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In LA so many people have lost their homes that they are setting up tent cities and living in mobile homes. They have nowhere to go. This is just the beginning. Imagine the large populations of America's cities without food, jobs, homes or hope, but with diseases and guns. Here it comes. And as my classmate Conan pointed out, it's the BBC reporting on it: you won't find mention of this in the US media. They're trying to keep it mum.

Date: 2008-03-21 09:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neptunia67.livejournal.com
I have such mixed feelings about this. I mean, I understand that this is indicitave of a much, much larger problem... but I have no sympathy for the people who have gotten themselves into this situation. It is a perfect example of our American greed, to want bigger houses, newer cars, more STUFF, and to bury ourselves under a mountain of debt to get those things.

Do you forecast these tent cities to continue to grow, taking everybody in? Or do you picture more of a ghetto-type situation in each city, plagued by violence? It seems like the BBC found the most dire situation they could (I felt that the story was sensationalized the same way our news is... something that started in the UK a few years ago)... so am not sure how to react.

I dunno. I am going to send this clip to my sociology teacher and get her reaction.

I look forward to being able to converse about this stuff in person this summer!

Date: 2008-03-22 02:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] liveonearth.livejournal.com
You are absolutely right, that the people who landed in these tent cities did so as a result of their own unwillingness to take responsibility. Which seems to be a hallmark of Americanism these days. But it doesn't lessen the impact of having people crapping in holes and begging on street corners in our cities. Living in the city here I see a more depressed and desperate aspect of humanity than I ever saw in Flag.

And I see the real fragility of my own situation. I could end up there too. And not because I was lazy. I have worked hard. It would be because I was ignorant, uninformed, and foolhardy. I still may pay a high price for my reckless youth. And I can't say yet if I would trade it. All my years of running around the rivers and mountains were joyous, yes, but staring down the barrel of so many dire potential futures I cannot help but to wish that I had known better sooner. Hindsight is a poor apology for lack of foresight.

Date: 2008-03-22 04:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neptunia67.livejournal.com
But it doesn't lessen the impact of having people crapping in holes and begging on street corners in our cities

I completely agree. And that is where I struggle with my feelings about these people and their situations.

The worst homelessness I have ever seen was in London. There is a lot of it... but then again there are 12 million people there so I guess it is to be expected.

I don't know if you could or would end up like that. You have a pretty fair idea of how to take care of yourself. I think the first thing you would do would be to get out into a remote area with some like-minded people and SURVIVE. I know that is what I would do.

Date: 2008-03-22 02:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] liveonearth.livejournal.com
I don't know what to predict with regard to the tent cities. I would expect our "authorities" to try to break them up, but if enough people end up homeless there may be little they can do to stop it. I certainly do expect violence. Lazy people with guns are more likely to try to steal what they need than to plant a garden.

Date: 2008-03-22 04:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neptunia67.livejournal.com
Yep, and most of those city folk wouldn't know where to start if they had to survive. I expect, if things get as bad as you predict, that a lot of people will die simply because they have no survival skills.

Date: 2008-03-22 06:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] liveonearth.livejournal.com
I think you have reached the crux of it. In a couple of short generations we have gone from being farmers, fishermen and hunters to being service personnel, administrators, programmers and such. You are one of the few who still knows how to butcher a pig. I hope to be one of the few who still knows how to heal using herbs. Those who have useful skills and position themselves to be of service will survive. Those who persist in believing that the system will save them are doomed. IMO.

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