Thom Hartmann: The most important message about Homelessness

[thomhartmann]

Run time: 08:38 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYZYco1gIAA   Posted on YouTube: April 15, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheBigPictureRT Views on YouTube: 18   Posted on DU: April 15, 2011 By DU Member: thomhartmann Views on DU: 1690

 
The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV "live" 9pm and 11pm check www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings

[bobbolink]

1. Thank you, Thom! This is a good start... please have a regular feature on homelessness,

and begin filling that gap of ignorance that "progressives" harbor.

This is not the whole story, nor is it something that erases the myths that people have about homelessness.

But it is a great start, I applaud you, and ask you to PLEASE continue to educate... as you do with all the other issues. Keep up on this!

:applaud:

[me b zola]

9. Although I am all too familiar with the subject, this interview inspired me

We should organize town halls for the homeless and otherwise disenfranchised. Being homeless you only have access to computer 1 hour a day at library, so people not so connected to (or much more difficult to be connected to) the social/political goings on in community.

Wow, just what a thought for homeless & disenfranchised to have access to information and organization to demand justice. Can you imagine if the homeless actually voted en mas? Just wow at the thought...that could really change the equation. Hey, middle class people, this would help you. Your well-being is connected to those less fortunate then you, so you should work for their benefit...it will benifit you in the long run.

[inna]

2. K&R. Thanks for the good work, Thom!

:kick:

[xchrom]

3. more of this, please, thom.

it's got to be one our most important issues.

money for endless wars, corporate welfare, tax breaks for the rich -- but our most vulnerable people?

[bobbolink]

4. But he thoroughly covers the wars, corporate welfare, wealthy tax breaks...

Its poverty and homelessness he doesn't get to.

I hope this is a sign he is going more in this direction!

Thanks, xchrom! Any ideas how we can get in touch with him? I think he listens most to people in his chat room, but I haven't figured out how to do that....

:hi: :yourock:

[xchrom]

6. i just hope he hooks the message up.

to my way of thinking -- the poor, the prison population, destitute urban areas are all of a piece with the endless wars, etc.

fewer wars, fewer -- if any -- homeless.

[bobbolink]

7. I know that people see it that way, I hope you can understand my frustration with that.

Homelessness is caused by a lack of low-income housing, NOT wars. There were no wars during Clinton, yet homelessness increased.

This is an epidemic that is ruining lives forever, and TAKING lives. We can no longer afford to promote erroneous causes. We MUST change the true cause... lack of low-income housing. I keep trying to get it across that going the other way is just wasting precious time and precious lives. Stopping all wars still wouldn't stop homelessness... there are always more issues of more priority that "progressives" will focus on.

The point is to make homelessness more important and more pressing.

Homelessness is an epidemic because we allow it.

When we cease to tolerate people being without homes in the richest country in the world, we will solve it.

That has nothing to do with war.

It has to do with WILL.

[xchrom]

10. i agree -- the country is not broke.

and there is money for housing. there always has been.

[bobbolink]

12. You got it exactly! We AREN'T broke.. t is a matter of priorities.

I've heard Thom talk about Washington signing a bill for housing before, but can't find a source for that by googling. Do you think you could help with that? I'd like to include that info in my powerpoint!

Thanks! :yourock: :pals:

[xchrom]

13. as in the first president? nt

[bobbolink]

14. Yes. Hartmann mentions it again in this vid. Unfortunately, he never says where he found that info

:yourock:

[xchrom]

15. i'm looking around pretty good.

and i can't find a thing so far.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Thank you so much, Thom, for addressing an issue that has been

pretty much ignored by everyone. Someone needs to keep poverty and homelessness in this country in the news. The longer it's ignored, the worse it's going to get. Thank you for caring.

I wish I could watch your network! Your show on the "Real Tea Party" was phenomenal and this video is such a great example of people being proactive for the cause.

Please continue to use your microphone to give a voice to poverty and homelessness.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Thom.:thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

11. K&R !!! This is excellent !!! n/t

[Donnachaidh]

16. already k&red it -- but sent it flying through Facebook and Twitter too!

:bounce:

[bobbolink]

20. Thanks! At least giving some visibility is something we can do!

:yourock:

[chervilant]

17. hmm...

