according to his boss, Robertson has a perfect attendance record.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
You know one of these days I will post something like these and not one FReeper will post “There’s something more to this” and that will be a truly heart-tugging day for me.
IF YOU WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE ARTICLE IN THE FREEP:
YOu would find that he lives with his girlfriend in a house she inherited, so is not interested in moving.
He looks healthy because every day, he has supper with the boss, whose wife makes what looks like a pretty plentiful menu.
His boss and coworkers appreciate his dedication, and his attendance record is shown as an example.
The metro Detroit area has spotty public transportation. He takes busses till the end of that line, and then walks. On his way to work, it doesn’t take him so long, the walk home is longer because some of the busses don’t run that late.
He is happy to be employed, and sounds like he’s good at what he does.
Some days (or nights) a banker in a 2014 classy car (divorced, no home life) gives him a ride-—because the banker respects the worker’s dedication.
So, he’s a working taxpayer, not taking anything from the gov. He enjoys the walk (most days).
Some of you seem to have a problem with his work ethic, and his wages. What matters is that he is NOT lazy, not collecting gov checks, and is self-dependent. I’m sorta thinking maybe some of you criticizers have been spending too much time in your LazyBoys, just looking for something to bitch about.
And major props to the student who started the fund!
He graduated high school (I read the article).
It is up over 104,000 dollars now.
if this ends up being a scam, will anyone get their money back?
No. However he and the person that put up the ad would get into trouble. The donors are out of the money.
I most certainly did read the article, and I just read it a SECOND TIME. Nowhere does it state that he lives with his girlfriend, nor does it say that he has supper with his boss.
You must be talking about a different article. I read the one linked at the top of this thread. I see now that there’s another link in one of the comments. Maybe I’ll read that one another time.
But, I most certainly did NOT question the man’s work ethic. I merely stated that there are unanswered questions. And, btw, your post didn’t answer all of them, either.
We have been presented with a dilemma; some of us are wondering about other solutions, that’s all.
In the meantime, instead of insulting people, I suggest that you LINK the article you’re referring to, the next time you take offense to a comment on this thread.
I beg your pardon? Age 56 is not “elderly.” lol
No, I haven’t reached that age yet. But I’m headed in that direction, if I’m lucky.
I did praise this man as hardworking. I merely asked about other options. As for moving to a different area, he doesn’t have to buy a house, but maybe there’s an apartment available. Because existing on two hours of sleep a night is not good for anyone at any age. And neither is living in a dangerous area, especially with a new car.
Agreed!
What really sucks is when he is 1099’d for the cost of the $60k vehicle and only makes what he does.
Hope they figure that in when they let him have it or else he will be hurting next year.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t now how to drive.
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Wrong.
Just saw him on FNC. In 2005 he bought an old ‘80-something Honda. It only held up a few months and he couldn’t afford to fix it or buy another car.
FNC also informed him and his friend who often spotted him and gave him a ride that the funding had reached $131,000.
Ain't it the truth? What's that song... Oh yes, "Lord it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way."
Damn, why didn’t I think of that?
I knew a woman named Claire who walked many miles to work in the 1960s in Sauplpa Oklahoma. From Hiawatha Street to Liberty Glass. Winters were freezing and windy. Summers were hot and sizzling. But she had 4 kids to feed. They lived in a tiny house that was probably 1 or 2 bedroom next door to my grandma. They were really good people. We were all poor back then, we all drove old cars. For example in college 1969-73 I drove a 1954 Plymouth Savoy and I was thankful to have it! No one had money to buy decent cars for themselves and no way we could buy a car for someone else. I remember Claire’s daughters always had clean faces, clothes, hair and lots of bows in their hair. When it was time to clean the cemetery after memorial day, etc., Claire helped with the cleaning up and was able to keep a lot of the bows from the floral bouquets. It worked well for her and for the cemetery. I thought it was kinda creepy back then but now I think it was smart and frugal.
At least for now you don’t have to pay for health insurance for employees who are illegals, so of course these jobs will all go to illegals!
NOT TWENTY ONES MILES EACH WAY EVERY DAY!!!! He isn’t walking it because he wants to....
I worked at 12 without pay. Then later graduated to 25 cents an hour baby sitting for some of the worst brats in town. Later I worked for 25 cents an hour at Humes Drug store after school, 9th grade. Back then 25 cents bought you a burger at Tastee Freeze YUM!
55 is elderly, that is when the senior citizens discounts start! I will be 64 this month which brings to mind.... Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?!?!??!
Maybe the donors paid the taxes on it too!
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