The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: zeitgeist on July 02, 2010, 07:12:49 AM
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Here we have a moral dilemma bouncy. It would appear to be posted mostly for dump cred but one never knows.
Diverse comments at dump link > (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8674277&mesg_id=8674277)
SunnySong (698 posts) Thu Jul-01-10 10:43 PM
Original message
I have a question. Every Friday My friends and I break the law.
Advertisements [?]Edited on Thu Jul-01-10 10:46 PM by SunnySong
There are a couple of campers, vans and pick-ups that park behind an abandoned big box store near my work. Inside are people with no hope and no-where else to go. My friends and I bring them food, towels, water, soap, toiletries, books, etc. That of course is breaking the law. But it is a law I feel it is my duty to break. One van in particular I adopted six months ago. Along with the supplies I always try to pick them up something hot and fresh like Quiznos subs or a pizza.
It's a couple in their thirties and their teenage daughter. He was in insurance up in Ohio and his wife was an administrator. Their daughter is 14 and hasn't been in school since June 2009. They are afraid if they enroll her the government will take her away. I am trying to encourage them to enroll her next year even though I fear they may be right. The dad seems normal enough but is clearly depressed. He doesn't seem a traveler or con-man but is adamant he will get a job like the job he lost in Ohio. So he sends out threadbare resumes to firms that aren't hiring. The wife has other issues. at the very least pot and alcohol but I earnestly suspect Meth. Her looks have changed dramatically since December.
I joked with him about the McCain Palin sticker on the van put there by the previous owner. Turns out he put it on there. He still believes in Palin and is convinced that once Republicans take over in November he will be employed again. I caught myself and smiled not willing to fight it. He drank the kool-aide he was a true believer. Even sitting homeless in his van he still had Tony Robbins running through his head and conservative ideals filling his heart.
Tomorrow I will bring them some food and sundries as always I need to find a way to get the daughter in school. And maybe away from the mothers drug addition. It really isn't my business but then again maybe it is. Either way despite his beliefs myself and my friends will feed his family... and break the law doing it.
Any advice on the kids situation or other things is appreciated,
Aw. Not all the comments are positive. Why a couple even bash poor Sonny.
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proud2BlibKansan (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-02-10 12:39 AM
Response to Original message
34. Sounds like the parents have mental health issues
If it was me, I'd report them so the daughter can go to school and get away from this horrible situation.
Command and control, baby.
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Why is it against the law to help people? What law is he breaking unless of course he is stealing the stuff to give to those folks.
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SunnySong (698 posts) Thu Jul-01-10 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. Where I live it is illegal to give food to the Homeless. There are probably other laws
we are breaking since they live on private property not their own.
The church I volunteer with is well aware of these laws and myself and my friends take great pains to keep this type of outreach a separate program (The church already runs a foodbank and "soup" kitchen. This program is for those that are not part of the shelter system or are hiding from the authorities for various reasons. (Everything from illegal alien to expired auto tag)
I don't believe this at all, this girl is either totally confused or she's lying. Hubby's cousin is a Chef and he did catering, and there was always food leftover after these events, he tried to donate the food to organizations that feed the homeless and he was told he couldn't do that because the food would have to be inspected to make sure it was still safe to eat. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think those laws apply to individuals giving someone food, it just applies to businesses and organizations.
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Toucano (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-02-10 12:51 AM
Response to Original message
36. I suspect this law is being misinterpreted.
I recall laws in the past that, as a public safety issue, prohibited certain businesses and institutions from donating the food they were going to throw away to the homeless (or any individual). If the food was unfit for sale, it was unfit for consumption.
These laws never applied to individuals. It was a regulation for holders of a food service permit, or something like that.
It never prohibited an individual from buying food and giving it to someone else, and I very much doubt that your state or county actually has such a law. It's possible, but I wouldn't take, "somebody said" as proof.
And, I know of at least one jurisdiction where the regulation was changed to be more sensible and account for the difference between food that is unfit for sale and food that is unfit for consumption. Like a dented can of peas: the supermarket may not want to keep it on their shelf, but it's perfectly fine inside and they can sell it at a discount - or give it away.
When you think about it, it is food safety. You wouldn't want some Jack in the Box or Carl's Jr. giving rancid food to the homeless.
Thank You! I knew that law didn't apply to individuals.
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Sunny cites this article to show that it's illegal to give out food as an individual, but it's not true, if you read the article the city wants to make sure the food is safe when giving out in large quantities by groups, not individuals!
http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/st_pete_city_council_seeks_to_ban_the_chicken_man_and_other_charitable_groups_feeding_the_homeless/Content?oid=516139
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Why is it against the law to help people? What law is he breaking unless of course he is stealing the stuff to give to those folks.
