The Ballsy Feminist

Good work, Bill.We're working on a documentary on ...

2009-01-05T11:56:00.000-05:00

Good work, Bill.

We're working on a documentary on the working poor. Our website is www.poornomore.ca.

If you know of anyone who is a pay cheque away from going under and would like to talk please ask them to contact me at suzannebabin@rogers.com

I agree! It's time the politicos realize they are...

2008-12-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

I agree! It's time the politicos realize they are playing around with people's lives. You rock, as always!

Thank you Bill for your caring and commitment and ...

2008-10-03T14:09:00.000-04:00

Thank you Bill for your caring and commitment and your willingness to bring more awareness to this important issue.
I have to say I agree more with Sharon's evaluation of the situation more than with Margaret Anne's. Hunger is one thing, new sneakers is another. I raised 4 kids below the poverty line who were almost totally clothed from Frenchies... we taught them to value their talents, their good works, family and friends and to look to those areas for self-esteem. Now, thanks to their hard work at summer jobs, our hard work and our generous student loan programs, 3 of the 4 have finished university and are in good-paying professions.
It is important that children have sufficient nutrition to allow growth and learning - I do not believe that they need to go to McDonald's. It was a treat when our kids to go there. BYW, eating lots of local potatoes, beans, carrots, etc., they all stayed fit and trim until they moved out of our house and started eating junk food! Now 3 of the 4 are overweight! The ironies of life....

This is such a complex issue and there are no easy solutions. Throwing government money at the situation will not solve the problem, but will merely create more dependency. What really hurts is when you see a family without skills and desperately in need, but because they don't meet specific qualification criteria, they can't get help... or when people want to get work experience to improve their resumes, and then find that every dollar they earned working is clawed back by the government from their payments they receive. It is this type of thing which perpetuates poverty. People should be rewarded for working and learning new skills. What incentive is there for them to work if their earned money is taken away from them? IMHO, government should be involved in making education and skills training more accessible, so that people are left without excuse for not being able to make a decent living.
The new initiative being introduced by NS Labour & Workforce Development in 2009 which will allow non-EI and non-welfare recipients (who presently slip through the cracks) to access funds for skills training will go a long way to providing opportunities for the working poor to improve their situations. Maybe we will always have the poor with us as the Bible says, but we must work to make those numbers as small as possible. Congratulations Bill on your great work.

Mc Donald is not healthy though.

2008-10-03T04:31:00.000-04:00

Mc Donald is not healthy though.

Bill, here are a couple of places you might wish t...

2008-09-29T16:14:00.000-04:00

Bill, here are a couple of places you might wish to advertise on:

http://www.avrnetwork.com/
http://valleyevents.ca/

I arranged to have the MRHS CALM/PAL class send posters and newspaper articles to all schools in the AVRSB district. I will also advertise on the NSCC - Human Services site and contact the New Ross school. I've also put it on my Facebook status.

Tina Hiltz
765-9458

It is unfortunate that your choice of examples poi...

2008-09-08T09:38:00.000-04:00

It is unfortunate that your choice of examples point to so much that is wrong with the world. Irony: "the thought of a child never being to MacDonalds"--when this kind of chain restaurant offers employment below the poverty line, without benefits. "McJobs" are a byword for underemployment. And it is also symptomatic of the kind of mass-food-without-nutrition mentality that is causing childhood obesity even among the poor. I agree that poverty must be dealt with but the value system holding up "the sneakers that everyone else has" and McDonalds as not just necessary but desirable for a good childhood--that I don't agree with at all.

Wow Bill, I admire your caring and active attitude...

2008-09-08T09:05:00.000-04:00

Wow Bill, I admire your caring and active attitude toward helping eliminate poverty. God will bless you and you are a treasure to humanity. I look forward to following your story.

For Heaven's sake - we are talking about children ...

2008-09-08T06:48:00.000-04:00

For Heaven's sake - we are talking about children in poverty here! Sharon, it may build character for children to have less than those around them, but it also builds children into criminals, creates adults with mental illnesses and hopelessness. It matters a lot whether the poverty is temporary and by choice (a lot of university attending parents fit here) or whether you are asking your children to support a new business venture. But when parents (often single parents) are simply unemployed, injured at work, disabled etc then children grow up outside of the mainstream, not "fitting in" and therefore ready to be an outsider. That does not bode well for our social order ( such as it is) Please support Bill, who I have never met but admire. I saw the story in the Herald this morning! Good luck to you! Also, in this time of a federal election - pay attention to what the parties say federally as the Liberal and Conservative governments of the last 25 years have increased poverty - no tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, have helped decrease it - we need a new approach. I'll be supporting the NDP, but it is important to raise an issue for all parties.

Bill,You make me so proud to be your cousin! Pleas...

2008-09-02T10:45:00.000-04:00

Bill,

You make me so proud to be your cousin! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with, be it petitions or something else. I am with you all the way! Go Bill!

I am soooooooo proud of Bill! What a goal to set b...

2008-08-30T15:15:00.000-04:00

I am soooooooo proud of Bill! What a goal to set but one I believe that is acheivable. If you want me to set out petitions to take with you or whatever else I can do please let me know! I'm rooting for you! You go Bill!

Bill,This is an awesome endeavor that you are emba...

2008-08-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

Bill,

This is an awesome endeavor that you are embarking upon. You are very brave to walk for 7 days straight but even braver to stand up for something you are passionate about. Well done!

Such a great example to set for your family and others too! I write a blog but my material is humour based about my chaos as a Mom. I always look up to people who take serious and important issues and make it their own. I'll be rooting for you!!

Take care,
Lianne MacNeil

www.bloggideeblogblog.blogspot.com

Bill,I have always known you are a great person wi...

2008-08-28T18:50:00.000-04:00

Bill,

I have always known you are a great person with a heart of gold, but now you are going to show that to the rest of the province. I am very proud of you, and especially proud to know you.

My favorite quote of all time that I have always lived by is one that you are applying to your long hike. "Stand for something, or you'll fall for anything." You, my friend, are standing up for something you truly believe in and something that, as you said, cannot and should not be ignored.

I just hope the right people (a.k.a. politicians) will have the guts to stand with you. Good luck, you have my support all the way.

Your friend,
Michelle :)

There is absolutely no excuse for poverty in one o...

2008-07-25T08:15:00.000-04:00

There is absolutely no excuse for poverty in one of the richest countries in the world. Women and children are most at risk of living in poverty, and part of me thinks that is why we have done nothing to stop it. The federal government vowed to elimiate child poverty by 2000 - now, in 2008 it is more prevelent than ever. It's time to hold them accountable!

Although I agree it is definitely not fair for any...

2008-07-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

Although I agree it is definitely not fair for any child to live in poverty and to be stuck with the stigmatism of being "poor", I do think that it builds character in children to not have everything the next door neighbour has. I think we have to teach our children what is important in life and material things don't place high on my list. A roof over the head, nutrious food on the table, and parents who know where their kids are, what they are doing and who their friends are is what is most important. Money can't buy love....

Bill,You are right about the value that people pla...

2008-07-24T14:21:00.000-04:00

Bill,

You are right about the value that people place on "things". It's easy to get caught up in thinking "more is more", but how much "more" will it take to make you happy? That's what people need to think about and consider. If you're always looking for "more", you'll never see -and appreciate- all that you already have.

~Michelle :)