Homeless For The Holidays

[Sailor Steve]

Well, it finally happened: my lousy luck with jobs crossed paths with my apartment rent. I thought I would get a last minute reprieve when I lined up a job driving deliveries for a bakery, but when I went to get a copy of my driving record I found my license had been suspended. They sent me letters saying they needed paperwork from the Veterans' Administration, but they sent them to my old address.

I spent a lonely, boring frustrating day yesterday walking around town doing nothing, since everything was closed but Wal-Mart. I even spent a few hours there just hanging out.

For the time being I'm staying at the local Rescue Mission. The good news is there are day-labor places close by, where you work for a day and get paid the same day. The bad news is I couldn't work yesterday because they too were closed, I couldn't work today because I still had paperwork to take care of and Friday I have to go to the VA for a checkup to see if I can get my license back. Tomorrow I get to work and earn money, and hopefully Saturday as well.

The worst part in all this is that I can't play SHIII for the forseeable future.

[Oberon]

Christ Steve man, I really don't know what to say other than take care of yourself and I hope you can get a job soon.

It's typical of these days though really, you go into the forces, do a service helping to protect your nation, but when you come back to civvie street no-one gives a damn. Well, no-one in the government anyway.

Anything I can do to help, just ask

[Egan]

Well, we give a damn even if they don't. Hang in there bud. We're thinking of you. I wish there were some wise word I could give you but there arn't. Don't let the bastards grind you down.

[Sailor Steve]

Quick update: it's only been a day, but I worked some and made some money today. I figure a few days of this and I'll have enough to tide me through two week's work at a real temp place. They only pay once a week but they pay better.

I've already found a little studio apartment I can get into for just $265 per month. After that I'll have enough to get my motorcycle fixed; then I can work on getting into a place I can live with.

Things aren't so bad; it's just that I can't work on all my projects and I CAN'T PLAY SHIII!!!:damn: :rotfl:

[SUBMAN1]

Quick update: it's only been a day, but I worked some and made some money today. I figure a few days of this and I'll have enough to tide me through two week's work at a real temp place. They only pay once a week but they pay better.

I've already found a little studio apartment I can get into for just $265 per month. After that I'll have enough to get my motorcycle fixed; then I can work on getting into a place I can live with.

Things aren't so bad; it's just that I can't work on all my projects and I CAN'T PLAY SHIII!!!:damn: :rotfl:

Man that is bad! Let us know how you're doing!

-S

[NEON DEON]

Hi Steve,

I work for Volunteers of America Los angeles. We run a Homless Veterens Reintegration Program in Downtown L A. Now that is too far for us to help you directly but maybe there is an HVRP in your area that could. I assume it is Salt Lake City.

Anyways, I can put a call into the Department of Labor (they provide the grants for all HVRP programs across the country) tomorrow morning to see if they fund one in your area.

Listed below are typical HVRP services:

Housing referrals

Vocational training contacts

Job search assistance

Resume Preparation

Referrals to employers

Job retention services

In the mean time take a look at this site in Salt Lake City.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600158177,00.html

Also Kelly services has security positions which are pretty easy to get if you do not have a criminal record.

http://local.yahoo.com/details;_ylt=An4wd.bJBIGtU897msA5K.6HNcIF;_ylu=X3o DMTBpZzIyMjd0BF9zAzk2NjEzNzY5BHNlYwNzcg--?id=19905631&state=UT&city=Salt+Lake+City&stx=security+jobs&csz=Salt+Lake+City%2C+UT&fr=dd-local-more&ed=1S70vq131DzeN49Wa82IOgoNrgtIi3pYkf0EYnHivoudI1Q Mn9To.0Murg--&lcscb=

TSA also gives veterans a huge break on testing for their security jobs but they take awhile to get. Of course they pay a lot more too. I believe Salt Lake is a hub airport so their should be lots of jobs there too.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks for that reference, Neon. It's just down the street from where I'm at now (well, a couple of miles, but that's an easy walk). I'll check it out tomorrow.

As for the rest, as I said I've been in a shelter for the week, and when I prove I'm working I can probably stay longer.

I'll check in here again tomorrow.

[Torplexed]

Geez....sorry to hear this news Steve. Sure puts my petty problems into perspective. :cry:

[Sailor Steve]

TSA also gives veterans a huge break on testing for their security jobs but they take awhile to get. Of course they pay a lot more too. I believe Salt Lake is a hub airport so their should be lots of jobs there too.
I tried to go down to the Veteran's Thrift Store today, but couldn't find it. Came back here and looked again-I had the address wrong. I'll try again tomorrow.

For a lot of this there are good jobs available but a lot of them have schedules I can't meet without transportation. I'll get it worked out soon enough.

[STEED]

Hang in there steve, your a tough guy, I am sure your situation will get better.

[joea]

I am really sorry to hear that Steve, good luck. We all have rough times.

[Sailor Steve]

Two-week update. I got out of the Rescue Mission and into the Road Home, and actual shelter. The bad news is there are over two hundred guys in the dorm. The good news is there are far fewer restrictions: you only have to check in before the 22:00 closing time; you can use the showers any time and they have an on-site laundry and day room with TV.

Steve Whalen (swhalen76) from SubClub came into town Saturday, homeless as well, and I've been helping him find his way around.

My biggest frustration has been crossed wires with the VA people, so I'm not working nearly as much as I'd like while I play catch-up with them. We'll see how the rest of this week goes.

[nikimcbee]

Steve,
Are you still living in West Valley City? Didn't SLC build a tram or something that runs north/south. If you could escape from WVC and get into SLC, that would help a lot. I have a trip to SLC in my future,( my grandma is in the final stages of alsheimers) sp. I guess you'll be a little harder to find:damn: . Do you have family there? Maybe there needs to be a rescue "Sailor Steve" mission.


PS, I suspect the imfamous Drebbel is behind all of it.:arrgh!:

McBee

[Sailor Steve]

Oh, no. Sorry you didn't know. I moved from West Valley (Kearns, actually) more than a year ago and was living in the Brickyard area, 3300 South and 1300 East.

My new address at the homeless shelter IS right downtown, so that's no problem. As I've said, I'm working a day-pay job and planning on moving up.

Things are fine, really (except of course for no playing music with friends, no Thursday game night with other friends and no SHIII).

[nikimcbee]

bump, rescue mission planned:up:

[Sailor Steve]

Four-Week Update:

I missed last week due to being very sick. The good news is that it happened while I was at a friend's house and didn't have to deal with that while in a big dormitory.

I've had only a couple days of actual work; I've been looking for real jobs, taking care of a friend from out of town (also homeless, now in a program at the Rescue Mission) and recovering from said illness.

Today I found a cool job doing tech support for a wireless internet company, but the training class is in the evenings so I can't do it until I have a place of my own. Monday I'll hit the day-labor place again, and start my plan all over.

I'm overdrawn at the bank and in danger of having my phone shut off, but I can still get online here at the library and I'm still alive, reasonably healthy and eating well, so I can't complain too hard.

AND I STILL AIN'T PLAYIN' SHIII (or anything else)!:damn: :damn: :damn: :damn:

New update next week, hopefully with better news.

[nikimcbee]

I'll bring my laptop and you can play sh3:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:
Putting together rescue mission now...:|\\

...Agents should be kicking down Drebbel's door right now, collecting any spare change for the legal bill.:arrgh!: :|\\ :arrgh!:


other than work and money:damn: , is there anything you could use.:up:

...loading Milchkuh now...:ping:

[nikimcbee]

(Kearns, actually) more than a year ago and was living in the Brickyard area, 3300 South and 1300 East.

My new address at the homeless shelter IS right downtown, so that's no problem. As I've said, I'm working a day-pay job and planning on moving up.




....wait, I know this area...:ping:

[nikimcbee]

....or we could watch "Destination Tokyo" or "72 Meters":rock:

[Sailor Steve]

Four-Week Update:

I was sicker than I thought last week; I started counting the days from July 3 and found it really was only 3 weeks. Now It's four. I think. I hope.

Nikimcbee and I actually did get together yesterday, and talked for four hours about just about everything-jobs, weird people we've met and/or worked with, SHIII, WWI ships, the American Civil War and I don't remember what all. It was fun.

My plan is still behind schedule but I'm working a little and that's always a good thing.

[Sailor Steve]

I was originally updating this every week, but I began to realize that there was nothing to update.

I found out that I'm just to old and tired to work construction every day-I would work one day and need two or three to recover. Sometimes I could barely walk.

Finally two weeks ago I managed to coordinate making a little money with meeting the proper schedule, and I took a class and got certified to be a highway flagger. It's easier and pays better. I've done it a couple of times now and am finally looking to get my cell phone turned back on, and maybe get into a class for a new customer-service job.

After two-and-a-half months things may be looking up.

We'll see.

[Rose]

Hang in there Steve. My hopes and prayers are with you mate!

