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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded indebunking class' LiveJournal:
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| Friday, December 17th, 2010 | |
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| _1:34 pm_[jinnigan] | A Radical Homemaker discovers she can live off 40,000ayearinsteadof40,000 a year instead of 40,000ayearinsteadof100k+ http://www.alternet.org/food/149231/vision_--_homemade_prosperity:_how_to_get_out_of_the_consumer_trap/?page=entire( truly, a radical homemakerCollapse ) (7 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 | |
| _10:07 am_[dancing_minerva] |
When people don't believe your class I recently started up a part time freelance communications/consulting business on the side of my full-time job. I have practically no overhead and wanted to use my accumulated skills for more pay because I'm barely making my bills with my f/t job and burn-out from a physical second job. Anyway, I met with another company's president recently about a partnership between our companies (they would look after services I can't provide to my clients). While talking about our similar humanistic/social enterprise visions and why I had approached this company to partner with, I had a somewhat uncomfortable moment where the president of this company was telling me how much he cared about the "pink ghetto".I tried telling him that I understand it on a very personal level, having grown up with a single parent mother in a low income area, etc. (not wanting to divulge too much in case I was suddenly not taken seriously as a business partner). He then cut me off with, "No, but the REALLY unfortunate cases where they have to decide between things like....dentistry and ...food! That's so difficult - how could you make that decision?" And then proceeded to explain how he thought it was amazing that orthodontics and getting braces for you children are considered a luxury for "these women" and their children. I just sort of shut up because it really hit home - dentistry IS a luxury when you don't have food or heat. I know because my teeth are practically falling out of my head due to this fact. Eat or have pretty teeth? Hmmm, not a hard choice at all, even if unpleasant.While I commend him for knowing anything at all about actual conditions of poverty and for investigating (in some way) women's issues, it was a really weird experience for me. Um, yes. I know all about wondering if I'm eating this week. I've actually been there. The whole reason I started freelancing is to see if I can outrun my most basic bills. But you don't believe me and here you are, silencing me. It sure seems like I can't be a respected, self-educated young (female) entrepreneur and also be someone from lower class. Bitter, bitter truth.Anyway, I thought this comm would be a group that would understand this weirdness, so thanks for the outlet. Current Mood: busy (5 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Thursday, October 1st, 2009 | |
| _4:07 pm_[dancing_minerva] |
Poverty Talks Hi everyone. I just wanted to share this with you folks since the project resonated so deeply with me and my experience of living in poverty in my city (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)."In over 45 community meetings between 2008 and 2010, several hundred people answered the following questions: As a low income person, what would make a difference in your life? and What would you like to see changed? This report outlines what low-income Calgarians and people living in poverty say we need to achieve to make our city and province a good place to live for everyone." The link will lead you to a viewable, printable PDF report.Does your city have the same problems? Have they found solutions? Has your life been impacted by these types of changes or solutions? Current Mood:  thoughtful (3 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 | |
| _3:13 am_[smashboredom] |
From: Corporate retail employeesTo: Wealthy customersWe've noticed you've been doing some things wrong. Here are some suggestions.+ Don't act like we don't exist. Say please, thank you and excuse me, even if the conversation we're having with our co-worker is not work related. Don't put your money down in coins on the counter when we put our hands out. Get off your goddamn mobile phone.+ Be polite. It's not hard. We aren't asking for masses of over-friendliness, just civility. Use your judgement and give us the benefit of the doubt about if we've had a bad day. If we don't respond to your small talk the way you'd like, we are exhausted: deal with it. Think about whether the money you are handing over is going to be a pain in the arse for us to give you change for. Stay while we count it. We don't care if you use canvas shopping bags or even buy fair trade if you can't be nice to us first - if you can't show respect across the counter then it's likely that your buying FT coffee is just guilt-relieving trendy box-ticking. Your actions are more important than your shopping.