An Inconvenient Truth

Let me start off by noting that I am one of those "bleeding heart liberals". I have made some really horrid mistakes in the "chutes n' ladders" of life, and been sent reeling to rock bottom before I realized what has even happened. Everyone makes some big mistakes, and failure is bound to happen. Cool, I get that.

Unfortunately, what I have learned is that most people are in a bad way becasue they got themselves there and do not learn from their mistakes. I hate this lesson. Because I, as a BHL, want to believe that we are all simply victims of W and his regurgetated form of "trickle down".

I was driving down a major road yesterday, children in the car, etc....I passed a woman very pregnant, in 90 degree heat (and rising), carring a toddler. My bleeding heart begins to ache, and I am headed home. After a few seconds, I realize I cannot continue driving, and I turn the car around to give her a lift. I am just south of Jeffco and 141...She gets in the car, and the first thing I notice is that she doesn't buckle up. (Ummmm...you are 7 months pregnant!) and then she places her two- year-old to stand (in front of the air bag) on the floorboard of my car. The girl is a doll and I notice that her teeth are bad....(ummm...there are PLENTY of free dental clinics for kids!). She wants me to drive her to south city. UM....that's two counties away! Ok, so, I do. I take her to her mother-in-law's, and when she his not home, I drop her to the food pantry the mother in law works at. (She was planning on walking this??? While carrying a toddler? My ass.) So she tells me that she lives in Fenton, her and her hub and child, in her mom's trailer with mom, and her brother stole their car. (bummer. my brother never even did that one!) Her husband has severe mental problems, and cannot work, and his disablity is only $500/month. (so let's have more children with the crazy guy??? ok, well, unplanned pregnancy happend, but you can get your pills for free or almost free from planned parenthood, but I have had an unplanned pregnancy, so I am understanding....). She has an appt. to get more welfare in 2 days, but needs help until then. She'll walk back, because the rest of her in-laws work, and they don't get off until 5:00. (ummm. you are going to try walking again?)

MY DAUGHTER gave her $5 for bus fare for the two of them to get back. (Walking through 2 counties during a heat advisory while pregnant and carring a small child.....not good) She said her OB wanted her to get WIC, of course she hasn't seen her OB this month, and didn't get there the month before, either.

Ok, I get it. I was destitute and hopeless with my ex. My family helped me. But, I worked, I paid rent, my parents didn't pay for my daughter's things, I went to school so I could make a better life for her. Somebody in that family should consider employment, becasue as she said, "the government just doesn't pay you enough to live on." Well, two things to that....your SS $$$ is determined by how much you have worked, earned, and paid into it. Also, you are not SUPPOSED to live off of the government. Welfare is great-- but it's supposed to be temporary. I would scrub toilets if I had to, but I just don't see that in most people. This is the case of someone not learnign from their mistakes. I was scared shitless when I was broke, and decided that my child would not suffer because I married a bum, or whatever that problem is. I prayed for her and that little girl last night, and I will continue to do so. We all need help from time to time, and god knows I sure did. I have recently been burned by helping people, literally giving my last dollar and bouncing checks after. It makes me sad to think that I have opened my eyes to these things. Ignorance is truly bliss.