[SkvyWvr]

Two-week update. I got out of the Rescue Mission and into the Road Home, and actual shelter. The bad news is there are over two hundred guys in the dorm. The good news is there are far fewer restrictions: you only have to check in before the 22:00 closing time; you can use the showers any time and they have an on-site laundry and day room with TV.

Steve Whalen (swhalen76) from SubClub came into town Saturday, homeless as well, and I've been helping him find his way around.

My biggest frustration has been crossed wires with the VA people, so I'm not working nearly as much as I'd like while I play catch-up with them. We'll see how the rest of this week goes.

Hang in there shipmate. I know how screwed up the VA can be.

[Bertgang]

It looks an unlucky year for people born on april 8.

I'm not unemployed nor really homeless, simply I can't live anymore in the flat where I lived with my wife (and I have to leave for a while tons of things).

Well, Steve, I'm learning two things by this thread:

1) Sailor Steve has an exceptional buoyancy, even when heavyly damaged.
2) Unemployed people has better chances in US than in Italy; here it's very hard to find a new job, specially when you are over 45.

Soon back on your SHIII, friend.

[Sailor Steve]

Latest update: I've been out on the highways holding "Stop" and "Slow" signs for various road construction companies, had a few adventures but nothing bad (I've heard horror stories of cars trying to hit flaggers on purpose, but so far I've seen nothing like that personally) and yesterday I paid off my past-due bill and got my cell-phone turned back on!

Two more weeks of this should get me enough money to tide me through three weeks until the first paycheck from a real job, and I have my eye on a computer tech-support position that pays pretty well. We'll see what happens next.



Bertgang, do we really share a birthday? I'm rooting for you, friend, hoping something comes through.

[Perilscope]

2) Unemployed people has better chances in US than in Italy; here it's very hard to find a new job, specially when you are over 45.
Since you speak and write English, why don't you try your luck here in Canada or the USA?
Last time I tried to find a job in Italy, the only damn thing I found was apprentice mechanic in a small Ford Authorized dealer in Pescara, I think it was called Ennio Pappa Ford?
It was fun the two weeks I worked there but not enough money for me to stay forever, too bad, I love Italy.

...and yesterday I paid off my past-due bill and got my cell-phone turned back on!It must feel good to get rid of those pesky past-due bills, I know how it feels.
Hang on Sailor Steve, things will be even better, especially if you have mental strength.:up:

[Sailor Steve]

...especially if you have mental strength.:up:
Oh, lord have mercy, I'm doomed!:rotfl:

[Perilscope]

...especially if you have mental strength.:up:
Oh, lord have mercy, I'm doomed!:rotfl:
Well, considering you take many things with humor, it's a good sign! :D

[SubSerpent]

That's terrible Sailor Steve! Well, you got to hand it to the Bush administration. They do a good job of killing off current US troops and keeping the veterans of past wars in poverty!

CCR sang it best with their, "Fortunate Son" song!

Here's the lyrics!

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief",
oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no senator's son,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves? oh.
But when the taxman come to the door,
Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give,
oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no military son, SON, NO
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, NO NO

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate son, son son son

Hear it here (http://faculty.smu.edu/dsimon/AAAAds/Creedence%20Clearwater%20Revival-09-Fortunate%20Son.mp3)!

[plastik]

Just read your post, Steve.

Keep fighting there, strokes of bad luck do not last forever. Easy to say, I admit, but I believe it's true. Hang in there and things will improve!

Good luck and all the best!!!

[ASWnut101]

Thats a VERY good song, especially when played on the movie "The Manchurian Canidate" but stop with anti bush stuff, please?

[SubSerpent]

Thats a VERY good song, especially when played on the movie "The Manchurian Canidate" but stop with anti bush stuff, please?

Bush is currently at the helm of the government that has failed Sailor Steve. Salior Steve is a veteran of the US and a veteran of a war! He should not have to suffer any longer. I blame this situation all the way up to the Whitehouse and to the government who want more out its troops to ensure US safety and freedom but don't give so much as a wave and a "thank you" to the veterans who have helped to secure their freedoms and wealth from being touched by enemy hands.

Got to love the government - cheap stingy bastards!

This is the same government that try to say that I wasn't a veteran too and tried to take my MGIB away by stating that I wasn't qualified. How the hell was I not qualifiied? I served for 6 honorable years and have a RE-1 Honorable reentry code to come back in if I wanted and I paid my $100 a month for the first 12 months that I was in.

I repeat - cheap stingy bastards.

Yet when tax time comes around, they sure do know how to reach deep into my pocket!

[fredbass]

Stop Hijacking this thread.

[SubSerpent]

Stop Hijacking this thread.

Yeah ASWnut101! Quit hijacking the thread. You didn't even express any sorrow for Sailor Steve's situation like I did. You just followed me in here to try to start crap because you have a problem with me and my view that the reason for Sailor Steve's dilema is partly due to the Bush administration not giving a darn about Sailor Steve or any other veteran in the US.

[Kapitan]

If only i was president this would stand:

All veterans who had served the country proud rest assured that the country they fought for and put thier lives on the line for will help them in thier hour of need, not only the veterans but their familys also.

I mean after all sailor steve did defend what he thought was right he defended each and every american citizen and he as do many others like him deserve the help they need to get back on thier feet no one else i dont think deserve the help of the government more.

The government of all nations owes a massive un repayable debt to its vetrens a debt which will never be paid. so the only way to easy the payment is to aid them whenever they need it.

[SubSerpent]

If only i was president this would stand:

All veterans who had served the country proud rest assured that the country they fought for and put thier lives on the line for will help them in thier hour of need, not only the veterans but their familys also.

I mean after all sailor steve did defend what he thought was right he defended each and every american citizen and he as do many others like him deserve the help they need to get back on thier feet no one else i dont think deserve the help of the government more.

The government of all nations owes a massive un repayable debt to its vetrens a debt which will never be paid. so the only way to easy the payment is to aid them whenever they need it.

I wish you were president here in the US then Kaptain. You may be one of the youngest on this forum, but you have got to be one of the most mature and stable minded people I have ever met! God bless your kind nature! :rock:

[Kapitan]

Oh and just one more thing, BUSH does not deserve to be presedent id like to see him strung up one day for what he has done to the world, i think we have all lost count as to how many innocent soldiers and civilians have been killed by his dumb decisions.

Afghanistan i can agree with but iraq i cannot, saddam hussien would be a better leader then bush and i also think bush should be the one on trial for genocide and not saddam.

[ASWnut101]

you know what, fine.

Il let you to your ramblings.
just saying, try to keep it away from people who dont want to hear it!


BYE.

[Kapitan]

The forum is open to everyone its about opinions facts and knowlege, i come here to learn new things and learn from other people its called development.

You will find you might be able to learn off a 60 year old better than your 24 year old teach simply because that 60 year old has had the experiance the other hasnt.

Sailor Steve, Ramius, Bill Nichols, Ping Jockey just to name a few all have served thier country and served it proud, they were the guys who were out there defending you when you were in diapers, these are the men who acctualy went out there knowing that it may be the last time they see familys again.

It doesnt matter what nation you serve it doesnt matter what religion you are it doesnt matter what you do, but if you serve an armed forces then you have my up most respect and i will bow down to you and praise you for it because its something to be proud of and its something that many people cant say they have done with thier lives.

These men and women deserve alot better then what they got already, they sacrificed thier lives thier familys thier lives just so you can have your tommorrow, it angers me when people take the pi$$ out of the veterans the people who dont acctualy realise that what they see infront of them is the few living examples of freedom, and if it wasnt for that handful of people marching with thier flags once a year then maybe none of us would be standing there to watch them.

Those men had more then guts they had pride and dignity and self respect, something you realy need to learn sorry but if your going to disresepct veterans who served thier countries and then to top it off failed by the country they served, then you dont have no respect of mine.

[SubSerpent]

The forum is open to everyone its about opinions facts and knowlege, i come here to learn new things and learn from other people its called development.

You will find you might be able to learn off a 60 year old better than your 24 year old teach simply because that 60 year old has had the experiance the other hasnt.

Sailor Steve, Ramius, Bill Nichols, Ping Jockey just to name a few all have served thier country and served it proud, they were the guys who were out there defending you when you were in diapers, these are the men who acctualy went out there knowing that it may be the last time they see familys again.

It doesnt matter what nation you serve it doesnt matter what religion you are it doesnt matter what you do, but if you serve an armed forces then you have my up most respect and i will bow down to you and praise you for it because its something to be proud of and its something that many people cant say they have done with thier lives.

These men and women deserve alot better then what they got already, they sacrificed thier lives thier familys thier lives just so you can have your tommorrow, it angers me when people take the pi$$ out of the veterans the people who dont acctualy realise that what they see infront of them is the few living examples of freedom, and if it wasnt for that handful of people marching with thier flags once a year then maybe none of us would be standing there to watch them.

Those men had more then guts they had pride and dignity and self respect, something you realy need to learn sorry but if your going to disresepct veterans who served thier countries and then to top it off failed by the country they served, then you dont have no respect of mine.


Again, well said Kaptain! Have you ever thought about moving to the States and running for Office? US law states you can't be the president, but you can be a state governor or senator! Maybe one day US law will be adjusted to allow someone from a foriegn nation be allowed to become president of the US.

Another thing is your age. According to US law you are too young to run for president. Heck, even I'm too young to run for president. What a crap law! Funny how it is that I served my country in the Navy with honors and have a boat load of ribbons and medals but I still can't run for the BIG seat. This goes the with my same feelings that a US military member should be able to smoke, drink, etc. considering he/she is able to die for their country! There are soooo many laws and rules here that are soooo prehistoric and unconstitutional.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, let's see: I myself don't blame Bush, for the simple reason that I don't see how my personal situation would be any different under any recent president. I also think that a lot of the people who hate Bush would still hate him no matter what he did in the last six years. Of course, being honest, I also believe that is true of the conservatives vs Clinton. Some people just have to blame everything on some scapegoat or another.

That doesn't mean I agree with Bush 100%, or even 50%, I just don't like being rabid about my feelings for or against any leader.

I also disagree with your choice of Kapitan for president. I'm sorry, but anyone who says he'd like to see his own president 'strung up' is not as mature as you'd like to think. Saddam did indeed intentionally kill thousands of his own people, whereas Bush may be mistaken, but I don't see him quite in that light.

Oh, and I also love anything by Creedence-I was there the first time around!:up:

[Kapitan]

Thee part about stringing bush up and putting saddam in charge is just my anger at the bush administration both do not deserve to be president, if only we could have a decent leader some one with hitlers targets, some one with the ability to tell the truth for once, and some one who realy does believe that democracy is freedom and they should allow other nations to choose thier own pathes.

I do know people who have been killed in iraq two of them were killed by american forces, its not bush's fault but as he is president the buck does stop at him.

[SubSerpent]

Well, let's see: I myself don't blame Bush, for the simple reason that I don't see how my personal situation would be any different under any recent president. I also think that a lot of the people who hate Bush would still hate him no matter what he did in the last six years. Of course, being honest, I also believe that is true of the conservatives vs Clinton. Some people just have to blame everything on some scapegoat or another.

That doesn't mean I agree with Bush 100%, or even 50%, I just don't like being rabid about my feelings for or against any leader.

I also disagree with your choice of Kapitan for president. I'm sorry, but anyone who says he'd like to see his own president 'strung up' is not as mature as you'd like to think. Saddam did indeed intentionally kill thousands of his own people, whereas Bush may be mistaken, but I don't see him quite in that light.

Oh, and I also love anything by Creedence-I was there the first time around!:up:

Well, I've got to hand it to you Steve! You are a man of compassion and resolve if you don't feel that Bush hasn't got anything to do with your situation. Let me ask you this though, has he done anything to help YOU. Granted clinton and others haven't done much to help the veterans of former wars out either, but still Bush is currently manning the helm and you are currently not as well off as you should be.

I purpose that the US do something about it. I think the US should form a new bill and sign it into law that makes it mandatory that veterans of former conflicts should be payed a salary of $2000 a month for the rest of their lives regardless if they did 20 years or not. If they did 20 then let them have that $2000 plus their retirement on top of that. This would gurantee that no one that has contributed or sacrificed their life has to go without in this country. It's total BS that you are in the rut you are in.

Families of military veterans who died in wars or conflicts should be paid one lump sum of a million dollars per direct family member for their loss. This means direct brother, sister, mom, dad, step brother, step sisters step parents if they had been in your life for over 5 years or more.


This bill should be retroactive to aid those that are currently veterans and their families AND the $2000 a month should rise with inflation in prices.


ALSO,

Gas for veterans should be free at the pump considering so many vets have died and spilled their blood for it!

[SubSerpent]

Anyone got a problem with that? Are you going to say that my proposal is too expensive?

My answer to that is Freedom ain't free. It's time the US people start paying money for the sacrifices made but those in uniform.

Of course the current government would say no to this since they would have less money to spend on weapons and filling their wallets up with hundred dollar bills, but I think it's about time the US people request this for the vets of America.

[Kapitan]

The best things in life are not free, But the best thing in life is being free.

[SubSerpent]

Oh, and I also love anything by Creedence-I was there the first time around!:up:


One of the greatest bands ever! :rock:

[Bertgang]

2) Unemployed people has better chances in US than in Italy; here it's very hard to find a new job, specially when you are over 45.
Since you speak and write English, why don't you try your luck here in Canada or the USA?


Canada, specially Quebec, could be the best choice for me, as my French is by far better than my English; anyway, the search for a different job is more a temptation than a real needing for me (a professional with little love for his current affairs).

Well, that (and some other political/social comments) has little to do with the problems of Sailor Steve; as it seems, what I call "the curse of general topics" strikes again.

I hope that my older twin now is enabled to play SHIII again.

[mr chris]

Was very sad to hear about your plight steve. I hope you life is starting to get better for you mate:up: :yep: Just hang in there it is good to see you have not lost you sence of humour. I myself am currently serving in the forces of the UK, i just hope that i manage to ovoid ending up in the same situation.
Well steve me and my family are thinking of you mate, good luck:up:

[SkvyWvr]

Anyone got a problem with that? Are you going to say that my proposal is too expensive?
As a retiree you'll find no argument from me, however It's never going to happen and I believe it's won't fit into the constitution.

[SubSerpent]

Anyone got a problem with that? Are you going to say that my proposal is too expensive?
As a retiree you'll find no argument from me, however It's never going to happen and I believe it's won't fit into the constitution.

Why do you think it unconstitutional? These are men and women who have served their nation with honor.

I know JFK stated the whole "ask not what your country can do for you" blah blah blah speach, but still. I think a little bit a pocket change is not too much to ask for the vets of America. I'm sick of seeing them sleeping on the roads in the cold and I'm sick of their not being guranteed "stable" jobs for them.

I think it is possible to happen. The only thing that would make it difficult would be the whole retro active deal. OF course vets from years before are going to ask where their money is. But where is their money? Surely if Mr. Bush can write off huge checks for other things he could write some for the vets of America. Heck, he'd even be paying himself. I'm surprised he hasn't thought of this! :hmm:

[SubSerpent]

Also, if the government is paying you and all vets who served over 20 a retirement check and that's not considered to be unconstitutional, why can't they pay everyone that served at least 1 HONORABLE tour some money. Of course the more years you did or do the more money you get. i jsut think $2000 a month is chump change for today's world considering you can hardly live on just that much anymore. I think it's the least the government should do. Of course it should max cap at a certain amount (there was a few that served over 40 years that I've met :o ), but of course the money should reflect on how much HONORABLE time was served, and did it include any combat action.

If you meet either of those two requirements it should reflect on how much money you get. Start at $2000 a month for a lifetime if 8 years or more were served. 8 years is the minimum enlistment time. If you do 4 active duty years then you still have to do 4 inactive duty years. The money should not be paid out to the service member until the completion of the 8th year.

This would keep people from just joinging for the money and being able to get out right away. They would still have to fill their contract and if they chose to get out after 4 years they won't see a dime for another 4 years of inactive duty time. This way people will be more inclined to serve at least 8 active duty years knowing that they want to have some sort of income coming in once they do decide to get out.


How does that sound?


This at least keeps vets from ever living in poverty and living without. It also goes to strengthen people's interest in joining the military right out of high school and doing a job for at least 8 years in the military. This would also gurantee that vets from yesterday as well as vets in the future are guranteed a decent living for the rest of theirs and their families lives. I think we owe this to the vets of America.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I've got to hand it to you Steve! You are a man of compassion and resolve if you don't feel that Bush hasn't got anything to do with your situation. Let me ask you this though, has he done anything to help YOU. Granted clinton and others haven't done much to help the veterans of former wars out either, but still Bush is currently manning the helm and you are currently not as well off as you should be.
That's kind of my point. The fact that not much has been done to help can't be blamed (at least personally) on any one man. Actually, there are a lot of options available. I'm eligible for many programs that would support me and pay me money. The only problem is I would have to sign a paper saying I'm no longer in control of my own life. If I agree to their terms they would then have the authority (I won't say 'right') to lock me away if one of them decided I was just a little 'off'. Every time my diabetes nurse says she wants me to see a therapist I draw the line and say "no".

I purpose that the US do something about it. I think the US should form a new bill and sign it into law that makes it mandatory that veterans of former conflicts should be payed a salary of $2000 a month for the rest of their lives regardless if they did 20 years or not. If they did 20 then let them have that $2000 plus their retirement on top of that. This would gurantee that no one that has contributed or sacrificed their life has to go without in this country. It's total BS that you are in the rut you are in.
The problem I have is simple: as soon as you do that 95% of the population is going to sign up for four years and then do nothing but collect that money for the rest of their lives. The other 5% are going to be expected to cough up all the money, and there isn't that kind of money for just 5% of the people to cough up, even if they're all as rich as Bill Gates. The money would have to come from somewhere.

