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Suddenly, on the brink of homelessness
Loss of work, medical costs slam family that never expected trouble
Tiffany Brown
The Reynolds family, from left, Shawn, 20, Lacey, 18, Becky, 12, Steven, 20, Scott, 23, their mother, Christine with Mallory, 4, and their father, Russ, with Justin, 3, and Jake, 12, in front, pose in their Las Vegas home on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
Sunday, June 21, 2009 | 2 a.m.
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- Christine Reynolds talks about help from Clark Count Social Service and how there is no "emergency Medicaid."
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- Russ Reynolds talks about his wife, Christine, finding out she has breast cancer.
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- Russ and Christine Reynolds talk about what Clark County Social Service paid and didn't pay for.
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- Christine Reynolds on not putting daughter Mallory in a facility by herself.
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- Christine Reynolds talks about homeless shelters.
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Sun Coverage
The homeless shelter is as near as next month’s rent for Christine Reynolds, who has enough money to clear one more payment and after that — no clue.
Her breast cancer complicates things. So do her eight children — particularly 4-year-old Mallory, who has a chromosomal condition called Turner syndrome.
The rest of the family — the parents, the other kids, ages 3 through 23 — could live in the family cars if they have to. They could live in any shelter able to house a big family if they have to. But Mallory has a heart condition and environmental allergies, and she needs frequent medication and someone to watch her sleep, in case the seizures start. Mallory has migraines too. She screams through them, and they last for hours.
Mallory, who was never supposed to see outside the of the infant intensive care unit, needs her home and needs her family around her, which means they all need to stay in their house, Reynolds says.
They have no way of doing it.
“Everything pulled out from under us,” Reynolds says.
“I never expected this.”
Like many middle-class families facing homelessness, the Reynoldses were hit with problems that came at them quickly, one after another. The family moved to Las Vegas from California just over a year ago. The three eldest children received grants to attend UNLV and switching states was cheaper than paying for dorms. Besides, the family wanted to stay together.
In November, Christine was diagnosed. She doesn’t have health insurance. Nobody in the family has health insurance, in fact, except for Mallory, who is on Medicaid.
Despite this, Christine and her husband, Russ, say they’ve had to pay tens of thousands of dollars for Mallory’s health care — huge bills that racked up and weren’t always paid on time, destroying their credit.
In Nevada, they found a rent-to-own home big enough to fit the 10-person family. Their rent is $3,000, and their other monthly expenses total about $2,000. This wasn’t a problem until Russ’ job, finding actors extra work in Hollywood, took a hit after the writers strike slowed or stopped production on movies and TV shows. And Christine, who had worked with her husband, wrangling extras on studio sets, was no longer able to help because of her illness.
Russ’ business is starting to come back, but not fast enough. So now the family is stuck between a rock and their rent. Christine figures if the family can just somehow come up with enough money to stay in the home for three more months, they will be through the rough patch and on the rebound.
“We just need a bit of help here,” Christine said. “Not a lot. Just a little. A loan. Something to keep us afloat.”
Her last chemotherapy treatment was Friday. Maybe now her hair and eyebrows will come back. Or maybe the cancer will come back. The first time surgeons went in, they didn’t get it all. So they went in again, and scraped out more. Her treatment is being paid for with a grant from the Southern Nevada affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure, all but around $25,000 of it — surgery costs.
Could the family cram into an apartment? Sure, if they had the money. And even then, they’re worried that Mallory’s medical condition, her seizures and fits and screaming migraines, might get them kicked out when neighbors have had enough.
Could the older children quit school for jobs? They’re thinking about it, but they don’t have cars and don’t know, even if they could find work, whether those jobs would bring in enough to keep the family afloat. In July, the older boys are leaving to work summer jobs in California — setting up equipment at county fairs and doing odd jobs on the midway.
Is there a foundation, or a person, who could give them a loan just to get through the next few months? Christine has sent out dozens of letters begging for help.
This is embarrassing. This makes her feel like a bad mother.
“We’ve got to find a place where we’re not going to lose Mallory,” she says. “We were told so many times that we would, and we’re not going to.”
Homeless families make up more than 30 percent of the total homeless population, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness — an organization that ranked Nevada one of the worst states in the country for homeless children.
