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KaryninMiami

(3,073 posts)

14. If you have HBO- try to catch Hard Times on Long Island

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 07:52 PM

Jul 2012

As with this 60 Minutes piece, I was blown away - both are harsh reminders for us not to forget what is really going on in this country. Today's piece- as a Floridian was so heartbreaking and as a former Long Islander (grew up there- moved out in 75 to Boston), the HBO piece was beyond jarring. People in their 50's who did everything right-and by the rules. Great and happy childhoods, went to good colleges, some got graduate degrees, got good jobs- teachers, financial services, a chiropractor, company manager, white and blue collar professionals. Bought nice homes on LI, lived really great lives- vacations, etc. Now they are all unemployed- many since the late 90s. About to loose their homes, (or already have), shopping at foodbanks, using foodstamps, trying to get any type of job (one guy got turned down for a Fed Ex delivery truck at the holidays- overqualified). Many a step away from being homeless. Devastating and powerful.

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Is anyone watching 60 Minutes? [View all] Beacool Jul 2012 OP

One out of four children is in deep poverty Warpy Jul 2012 #1

I agree. Beacool Jul 2012 #7

Not to the same degree though. Bandit Jul 2012 #58

Bingo. Scuba Jul 2012 #48

I've been saying this for a while. Beacool Jul 2012 #63

Yes, it's sad. But isn't this a rerun? I could swear I'd seen that before. Also the Van Gogh segment Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #2

Yeah. Nt DevonRex Jul 2012 #3

No, this is a new segment. Beacool Jul 2012 #4

They did a whole segment on the truck kids, but this is just excerpts with lots of new material Stinky The Clown Jul 2012 #8

The Health Care fight is at least partly for the poor, also all of the young, and middle-&-lower patrice Jul 2012 #5

There is no real representation in this country. It is so sad how we are lied to about the socalled Lint Head Jul 2012 #6

I think that the American Dream started dying decades ago. Beacool Jul 2012 #11

Nice phrase bongbong Jul 2012 #19

I would tweek it just a tad Oilwellian Jul 2012 #21

I don't know, there may have been a bipartisan effort on that one. Beacool Jul 2012 #23

Semi-bi-partisan bongbong Jul 2012 #28

I think it died when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. SunSeeker Jul 2012 #20

Yes, we can thank people like DLC Hillary.... antigop Jul 2012 #33

and isn't it amazing how the DLC Hillary supporters are silent about this? antigop Jul 2012 #52

crickets n/t antigop Jul 2012 #60

The "American Dream" is a myth for.... tex-wyo-dem Jul 2012 #41

"where you fear both the criminals and the cops" Stinky The Clown Jul 2012 #9

Cops routinely harass the homeless. Beacool Jul 2012 #10

In most jurisdictions, vagrancy is a crime Stinky The Clown Jul 2012 #12

Cities don't care. Beacool Jul 2012 #13

If you have HBO- try to catch Hard Times on Long Island KaryninMiami Jul 2012 #14

No, I don't have HBO. Beacool Jul 2012 #17

I'm from Long Island onlyadream Jul 2012 #29

Oh, my!!! Beacool Jul 2012 #34

I know people who are living that story Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2012 #44

Absolutely heartbreaking. Sparkly Jul 2012 #15

For Gawd Sakes, gael Jul 2012 #16

You have no idea how any of these people voted. JoeyT Jul 2012 #22

Hey JoeyT gael Jul 2012 #36

Well the main problem with Republicans is their lack of empathy. JoeyT Jul 2012 #42

Our forefathers gael Jul 2012 #45

You can't judge a whole state like that. Beacool Jul 2012 #24

Oligarchy gael Jul 2012 #35

There have not been so many children living in poverty Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #18

Stories like this only make rich Republicans cling tighter to their piggybanks. reformist2 Jul 2012 #25

The last time "The Poor" were mentioned as a major Democratic Party Issue in campaign 2008.... bvar22 Jul 2012 #26

It's a shame that he ended up being such a weasel. Beacool Jul 2012 #27

It is curious that Democrats with moral failings are called weasels and thusly R. Daneel Olivaw Jul 2012 #31

Edwards went far beyond the average "moral failing". Beacool Jul 2012 #38

Cheated on a wife with cancer. Like Gingrich? R. Daneel Olivaw Jul 2012 #54

Gingrich is vile. Beacool Jul 2012 #56

And yet he didn't resign for being vile. R. Daneel Olivaw Jul 2012 #62

Do you judge Bill Clinton and John Kennedy by the same standard? bvar22 Jul 2012 #61

Maybe so, but our First Lady is "hot"! nt Bonobo Jul 2012 #40

I was very impressed with the young lady and her outlook on life. Cronkite Jul 2012 #30

Yes, that was good to hear. Beacool Jul 2012 #32

We have a country where the six WalMart heirs control as much wealth as the coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #37

Just as the age of monarchs ended, so will the age of tycoons. reformist2 Jul 2012 #39

Or that people should not enjoy a life of privilege merely by virtue coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #46

Where are the jobs, Mr. Boehnor? Major Hogwash Jul 2012 #43

I watched it. LeftTurnOnly Jul 2012 #47

Yeah, pretty depressing stuff. Beacool Jul 2012 #50

marking to watch later. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #49

Thank you. Beacool Jul 2012 #51

Why don't Hillary supporters hold her accountable for her statements on outsourcing? (Post #33). antigop Jul 2012 #53

tapping foot....still waiting. n/t antigop Jul 2012 #55

Statistics like "1 out of 4 children in poverty" show me how out of touch I am with reality aikoaiko Jul 2012 #57

Yes, that's almost 25% of all children. Beacool Jul 2012 #59