Same goes for $1,000,000 for families of deceased veterans-not enough money.

Same with free gas. The government, not the oil companies, would have to pay for it, and governments by nature don't generate revenues.

[SubSerpent]

Well, I've got to hand it to you Steve! You are a man of compassion and resolve if you don't feel that Bush hasn't got anything to do with your situation. Let me ask you this though, has he done anything to help YOU. Granted clinton and others haven't done much to help the veterans of former wars out either, but still Bush is currently manning the helm and you are currently not as well off as you should be.
That's kind of my point. The fact that not much has been done to help can't be blamed (at least personally) on any one man. Actually, there are a lot of options available. I'm eligible for many programs that would support me and pay me money. The only problem is I would have to sign a paper saying I'm no longer in control of my own life. If I agree to their terms they would then have the authority (I won't say 'right') to lock me away if one of them decided I was just a little 'off'. Every time my diabetes nurse says she wants me to see a therapist I draw the line and say "no".

I purpose that the US do something about it. I think the US should form a new bill and sign it into law that makes it mandatory that veterans of former conflicts should be payed a salary of $2000 a month for the rest of their lives regardless if they did 20 years or not. If they did 20 then let them have that $2000 plus their retirement on top of that. This would gurantee that no one that has contributed or sacrificed their life has to go without in this country. It's total BS that you are in the rut you are in.
The problem I have is simple: as soon as you do that 95% of the population is going to sign up for four years and then do nothing but collect that money for the rest of their lives. The other 5% are going to be expected to cough up all the money, and there isn't that kind of money for just 5% of the people to cough up, even if they're all as rich as Bill Gates. The money would have to come from somewhere.

Same goes for $1,000,000 for families of deceased veterans-not enough money.

Same with free gas. The government, not the oil companies, would have to pay for it, and governments by nature don't generate revenues.


I disagree. The government has a money print press. True, there is no money in Ft. Knox. The money is in the banks that truely run the country and that's where all the money is. Obviously there is plenty of money in this country considering the average CEO as of the year 2004 was making 4000% more than their average worker. That number was only 42% in the year 2000. So in just 4 years CEO's are hogging the company income and paying the little guys absolutley nothing for the work that is performed.


I also disagree that anyone would get out considering they could make a WHOLE lot more by just staying in another term. And when they get to the end of THAT term they will want to go ANOTHER term for even more money. True, I few will get out and be happy with $2000 a month for the rest of their lives. But $2000 ain't crap nowadays and you can hardly live on that if even live at all!

[ASWnut101]

so what are you suggesting, that the government just print off money as it pleases?

[SubSerpent]

so what are you suggesting, that the government just print off money as it pleases?

It does anyways for a lot of other worthless ideas and programs! Why not print some more! :yep:

[ASWnut101]

because thats considered communism

we, the US, are a democracy (or a republic in some eyes).
that goes against everything a democracy/republic is.

[August]

Great idea, and when that 2000 bucks isn't worth enough to even pay for a loaf of bread what will be Subman Greenspans solution then?

[ASWnut101]

tax all republicans.:lol:

[SubSerpent]

because thats considered communism

we, the US, are a democracy (or a republic in some eyes).
that goes against everything a democracy/republic is.


Ok, and forcing America's to spend its money on other programs is not considered to be a communistic act?

BTW...

We are talking about the veterans of US wars here, so I think spending money on them is far from being a communistic act considering so many have given so much to the American people. What's it worth to you?

[ASWnut101]

and I like how you think that the "no child left behind" act, tax cuts, and the Department of Homeland Security were just "a waste of money":nope:

[SubSerpent]

Great idea, and when that 2000 bucks isn't worth enough to even pay for a loaf of bread what will be Subman Greenspans solution then?

I mentioned it should inflate with inflation! What is currently considered to be the worth of $2000 right now is what I'm talking about. Of course it should inflate as prices rise.

[ASWnut101]

because thats considered communism

we, the US, are a democracy (or a republic in some eyes).
that goes against everything a democracy/republic is.


Ok, and forcing America's to spend its money on other programs is not considered to be a communistic act?

BTW...

We are talking about the veterans of US wars here, so I think spending money on them is far from being a communistic act considering so many have given so much to the American people. What's it worth to you?


the WAY you suggest to get the money is communism. NOT for what the moneys for.

[SubSerpent]

and I like how you think that the "no child left behind" act, tax cuts, and the Department of Homeland Security were just "a waste of money":nope:


All of those are worthless programs. There are still childern being left behind and the program hasn't shown to be effective at all. The Dept. Homeland security is completely worthless since they obviously can't stop or prevent a terrorist act from happening. And tax cuts are a bad thing to most in the US since the poor stay poor and the rich stay rich. It allows for no growth in the US.

[August]

Great idea, and when that 2000 bucks isn't worth enough to even pay for a loaf of bread what will be Subman Greenspans solution then?
I mentioned it should inflate with inflation! What is currently considered to be the worth of $2000 right now is what I'm talking about. Of course it should inflate as prices rise.
And that causes even more inflation soon causing the price of a loaf of bread to go to $50,000 or more. Don't think it can happen? Somewhere around here i have a post WW1 German bill in a 50 MILLION mark denomination that wouldn't have been enough to buy a loaf of bread when it was printed.

Same action, same result.

[SubSerpent]

because thats considered communism

we, the US, are a democracy (or a republic in some eyes).
that goes against everything a democracy/republic is.


Ok, and forcing America's to spend its money on other programs is not considered to be a communistic act?

BTW...

We are talking about the veterans of US wars here, so I think spending money on them is far from being a communistic act considering so many have given so much to the American people. What's it worth to you?


the WAY you suggest to get the money is communism. NOT for what the moneys for.

I don't recall how I stated how the money was to be to collected. I would figure by normal tax money or whatever.

If you meant by me stating for them to use the print press then that's no what I meant. Fact is the government owns runs and controls the print press so it's not illegal for them to print out money as the deem fit.

[SubSerpent]

Well guys, seems you all are going to find anything to argue with me on - even when it comes to the war heros of the nation. You stand there with your hands in your pockets and shrug your shoulders when it comes to your own vets. I find that disrespectful. Aparently a lot of people on here have already asked themselves what can the country do for me instead of the other way around considering you want troops to do all this fighting and protecting of your freedoms but you are always going to make sure they live in the dumps when they are no longer contributing to it.

[ASWnut101]

All of those are worthless programs. There are still childern being left behind and the program hasn't shown to be effective at all. The Dept. Homeland security is completely worthless since they obviously can't stop or prevent a terrorist act from happening.

Name a terrorist act they failed to prevent.

And its nice how you think so much of our school childeren.

[ASWnut101]

Fact is the government owns runs and controls the print press so it's not illegal for them to print out money as the deem fit.


It is VERY illeagal for them to do that actually.:yep:

[Sea Demon]

The Dept. Homeland security is completely worthless since they obviously can't stop or prevent a terrorist act from happening. And tax cuts are a bad thing to most in the US since the poor stay poor and the rich stay rich. It allows for no growth in the US.

Since the DHS has been enacted, there have been no Islamic terrorist attacks at all on US soil. :lol: You are totally lost.

And the fact that there is currently a higher percentage of revenue flowing into the federal treasury right now, shows you are completely wrong. And the economy is currently growing at 5.7% which is higher at present rate than any year under Bill Clinton. :up:

[SubSerpent]

Fact is the government owns runs and controls the print press so it's not illegal for them to print out money as the deem fit.


It is VERY illeagal for them to do that actually.:yep:


Well, lets see here. The pentagon has a $1 billion a day spending budget at it's disposal. Where's the $1 billion come from? I'll tell you. They print the money, they spend the money, it's up to you and me and every other tax payer to pay it back! That's where the money comes from!

It's no different than if I borrowed your credit card and spent a fortune on it and gave it back to you to pay off the bill. It's the exact same idea.

[SubSerpent]

The Dept. Homeland security is completely worthless since they obviously can't stop or prevent a terrorist act from happening. And tax cuts are a bad thing to most in the US since the poor stay poor and the rich stay rich. It allows for no growth in the US.

Since the DHS has been enacted, there have been no Islamic terrorist attacks at all on US soil. :lol: You are totally lost.

And the fact that there is currently a higher percentage of revenue flowing into the federal treasury right now, shows you are completely wrong. And the economy is currently growing at 5.7% which is higher at present rate than any year under Bill Clinton. :up:

Wrong Wrong and Wrong again! Where do you get these numbers? You must pull them out of your butt or something.

Homeland Security failed the girl the other day from the terrorist that came into her school and shot her to death.
Homeland Security hasn't had to deal with Al Qaeda because the US military is currently invading their homeland in Afganistan.

The flow of federal income may be higher but the spending flow of the government is at the highest it's been since WWII.