Although cancer can throw a family’s finances into tailspin at any time, the economy has added an palpable strain, said Stacey Gross, Community Programs Manager for Komen’s Southern Nevada affiliate.
“It’s definitely worse now than ever before,” she said.
Christine Reynolds can attest to that. She “never saw this coming.”
Discussion: 44 comments so far…
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The FAMILY HOMELESS SHELTERS in Las Vegas are HORRIFYING. The family will be split-up: Every adult in the family will AUTOMATICALLY be labeled mentally ill & addicted/alcoholic requiring YEARS of group therapy & mandatory conversion to the 12-Step Religious Cult, all the children will be labeled mentally ill and "at risk" requiring handfuls of brain-frying meds, forced into special education classes, and shunned by other students at school because they are "Crazy". It's not a good picture for the family.
Ok I feel for this family and hope they find a way to make it through. Now I have to ask 8 kids? I mean not one or two but eight? At what point do you ask your self is five enough? Is three enough? I mean eight? That is a lot of kids! We all know that kids cost a lot of money for a lot of years. So why do people put themselves in a no win suituation. Why do they keep having kids that will be a burden on the taxpayer later? We as a country have got to realize that the decisions we make today will have consequences later. I see these single mothers who have three, four and five kids and just wonder what she was thinking. People have to start thinking about the future and not just today.
That said I hope this family finds a way through and maybe someone could set up an account at BOA that we can all pitch in a few bucks and help them over the hump.
Also if you do have such a large family start a family business that all age family members can take part in. Start small and grow.
Stay AWAY from the "family shelter" - reco100 is right. LasVegas 2009 is kind of right as well except that he misses a BIG advantage of BIG families - multiple potential income earners. Going to college instead of working to help your family sounds selfish. I know unemployment is high, but there is always work - at some pay schedule - for folks that are clean cut and hard working. But right now it sounds like any income would help...
I'd also help out if I knew the BOA account was legit - myabe the Sun could help...
First mistake, four or half of the "kids" are not kids anymore, they are legal adults and can and should be contributing to the family. Seems like they are looking for a handout, while I have the utmost sympathy for the mother and young daughter who are in fact very sick, these other four adults plus the father can be doing something, there is always work out there, but too many people consider themselves above mopping the floor at McDonalds or delivering pizza, etc. They don't have cars and they're not sure if they could find work, please give me a break, we do have busses, which many people use to get to and from work. Full-time students on grants, what, its not possible to go to school and work even a part time job, so many millions of others have worked and gone to school at the same time. If all four plus dad worked minimum wage jobs for 30 hours a week, they would be able to get by. Here is another great idea for the 4 adults, why not serve your country and consider enlisting in the military instead of appearing in the newspaper asking for a handout, and by the way, I fell on some hard times myself about 5 years ago, and you know what? Delivering pizza kept me from becoming homeless, until things got better.
Both goin get tuf and lasvegas2009 make good points. The oldest children should be working. People should have jobs and money in the bank and insurance BEFORE having children. Of course now it too late and the rest of us have to help this family since you can't let people starve. I just wish more people would think and plan before having children.
I gotta say something about the rent also. $3000 for a rental house? That seems like a lot to me. I know they need a house but if you buy a house for $120,000 your payment is only like $800-$1000 maybe these people are living way above the rest of us. Seems a lifestyle unsatanable for most in Las Vegas. I guess they never saved any money all those years dad was bringing in the money. With so many mouths to feed and shoes and cloths its just foolish parenting that has lead to this problem.
I suggest they take a look at craigslist and rent a house for half of that or less. And quit using the taxpayer to pay your health bills If you had chosen to rent a house for $1500 and spent the other $1500 on insurance I could understand about complaining that the system is not doing enough to help you. But when you choose to spend $3000 a month on a rental and dont buy insurance then seek help from the system dont complain. Insurance is a choice in this country and you choose to have a nice expensive house instead. Very Expensive house!!!
Here is what I found on craigslist for half looks nice:
$1495 / 5br - Bad credit, no credit-OK! 2600+SF! Ann & Losee 89081 (2633 Cliff Lodge Ave) (map)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2009-06-21, 1:26PM PDT
Bad credit, no credit-OK! This is a must see! Gorgeous 5 bedrooms plus a loft, 2.5 bathrooms, 2628 SF on a huge professionally landscaped lot! Gated community! Built in 2005! 2 car garage! All appliances are included, even the washer & dryer! Gourmet island kitchen with granite counter-tops! Custom tile flooring! Circular entry! Lots of upgrades! We can split the deposits into affordable payments! Located just South of Centennial Parkway East and Losee Road. 2633 Cliff Lodge Ave, N. Las Vegas, 89081. Call Kirk (broker) 702-375-6575.
