That's one vote against me as moderator. Let's see what others think.

I've heard various stories about you and want to hear from your mouth whether this will be a democracy or a dictatorship? Thanks for your time.

Angie, it looks to me like your overrun, this tribe is FOR POOR PEOPLE, not for people like you to try to tear us down, we get enough of that on a day to day basis. Shut up, get out, or your going to get kicked out anyways.

this is another vote for Steven.

YEEESSSSSS

I vote for Steve as moderator,

Modotti here, been away from Tribe for nearly two years, well, last post I believe was in 2007, so, well anyway, got email from Steve and read what was going on, briefly,

last I was here this blog was somewhat dead. I stepped away from activism/writing on Tribe because I needed to, also, I deal with poverty in my own life, and you know how that is,

sometimes its just a matter of survival and when you are just trying to survive, activism, even writing can be a luxury. Been there, done that, sure we will be there soon again if where my husband works, they lay off [and they are talking major wide lay offs].

I have, in the area where I am at, continued to be very vocal/active on economic/poverty/homelessness issues and cases [not just issues] and also, working still on women's rights [human rights], and the very real Threat to those, including here in the West. I'm strictly 'independent' now,

let go of the groups and the isms, for personal reasons and some, for political ones. Anyway, it doesn't surprise me to see attacks on this tribe forum, they existed before, if not blatant attacks then that type of mockery that the poor and struggling confront on a day to day basis,

and if not blatant abuse/mockery then the whole denial thing. Which is worse, its hard to say, depending on the moment I suppose, what one is dealing with. What we Don't see a lot of is encouragement,

however, not a lot of encouragement when life necessities are right in front of you as number one priority now is there? Just to let you know, at this time, I am in a position of comfort, when I say comfort, I mean, we have a home, food, heat, [no medical though and I direly need it, but I'm coping alright],

but I haven't always been this way, and we soon may be right back there again, I've been homeless, with two kids, pregnant at the time and I worked the entire time, it was, pay daycare keep the job and lose place to live or keep place, lose the job and lose it all,

funny, how neither was an option because I eventually lost both, work went down to temp due to not being able to pay daycare. I wasn't married at the time, I am now, which, yes Did help [and I could write a whole book on that],

but, he too was single parent so basically we 'joined' poverty, I suppose you could call it, in ways it helps, in a lot of ways, it doesn't, and the older we get, with the changes [like retirement one day and both of us straddled/indentured by student loans, stupidest thing I ever did though at the time thought it was good idea/also back up against the wall and for me it was either work at low wage/homeless or go back to college and have a chance at maybe something better, of course, they don't tell you about the reality of age discrimination, outsourcing and LOL, that those once high paying jobs are now paying less than Walmarts],

well anyway, life changes. And that is what we are seeing more of, life changes and more and more winding up, where we are at [or where I was once at and could very well be again]. And knowing and being the pragmatist or maybe Realist that I am,

while I hear promises of change and all, I know, that things are going to get a lot worse and that the problems aren't that easy to fix, even if, you redistributed everything...because they are intertwined with so much more, a labrynth (sic) that didn't evolve overnight, it took years in the making,

that, and resources. Stretched thin, no doubt,

what I do see, however, is people, not politicians but people, average people making small changes, not enough to like, completely overhaul the system but enough to where, its making some impact and putting a dent,

if anything, giving those who are down hope and encouragement and in this time we need that, more than ever. What we don't need, as many of you have said, is those who, bored or who are just completely ignorant or maybe a tad bit touched upstairs,

coming onto what few avenues there is for low income/poor people to voice their concerns, their fears, their hopes and trials and accomplishments. So, first of all, thank you Steve for offering to be moderator, and for staying around here and keeping/or helping to keep this group together.

Second of all, to all you here, glad you are still writing here and sticking it out, of course just writing that I'm thinking, o.k. That sounds a tad arrogant, like What choice do you have really when your back is up against the wall and you have not a damn thing to lose,

and when you KNOW, that you've busted your head up against that damn wall so many times and there is no just reason to continue being knocked down, etc.,

I haven't forgotten, you never do you know, even if, you come out of it and make due, you don't forget, ever....it stays with you, it really does. It changes you,

the hardest thing for me is getting back to who I was before I lost it all, that innocence, its the best term I can call it,

that state of innocence like, before I knew, just how damn ugly it really is, on the inside, that underground...I've been, working on educating those who Don't understand,

and butting heads with the likes of Angie and worse, for a couple of years, more really, and sometimes I have to say, I find those types, much easier to deal with,

than the ones who help but who help, for 'agenda's' and God knows, I've had my run ins with them...can't say who I detest the most on many days.