The no child left behind act has not prooved to be any more effective than the way schools were prior to the act. Also, they might as well change the name to the "No WHITE child left behind act" considering blacks and other minorities are not gaining from the act at all in their intercity schools. It's just another form of the Bush administration holding down the little man and helping himself.

[Sea Demon]

Wrong Wrong and Wrong again! Where do you get these numbers? You must pull them out of your butt or something.

Homeland Security failed the girl the other day from the terrorist that came into her school and shot her to death.
Homeland Security has had to deal with Al Qaeda because the US military currently invading their homeland in Afganistan.

The flow of federal income may be higher but the spending flow of the government is at the highest it's been since WWII.

The no child left behind act has not prooved to be any more effective than the way schools were prior to the act. Also, they might as well change the name to the "No WHITE child left behind act" considering blacks and other minorities are not gaining from the act at all in their intercity schools. It just another form of the Bush administration holding down the little man and helping himself.

The IRS site has some pretty good stats to look at. Where do you get your numbers? At any rate, it's not important. Your people are not in power. Small and middle size businesses have learned in the past that your thinking increases business and personal taxes. And depresses economic activity. Why do you think the democrats use terms like "targeted tax cuts" every election cycle. Can't wait to hear the code words this time around.

And no. There is murder in America, and every country out there. DHS is not an agency to stop that. If DHS was that broad, you would be screaming NAZI hysterically......oh yeah...wait. :lol: See, you want it both ways. Typical. Anyway, when speaking of terrorism, there is not one attack on US soil since DHS was enacted. And only one terrorist attack on US interest since Bush has been President. And he responded, not swept it under the rug like your typical weak-kneed democrat. But I did hear democrats say we deserved it.

And also, there is currently lower inflation, better unemployment figures and more robust home-ownership now. Even in the markets out here in California.

And I agree, the public schools at large are failing our kids. And those schools are largely run by democrats. Protected by teachers unions. Bush tried to put standards in these schools, and the teachewrs screamed bloody murder. No , we can't have school standards, can we SubSerpent? That would be unfair, and racist? :doh: Why does Bush attack the teachers? :roll: :doh:

[SubSerpent]

Wrong Wrong and Wrong again! Where do you get these numbers? You must pull them out of your butt or something.

Homeland Security failed the girl the other day from the terrorist that came into her school and shot her to death.
Homeland Security has had to deal with Al Qaeda because the US military currently invading their homeland in Afganistan.

The flow of federal income may be higher but the spending flow of the government is at the highest it's been since WWII.

The no child left behind act has not prooved to be any more effective than the way schools were prior to the act. Also, they might as well change the name to the "No WHITE child left behind act" considering blacks and other minorities are not gaining from the act at all in their intercity schools. It just another form of the Bush administration holding down the little man and helping himself.

The IRS site has some pretty good stats to look at. Where do you get your numbers? At any rate, it's not important. Your people are not in power. Small and middle size businesses have learned in the past that your thinking increases business and personal taxes. And depresses economic activity. Why do you think the democrats use terms like "targeted tax cuts" every election cycle. Can't wait to hear the code words this time around.

And no. There is murder in America, and every country out there. DHS is not an agency to stop that. If DHS was that broad, you would be screaming NAZI hysterically......oh yeah...wait. :lol: See, you want it both ways. Typical. Anyway, when speaking of terrorism, there is not one attack on US soil since DHS was enacted. And only one terrorist attack on US interest since Bush has been President. And he responded, not swept it under the rug like your typical weak-kneed democrat. But I did hear democrats say we deserved it.

And also, there is currently lower inflation, better unemployment figures and more robust home-ownership now. Even in the markets out here in California.

And I agree, the public schools at large are failing our kids. And those schools are largely run by democrats. Protected by teachers unions. Bush tried to put standards in these schools, and the teachewrs screamed bloody murder. No , we can't have school standards, can we SubSerpent? That would be unfair, and racist? :doh: Why does Bush attack the teachers? :roll: :doh:


OMG! It's a miracle!

Oh BTW...

The rest of your post was wrong, The numbers are BS and no the US economy was a lot better under Clinton. It's been proven time and time again. it must be hard for you to accept that fact. :nope:

[VipertheSniper]

Anyway, when speaking of terrorism, there is not one attack on US soil since DHS was enacted. And only one terrorist attack on US interest since Bush has been President.

Did the terrorists even try to stage another attack on US soil as of now? I sure haven't heard anything about it over here...

It reminds me of the Bear Patrol episode in the Simpsons, a bear comes once into Springfield, I believe he's shot, the citizens call for a bear patrol, because of the "frequent" bear attacks, bear patrol in place, no more bears in town, but not because of the bear patrol, but because the one bear they killed (or captured, really don't know), was the only one in the area.

[Sea Demon]

OMG! It's a miracle!

Oh BTW...

The rest of your post was wrong, The numbers are BS and no the US economy was a lot better under Clinton. It's been proven time and time again. it must be hard for you to accept that fact. :nope:

How so? How do you participate in the economy? Do you even participate or do you just sit around forums all day and whine and throw bombs?

This years unemployment figures were in the high 4's. Like 4.7%. Clinton never saw anything like that as his best year he saw somewhere in the 5's. Inflation is also lower right now. And interest rates in the 90's were never like they are now. Plus there are more homeowners now. Plus federal tax rates are low...which is why some of this is the way it is. Clinton never had numbers like these. Too bad you just can't accept reality. :nope: :D

[Onkel Neal]

Hijacking of this thread stops now. Steve was using this thread to keep us posted on his situation. Any future posts better be very Steve-oriented.

[ASWnut101]

Finally.....

[SubSerpent]

What's your latest status Steve? How long till you are in a place of your own again?

[Sailor Steve]

Any future posts better be very Steve-oriented.
And here I was just about to talk to SubSerpent about economics and money-printing.:rotfl:

[Sailor Steve]

What's your latest status Steve? How long till you are in a place of your own again?
I have no idea. I'm working fairly regularly now that I have my flagger's card, but I've also been sick for several days. Advice: never get sick in a shelter; they don't care, you still have to leave the premises during the day whether you feel like it or not.

I have to leave the shelter on the Fourteenth. You can only stay for three months, and I can't believe it's been that long. On the other hand I can spend a few days at the Rescue Mission and reapply to the shelter, and should have no problems getting back in. The bad news is I'm starting to sound like a professional bum, and I hate it!

The good news is I made enough money last week to finally get my phone turned back on (or did I already mention that on the previous page), and I'm in contact with my music-buddies again, so that's cheering.

[SubSerpent]

What's your latest status Steve? How long till you are in a place of your own again?
I have no idea. I'm working fairly regularly now that I have my flagger's card, but I've also been sick for several days. Advice: never get sick in a shelter; they don't care, you still have to leave the premises during the day whether you feel like it or not.

I have to leave the shelter on the Fourteenth. You can only stay for three months, and I can't believe it's been that long. On the other hand I can spend a few days at the Rescue Mission and reapply to the shelter, and should have no problems getting back in. The bad news is I'm starting to sound like a professional bum, and I hate it!

The good news is I made enough money last week to finally get my phone turned back on (or did I already mention that on the previous page), and I'm in contact with my music-buddies again, so that's cheering.

Where is all your stuff from your apartment? Did you sell it or did you put it in a storage unit?

Great that you got your phone back on. What's your next step? Have you dialed for dollars to the unemloyment dept. yet? It might not be a lot but every little bit helps. They usually have an unemployment office around that you can go to during 9-5 hours and file for unemployment and use their resources for getting into a job fairly quickly.

Keep us informed and let us know if things get too bad.

[Sailor Steve]

As I said, I have been working semi-regularly at a day-labor job. Get paid every day, that's nice. I won't be looking at real jobs until I get a backlog of cash to see me through to a first real paycheck. That said, I hit the unemployment office every day I'm not working. I'm not eligible for unemployment, or even for food stamps anymore. Seems I quit a job not long ago, and they don't like that.

[mr chris]

Hey steve cant belive that you are not eligible for unemployment:shifty: That really sucks. Though iam not from the USA so i have no idea of how there systems work. Im glad to hear you have some money coming in and good luck with the hunt for a real job. :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Where is all your stuff from your apartment? Did you sell it or did you put it in a storage unit?
Sorry I didn't answer this part. My time at the library was almost up and I was typing as fast as I could.

A friend was kind enough to let me put computer, desk, bookshelves, clothes, dresser, bed, 40 boxes of books and a similar number of boxes of comics in his garage. He wasn't kind enough to invite me to stay there, but that is what it is, and we're still friends (after all, he has all my stuff!).

The way unemployment works, at least here, is that you have to have worked at a full time regular job for at least 30 days to be eligible, and that includes food stamps. I had a job a while ago that I quit because I had another job lined up, which fell through after the last moment. That's how I ended up in this situation in the first place. I won't be able to apply again until after I have a new job, at which point I won't need it anymore.

Catch-22.