2633 Cliff Lodge Ave (google map) (yahoo map)
Easy to make 'em, a lot harder to raise them. Usual case of Mom and Pop having more and more children without any thought of what the cost might be down the road. Maybe they should go to Planned Parenthood for advice. Oh, that's right, too late. Buncha' dopes, screwing their brains out, and now we'll be paying for their fun for years...
LasVegas2009,
They probably don't have a choice getting health insurance. With a parent and a child with health problems, they can't get any health insurance at any cost. Most health insurance plans in CA won't work in NV, and there isn't a health insurance plan in NV that you can get if you already have something. Medicaid for the kid is all they can get, but if they make a couple dollars over poverty level, they'll loose it.
They also are in a rent-to-own situation, so they are paying rent, plus money towards their down payment, so their rent is higher. If they can't pay it on time, they'll not only get evicted, but they'll loose the money they've paid into their down payment account as well. That's probably where their savings went.
Although I agree the older kids should go to work, it sounds like they are going to work in a carnival.
So sad - but theirs isn't the only story like that - there are many families that aren't getting the health care they need because they can't get insurance and don't have the money to pay for expensive procedures. At least she's getting some grant money for her cancer.
I know one family that lost their house because the company the father worked for went out of business (so he couldn't COBRA the health insurance). His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer before he was able to get new insurance, so the house was sold to pay medical bills. They are renting a tiny condo because their credit sucked because of the medical bills. I know another woman who couln't get health care when she was diagnosed with breast cancer because her husband had just divorced her and she didn't have insurance. She couldn't get any after her diagnosis. She can't get the procedure she needs because she doesn't have the money, so she is dying in agony.
So sad... Oh yeah, we wouldn't want "socialized medicine" because we might have to wait in line. I'd rather wait than get none at all.
Tell the four "children" that are over eighteen to get off there asses and start producing some income. Why would you have eight kids in the first place? And why would you pay $3000 a month for rent in LV? The real tragedy here is the lack of and foresight and common sense.
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Why was this Story done on this Family.Obviously there not Starving by the looks of the 3 Adult males..There are thousands of these stories in this town.There are 5 people in that family eligible to work atleast 25-30 hrs a week,,and there on here pleading there case,,and the Newspaper gives them their 5 minutes,,so to speak.Im in the HVAC industry,,and was laid off,,no medical,,but I am helping with convention setup,,and facilities tech,,both part time,,but its still 450.00 a week towards bills.
Every single person out there who is hurting should take offense to this garbage.The adult children,,obviusly need to suspend their education for a semester or 2,rather than sitting there looking for a handout.Afterall if the family is living on the streets,you wont be attending campus anyways.
WOW,,I still cant believe this is a story,,when you have Literally 5 people that can produce INCOME. LV Sun,..Can you run a story on my downfall,,I guess not,,Im working 2 pt jobs,,so I wouldnt qualify
I pray this woman gets better from such an awful diagnosis. I also pray that her adult "children" GET OFF THEIR COLLECTIVE ASSES and start bringing some income into the family. I don't know much about these young adults in this story, but seriously, can you imagine someone growing up in an era when personal responsibility actually meant something, not getting out there and hustling for the financial betterment of the family?
I just wish all these Californians, in this country legally and otherwise, would STAY AWAY from Nevada. And, no, I am not referring to the tourist segment (as obnoxious as they may be). I am
referring to these people who pack their uHauls
like Cousin Eddie from Family Vacation; they
overcrowd our once wonderful city, destroy our real estate market with their house-flipping, cram their kids (often non-English speaking) into our schools at our expense, and many of these Californians have the nerve to try and legislate our state into California.
There is no absultely more disgusting scenario than seeing our beautiful state
turned into Californa. So, in that regard, I hope any undereducated and/or liberal elitist Californians just stay the Hell away from Nevada or, better yet, pack up and leave. You people have done enough damage.
OMG people seriously do not know how to read.
I know these people.