Well, in the meantime, while we have some funds, not much but some, we are in process of getting camper, a cheap, really old camper but one where, when the SHTF we at least, for a time, can live in it, we are a family of five.

Working to set up some assistance communes and running into the problem with scammers, and its Really bad right now, Christmas was a nightmare, so many won't help now due to the professional scammers out there that are bleeding what little helpnets there are dry,

not so much with food banks, but with individuals [who offer help with rent, utilities, clothes, etc and usually working through Craigslist/online lists and so forth],

so, finding individuals [and usually its people who are barely on the edge themselves, know what I mean], who want to help, and who do, with what little they can. But there simply isn't any resources, and people are hanging on tight,

the ones that have the resources, some flat don't care,

some do, like one family, who owned their home, took in family members, with children, because of job layoffs/unemployment running out/evictions, etc., and well,

the City, tells this family, due to Code Enforcements you can't house that many people, out they have to go, one being their mother, who was eighty something years old.

So, not only is there no resources, there are LAWS, many by well intended liberals, not just right wingers mind you, that, are putting even MORE obstacles in getting help, and in giving it,

and in some states, its far worse than others. In Florida, you can be arrested for giving a homeless person a sandwich...

folks this is outright Demonization of the poor in the same way that Jews were demonized in Hitler's Germany. Its no different, and it is, yes, I will loudly and firmly say,

a planned genocide, [and I can prove that, done enough research on the up scale of things, from our own law schools/judge appointees and appeals courts, about the eugenics being planned and how they term us as PROLES, a deragatory (sic) term used to define poor/working poor people in America [and in Europe too]].

This shouldn't be shocking however to any who have any historical knowledge of the Depression, how farmers who were forced into tenant farming were then forced off lands and lured into working as slaves, literally and to their own deaths, slow starvation/children especially,

what Hanna Ardent spoke of, the 'removal for progress', that's how totalitarianism works, be it left, right, Corporatist,

its the same ends, just different means.

And today, the poor globally are getting the brute of it, I would say too, women as well [because statistically speaking women make up 80% of the world's poorest of the poor with children].

I'll keep in touch, I don't write much anymore due to time limits and surviving myself, and don't know how long we'll have internet...its been touch and go this past year. I'm self employed due to injury and its well, you know how that is,

its not dependable, not in this economy today. Because of this too, we've been studying survivalist skills, I think, it really is a must, in fact, what did save many in the last depression Was knowing those skills,

it was the Hoovervilles that people really suffered. And in our society today, other than a few militias and those who own land, not many know survival skills,

they may, however, be a very real necessity. And in our urban areas, what is sufficient in rural, doesn't necessarily work in urban, add to that, the problems with violence, etc. That is increasing,

maybe time to time I will write on that here, there are locales in this nation where its urban warfare and third world conditions, and if not for a few who speak out,

they'd be very invisible.

Why, Steve, this group is so necessary, because the number one tool of genocide against the poor is forcing them into invisibility,

once they are invisible they are unprotected, not only that, but the tyranny of governments increases, the poor are often the 'guinni pig' for either,

expansionism [why terrorists and theocratic imperialist thrive on the poor/exploiting them] and for eugenics, social engineering, and yes,

even Revolutions. [who better to be fodder than the poor, who so need that vanguard right? Been there, done that too, usually comes out worse for the poor sadly]

Anyway I've said my piece...

Angie, either come up with a logical and well thought out argument, or don't bother. From what I've seen thus far, all you've offered is pure prejudice,

any facts you base this on or just ignorant prejudice? And if so, how does it work into your whole view of macro-economics? Do you really believe, that ignoring the poor/the state of economy that, somehow you'll benefit? How? Economies don't just trickle down if you want to USE that theory,

they also trickle up, why its called, supply and demand.

Allow poverty to fester like a cancerous wound and eventually you have a backwards ass nation-state,

feudalism fails too. Why, capitalism came about in the first place,

but capitalism, inherited many hierarchies of feudalism, [so does communism, that's another topic altogether], so in other words, to say,

to hell with the poor, shows complete ignorance of economic theory in general, including if you're capitalist.

Modotti

yup. another late vote for steve.

I know that was unnecessary. Just posting "fuck you too, Angie" seemed abet childish.