[SubSerpent]

Where is all your stuff from your apartment? Did you sell it or did you put it in a storage unit?
Sorry I didn't answer this part. My time at the library was almost up and I was typing as fast as I could.

A friend was kind enough to let me put computer, desk, bookshelves, clothes, dresser, bed, 40 boxes of books and a similar number of boxes of comics in his garage. He wasn't kind enough to invite me to stay there, but that is what it is, and we're still friends (after all, he has all my stuff!).

The way unemployment works, at least here, is that you have to have worked at a full time regular job for at least 30 days to be eligible, and that includes food stamps. I had a job a while ago that I quit because I had another job lined up, which fell through after the last moment. That's how I ended up in this situation in the first place. I won't be able to apply again until after I have a new job, at which point I won't need it anymore.

Catch-22.

I thought you were eligible for unemployment if you haven't found "reasonable" work after 60-90 days depending on what state you live in regardless if you quit your previous job or were fired.

Though, what is really bothering me as of lately is the way the system is protecting the companies so much more than the people. This is a complete OUTRAGE! The reason why local, state, and federal government likes to protect the company more than the people is because if the people quit or get fired for discipline problems, then no money is being made for the local, state, or federal governments who establish these laws.

Without people working they get less money on taxes and in a lot of cases they HAVE to pay the unemployed people money. This is why they put in their clauses that if you "quit" or get fired for reasons that were controllable by you then you get no unemployment money. So what happens then is the companies, just to really screw you over in a lot of situations, set you up to either quit or to get you fired for bad behavior etc... It's *******ING BS!!!

I've seen this in the last 2 jobs that I've quit. For one, I felt I was WAAAAYYYY underpaid. They started my off at $7.25 an hour to work 40 hours a week. I got a promotion to a different dept. and then they paid me $9.50 an hour to work 45 hours a week. Where I live, this is still considered poverty level pay. It doesn't even come out to $20,000 a year gross (before taxes). Then one day I approached my boss about a raise. I had taken on 2 extra jobs from employees that quit (who were making about $15 per hour each btw). I asked for a $2 per hour raise and my boss flipped through the roof. I was offened and shocked that she said no. She had me doing EVERYTHING including other people's jobs that the company had no intentions to ever fill. They were going to just work me to the bone and pay me no more than my original $9.50 an hour.

I sucked it up and hung on a bit longer to see if things would get better. They didn't of course. They just got worse. Now my boss had me add ANOTHER persons workload onto my plate to do and still NO BLOODY RAISE! WTF?!?!? 3 jobs now, not including my own that I am responsible for. *******ING BS!!! I was getting pretty livid by now and it was all I could do not to shove my foot up my boss's a**. She really deserved it IMHO!!! Still Does!!!

So one day, things at work got very chaotic and my boss was micromanaging me just to make sure I was doing EVERYTHING that needed to be done to keep this company from falling through the floor. I went outside to take my first 15 min smoke break of the day after being inside working for 4 hours straight. When I came back in she pulled me off my job and tried to write me up for taking an "unauthorized" break because the workload for the day was too demanding to warrant any breaks. WTF?!?!?!?!? This was the final straw, I could take NO MORE! I said the words with confidence, "I *******ING QUIT, YOU *******ING B****H" as I took the write up that she took the time to prepare and rubbed into my a** and b*lls in front of her and threw it hard into her face. I marched out to my car and I've never been back.

My wife works for this same company still and she said as soon as I left my boss got 4 new hires to fill in all the jobs that I was doing and started paying them all $11 an hour. WTF?!?!?! Where did all this EXTRA money come from?!??! Obviously it was a setup to force me to quit and to keep the company and state government from having to pay out any form unemployment. For some reason or other she had a problem with me because I wasn't as religious as her and because I smoked. WTF?!?!? God, I HATE the deep south!!!!

Anyway, I am still unemployed but I do have a job exam slated for a much better job working for the county coming up at the end of the month. I am also enrolled at a technology college as a full time student. So hopefully I will be able to find something much better once I get the degree I need.

Anyway Sailor Steve, I know what your going through. I can't say I've ever slept in a shelter, but I have had to go without several times in my life since I've gotten out of the Navy. It's a complete shame there isn't a guranteed federal job system setup for vets to get them a good job right away if the one they currently have isn't working out for them. Instead I sometimes feel like I served for nothing. It feels like I got out and realized the US population is still as ungreatful and uncaring about their vets as they've ever beeen. This is one of the problems I have with the US right now. There are just too many ungreatful and spoiled rotten people living in it. They feel they owe no one a bit of gratitude or respect because they aren't members at mommy and daddy's *******ing golf resort.

I feel for you Steve, and I'm praying for ya as well. At least we can always thank ourselves for serving and for that, I truly am grateful! :up:

[Sailor Steve]

It's a complete shame there isn't a guranteed federal job system setup for vets to get them a good job right away if the one they currently have isn't working out for them.
Funny thing is, I got a great job right out of the service back in '71, working in a warehouse here in Utah at Hill Air Force Base. Problem was I'm an artistic (read lazy) type, and I just knew that I was going to have a successful music career and who needs this crappy job anyway? Besides, I'm not going to be in Utah for more than a year. I never thought about it again until five years ago, when I realized that if I had stayed there I would have retired in 2001 with a 30-year federal pension.

From your description it sounds mostly like a personality conflict between you and that particular boss. You're both probably better off in the long run.

As for people being ungrateful, federal funding is like population growth: every year there are more veterans and there is only so much money to go around. The schools need it, the military needs it, and they have to deal with taxpayers who wish taxes would go down, not up. Every time I visit the VA hospital they ask if I have medical insurance, as they can take it and they do need it. In reality there's only so much that can be done.

[Hylander_1314]

I've never collected unemployment insurance, as they always had some excuse as to why I did'nt qualify. So I don't look for help that way. I always manage to get work one way or another.

I remember back in the late 60's and early 70's selling poppies for Armistice Day, at school, and then taking all the proceeds to the Veteran's Hospitol. Kids everywhere did that, but in the latter 70's the fund drive stopped. City wide we used to raise around $8,000.00 for the vets. I know it's not a lot, but it did help the soldiers who depended on the V.A., who weren't rich or had any decent insurance.

[Pants]

Hi Sailor Steve, i'm very sorry to hear about your situation.My thoughts go out to you mate. It is a real shame you dont live over here in the UK. You could get housing benifit, a free house/flat, unemployment benift or even Income support. I have relatives who fought in GW1, when they left the army they used thier qualifications and found a job straight away ( lucky i know ) I just hope It is a two way street..we are taking somethings onboard from you guys over there in the US, i also hope your govenment will take our benifits onboard.
Take care mate and stay well :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I've put off adding anything new until I had some good news, but things have turned sour again. The last time I reported in I had a card that let me flag traffic at constructions sites. No sooner did I start doing that than I got sick. For two weeks. Two weeks after that I got sick again. Then November came and it started getting cold, so construction stopped. I tried doing regular work again, but the fact is my old body just can't keep up anymore.

A month ago I said to myself "Hey! I've been doing this for three months and more; let's see if I can get unemployment again". So I applied, and I can get unemployment again! Good news. The only problem is, my bank account is closed, so I can't have it deposited there anymore. They do have a way to set up an account directly with Workforce Services, so I applied for that. They said that I had a card before with them, so I have to file for a lost/stolen card. They said they would send me a new one, but it would cost $5. They said I couldn't give them the money, they had to take it out of the account. They said the first money into the account didn't register until a couple of days after it was released. When I called them again they said "Oh, apparently we never sent you the card. We'll send it now. It takes five to seven business days to get there. Well, three weeks after I applied for unemployment I finally got the money. I'm also getting food stamps again, but that stuff only lasts a little while, and it's not enough to get an apartment.

Since I have unemployment I have bus money, so I started looking in earnest again. The state told me years ago that they would pay for schooling, but they wanted a copy of my birth certificate. I've been trying to get that ever since, but the state of Texas says they have more than 300 Steven E. Bradfields, but I'm not one of them.

I finally convinced the state to take my DD-214 (military separation papers) as proof of birth, so I talked to the local CDL truck-driving schools and got that all arranged. I also checked into computer schools, but the course I need is eight months long, and I don't have eight months right now.

Yesterday I went to apply for a phone-answering job that looked good. They told me the training class runs from 0600 hours to 1530, and the first bus that goes that way starts running at 0617.

Today I checked back with my VA rep at Workforce, and he told me that his superior told him he was wrong; it's the birth certificate or nothing.

So, after almost six months in the homeless shelter I'm no closer to a solution, an apartment or playing SHIII than I was back in July.

At least I can still get online at the library.

[nikimcbee]

Steve,
I'm glad to hear you're hanging in there:) . Other than work :damn: , do you need anything? It would be cool if you could come over for Christmas dinner. Too bad airplane tickets are so expensive.:shifty:

mcbee:lurk:

[U-533]

:damn: Steve this sucks.

I've been in those shoes before. Like all shoes they wearout. When you get new shoes they feel like you stand a bit taller and walk a bit prouder.

I made my mind up the last time I got a new pair of shoes to walk a different way.:sunny:

Hold fast.

[nikimcbee]

Did you have a nice holiday?

[Theta Sigma]

Forgive my glossing over some posts, but if it wasn't mentioned already, this may be of help:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/

Good luck to you.

[_Seth_]

Well, now im sick and tired. Steve tries as hard as he can, but neither the system or the people are willing to help him. I live in Norway, and compared to USA this is heaven.. We actually take care of those who has fallen behind (no offence ment, Steve..), atleast most of them. I will propose a rally to gather enough money so Steve can get back on his feet. From there he has to manage it himself. If its ok with Neal, i suggest we use the Subsim payment system, to ensure that nothing goes wrong. I dont think Steve is a fraud, whos only after sympathy, i belive his life situation is precicely as he tells.
If Neal is in on this & gives his approval, i will start off with donating 300$. For you out there considering buying a new RAM-chip or something similar, save that to the spring and SHIV. I think this is more important.

With kind Regards

Dan
AKA _Seth_

[Sailor Steve]

NO! Absolutely not! No money! I have a place to stay and food to eat, and money won't help enough to make a difference. What I need is the right job, and it will work out from there.

Thanks for the kind offer, but that's one direction I refuse to go. Besides, it won't help me play SHIII.:rotfl:

[fredbass]

I suggest posting your resume here at subsim. Or did you do that already?

[_Seth_]

NO! Absolutely not! No money! I have a place to stay and food to eat, and money won't help enough to make a difference. What I need is the right job, and it will work out from there.

Thanks for the kind offer, but that's one direction I refuse to go. Besides, it won't help me play SHIII.:rotfl:

I respect that, mate... I just want to help, but the distance between here and the US is to big... Please, i hope everything turns out well, and if it is something else i could do, dont hesitate to tell me.

[Sailor Steve]

I suggest posting your resume here at subsim. Or did you do that already?
No, I hadn't even thought of it. The situation is not really critical. There are state and local services to help. I'm living in a dorm-type shelter and eating at a free soup kitchen when I'm broke. The thing is I'm working every now and then out of a day labor place (work a day and get paid every day). It doesn't pay enough to allow me to get my own place, but it lets me go out for meals occassionally. The problem is it's really too easy. I could have gone to work at a fast-food place a long time ago; but I'm holding out for a better-paying job, and one that I'll like as well.

I really do appreciate the kind offer, Seth, but on the one hand it wouldn't accomplish anything long-term, and on the other it would let me waste more time not trying hard enough.

I really blame myself for most of this.

[_Seth_]

I really do appreciate the kind offer, Seth, but on the one hand it wouldn't accomplish anything long-term, and on the other it would let me waste more time not trying hard enough.

I really blame myself for most of this.
I dont see how you could blame yourself. You dont enjoy beeing in this situation, and i dont think you would put yourself in a unpleasant situation when you dont enjoy it. It is not your fault, as i see it.
Every man has his limitations, i have, you have, and the rest of us have. Where that limit go, is individual, and no-one has the right to criticise others for theys limitations, not Government nor people. You have as much rights as a human beeing as the rest of us, Steve, no matter what other people say or do to you. I wouldnt last a day in your situation, mate, and i have great respect for the way you handle this and for the person you are.
If you should need some cash in the future, i can lend it to you. You could pay me back with a beer and a barbeque when i come to visit you in your future house!

My thoughts are with you, mate!:yep:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Hey, there'll always be a place to go when I move there, matey :up:

[U-533]

[quote=Sailor Steve]
There are state and local services to help. I'm living in a dorm-type shelter and eating at a free soup kitchen when I'm broke. The thing is I'm working every now and then out of a day labor place (work a day and get paid every day). It doesn't pay enough to allow me to get my own place, but it lets me go out for meals occassionally. The problem is it's really too easy. I could have gone to work at a fast-food place a long time ago; but I'm holding out for a better-paying job, and one that I'll like as well.

quote]

As I said before I have been there too.
I hadda a job flippin' burgers. It paid minimum wage. Problem was I was dependable and came to work sober so the manager would work me 50 and 60 hours a week...this would have been OK if the job paid $10 an hour(1989) and I didnt have a wife 2 childern , house and car, and the need to eat... I was working myself deeper into the hole.Then had no time to look another job...I about lost all we had working as hard as I could....so much for the "Just get a job" thing...


Steve .. hang in there man Fridays a come'in:sunny: :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Then had no time to look another job...I about lost all we had working as hard as I could....so much for the "Just get a job" thing...
That's exactly why I keep avoiding those. I still keep thinking there has to be something more I can do; I just haven't found it yet. The frustrating part is all the jobs I'd like but I can't get to because they aren't on a bus line, or they start before the buses run.

[Gizzmoe]

The frustrating part is all the jobs I'd like but I can't get to because they aren't on a bus line, or they start before the buses run.

Get a cheap moped.

[fatty]

Even with a roof over my head I can sympathize with you, Steve; jobs along my bus route here are few and far between.

I could take a car, but I'd have to take out a loan to afford school, and I avoid debt like the plague :down:

[Sailor Steve]

The frustrating part is all the jobs I'd like but I can't get to because they aren't on a bus line, or they start before the buses run.

Get a cheap moped.
Actually I'll get my '82 KZ750 up and running first, and probably for less money. But there's still too little of that and it's kind of cold out right now.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, with warm weather coming sometime soon and the likelyhood of full-time work picking up, I had hoped to revive this thread with some good news. Instead...

I actually was out working two weeks ago when I came down with a cold. No big, deal, until the fever and chills set in. I ended up going to a free clinic, then to the VA hospital, and got the good news: Pneumonia. I spent two days in the hospital and the last six in a special bed at the shelter.

This is why I haven't posted anything since last Tuesday, and may not again for a few days. The good news is I'm definitely getting better.

[Bertgang]

Nice to know that you are getting better.
I hope for something interesting close to bus lines and times.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, it's three weeks later and I'd better give an update. I got over the bad stuff and moved back into a regular bed. Had another frustrating experience: I called a temp agency about a job and was told I would need to send a resume. I put one together and sent it to them, and they told me to call back the next day. This went of for five days, and then they finally told me I didn't get the job. This wouldn't have been so bad except each day I called them was a day I didn't go out and work day labor, so they cost me $300 for a week of not working.:damn:

On the positive side, my birth certificate finally came, so after I have a little cash set aside to get me through I can start truck-driving school courtesy of the state of Utah! Also, some time ago I reported that I couldn't take a job I wanted because their training class starts at 0600 hours and the first bus going there doesn't even leave town until 0610! Well, I just found out they've changed their start time to 0700! Maybe they listened to all of us who wanted to work for them and couldn't because of that. Now I just have to work day-labor for a couple of weeks and I'll have enough money to get me through three or four weeks of no pay while I go to one or the other.:sunny:





Ooh! Ooh! I almost forgot: Neal sent me a cool genuine official SH4 poster as my prize for the "Skipper of the Month" thing! And a little official paper of congratulations!

Thanks Neal; and thanks to all of you guys!:/\\k:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Looks like things are finally looking up for ya, Steve. I couldnt be happier for you :up::up:

[bigboywooly]

Glad to see things arent as bleak as they were Steve

Hope the truck driving turns out to be the answer for you
Cant think of a more deserving skipper of the month either so enjoy your prize :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Triumph

I've been working a couple of days a week highway construction flagging. I finally got enough money together to get a storage space, get some friends together and get all my stuff out of my friend's garage. He has his garage back, my stuff is where I can get to it any time I want, and it seems that an apartment might be only a few weeks away!

Tragedy

My guitar is gone. Why someone would open up my friend's garage and not take the television or the computer I don't know, but my Epiphone 12-string, which my ex-wife bought me for my birthday in 1977 is gone. Yes, I've lived with that guitar for thirty years. It wasn't the greatest, but it was the last tie I had both to my old life and my music. I'm overstating because of my grief, and I can replace it easily, but it will never be the same.

Anyway, I'm still alive, and that's something.:cry:

[Ishmael]

Hang in there Steve. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

[Jimbuna]

That's great news Steve :rock: I'm absolutely over the moon life is being a little kinder to you :up:
Hang on in there bud....grit and determination....I'm sure you'll come good :yep:

Best Wishes
Jim

[bigboywooly]

Good news indeed Steve
What will the library do when you get an apartment ?

:rotfl:

They will have a lonely empty seat at a computer where you used to be

Sad news about the guitar but nice to hear things are on the up for you at last

[Dowly]

Great to hear everything's starting to work out, Steve! All the best to you, matey! :up:

[Rose]

Awesome news! You can tough it out man, keep it goin.

[robbo180265]

Don't know how, but I've managed to miss this thread until now.
Really puts my problems into perspective. I hope it all works out for you Steve, and if there's anything I can do to help let me know.

[The Avon Lady]

Bravo! :rock:

[joea]

Well breaking my no posts from work rule :p to say I am really happy, sorry about your guitar but we've all lost objects of high sentimental value before. So soon back under the virtual waves as well eh??

[Sailor Steve]

So soon back under the virtual waves as well eh??
Soon, yes. At least I hope so. Work is picking up, and the future looks better. I'll keep you all posted.

[Safe-Keeper]

Best of luck, mate. Remember most problems and virtually all pain lessen with time. May not be a comfort now, though.

[Reaves]

Every now and then I'll read a forum thread that moves me. This is one of them.

Good luck mate. :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

My turn to raise a necro-thread from the dead...but it's mine, so I won't apologize.

This is to inform one-and-all as to what has happened, and yes, sometimes good things actually do happen.

My original intent was to post here weekly, but my life became so boring that I didn't want to risk having someone actually die from reading it.

Anyway, I keep saying that I'm trying to get myself out of this situation, but not hard enough. It's easy to let things slide, always telling yourself that escape is just around the corner; but I keep getting temp jobs that don't last, and accepting that as good enough.

Right around the first of November I got a boring job, but it paid pretty well. I was working for the City government, opening bags of leaves. What happens is in the fall they bring around bundles of orange bags and ask people to use them when they rake up leaves from their yards. They then have teams of temporary workers open the bags and dump out the leaves, which are then bulldozed into big piles, which then turn into mulch, which the city then sells for a profit. Our city landfill is actually self-sustaining, which means they get no money from taxes.

I did this for a month, then became sick for a while. All irrelevant, really, but during this same time a friend of mine moved into an old house with two other roommates. Well, just a few days ago, out of the blue, one of those roommates announced that he was moving out, and my friend suggested that I replace him. After some talk, everyone agreed, and I moved in two days ago.

The bad news is that it's a crappy old place and needs a lot of cleaning.

The good news is that I now have two roommates instead of three hundred. Also a bathroom and an actual kitchen.

The bad news is that the rent and utilities will be due soon and I still don't have a full-time job.

The good news is that with enough temp work I can get by, as my portion of the rent is pretty cheap.

The bad news is that this is all very tenuous, and may fall through before I know it, and I could end up back in the shelter.

The good news is that, for the time being at least, I'm no longer homeless!!!

The bad news is...well, there really isn't any more bad news.

The good news is that within the week I'll have my computer set up and will be able to get online any time I want to, and more importantly, play SH3 again!!!!!!!!!! (and finally see GWX and SH4)!!!!!!!!!!

So anyway, I resurrected this thread just so I could start to put it to sleep for good.:sunny:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Steve, I do believe I told you that things would work out, and this is proof. Any company or organisaton that hires you is lucky, in my opinon. There will always be a place at my house (when I move to the US, of course)

[Tchocky]

Sounds a bit like my house right now ;) (no heating, house falling to bits, psychotic landlord. Can't complain, got my cats and my girlfriend, end of argument :))

That's great news, Steve, even if it's temporary. Best of luck for 2008! :up:

[Torplexed]

Great news! You're due a streak of good luck. Hope this is the start of one.:cool:

I imagine they'll miss you at the library computer department. :hmm:

[August]

Good for you Steve.

[SteminDemon13]

hey steve, what state are you living in? Maybe I can help you out.

[Reaves]

Glad to hear you've got a roof over your head. I hope things continue to brighten.

[Stealth Hunter]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/Kanari1/YAY.jpg

[Jimbuna]

That is really excellent news Steve. I am overjoyed at your turn of fortune :up:

No fanciful smileys this time mate.....just heartfelt joy at your positive change :sunny:

[Skybird]

:up:

[kiwi_2005]

Well, it finally happened: my lousy luck with jobs crossed paths with my apartment rent. I thought I would get a last minute reprieve when I lined up a job driving deliveries for a bakery, but when I went to get a copy of my driving record I found my license had been suspended. They sent me letters saying they needed paperwork from the Veterans' Administration, but they sent them to my old address.

I spent a lonely, boring frustrating day yesterday walking around town doing nothing, since everything was closed but Wal-Mart. I even spent a few hours there just hanging out.

For the time being I'm staying at the local Rescue Mission. The good news is there are day-labor places close by, where you work for a day and get paid the same day. The bad news is I couldn't work yesterday because they too were closed, I couldn't work today because I still had paperwork to take care of and Friday I have to go to the VA for a checkup to see if I can get my license back. Tomorrow I get to work and earn money, and hopefully Saturday as well.

The worst part in all this is that I can't play SHIII for the forseeable future.

I just read this thread now. Wish you lots of Good luck Steve. It can only get better. It will get better.:yep:

[Tango589]

Just sat and read this thread from page 1. Bloody glad things look to be working out for you Steve.

All the best for the future.

:up: :rock: :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

hey steve, what state are you living in? Maybe I can help you out. Utah, but no, thanks. I've been offered help before and decided at the first that it would be cheating on my part.

Thanks to the rest of you for your sympathies.

I realized earlier that it's funny: I became unhomeless (homeful?) just as suddenly, unexpectedly and accidentally as I became homeless in the first place. You never know what's going to happen next.:sunny:

[Stealth Hunter]

If all else fails, try what this guy did:


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/31363496_5ff03bcd19.jpg

[TarJak]

Good to hear that you've got somewhere relatively permanent to rest your head mate. Keep plugging away and the I hope rest will start to fall into place for you.

Just don't give up!:sunny:

[Zachstar]

This is one of the few times that a forum topic will make me cry and beam with anger.

I can hardly believe this is the planet I live on! How could they treat you that way!?

[Sailor Steve]

How could who treat me what way? I'm just glad there are people willing to help. I believe I have the moral obligation to help others where I can, but I don't believe I have the right to lay claim to anything someone is not willing to give.

[HunterICX]

Good new for you steve :up:

I hope this time it will go steps forward instead of the other way around

HunterICX

[bigboywooly]

Good news indeed Steve
Timely and deserved
Perked me up today reading that
:up:

[fredbass]

To someone who seems so honest, sincere, bright, thoughtful and full of knowledge, I find it hard to believe that good things won't work out for you.

Wish you the best,

Fred

[Sailor Steve]

Well, this is special: I'm posting from my own computer for the first time in almost 19 months. I thought when I had it hooked up and turned on I would just sit and cry for a while; but no, I'm running through all my favorites and grinning like a monkey.

WOO-HOO!



Silent Hunter is next, but I forgot my sub-woofer at storage, so I have no sound.:oops: :cry: :rotfl:

[mrbeast]

Well, this is special: I'm posting from my own computer for the first time in almost 19 months. I thought when I had it hooked up and turned on I would just sit and cry for a while; but no, I'm running through all my favorites and grinning like a monkey.

WOO-HOO!



Silent Hunter is next, but I forgot my sub-woofer at storage, so I have no sound.:oops: :cry: :rotfl:

Well they do call it the 'Silent Service'!!! :lol:

[Jimbuna]

Well, this is special: I'm posting from my own computer for the first time in almost 19 months. I thought when I had it hooked up and turned on I would just sit and cry for a while; but no, I'm running through all my favorites and grinning like a monkey.

WOO-HOO!



Silent Hunter is next, but I forgot my sub-woofer at storage, so I have no sound.:oops: :cry: :rotfl:

That's great news Steve, I'm over the moon for ya :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:

http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

I hope you get to installing GWX2.1 and do some serious 'catching up' in the game http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[RickC Sniper]

:up:


God Bless, Steve. Happy gaming!

[nikimcbee]

Great news! You're due a streak of good luck. Hope this is the start of one.:cool:

I imagine they'll miss you at the library computer department. :hmm:

Ditto that!
Next time I come to visit, we won't have people interrupting a major subsim meeting, because we're "too loud":oops: .

Enjoy your gaming time!

[Venatore]

Good on ya matey ! its great to see you level and steady my friend.

Stay the course :up:

[geetrue]

Well, this is special: I'm posting from my own computer for the first time in almost 19 months. I thought when I had it hooked up and turned on I would just sit and cry for a while; but no, I'm running through all my favorites and grinning like a monkey.

WOO-HOO!



Silent Hunter is next, but I forgot my sub-woofer at storage, so I have no sound.:oops: :cry: :rotfl:

Well it's about time, watch out for all of the new virsus's and spam and trackers.
Get the free ad-aware download.

That's great Steve ... it was reported that the libarian was really starting to like you too, but she was at least 72 :lol:

[Dowly]

Well, this is special: I'm posting from my own computer for the first time in almost 19 months. I thought when I had it hooked up and turned on I would just sit and cry for a while; but no, I'm running through all my favorites and grinning like a monkey.

WOO-HOO!



Silent Hunter is next, but I forgot my sub-woofer at storage, so I have no sound.:oops: :cry: :rotfl:

Great news, mate. :up:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Fantastic news, Steve. Leave some ships for us, eh? :D