They are asking for a loan not a free handout. the fact that they have 8 kids has nothing to do with what has happend. There are families that have this problem and only have one kid. They were fine until some medical problems caused there downfall.
I know that the mother is very sick right now. The father works his best. The older kids which you all seem to think are lazy asses actaully are not!!! who do you think is taking care of the younger ones during this rough time????
I know that Mallory needs at least 2 people with her at all times. She has a very serious medical condition. The 2 oldest watch her while the other ones watch the little boy and make sure the two 12 year olds are taken care of as well. These kids pitch in and do a lot. 3 actaually are going to have jobs soon. Its hard cause theres no one to take care of the little one that knows her condition well enough to be trusted while the mother is sick. Sorry you can't just hire any old baby sitter. I live down the street from them and you guys seriously have not even thought about the stuff you guys are saying. If you ever get cancer one day and your child has a serious medical problem then you can have a say. But im guessing most of you who have already commented dont have that situation luckly for you. But some of you do have no lives coming back and commenting multiple times. If you don't care than leave it alone!
SERIOUSLY READ THE ARTICLE!!!
The article is very sad and being homeless once myself as a child I do understand how these situations come to light. One thing happens, and then another, and then suddenly you find yourself without hope or obvious solutions.
I stopped attending college when my son was a baby because I could not work and go to school and be a single mother. It broke my heart but I worked as a maid, then hairdresser, and then at a drugstore full-time. Finally, after 15 years I was able to get my degree and pursue a job in my field. When life gets in the way, you have to step up. The older ADULTS should quit school asap and go get any job available. They should pay for rent, food and any other items they use in the house. Then, once they help the family get back on track they should move out into dorms, or rent rooms.
Older children are suppose to help out if they stay at home once they are over 18 years old. College is a luxury, not an amiable right. The older ones can go to school and work full-time just like everyone else has done in the past.
If every adult child in this household went to work RIGHT NOW!! Today, then they could pay the rent and the bills and be fine. McDonald's, motels, maid work etc..always hiring. No one is too good to clean toilets if they need money. A loan will only work as a band-aide and will not really help this family in the long-run. Work, work, work.
In fact, the older adult-children could work two jobs for awhile. Then, they could save up and move out on their own.
"We've got to find a place where we're not going to lose Mallory," she says. "We were told so many times that we would, and we're not going to."
This is the quote in the whole story that has me going HMMMM???? Since when just because you fall on hard times do they threaten to take your child away. If that was true alot of americans would be losing there kids right now. I think there is more to it that we are not hearing about why they want to take this poor little girl from her family.
8 kids = i don't feel sorry for them.
there is simply no reason to have more than 3 kids. period.
why? because things DO happen and the more kids you have, it just makes things that much worse.
sorry, but i feel worse for the couple that DIDN'T spit out a bunch of kids they couldn't afford and tried to be responsible adults and they lose their job.
folks...we have to stop rewarding irresponsible behavior. don't give these people a dime.
Even gas station store and low wage jobs are hard to find now, but 3 or 4 people making $200 a week each could cover food and modest rent somewhere..babysit, odd jobs, flea market, painting etc. The medical insurance is a problem, that's why most people have one or two children, if they have any at all. Even Mexico the average number of children is now 2.1
In the 50's my parents held off having kids til they got set up in their careers, and the birth control was not the best, and they both used what was available at the same time. They both had college degrees and the job market was good.
Did these people ever think about the cost and effort involved in a large family? I think China might be right, America should adopt a one child policy and enforce it the way they do.
@Julie25 - People did read the article. It's all in the interpretation. Whether you know this family or not, something needs to be done with the 4 adult children to contribute to the family income.
@ Narcissa - Yeah, put full blame on Californian's for Nevada's woes - yeah that's the ticket. Get real.
Shawn (who looks like he hasn't missed any meals), Lacey, Steven, and Scott - Time to step up and help your family instead of sitting around on your butts. It's good that yinz are getting an education, but helping your family is more important now. You would not be "on the brink of homelessness" if you stepped up and found jobs to help support your siblings and parents. Working in a carnival isn't the answer. I did that for a couple of years, and barely made enough money to feed myself.
Christine & Russ: Eight children? What were you thinking - or didn't you think? It's too late now, but can you say "birth control"? I'm sorry that you have health problems, Christine, but pumping out eight kids was a life-style choice albeit a poor one. $3,000.00 a month for a rent-to-own house? Again - what were you thinking?
