Hard Times Generation

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I hadn’t seen this episode of 60 minutes before, but it is worth watching.</p>

<p>For those of us fretting over over how many TV sets is too many, or whether Mary-jean should convince her parents to pay for her dream school, or whether a B in calculus is going to make or break one’s college plans…</p>

<p>[60minutes's</a> Channel - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/60minutes#p/f/75/DpOU1L7Z8zA]60minutes’s”>http://www.youtube.com/user/60minutes#p/f/75/DpOU1L7Z8zA)</p>

<p>All of us lose perspective. And nothing quite like seeing alternative realities to bring it back. </p>

<p>When I was little, we moved very far away from the very economically depressed area we had been living (leaving all of our family behind). Everything we owned went into a station wagon and we drove (with my uncle and his family) to where they had heard there were jobs. Upon arrival they learned it was not the land of golden jobs, so we lived in a motel while my dad and uncle knocked on doors, asking home owners if they needed any help with mowing, washing windows and handiwork.</p>

2

<p>I visited Detroit this summer. Pretty depressed area-lots of buildings that were abandoned, stores and restaurants closed.
Still there are some signs of renewal.
[Next</a> American City Buzz Detroit’s Renewal from a Funder’s Perspective](<a href=“Building Better Cities - Urban Transportation and Housing News”>Building Better Cities - Urban Transportation and Housing News)</p>

3

<p>In Hawaii, almost 1/2 of our public school students are on free and reduced lunch, which means they and their families are VERY poor. Housing prices around here are astronomical and many families live with many, many people in crowded conditions.</p>

<p>[Free</a> or Reduced Meals See Increased Enrollment | Desperate America Report](<a href=“http://desperateamerica.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2011/02/28/free-or-reduced-meals-see-increased-enrollment/]Free”>Free or Reduced Meals See Increased Enrollment | Desperate America Report)</p>

4

<p>I think it is time for some public works projects.</p>

5

<p>This aired recently on 60 minutes: [Growing</a> up homeless - YouTube](<a href=“Growing up homeless - YouTube”>Growing up homeless - YouTube)</p>

<p>This young girl is totally amazing. Not only will she achieve “something” someday, but she already has. Millions responded to this segment of 60 minutes with a huge outpouring of money and scholsrships. Watch it and be inspired.</p>

6

<p>Good reminders that problems that seem big are not so very big if your family has roof over head and food in the bellies.</p>

7

<p>Skyhook, as much as I agree with you, our elected officials don’t seem to share your belief. After all, that is what the jobs bill was to do.</p>

8

<p>I believe that in our country we are close to the fulcrum point between the have-and-have-nots. </p>

<p>In case you haven’t noticed, since 9/11, though-out the entire country police agencies have become increasingly militarized. </p>

<p>It bodes ill.</p>