Comments on: D.C: One City? http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/03/d-c-one-city/ Race, Class, The District. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Blanonymous Male http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/03/d-c-one-city/#comment-435 Blanonymous Male Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:06:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=5097#comment-435 I heard that since Clinton's welfare reform in the 90s that you couldn't make it your "career" and pass it on as an inheritance to your kids. That you could only stay on it for a limited time and you were aided in getting a job. Is that not the case? If not then I say to hell with it - lets chuck welfare out the door forever and for good. Its a system that hoholds people back, perhaps on purpose - so that the US will always have a "victim class". I heard that since Clinton’s welfare reform in the 90s that you couldn’t make it your “career” and pass it on as an inheritance to your kids. That you could only stay on it for a limited time and you were aided in getting a job. Is that not the case? If not then I say to hell with it – lets chuck welfare out the door forever and for good. Its a system that hoholds people back, perhaps on purpose – so that the US will always have a “victim class”.

]]> By: Jaleo2000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/03/d-c-one-city/#comment-431 Jaleo2000 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:13:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=5097#comment-431 They are excellent points but I can guarantee you several things: 1) Individuals need to take responsibility for their own actions. That means not getting pregnant till you're married. Not telling your kid its okay not to pay attention in school because it's too hard. Things like this. I work east of the river, and I have never heard so many excuses and resentment. The cultural acceptance of people having babies in their teens, is astounding. It is not okay. Most people have not developed good parenting skills by this point. I see lots of kids being yelled at by their Moms. It's not a great way to grow up and learn about conflict resolution. 2) the summer jobs program is total BS. They learn no skills, the program is completely unsupervised and it's just this sort of quasi welfare program for kids where very little gets done. We all know how well the welfare system is doing as a way out. Even Marion Barry admitted it wasn't doing anything to change the problem. (Not that I am suggesting on cutting people off, I would like to think we could do a job training for money type system instead). 3) About the diet thing. There are grocery stores over here, a Yes organic store (you can argue about the affordablility if you must), a Giant and a Safeway. So there is access. However the preponderance of fried foods, vegetables covered in Ranch dressing and sugary drinks is a way of life. Re the affordability thing, I have a lot of starving artists friends that are making it work on brown rice and beans. And it's healthy. And cheap. Put some mambo on it if you must. I agree it would be helpful if more people were aware of how the EOR is. It would also be helpful if there were hegemonic cultural influences over here that prefaced learning and education and hard work and healthy diet and birth control until you are ready to start a family. Is this wrong? They are excellent points but I can guarantee you several things: 1) Individuals need to take responsibility for their own actions. That means not getting pregnant till you’re married. Not telling your kid its okay not to pay attention in school because it’s too hard. Things like this. I work east of the river, and I have never heard so many excuses and resentment. The cultural acceptance of people having babies in their teens, is astounding. It is not okay. Most people have not developed good parenting skills by this point. I see lots of kids being yelled at by their Moms. It’s not a great way to grow up and learn about conflict resolution.

2) the summer jobs program is total BS. They learn no skills, the program is completely unsupervised and it’s just this sort of quasi welfare program for kids where very little gets done. We all know how well the welfare system is doing as a way out. Even Marion Barry admitted it wasn’t doing anything to change the problem. (Not that I am suggesting on cutting people off, I would like to think we could do a job training for money type system instead).

3) About the diet thing. There are grocery stores over here, a Yes organic store (you can argue about the affordablility if you must), a Giant and a Safeway. So there is access. However the preponderance of fried foods, vegetables covered in Ranch dressing and sugary drinks is a way of life. Re the affordability thing, I have a lot of starving artists friends that are making it work on brown rice and beans. And it’s healthy. And cheap. Put some mambo on it if you must.

I agree it would be helpful if more people were aware of how the EOR is. It would also be helpful if there were hegemonic cultural influences over here that prefaced learning and education and hard work and healthy diet and birth control until you are ready to start a family. Is this wrong?

]]> By: Kristian Perry http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/03/d-c-one-city/#comment-427 Kristian Perry Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:49:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=5097#comment-427 I voted for Gray's opponent because I wasn't convinced that Gray would genuinely put governing the city first. I hope I'm wrong - he brings up excellent points and I wish him every success in solving those problems. I voted for Gray’s opponent because I wasn’t convinced that Gray would genuinely put governing the city first. I hope I’m wrong – he brings up excellent points and I wish him every success in solving those problems.

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