Maybe it's time for you to move back to the land of "Fruits & Nuts", and not become a burden on the taxpayers of Las Vegas.
Who's attempting to work ?
One thing that puzzles me is the cost of renting a place, $3000 a month, is this a joke or what. My mortgage, small as it is $50000, costs me only $2000 a year, and I get a tax rebate of $600. So my monthly "rent" is only $117 plus amortization payments.
I mean these people must have cookoe brains, either that, or its normal to have super high rents in Vegas??
If they had one kid instead of 8, they could be paying $600 a month for rent, instead of $3000. They fell for a rent-to-own scam. You get more renters if you tell them they are "renting to own." What bank nowdays is going to give these deadbeats a loan for this house? - maybe a year ago, but not now.
The fact that they are asking for a loan instead of jobs stinks. None of the numbers ad up, they are looking for well-meaning people to feel sorry for them, to get money. I'd look up who owns this house, and what loans are on it, if I knew the address.
Next thing you know, the obese "kid" will have "health problems." What's in their refrigerator, or do they order in KFC every night? When you put yourself out there in an article like this, asking for a "loan" - you invite public scrutiny and advice. Take Obama's advice: "CHANGE" Get more exercise, eat better, get jobs, don't max the credit cards, etc. "YES WE CAN!
Eating ""KFC every night"", no wonder they are sick. If people knew where these chickens came from, how they were reared, how they were treated..... healthwise, and how they were killed, you people would never ever eat another chicken again, believe me, because I know, if you dont.
uddeboda, who gives a rats butt about how the chickens were treated. as long as it tastes good in my mouth, that is all that matters.
uddeboda, has a loan where he will never become the owner of the house.
He is just paying interest only.
$3000 rent? For reals? I bet they can do far better than this. Shop around.
This is why we need a public option on the table in the debate about fixing Medicare and Medicaid (and fully funding the Veteran's Administration for our disabled vets) - only through spreading the costs will we, as Americans, be able to show the compassion necessary in as a truly civil society - healthcare should be a right for all!
I volunteer and work with disabled veterans, with a speical emphasis on helping our homeless veterans (and all I do with the 30% that are drunks and drug addicts is refer them to sobriety programs, so I can focus on the 70% that are not drinking, doping, runnin' & gunnin' and whoring around or gambling)!
I know, from experience, that we will spend a lot less preventing homelessness, then it costs once someone becomes homeless to get them back on their feet and stable in society again - the numbers don't lie, all we have to do is the math!
We have an estimated 10,000 civilian adults much like this family, already homeless in the Vegas valley, AND approximately 4,000 homeless vets, and, so sadly, some 2,000 homeless kids under the age of 18 - that's some 16,000 homeless and it is beyond shameful, especially in such a great country and one of the wealthiest cities!
Yeah, we probably can't help about 4,000 of them who are treatment resistent, and in denial of their addiction(s) - but, we can, and should focus on helping the 70% (over 11,000) that do deserve help!
nice everyone ones a critic until they have to sleep outside....... rejeco (lame-o) you must of got ripped off or told he was ugly and fat by a 12-stepper or you failed to get sober becuase every post is about how everyone one is getting suduced by 12-step programs fool
LasVegas2009,
Call any of your links and ask: I have breast cancer, will you cover me? Their answer will be NO! Health insurance companies only insure healthy people.
I purchase cancer insurance at my job. I have carried it for five years. Insurance is not something you buy after the fact it is something you have just in case. I also have my cars insured I have never been in an accident but if I am in one tonight I will be covered. As adults in America we make choices to either have things or not someone made the choice to spend money on 8 kids and fancy houses rather than health insurance. They should have carried health insurance for years. Can a company drop you if you have paid the premiums for years? I dont know!
I do not like driving an old car that breaks down all the time. I do not like paying for insurance I hope I will never use. But I am an adult so I have to buy the insurance and not a nice new car. I live in a modest house. I would love to live in a nice big one but I am an adult so I have to save that extra money in case an emergency comes up. Like a broken throttle cable that happen on the 10th. I had to have the car towed home and catch a cab to work $35. Then I have spent money reparing the car about $140 total. While waiting for the part to come in I rented a car ($160) a few days and rode the bus a few times. Things in life happen and people that expect the government to be there to help them are foolish.