Will we, as a nation, again ever see gifted and erudite news people?!?

While I appreciate that Hartmann gave Doug Knight this opportunity to discuss Street Sense--and their efforts to address homelessness--I found it difficult to get past Hartmann's smarminess ('let me AGAIN emphasize that I give AT LEAST a dollar!'), or the implicit message that capitalistic economic behavior is THE way to help the homeless 'renew' their sense of relevance as members of our society.

I assert that Street Sense works more as an opportunity for homeless people to share their creativity and their unique individuality--to have their voices heard, and their intellects appreciated. THEREIN is the affirmation of the relevance of EACH individual whose economic situation is dire, and often irreversible in this nation that turns a blind eye to the 'least among us.'

Furthermore, I care NOT whether a homeless person will hand me a 'street paper' when I give him or her money. I care NOT what amount of change I scrape out of my purse when I have an opportunity to give. I CARE that--on a macro level--our species is manifesting a level of mental disease that is both stultifying and corrosive. I CARE that compassion is either ridiculed or held up as proof of one's 'Christian' goodness.

Far too many of us are in react mode, driven by inchoate fears and resentments. Far too many of us are willing to pollute our spirits with negativity, eagerly engaging in name-calling and other forms of vilification. Far too many of us are willing to glorify violence or resort to violence, often just for entertainment or personal gratification.

We seldom acknowledge the import of overpopulation, but Calhoun's research with rats has proven that when a critical level of overpopulation occurs, the outcome isn't pretty. With rats, abnormal sexual behavior, hyperaggression, eating their young, and increased mortality are a few of the problems that occur. With humans, well...isn't it past time we acknowledge that our species has passed a critical tipping point, with more than a million of our brethren living on the streets?

Watching the hoi polloi pick sides, and lob verbal grenades at each other, as though our corporatist-driven political and/or religious ideologies are the most important framework within which we coexist on this planet, remains both disappointing and unsettling. I constantly remind myself that some of us MUST continue to serve as points of light that guide us all through these dark times. Bobbi, as a homeless person dedicating your time and energy to advocacy and activism, you are one of our points of light. Thank you for the work you continue to do.

[inspiraven]

18. Thanks for this and so much more Thom

[Forkboy]

19. K&R

:kick:

[G_j]

21. wow, that was very good

please continue to educate on this issue!
:applause:

[Bluebear]

22. Please, keep this up Thom!!

kick

[ThomCat]

23. I wish he would talk about Homelessness more often,

more seriously as a systemic part of our economy, that is deliberately created, and know about but deliberately not addressed in any effective way.

I wish he would talk about the reasons why.

Why homelessness is systemic.
Why the government officials, the economic leaders, business leaders, all know they are creating homelessness and don't really care.
Why there are no effective ways of addressing homelessness.
Why homelessness is demonized and treated the way it is, and blamed on the victims.

He's right. It's not just about the numbers. But even with his habit of talking about the numbers he could shed a lot of light on this topic too.

[bobbolink]

25. He could, and so could Rachel and all the rest of them.

But they're not going to unless a lot of us bug them about it.

I wouldn't be surprised to find out the Dems tell them to keep quiet about it.

[maryf]

24. K&R

I hope he keeps talking about it, wish the man had mentioned need for affordable housing, but its a great start!! :)

[louslobbs]

26. We need to hear voices speaking on behalf of the poor. Poor is not a dirty word and the poor are

not invisible, they are real, they suffer, they fear, they laugh, they cry and they hope. They are part of the "we" in this fight against those who choose to represent the corporations and wealthy, over the rest of us. The poor and middle class, can't afford the necessary types of bribes (donations) to give to those who hold the power and force their rule upon the rest of us. The squeaky wheel + a hand full of greenbacks, gets oiled every time, while the voiceless among us are ignored and go unrepresented because those in power believe that the poor have no power, and no voice, and therefore, "those people" can be ignored without suffering any consequences. If there are no consequences for bad actions, what incentive is there for those to stop their obscene and corrupt behavior. So, thank you Thom, for giving voice to those who's voices are ignored and for seeing those who others deem invisible. I try to remember, each morning I awake, "there but for the grace of God go I".
Lou