Actually as was pointed out by BG, Sonny is really blowing smoke on this.
My initial smarmy reply would involve the federal migratory bird statute since at one point Sonny id's Snowbirds. As you know if you feed the birds they tend to hang around. These are not a true "Snowbird" it is more a subset of the specie hobo / vagrant /grifter. Essentially they head south when the weather cools and spend the winter 'looking for work' in the warmth. I have known roofers, concrete workers, paving and lawn contractors all to head south ostensibly looking for work. I have even heard some northern states recommend they do this. Of course many draw unemployment while there. The migratory pattern is pretty well established. We get our share here every summer too.
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ZERO bongs and an infinitely negative rating. "I converted a Republican" bouncies weren't believable 5 years ago and they still aren't.
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The only time I've read where a city didn't want homeless people fed involved certain circumstances. A group called Food Not Bombs had fed some homeless people in a city park somewhere in CA. One of the homeless people got sick from the food and sued the city for allowing food to be provided on city property without making sure that Food Not Bombs had a certificate from the Health Dept. I forget the outcome, but it was an interesting read.
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I personally think that person is either a mole or a former DUer with a new name.
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I don't know about Tampa but Orlando passed a law making it a crime to set up a buffet for the homeless in city parks. Chances are if Orlando did it so would Tampa. Orlando doesn't care if you feed the homeless. They just don't want them doing it on public property where the homeless feel they can hang out between the feedings and chase away everyone else trying to use the park.
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I personally think that person is either a mole or a former DUer with a new name.
50% of DU membership are MOLES.
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The primitive isn't really advertising that she's breaking the law (for which the penalties, if any, must be pretty mild).
The primitive really just wants to advertise what a good person she is, giving food to the hungry.
Nothing more than that.
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One of the biggest problems of this bogus story is she is saying there are vans and campers parked behind a "big box store." I can't imagine any of the big box stores would allow people to camp out and congregate behind their stores. If the management doesn't tell them to move on, I am sure the police probably make rounds through those parking lots and would kick out any campers.
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The primitive isn't really advertising that she's breaking the law (for which the penalties, if any, must be pretty mild).
The primitive really just wants to advertise what a good person she is, giving food to the hungry.
Nothing more than that.
Sonny one so un-true would be cut to the quick to hear you say that Frank. :lmao:
Never let the truth interfere with a good dump story, right? My immediate take on reading this thread was "If only I weren't so humble I would take this opportunity to tell you what a great person I am." :rotf:
Should feeding Migratory Bums in vacant big box lots be illegal? Yes I say. Yes!!
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RVs regularly park out front of Wally World and the Home Depott around here. Of course none of them are homeless, they're tourists! if this asshat walked up to one of them offering hand outs they would more than likely have to hit the ER for a footectomy, in order to get said camper's foot removed from their ass!
I especially like the part about them "hiding from the authorities". Then it mentions drug addictions. Ya know DUmbass, you're enabling this behavior as you giving them the necessities is freeing up what little money they have to buy more drugs! Brilliant!
Maybe you should be turning them into the cops. What do ya 'spose the chances are they're cooking meth in that camper? You do know the big box stores is where they get most of their ingredients, right?
Idiot! -3 bongs!
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RVs regularly park out front of Wally World and the Home Depott around here. Of course none of them are homeless, they're tourists! if this asshat walked up to one of them offering hand outs they would more than likely have to hit the ER for a footectomy, in order to get said camper's foot removed from their ass!
I especially like the part about them "hiding from the authorities". Then it mentions drug addictions. Ya know DUmbass, you're enabling this behavior as you giving them the necessities is freeing up what little money they have to buy more drugs! Brilliant!
Maybe you should be turning them into the cops. What do ya 'spose the chances are they're cooking meth in that camper? You do know the big box stores is where they get most of their ingredients, right?
Idiot! -3 bongs!
Of course the DUmmie knows this, it's why he was there, to score. I don't even wanna know why he's so interested in the teenaged daughter either....
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Of course the DUmmie knows this, it's why he was there, to score. I don't even wanna know why he's so interested in the teenaged daughter either....
If it was a teenaged son, then I could see the DUmb**** being interested. :tongue:
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If it was a teenaged son, then I could see the DUmb**** being interested. :tongue:
Unless of course DUmb**** is a she! Then it 'splains everythin'!
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Unless of course DUmb**** is a she! Then it 'splains everythin'!
Dead on, my friend! :hi5: