...some of the news stories that come up.

While that is understandable, what about the stories that really aren't making news??

What about all the families in this country who don't know where their next meal is going to come from?

What about all the people who have lost their jobs???

What about the people who have lost their homes??

There are hundreds upon thousands of people out of work. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are homeless.

The ' news ' channels pay lip service to some of these problems. But yet, when something like " Balloon Boy " pops up, the " news " channels jump in feet first. No real research done. In any other " crisis " the news channels seem to have almost every kind of ' expert ' available to dissect the occurrence. They couldn't find ONE guy or gal bright enough to know that the balloon wouldn't have been able to even take off if the kid had been on it??

In the meantime, more people lost their homes. More families fell into poverty because a family member lost their job.

Instead of focusing on the mindless crap that passes for news, I want this thread to focus on some of the more important problems in this country.

I don't want anyone bashing Obama, or Bush, or whoever else. As far as I am concerned, it's been a combination of things ( including almost complete apathy on the part of the majority of people in this country ) that have gotten us where we are.

I want to see the good things that people do to help.

I want to see what people would do, if put in the position of being able to actually help.

I had an idea , one that Dove is doing I think. As a female, I tend to see females as having alot of untapped,,,influence. One place Id like to see things get stronger is at home, in the family.

There are so many broken homes and broken marriages and people, in my opinion, arent matching up for the right reasons anymore. People seem to have less self pride and respect. I really would like to start with the young girls in school. I believe if they demanded or expected more from boys,, boys would deliver. from that situation women could also expect men to deliver and perhaps so many of us wouldnt be raising children alone without any example of healthy relationships for them to follow.

I would love to set up workshops across the country, where celebs make guest appearances, sans makeup , hair and fancy clothes. Show these young women that true beauty isnt whats on tv but what is already inside of them. I think it would be a boost for these glamorous celebs to be average and to give the school girls the limelight and the credit for being beautiful themselves. Teach them to love themselves as themselves and not feel like they need to be anyone else. We could really get back to having stronger families but we have to start somewhere and I really wish I had the resources to start with our young girls.

I see all those commercials with Maureen Mccormack or Sally Struthers for children overseas, I would really like to see someone start a program like that for americas homeless and hungry children. The ones that you hear about living on the streets or in abandoned houses. It would be nice if celebs spent as much time adopting american children as they do adopting overseas kids.

I really do think that would be a great idea. But why even bother with celebrities.

Why couldn't ANY woman go into these schools, armed with pictures of the celebs ' before and after ' airbrushing? Let these young ladies know what it means to respect themselves by showing them reality.

I think a lot of the problem stems from the fact that young women aren't actually being given that message AT ALL.

Don't rely on the celebrities to do it. The parents are the ones that need to start sending the message that beauty is the person, not the ' look '.

Free medical care if needed by the people laid off. I would volunteer but you have to have an organization and a Doctor for orders.
These people are really hurting and cannot affford the huge COBRA payments for insurance.

Those commercials drive me absolutely bugshit.

I can totally understand wanting to help the less fortunate..but why not concentrate a little more about the children in this country??

I have heard people say it's because this is the richest country in the world.

Try telling that to a child who is hungry.

Now see..this one I agree with as well.

I am all for insuring the people who can't afford it.

When I think about it..I kinda wonder if one of the reasons people don't talk about this kind of thing as much is because they feel powerless to do anything about the problems.

I know that, for me, the problems I mentioned here seem overwhelming. It's very difficult to believe that any one person can make that much of a difference.

But the thing is, even if ONE person can't truly make a difference, several hundred or thousand people, all doing something at the same time ( even if not doing the same thing ) really CAN make a huge difference.

I live in a small town where to my knowledge we have no homeless. I am probly wrong, but I do try to help people when they need it, if it is at all possible. Unfortunately i am one of the people that struggles to make ends meet and have on occasion wondered where my next meal will come from. During such times, I remind myself that i am still somewhat better off than the homeless people out there.

In my town they do have services for the homeless but those were in place before the economy went bad.
There are people that have never been without a job, enough food, etc. Many people are too proud to ask for help. The services that were already in existence are used by people that know the system and how to work it.
I guess we have to identify those in need and help them find services but how do you do that??

I do the best possible by offering my computer to people looking for work. They can fill out online applications and search jobs. Sometimes I offer transportation or cash/gas in exchange for help. I have RA and can't do heavy lifting. Most of the time people do not know where to get help. I'm living in a very poor county at the moment and will be back in Orlando by November. Sometimes all it takes it pointing them in the right direction and doing phone work to find help.

One thing that bothered me recently is a neighbor who went shopping with me at WalMart. She had to fill a presciption and wanted tomatoes. Why buy a tasteless imported tomato because it is convenient when you can stop on the way home and support a local business selling fresh produce? She found out the produce was locally grown, fresh and cheaper. I helped a few people change that habit recently when they lost transportation. Take time to support local people.

Some communities advertise work for a day cleaning up your community and you get free tickets to a theme park. Encourage companies to donate free service or goods for helping in the community.

Another problem is people who are having financial difficulties feel embarrassed or isolated. Communication and support is important. Sometimes you can make too much food by mistake and turn it around to help me out...can't stand to waste food. Invite people over for coffee and snacks just to talk and accidentally make too much. Send them home with extra food. That works with outdoor cooking when you invite people to join in. Cook extra and ask them to help by taking some home. This way you do not embarrass them. Pretend to buy the wrong pet food and give it to someone who is trying to keep a pet. This worked for me with a family member who was out of work for a few months.

We are in this recession together so we can take time to help someone get out and meet other people who may know of a job opening. Communities are not as tight today and people keep to themselves. When people are having difficulty they need to get together with other people. Exchange ideas and tips to stretch money.

Swap skills. I have offered to do alterations and mend clothing for a neighbor who helps with small repairs.

There are ways to help each other during rough times.

Those are great ideas. Networking is important for so many reasons. People have this false idea that those in high positions got there just 'working hard' but the truth is most had some type of NETWORK that worked for them. Many poor and struggling do not have that type of network and are not aware of resources that may be available. Many of the best resources are not advertised but spread through word of mouth(or networking). I think a barter type community would be wonderful but I think TECHNOLOGY has bread a culture that isnt truly self sufficient enough or armed with the manual skills do maintain such a system....sorry Im all over the place with this post,,its early,,,lol

What frustrates me is people need help beyond getting a job. Education and experience is the best road to independence. It is very difficult for women with children. At my recent place of employment they forced a woman to resign because her son had health problems. She did not have enough time for FMLA. Daycare will not keep a sick child. I told her to write corporate and they reinstated her with a flexible schedule. Sometimes all it takes is a little support and knowledge to help someone who is new in the job market. She also thought by resigning unemployment was beyond reach but it wasn't. She was able to collect before returning to work.

Networking can help the poor but there is a matter of trust. Sometimes people are reluctant to accept help thinking they will be demeaned for their condition. It takes a little work to build them up and follow through by offering continued support.

Everyone who has been in a low spot can think of a person in life who lifted them up and strive to return that favor.

I like BalloonBoy show and if it gets made into a tv show i am gonna watch it

That wasn't as " all over the place " as it seemed...lol

The thing is, a " network " can consist of just one or two people. But they have to be the right people.

Family members that are just as broke aren't going to be a whole lot of help.

If that gets made into a show...it'll be just one more step toward this country becoming completely and utterly lost.