引用文章對奧步馬經濟政策的哲理批判

The More U Buy, The More U Save; The Deeper U fail, The More Benefit U Get. （即本欄主欄文﹕對奧步馬經濟政策的哲理批判）

Tonight, I am sad enough to know a situation.  I know that is my fault.  Every time I brought something out in AR, I will encounter a new "something."   This morning I am talking about the subject of average main street Joe who is not falling down deep enough, I come across a new cruel reality of it in my surroundings. 

One of my neighbors is going through divorce.  Her name is Pat.  Currently she is renting a house and the rent is $1,400 a month.  Without her spouse who moved out, she knows it is impossible for her to stay there.  Her own wages are $1900 a month.  She has been working for a reputable medical lab for 8 years.  The moment I saw her, I felt she is a nice and decent lady even she has a pit bow dog with her, without the recommendation letter from her manager Mr. Bailey.

Here is a major problem she faces.  Because of her pet dog, almost no apartment management will make her easy to lease a unit.   She keeps trying for 2 months.  Finally, she thought she might get help from me since I gave her a bag of dog treat when I saw her walking her dog passing by my house even we are strangers.

She comes to me and wants to buy my house when she saw my "FSBO" sign and thought it over.

To me, I am willing to help.  But I have a big problem too.  she doesn't have any downpayment.  Last time in September 2008, I let someone move into the house 3 months before close of escrow.  After I saw his workers' living condition (14 persons in 3 BR, 2 BA, mattress in Garage,) I gave them permission to use the vacant property before close of escrow on one condition that they have to pay the utilities even there is no rent charge from me.  To make the long story short, the buyer didn't pay a penny for the utilities as he agreed.  It is my first experience to go to "peace" court to evict them.  My total loss is $2,500 (they took all my stuffs with them.)  I learned a lesson: no down payment, no way to sell or move in (probably. some reader remember I said I have never had a problem by letting people move in before close of escrow.  See, I went through the bad one immediately after I put it in my previous article.)

At late afternoon while I am working on my hobby: to put new tile floor to improve a property, she comes to talk to me.  She promises me that she will pay extra money every month to meet my minimum down payment in 6 months, with financial help from her son who just deployed to Afghanistan this month (his pay is greatly increased once he is in the military front.)   I said to her that I will reduce the amount of down payment to $4,000.  At last, I further reduced to $3,000.  Still, no down payment at this moment, no hope to make a move in 5 days as she gave her landlord a notice.

I can see her eyes are with tears and she is so helpless.  I felt so sorry for her without any help from friends, co-workers, or she is so bashful to mention to them she needs help.  I wish I could never have the bad experience last year.  It caused me give my words to my girlfriend that "no more free move-in." (NOTE: don't blame her, she knows my shortcomings trying to protect me.  One of them is I have a big heart.)  So, my heart might be open.  

Well, tomorrow I am going to talk to my preacher Ken to see if there is anything we can do about it.   My current idea is that I will donate $ 5,000 back to the church if they can help her with a loan of $10,000; or give her a grant of thousands dollars.

Well, let's get together to do something of "private charity" to fill in the vacuum fields left by the government "public Charity" centered on the idea "NO Benefit if you don't fall down, such as unemployment.)  I know Pat needs help and she is not a hands-out.  All she needs is a temporary help that she is unable to get from our government programs.  Seems that our government dumps her because she has a job.  With help in need, she will be fine and have no problem to make payment of $650 to me per her income stabs and loan ratio.

Tonight, I am going to pray for her and hope everything is fine, including the dog can stay with her.  (NOTE: There is enough news telling us that so many pets were abandoned by foreclosed home owners and set free into the street.)    

May God help all!