+ Don't assume that just because we are young that we are students - as if only someone working towards better things would degrade themselves to doing such a shitty job temporarily. This attitude is what allows large employers to deflect criticism of their workers rights records with "well, they won't be here forever" - as if having to do shit work is a rite of passage. There is no inherent reason the jobs we do should not be better and worth doing for life.( Read more...Collapse ) (10 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Thursday, March 12th, 2009 | |
| _6:39 pm_[dancing_minerva] |
Ever denied your class? Did you grow up in one class but identify in a 'higher' class now? If you were raised in a 'lower' class, are you ashamed to tell others with a 'higher' class upbringing (if it is salient to the conversation)? Have you ever denied you came from a 'lower' class upbringing altogether? Or denied love, acknowledgement or attention to family still living in 'lower class'?I'm trying to understand my brother's actions in the 5-7 years. He seems to be intensely ashamed of our upbringing in 'lower class' and I find it increasingly hard to stay close with him because of his views.Any of your thoughts/reflections welcome. Current Mood:  curious (12 Comments |Comment on this) |
| _3:09 pm_[kalakumari] |
Defining the Middle Class http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN3037839820090130Some interesting discussion about how the US federal govt. is defining "middle class" (Comment on this) |
| Saturday, February 21st, 2009 | |
| _9:47 am_[kalakumari] |
Dating & Relationships Has anyone ever had problems with class differences in dating and relationships? I'm thinking specifically about the effects of Cotillion or other similar "etiquette" education. (5 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Thursday, February 5th, 2009 | |
| _1:46 pm_[dancing_minerva] |
Hello All I just realized this comm existed. I've been on  debunkingwhite and debunkingmale , contributing (and occasionally lurking) for the last few years, so I'm SO happy to find a comm relating to classism. Why didn't I look for you sooner?Coming from a single parent family and growing up in 'the poor part of town', I've run into plenty of classism and seen its affects first-hand. I'm really looking forward to being able to talk about this and exploring how it affects me and my greater community. Anyway, thanks for having me. See you on the boards!Current Mood:  bouncy (2 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 | |
| _4:35 pm_[violachic] |
I'd like to invite those who are interested to join my new community:xtianfarleftTo take the blurb from the user info,This community is intended for that far left arm of Christianity. Included are Christian Anarchists;, Christian Socialists; Catholic Workers; lefty activists; those who work against racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, and classism; those who recognize their own privilege, be it white, male, class, straight, etc.; Christians who are anti-war; those who work to end the occupation of Palestine; and anyone who self-identifies as a Christian, but doesn't fit in with the mainline model. Oh, and if you don't directly fit any of the previous descriptions, but think they are cool.I am also looking for folks who are interested in moderating this community with me.If this is not permitted in this community, I apologize, and will take no offense at the deletion of this post. (Comment on this) |
| Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 | |
| _4:13 pm_[big_n_happy] |
Anti-gentrification action (x-posted) Does anyone have any resources on anti-gentrification action?Particularly anything specific to Australia. (Comment on this) |
| Monday, November 3rd, 2008 | |
| _8:34 am_[futurebird] |
No arrests have been made. Five people were found shot to death early Sunday in a makeshift homeless encampment covered by thick brush near the 405 Freeway in Long Beach, police said....The homicides came three weeks after a homeless man was doused with gasoline and burned to death in a high-profile killing near 3rd and Berendo streets in L.A. that outraged his neighbors.Residents and shopkeepers in the diverse neighborhood west of downtown tried but failed to save John Robert McGraham, a onetime bellman at the defunct Ambassador Hotel. No arrests have been made.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-homeless3-2008nov03,0,2050258.storyIt's been three weeks... what are they doing?Anyone know anymore about this? This is a killing spree-- is it making the news? It needs more attention so the cops will find the killer/killers. (Comment on this) |
| Thursday, October 30th, 2008 | |
| _1:24 pm_[futurebird] |
