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June 09, 2005
Apartment Hunting Thread
I have a different "blog" that usually update every one or two days. Usually something very simple --- or not so simple! Either way, as I was writing my Apartment HuntingApartment Hunting post, I decided I hadn't updated My Mindsay Blog so I copied and pasted the same thing, seeming that it does relate to my own life. About 3 minutes later, I have 2 replies already! It's my friend Andy, I just wanted to share this with you I guess. It's not bad, just someone's opinion:
Andy:Yes, there are some very horrible neighborhoods in Minneapolis.. But honestly what can we REALLY do about it? These neighborhoods are so trashy they literally need to be completely leveled out and rebuilt from the bottom up. These houses in north and south minneapolis were places our grandparents lived back when Minneapolis was the Maple Grove of their time. I'm sure you'll be upset at this comment I am about to make, but a lot of these people also CHOOSE their lifestyle. Yeah, they wanna live a good life and they wanna have a nice house, but a lot of these people are drug addicts and alcoholics with no jobs living off welfare. I could understand a single mom with several kids being in a situation like that, but in the end it comes down to choices. There are so many of them in America and most people don't do their research on any of it to get themselves out of poverty.
Andy:I should add on something I saw on TV as well. Did you see True Life.. I'm Dead Broke? Those guys on there were ALL struggling very BADLY. To the point where they were pumping water out of a well because they didn't have running water. But at the end of the episode they all ended up getting along just fine. One poor couple got approved for a decent apartment after they both got semi-decent jobs. Another guy on parole was to live at home for 2 years then he planned on joining the army. And the last girl ended up moving back home with her mother because she moved out on her own too young.. was doing drugs and eventually lost her job. My point is, it all comes down to decisions and there is no reason people need to live in poverty in the United States.
Sylvie:Thank you Andy for your input. I know that there is some truth to what you ar saying but at the same time, you cant help but just feel bad for those kids who can't have what we did or you know...and I feel so selfish thinking what kind of carpet color I prefer. Note also, "no one can argue that children have brought their poverty on themselves" said by Peter Singer. Another thing I wanted to mention was ..oh I forgot..when I remember I guess!
Sylvie:I didn't see True Life: I'm Dead Broke but it seemed interesting. Also, I'm not "upset" about your comments at all
Andy:Oh don't get me wrong I feel real bad for them. Even though everyone has their situation or reason for being in that situation, no one should have to live their life in those shitholes. I think instead of spending millions on a new football / baseball stadium the Vikings should just stick with what they got and that 300mill should go towards ridding poverty. Ya know? Theres a lot of things they COULD do. But they don't. THAT'S what's frustrating.
Andy:I guess the situations I was referring to are kind of like the homeless panhandlers who have signs begging for money for food, but the next day they're on that same corner with the same sign and a brown bag with a bottle inside of it...
The thing I forgot in the midst of that is this thing called "institutionalized racism" which I think one of the most powerful sources dividing the line between race and class. Defined as the process of purposely discriminating against certain groups of people through the use of biased laws or practices. Often, institutionalized racism is subtle and manifests itself in seemingly innocuous ways, but its effects are anything but subtle. An example of this type of racism is the redlining of districts to keep certain people from moving in to a new neighborhood, pervasive in the financial industry in the 1950s and 60s
I don't know if there is a word for it or if it is considered institutionalized racism, but it's the fact that many, if not all, do want out of poverty, and maybe no matter how hard they try, they are stuck being cab drivers, cashiers, cooks, attendants, etc, who simply cannot provide enough for their families or for their children to go to college. Hence, the children never goes to college and repeats the same cycle all over.
So, how do we propose a solution that will work?
Posted by thao0226 at June 9, 2005 02:29 PM | Reflections
Comments
A couple things I'd say in response to Andy's comments: There are social structures in place that make it very diifcult to choose one's way out of poverty. Institutionalized racism is indeed one of those structures. Another example: 5% unemployment is considered "acceptable," even necessary, in our society by nearly all mainstream economists and politicians. That is, the system is set up to keep X number of people unemployed, some othem long-term. Another example: Poor neighborhoods/ school districts get underfunded schools because schools are supported by property taxes. So kids in poor areas are disadvantaged by underfunded schools, when what their schools nreally need is more money that schools that kids of privilege go to. Poor kids at underfunded schools don't have an equal opportunity to pull themselves up out of poverty in this and many other ways. And as for "True Life--I'm Dead Broke": Reality TV is not real: it's scripted, selective, edited, and tends to show us what we want to believe--not the complexities of social reality.
Posted by: Tim G. at June 10, 2005 10:37 AM
problem is very easy. The main source of ways to solve many of problems is Internet. Searching for apartment for rent is not an exception. Almost all of us have an experience in apartment search. We know what a responsible and difficult thing it is.
Few months ago I was looking for an apartment in Los Angeles (I got a job there). I couldn’t even think about difficulties which were waiting for me. I checked ads, went to agencies which offered houses, but nothing was as useful as Internet.
Of course, I concentrated to my needs (considered the area I would like to live, made a list of my top housing priorities, considered amenities and etc. ), created my own note-taking system and allowed my self time. I could eliminate apartments which didn’t meet my needs. I saved time and money. I found beautiful apartment and I’m very satisfied with my new home.
An advice for people who are still searching for their apartments would be concentrate on your needs, be patient and of course don’t lose a hope to find a beautiful place to live.
Posted by: apartment finder at September 23, 2005 02:42 AM