# I pit Poverty and the current economic crisis **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487 "2009-01-01T18:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/121 "2009-01-02T01:41:43Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I’ll probably be able to keep some means of vision since I have an ancient pair of glasses, but what would you recommend to a completely destitute person who needed glasses so as not to stumble around like a blind man? If anyone has any advice on this I’d be glad to hear it. You could maybe try [these](http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/users/individuals.html) people. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/122 "2009-01-02T01:41:45Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I’ll probably be able to keep some means of vision since I have an ancient pair of glasses, but what would you recommend to a completely destitute person who needed glasses so as not to stumble around like a blind man? If anyone has any advice on this I’d be glad to hear it. Try these guys: [http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/](http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/) > [@](#): > > Last year, New Eyes for the Needy provided new prescription eyeglasses to 5,945 people in the United States. These individuals live in all parts of the country. They are children, the elderly, **and the working poor who are desperately trying to make ends meet**. How to contact them: [http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/us/apply.html](http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/us/apply.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/123 "2009-01-02T01:42:47Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Personally, I would have guessed “undertaker” and the never-out-of-employment job, but hey, garbage man works too. I’m a professional messageboard idiot down-smacker. Work is BOOMING! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/124 "2009-01-02T01:44:11Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Yeah I don’t either, and haven’t in this thread. You don’t judge people? What, pray tell, do you call it when you accuse the OP of making poor life decisions and tell him all his troubles are his own damned fault? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/125 "2009-01-02T01:45:13Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I’m a professional messageboard idiot down-smacker. Oh. Well. Is this the best you can do? You’re not very good at it, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/126 "2009-01-02T01:47:13Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > You don’t judge people? What, pray tell, do you call it when you accuse the OP of making poor life decisions and tell him all his troubles are his own damned fault? To me “judging” someone means to think they are a “bad person.” I don’t think the OP is a bad person for making poor life decisions. I just think he’s unworthy of blaming his problems on the economy. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/127 "2009-01-02T01:48:47Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Oh. Well. Is this the best you can do? You’re not very good at it, you know. You just lack the ability to appreciate my genius. Also, have you googled up anything on student loan qualification per my post above, google-boy? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/128 "2009-01-02T01:50:53Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > To me “judging” someone means to think they are a “bad person.” I don’t think the OP is a bad person for making poor life decisions. I just think he’s unworthy of blaming his problems on the economy. You’re not just rude, hateful and arrogant, you’re fucking stupid and a liar, too. I’ll bet your mom is really proud of you. Please, I beg you, don’t procreate. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/129 "2009-01-02T01:51:42Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > This has got to be the most unintentionally hilarious post I can recall ever reading on the Straight Dope, ever. Yeah, I can be too direct and corny about issues like this sometimes. I blame it on reading too much Heinlein. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/130 "2009-01-02T01:52:33Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I just think he’s unworthy of blaming his problems on the economy. _That’s_ the very definition of judging someone! Plus, you haven’t convincingly demonstrated to me that he _is_ in this position due to poor decision-making skills. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/131 "2009-01-02T01:52:47Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > You’re not just rude, hateful and arrogant, you’re fucking stupid and a liar, too. I’ll bet your mom is really proud of you. Please, I beg you, don’t procreate. How exactly am I a liar? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/132 "2009-01-02T01:53:48Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > _That’s_ the very definition of judging someone! What? No. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/133 "2009-01-02T02:01:28Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Alright man, good luck. Like I said in my first post, please don’t go down the dark path paved by Broomstick and Acid Lamp. Oh, right, because a year of unemployment completely negates 25 years of having a good wage and providing for a family. :rolleyes: Yes, I went to college, earned a very nice paycheck, avoided debt, put money away for bad times… but sometimes the shit keeps coming for awhile. And who the hell is this “Acid Lamp” you keep referring to? I can’t seem to find a poster by that name in this thread. Maybe I need new glasses, too. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/134 "2009-01-02T02:04:24Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Also, have you googled up anything on student loan qualification per my post above, google-boy? I missed said post. My bad. But, since you asked [del]so nicely[/del], [here you go](http://www.cnbc.com/id/26841228): > [@](#): > > It’s now virtually impossible for students to get loans without a cosigner, says Christopher Penn, chief technical officer at the Student Loan Network, a student loan and information Web site. What’s more, credit score requirements have increased. > > In previous years, he says a credit score – also known as a FICO score – in the low 600s was enough to get a private student loan; now lenders are looking for a score in the low 700s. > > The tighter requirements may exclude up to 20% of borrowers who were previously eligible, says Penn. That covers private student loans. On the [federal](http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-You-Qualify-For-a-Student-Loan?&id=258526) side: > [@](#): > > A Federal Unsubsidized Loan is a student loan based on no-need. Every student who meets the **eligibility requirements** could meet the criteria for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. There is no need for a co-signer to apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans. > > A Federal Subsidized Loan is made directly to the student. A person can apply for this financial by filling out and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form). **Fundamental criteria must be met** , which is determined by people of the federal government. The bolded (by me) phrases indicate that, logically, not everyone will qualify–else, why the need for eligibility requirements? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/135 "2009-01-02T02:05:11Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > > [@Blalron](#): > > > > I’ll probably be able to keep some means of vision since I have an ancient pair of glasses, but what would you recommend to a completely destitute person who needed glasses so as not to stumble around like a blind man? If anyone has any advice on this I’d be glad to hear it. > > You could maybe try [these](http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/users/individuals.html) people. Hey, thanks - great link. I’ve been wracking my brains trying to figure out how to get new glasses for my husband. We can swing the eye exam (the Medicaid policy he has pays for exams for diabetics… but not new glasses. :rolleyes: ) I’ll have to see if we qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/136 "2009-01-02T02:07:43Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > Personally, I would have guessed “undertaker” as the never-out-of-employment job, but hey, garbage man works too. > > I’m a professional messageboard idiot down-smacker. Work is BOOMING! Actually, I’m serious about that - undertaking kept my father’s family fed during the Great Depression and paid for him and his brother to go to college. People die all the time, and in bad times they die more often. Somebody has to bury them (or otherwise take care of the remains). It may not be the oldest profession, but it’s in the running to be the last one standing. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/137 "2009-01-02T02:08:24Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > What? No. What color is the sky in your world? In what way, shape or form is the quoted part of your post not: [ > [@](#): > > 1. To form an opinion or evaluation. ]([http://www.answers.com/judging](http://www.answers.com/judging)) ?? ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/138 "2009-01-02T02:11:49Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Yeah I don’t either, and haven’t in this thread. Ok, now I know you are just being dense. You are way too fucking stupid for me. Enjoy you’re little game, dude I’m done with you. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/139 "2009-01-02T02:13:05Z")
Seriously, what do you folks expect from a randroid like Rand Rover and a dead-end neanderthal like Carol Stream? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487/140 "2009-01-02T02:14:26Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I most certainly _was_ standing in line at the unemployment office with a group of others going “WTF? Where are the want ads?” in an edition of the Times. I don’t recall which particular town’s edition of that paper we were looking at because, again, I assumed there would be the ads for the entire region. That was one day. But you said: > [@](#): > > There are NO, repeat NO want ads in the local papers, not even for crap jobs. It’s been like that for weeks. Now, let’s say for the sake of argument I credit your experience at the unemployment office – and for what it’s worth, I do; the unemployment office is the MOST likely place people will steal all copies of the want ads from a newspaper stand. But that’s one day. Where you lost me was the “It’s been like that for weeks.” C’mon – for weeks, every single place you looked, there were NO, repeat NO, want ads? That’s garbage. > [@](#): > > That’s what poverty means - you’re reading newspapers at the library, or handed to you by others while standing in line somewhere, or even on occassion picked out of the garbage. Been there, done that. My father was an immigrant from El Salvador, arriving here with the classic “shirt on his back.” My early family experience was NOT wealthy, trust me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-poverty-and-the-current-economic-crisis/479487.md?page=8)