I don't think the issue is not having the best or newest of everything.  I don't think that's harmful.

I think the family stress and humiliation is what hurts the children (unless they are literally doing without necessities, which hurts them in an even more tangible way).  And I would hope to avoid sending my children to school with inadequate clothing or other items...it may not ruin them but I would certainly hope to spare my children the criticism, hazing, and humiliation.

There are worse things than being poor.  But it's not something to aim for or glorify, either.

Stress, Iagree. This hurts both gthe parents and the children. Humiliation? That's something people just need to deal with. I am sometimes embarassed by taking used things from others or even taking stuff others have thrown away that I think are still in good conditions. But, i don't see the point in wasting money on something that is right outside for free.

Poor is a subjective word, I have seen poor people who live very happy lives. I am more concerned with those who have nothing than those who have very little although I am also concerned with those who have little. I wouldlike for my kids to emnoy some of todays technologies, but want them also to learn to be happy with what they have.

poor is a bullshit term.. i am concerned with those who lack food or shelter AND the means of getting them.

Tell that to KFC.

Charles, you really should read the links I posted above, in my comments.  and you will see what I'm talking about.  Not from a materialistic p.o.v, rather, children are worried how worried their parents are, or there are some who are homeless and live in shelters, or those that live in shelters that can't find somewhere definite to stay, even being in a shelter. You need to realise that being poor is not the point, or not having cell phone, or some other stuff like that,  Children do feel, they do hurt and they do know what affects their families.  They maybe resilient, but they are humans none the less.

As far as you not wanting to make me look bad. Your arguments (before much discussion) usually seems that way, to me.  It is not me being sensitive. Some people just respond a certain way to some people, or things.  I say this with respect, but you have to sometimes step out of yourself to see another's point of view, what an article is actually saying. It is not about you, or about me, we each write from our experiences, and most times, from our opinions and what we feel.  And no I don't know your life, or where you grew up.  You don't know mine either.  If you want to swap stories, I grew up in Jones Town in Kingston Jamaica.  Inner city, ghetto, tenament style.  We had good and bad times, and we gradually moved up and out, because my parents were determined to get us out of there, and they did.  I love my birth country.  It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I do go back to visit and have the most fun I have no where else. But it is and has been filled with so many problems, just as any other Third World country is.  I doubt very much your experiences were like mine, nor mine like yours. We can sit, drink a beer and swap stories any time you want!

A larger majority have been displaced.  They have been affected, and they are in crisis.  I didn't realise myself, how many people are living in their homes and haven't paid their mortgages in months, sometimes, years.  These are not poor people either, these are working, middle, and affluent people as well.  One thing goes bad, then the domino effect happens.  

Absolutely correct Tex.  I'm not surprise!lol! 

Some people take some things for granted. Some end up the wrong way because of making wrong choices, lack of guidance, or just lazy.  It really depends on the individuals.

And as you know, kids can be really cruel to each other.  The emotional scar that can happen is most serious!

Amen to that! Totally in agreement!

I'll take your sacasm and raise you a humble pie!    Optimism is good, sometimes. It is being optimistic, or slitting one's wrist. Or sit and wallow. 

Weird! Unexpected and I won't let it go to my head!  (of course you could be talking to Tex right?!

Yes children do feel, but is that really a bad thing? Can we truly as a society elimite all forms of pain? Or could we learn to deal with them and hope our children can become better people because of them? Pain and suffering is part of every human life, the miracle of birth is not a painless situation and neither is death. The trick is to make sure everyone is somewhat prepared for the unexpected and for the expected. I suffer when my children suffer, but I accept that suffering happens and I can not always avoid it. Instead I try to learn from it in the hopes of avoid it next time.

Believe it or not we seem to agree on this, I just like to take it one step further and not simply feel bad for the suffering but also look at the silver lining as well. That's why my comments come off as arrogant. I don't like to simply feel the pain, I also like to learn from it.

I could say the same about the way you write articles. It was my understanding you were speaking about people who had things and then didn't have all those things anymore but not necessarily homeless. I have seen people go from beautiful houses, expensive cars and all kinds of gadgets to cheap small apartments, rusted cars and used gadgets.

