The KALB reporter kept looking around the parking lot of the I-49 Welcome Center as if she expected to see Jesse Jackson's convoy pulling in at any minute, and this was the 10 pm (Central Time) newscast. Seems like an odd time to make a grand entrance. There have been lots of buses at the Welcome Center, but Alexandria is just a rest stop on the way to Texas. The passengers disembark and are escorted to an area where they can choose from donated clothing and other necessities.
I decided to go to the local Wal-Mart this afternoon. I wanted to see for myself what the mood is in town and what people are buying. I noticed the customers were purchasing a lot of bedding, towels, stacking storage cubes, small appliances, large quantities of diapers and toilet paper. It looked like some people have long-term houseguests, some people are setting up housekeeping in a new place, and other people are purchasing items for donation.
There were two distinct types of refugees (yes, this is a perfectly acceptable term because it's what they call themselves): people who are already familiar with the welfare system and previously self-sufficient people who have never needed help before.
I observed some women who were nicely dressed in one checkout line who started a conversation amongst themselves. They discovered that they were all from Metairie and immediately starting trading information. I noticed the credit cards they used to pay for their purchases. I then wondered how close those cards were to being maxed-out and what would become of these ladies when they couldn't use them any more. One aisle over, I looked at some women in ragged clothes with small children who had Louisiana Purchase food stamp cards. I realized it's the beginning of the month so they probably just got their benefits. Finally, an elderly woman caught my eye. She also had a Louisiana Purchase card, but instead of having her name and case number embossed on it, the card had blank spaces to fill in information. It looked like some caseworker at the Office of Family Support had simply taken a marker and scrawled her name across the top of the card (not surprising, considering the Alexandria OFS is now open 24 hours to process emergency food stamp claims). The cashier had to help the lady because she didn't know how to use the card.
I keep thinking of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" -- it perfectly describes this situation!
A lady i work with here in houston says her sister works for LA welfare dept and that that is exactly what they are doing giving out food stamps without i.d.,,,if you say you are a refugee they have no choice but to take your word for it. They are giving 30 days worth of stamps,,,,
Yes one of the greatest songs ever!
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?