Oh no the poor people came on the train. From the NYT's "Freakonomics" blog: Could a Public-Transit Boom Result in a Crime Boom?“I know it’s not politically correct, but how else do you explain it?” comments a frustrated Galleria store manager who, like many Galleria shopkeepers interviewed by Riverfront Times, says her employer prohibits her from officially speaking for the company.“Anyone can see all these people crossing Brentwood Boulevard from the MetroLink station,” the manager continues. “Most of them aren’t here to shop. They’re here to hang out and cause trouble.” ....There are obvious gains: environmental, less road congestion, fewer accidents, etc. But if St. Louis’s experience is at all indicative, there might also be at least one unintended consequence worth thinking about.When the lower and upper classes mingle all hell breaks lose! It cannot be! It cannot be! GAsp GaSp! Save our high end shopping mall from the scourge of rowdy teens!!I love how he thinks the public transportation is the problem NOT the giant mob of teens with nothing to do. (Most likely because they have no sports teams or drama clubs at their high school after school...) No! The trains caused this. Like the kids wouldn't be bored and causing trouble someplace else, if they didn't get on the train. The real issue is that middle class and rich white people have to deal with bored poor black teens. Cry me a river.I also love how it's called an "increase in crime" when I know that these teens (who while I doubt they are perfect, but no teen is "perfect") are probably getting harassed by the mall staff and rent-a-cops, racially profiled followed etc. So, yeah, if you do that you end up with more arrests. Big shock. So the idea is ... I guess... let's not build any public transportation and just keep the poor people isolated. That'll fix it-- hey-- it's been one of the main motivations behind our fragmented urban planning, and suburbanization, for the past 30 years-- so let's just keep it going! (6 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Saturday, September 27th, 2008 | |
| _6:49 pm_[jinnigan] | hi, all -I'm looking for some personal story/experiences to use in a class about classism and systems of oppression. Anything that's not very academic/theoretical (or - best case scenario - ties the academic with personal stories and anecdotes) would be very much appreciated.I'm looking more for a short story that's 2-3 pages long, not an entire books.Any suggestions?Thanks in advance (3 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Monday, August 25th, 2008 | |
| _1:28 am_[onewithbriteyes] |
Possible ICE Raids in Mississippi via BFPPlease forward widely, especially to those you know in Mississippi!!!!! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 22, 2008 TO: Editor/News Director Contact: Patricia Ice—office 601-354-9355 Bill Chandler—office 601-968-5182 JACKSON, MS—A series of preparations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the Gulf Coast has local advocates on edge about the possibility of yet another worksite raid, and yet another devastating blow to businesses, families and communities in the name of immigration enforcement. “The preparations we are seeing ICE make are alarmingly similar to what occurred immediately prior to the raid on the Agriprocessors, Inc. Kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, a few months ago, “ said Patricia Ice, an immigration attorney and spokesperson for MIRA. ICE has reportedly booked dozens of rooms in hotels on the Gulf Coast. They may be checking in as early as tonight. Perhaps even more worrisome are the reports that the federal court in Hattiesburg is being readied for a response similar to the response to the raid in Postville, when nearly 400 plant workers were arrested on trumped up identity theft charges, and slammed through criminal prosecution and judicial removal (being forced to waive all their criminal defense and immigration claims) within just days of the raid. “What happened in Postville was an absolute travesty of justice that must never happen again,” said Ms. Ice. “ICE must assure that any future enforcement actions are conducted in a humane manner and that detainees are permitted their constitutional rights to due process and to legal counsel.” With all the signs pointing to an impending raid, Ms Ice, other staff and local leaders are working quickly to identify possible targets, educate workers and assemble a team of attorneys to offset the burden on public defenders and provide immigration advice. X-posted widely (Comment on this) |
| Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 | |
| _10:29 am_[valadonna] |
Banks Stop Lending to Community Colleges http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/86932I know Alternet isn't the most unbiased source, but I do have to agree with their commentary on this. Although it mostly seems to effect private student loans (I think!) which are shady anyway. Any thoughts? Current Mood:  irritated (3 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 | |