But if this is about homless people due to the economy and the children who got caught up in it, then yea, I believe they suffer, but I still think they are more resiliant that they are given credit for. Yes, this is a bad thing, but it's also a lesson. It's my belief that we cradle our children to much and don't allow them to learn about the bad things in life and that more often then not when they find themselves face to face with these bad situations, they don't always know how to deal with them. I'm not saying children should be put thru torture, abuse and hunger, but we have to accept that this happens and that we must prepare our children for the worse.

I tell my kids quite often that life is not about what you want, things happen and you simply need to learn to adapt, learn to deal with it, learn to survive. My older son constantly complains that life is not fair and I am always reminding him that no one ever said it was. I live my life expecting the worst and hoping for the best, that way when the worst comes I can be prepared and it doesn't catch me by surprise.

Well, I can't say Tex is one of my fav bloggers since she has not been posting for a while (a long to to me anyways), but I enjoy her comments, even if they are sometimes mean towards me. But your articles are more heartfelt, passionate and caring. I could not write articles like these.

LOL! Like you, I tell my kids the same, the only difference is, I tell mine to be optimistic and always look on the positive side and to always, always look for what the experience has taught them.  I can be pessimistic, darkly so. I can be the most horrible of people with my emotions.  But I have to look at things out of the box, away from myself, and look ahead at what can be.  In doing this, it is what drives my optimism. I believe wholeheartedly that the good Lord gives us what we can handle, even though some of us choose not to do so (handle our bizniz) rather, some sink even more into the quarmire that their lives have become.  I believe that the Lord does provide us with the tool we need to handle what comes at us, in preparation for what we must deal with.  Sometimes we do not realise it, until we have already gone through it.  You're right of course and I agree, that it is good to learn from our experiences.  This in essence is the lesson that some learn, while others continue to make the same mistakes.

And yes, my article's focus was about children getting caught up in their parent's situations and the end results for them because of this.  I know that coddling kids at certain stages is good, while at others them learning for themselves, is never a bad thing.

Thx on the kuddos, I appreciate it! We do think diffently, hence our p.o.v. and how we write are different!

When I see The Central Committee doing something to help these faces, I might find it in my heart to get off my soap box.  Of course, we aren't wondering where our next meal is coming from, nor are we anywhere close to losing our homes.

But how much of the money already spent in all this spending have gone to any of the faces you bring to our attention?

Trillions have been allocated for "recovery, but how much of that has gone to the faces of whom you speak?  For all the talk about "trickle up economics" it seems the first fruits have completely missed the bottom and gone right to the top.

We just put in our tax return and found nothing about either of Obama's payouts that help us any at all.

Not yet.  This is definitely one to watch dontcha think?!

How can someone cause a recession, or better still a massive economic meltdown, before they are in office, I know youn Barak is clever, but even he is not that good, I think a few people need to have a good lie down and think about whether disliking someone because of their political viewpoint, and blaming them for something they did not create. Sure he may have made a few cockups since, or at least that is the way I read it for the right, but you cannot blame him for the economic mess. Seee over here in the land of OZ, we had our new leader almost 18 months, so we have at least that much to blame him for and the rest on his predecessors.

One thing I would say is, The people that are giving advice to your president and our prime minister, are the same ones responsible for this mess, and that is where the lion's share of your trillions of tax payer funds are going, if you want to hang someone, hang the bankers, and investment bankers, and for good measure throw in the fundmanagers, financial planners, accountants and the regulators. Cause these  are the greedy bastards that caused this mess, most of whom are sitting back on their big bonuses at enjoying life and making cake for the poor.

Had Obama been a governor or someone off the street elected to the presidency, I would agree with you. He was a senator four year prior to becoming president, and therefore part of the problem (before he took office). If you feel spending more money than every other administration combined (Washington to W. Bush) for a recession that hasn't come close yet to the one in the late 70's/early 80's that's your right. We still have 3 years and 9 months to go, and he isn't even warmed up. Nothing personal against the man, it's the policies.

John Maynard Keynes, why are gonvernments all of a sudden becoming diciples of the aforemention economists, and its no a few its everyone. This may add some fuel to the fire, why? Keynesian theory relies on one important precept, it only works when a government has total control, eg: <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->A Totalitarian government, USSR would be a good example. Something to ponder.

Thanks for your comments Nitro.