Those grown kids on the couch need to go to work everyday. Dad needs another part time job as well. They need to move to a less expensive house and buy insurance for everyone they can. Because the next incident is always just around the corner. Life keeps coming.
First of all, like so many others have said, why have 8 kids you can't afford.
Then you move to a different state, never mind that the youngest one has Turner's and you are leaving all of her doctors and therapists behind in CA. The family did not care to disrupt her life by moving and now are very concerned about having to move to a new place if they can't afford the rent.
Instead of having the oldest three kids move to Las Vegas and become adults they move with them. Never mind that their college funds could have helped pay for their dorm. Oh silly me, they expected their kids to go to college but had no plan to pay it themselves. These kids could have rented a small apartment and worked while attending classes. When I went to school I took 14-20 credits a semester and worked 16-30 hours a week. Was it easy? No, but I did it. There are some many jobs available on campus for students. Nobody likes to wait on their peers, but somebody has to do it.
How does the father manage to find extras to work in Hollywood from Las Vegas? Even with the technology available I'm sure someone doing the same job nearer to Hollywood is getting better results.
made a mistake in my last post: there are so many jobs available on campus. Hundreds of students work while taking classes.
The comments on this story are an outrage. No one is asking for a handout. Unless you know what serious medical conditions are like to live with, how can you make the comments you are making?
No one has walked in THEIR shoes but them. How dare anyone throw stones? They are seeking a loan. Ever try to get a loan when you have such dire circumstances? And now, with credit so tight?
Unless you can help with a loan of any amount or real job offers, keep your comments and opinions to yourself about this family.
God bless them and God have mercy on all of you pompous know-it-alls that are wagging your fingers in their faces.
Transplanted they may be asking for a loan but you are forgetting one big factor. How are they going to REPAY it? They can't pay there bills they have now so how can they repay another loan. Think serious about that. They are hoping people will feel sorry for them and just give them the money. Why else publicize there problems. My husband has been laid off for almost a year and we are struggling to keep our heads above water, but you dont see us going on national television asking for loans or giving our sob story. No we are doing what we can to stay a float. Alot of americans are in the same position they are but instead of trying to get charity they are out doing what they can, working whatever job they can get, no matter how pitiful and trying to pay there bills. In the time they had to do this story they could of put in 20 applications. The hard rock is hiring 800 people right now maybe they could go work there. There are jobs available in Vegas, I check all the time. We thought about moving out there and were looking.
SgtRock, read my post again, I said plus amortization payments
jaesun, ""uddeboda, who gives a rats butt about how the chickens were treated. as long as it tastes good in my mouth, that is all that matters.""
Sorry for you, and any others who think like this, poor ignorant twit
These comments are not an outrage--they are just stating the obvious--which is having a big family is not like the tv show "The Waltons". Having a big family is like living in Zimbabwe. If the family is having trouble, the kids should forget about college. College does not come with a job guarantee, so it's really a luxury. Parents don't owe their kids a college education, as Suze Orman always says.
Put them in the street, they created their life; now take ownership of your life. If you can't find work where you live then MOVE where you can find work.
We're sick and tired of hearing about people and their dumb choices. It is not our fault and we don't care. Wake up, you created your destiny, now live with it and accept responsibility for your choices.
America has more than enough work, if you want to work, you can. You just have to get up off your lazy bunger and look. If you're picky about the type of work, then accept the consequences of your choices. Beggars can't be choosy and stop looking towards our pocketbooks to support your lazy way of life. I choose to work, I choose my life style, I choose who to donate to, and I choose my life and the consequences in my life. Now you try it.
College and university education is free over here, plus a very substantial allowance each month for lodgings and food etc etc
I'd be willing to pay for a vasectomy. Where do I send my check?
Bumper crop of cherries this year in Yakima Valley (Eastern Washington). Farmers are concerned there won't be enough pickers this year. It would really be nice to have legals doing the work.
uddebboda--did you see the movie "Food Inc."? I still have to see it. Also check out "King Corn" which can be seen on Netflix. "King Corn" changed the way I think about food. Also check out the "Dirty Jobs" episode about casino food recyclers. (Mike Rowe shows how the food left on casino buffet plates is collected and fed to pigs). Yukky!!