Why did you vote for Obama or not...?

[Karen]

Adult stem cell research has never been banned. Adult stem cell research has never needed public funding. Now ask yourself why.

Adult stem cell research gets plenty of public funding, as do most areas of medical research.

[blue]

Adult stem cell research gets plenty of public funding, as do most areas of medical research.

Yeah I screwwed that up pretty bad.

Adult stem cell research dosent have the sticky morale issues that embryotic stem cell research has.

[carole]

As a young person visiting the USA, i was totally gobsmacked when i crossed the border into Mexico, i don't know what it is like now, but you went from skyscrapers,to shanty towns, i have never forgotten it,seen nothing like it before, i was only 18 at the time, and it really had an impact on me.

I have to agree with a lot that has been said, i also think that poverty in Africa,India etc is way different to poverty in America or New Zealand, especially here as you are eligible for welfare if you need it, i don't know how the American system works, but in my opinion there is no need for homeless people in my country, it is their choice. I may get flamed for that comment, but i am saying this about my own country,as i know how the system works here.

Marigold, my teenage daughter often comments on why they keep having children in these countries,as has been said it is because of a lack of education and lack of access to birth control, it is a sad fact indeed.

People in Africa don't have the same access to food banks, or shelters as we do,there just is not enough food to go around, and a Tv, car, what on earth are those things,they do not even know what they are.

Poverty is poverty and is bad no matter where it is, and i feel for all who live lives that are indeed miserable, i feel for the homeless in the USA,but i have to be true to myself, i feel more for those in Africa.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

as you are eligible for welfare if you need it, i don't know how the American system works, but in my opinion there is no need for homeless people in my country, it is their choice.

Ok, I'll give you the point that the homeless in other countries are different than here. But I know of NO ONE in this country who would chose to be homeless!!!

Only families with children can get welfare here. While waiting to see if my disability would go through, I was on public assistance. A grand total of $125 a month. I defy you to live on that!!! Luckily for me, I still had a bit of my profit sharing money left to help pay the bills until my disability came through.
Then I paid ever cent of the public assistance money back so someone else could be helped.

Believe me, you don't know how terrifiying it is to not know where your next meal will come from or how you will keep a roof over your head until you've been through it. Sleeping in the cold in America is still as miserable as sleeping in the cold any where else!

Poor people in America aren't the ones who can only afford one car. I can't even afford that any more. I think they are lucky if they can still afford one.

[carole]

Please don't mis-understand me, i have a lot of empathy for your situation, i really do, i have been pretty poor myself, not to that extent, but i have experienced hardship to a point, but i still consider myself extremely fortunate, even back then when things were tough.

Yes i do think the welfare state is different here than the states, you still don't get a lot to live on, but way more than that.

I am not saying it is not tough for homeless people, i just think it is tougher in other countries that is all,I am really not coming down on you personally, please don't see it that way, i have great empathy for you and your situation,I always would want to help those who are less well off than myself.

You are right with a lot you say,can i just end this by saying I feel for all the people in the world who are having it tough, you included.

I just wanted to add in NZ there is no need to be homeless in my opinion, because there is adequate welfare to get you by until you can either find a job or place to live, the homeless here are mostly people who do not want to work, do not fit into society for one reason or another , or who choose not to,some have drug or alcohol problems,are gang affiliated or young people who just do not want to conform to rules set by their parents, anyhow that is my take on it, in my country.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

That's ok, Carole, I see your point.

Take it from me though, no matter what country you live in, save as much money as you can while you are young because when your health starts to decline and the jobs dry up, you'll need it. The older you get, the harder it is to get work.

The unemployment numbers are increasing really fast here. I really worry about middle age people (or older) who will need to find work. The jobs just aren't here right now.

[kitten645]

"But I know of NO ONE in this country who would chose to be homeless!!!"

I actually do I've met people that argue that it's a "lifestyle choice" They have no interest in working or having any responsiblity. They like to be "free" to move about wherever they please. They chose that life and get very defensive if they percieve it's being threatened. Go figure
Claudia