| _6:41 pm_[jaimie2i] |
Our view on scholarships: Focus college aid on needIn tight times, merit-based grants divert public money from the needy.The University of Colorado at Boulder is a prestigious research university located in a picturesque setting. Its graduate schools consistently rank in the nation's top 10.Considering all that, the university gets less respect from state politicians than it deserves. On lists ranking public universities by funding they receive from their state, Colorado rests near the bottom.On the surface, then, it would be easy to take the university's side in its money struggles with the governor and Legislature. Except for one thing: If the school is so pinched for dollars, why does it hand out a quarter of its aid to students who don't need it?Read more at: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/05/our-view-on-sch.html#moreThis article makes some interesting points. If you follow the link, it will also show you a graph with some numbers showing the family income corollary with grant awards. (7 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Thursday, May 1st, 2008 | |
| _8:05 pm_[jaimie2i] |
Some Rich Students 'Merit' Financial AidColleges give money to well-off students while the needy get 'gapped'By Kim ClarkPosted April 28, 2008Although college tuition prices are at an all-time high, colleges are, on average, issuing stingier financial aid packages this year, say counselors who've been helping families with their college finances.Counselors who have examined awards from many colleges say that only a few dozen extremely generous schools are making sure that every student who needs financial help gets enough scholarships to attend. Meanwhile, a growing number of schools and states are awarding scholarships to students from wealthy families. Some of the wealthy students are receiving "merit" awards because of their top grades or test scores, but counselors say they are increasingly seeing run-of-the-mill but wealthy students receive "merit" awards, too. Meanwhile, the vast majority of low- and middle-income students are receiving far less aid than they need.http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2008/04/28/some-rich-students-merit-financial-aid.htmlCheck the comments underneath the article for some extra fun...x-posted to dot_class_snark (8 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 | |
| _3:50 pm_[sunlit_window] |
interesting link Hi, I'm new to this community.Just thought that some of you here might find this link kind of interesting. http://www.globalrichlist.com/ (1 Comment |Comment on this) |
| Friday, March 21st, 2008 | |
| _12:22 pm_[seekingsartre] |
Cleaning and class. I'm thinking about it because I bought some more expensive cat litter than what I usually buy, because I can compost this type of litter. Which may be less expensive in the end if my garden does well this year.But I'm also thinking about how I set a goal for myself in this year to be cleaner and neater, and how much it's costing me. For instance, I've been using the vacuum and hot water a lot more, which has increased my power use. Even after switching out my old fridge for a more efficient model, my power bill is $20 more for the past two months than it has been. I'm sorting my recycling and recycling absolutely as much as I can, and am spending money on the blue and clear garbage bags that I'm required to use. I'm spending more on cleaning products, and it also seems like I'm generating more waste - if I use paper towels, I have to throw them away, and if I use cloth rags, they eventually have to be washed..... in hot water. I have a roach problem and invested in caulking, roach baits and gels, and a gallon of bleach so that I can wash my counters and cabinets down frequently. Cleaning products are really expensive and the dollar store products don't work as well as the more expensive brands.Which started me thinking about the fact that I have the money to buy all of this crap, and I'm wondering how much harder it would be if I didn't.Thoughts on class and cleanliness? (18 Comments |Comment on this) |
| Monday, March 3rd, 2008 | |
| _9:51 pm_[jaimie2i] |
Colleges guard soaring endowmentsMany resist congressional pressure to curb tuition hikes, offer more aidBy Peter SchwormGlobe Staff / February 28, 2008"Under growing pressure from Congress, the country's wealthiest colleges and universities are sharply resisting calls to spend more of their soaring endowments to expand financial aid and curb tuition hikes that critics say are putting college beyond the reach of ordinary families."read more( Some discussionCollapse ) (2 Comments |Comment on this) |
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