What is Digg?85 Comments
- JMartin13, on 10/12/2007, -7/+56"ended up on the beach with his wife and nine kids "
Maybe, just maybe, if you don't own a house and have a stable income, you shouldn't have 9 kids. Just my opinion. - emeriste, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37It sounds kind of tempting. The rent is even more expensive here in NYC. On a very stressful day I day dream about being a homeless person in Hawaii. Oh to sleep as late as I want and enjoy all the avocados I can eat. That might be the life.
- tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34It's true. And unbelivably sad. Every beach along the entire west side of this Island is lined with tents and families scraping out an existence - working, sending their kids to school, but not being able to afford a house. Here's one of many articles that you see daily in our local newspaper http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Aug/31/ln/FP608310344.html
The sight of these beautiful public beaches turned into a homeless shantytown is the polar opposite of what you see in Waikiki and the other pristine tourist beaches around the Island, and not what the Hawaii Visitors Bureau promotes to the world about this "tropical paradise". These beaches aren't even frequented by visitors or many locals anymore. It's the shame of this Island, this community, and our local government.
The problem gets worse every year as the cost of living in paradise spirals out of control. A one-room bare-bones studio anywhere in this town rents for $1000.+ - and there are lines of people waiting to get it. No one can afford to live here - and until this is addressed, people will be living on the beaches. - chris9902, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25I'll tell you what's sad. I went to DC and if you look one way you see the white house. The very symbol of freedom and power. Then you do a 180 and you see homeless people.
that's sad. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+27JMartin:
>Maybe, just maybe, if you don't own a house and have a stable income, you shouldn't have 9 kids. Just my opinion.
The Pope has just announced that you're evil. - Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22@drake456
If you live in Hawaii, and lose your job how the hell are you supposed to leave?
Build a raft? - VeganG, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19"The problem gets worse every year as the cost of living in paradise spirals out of control. A one-room bare-bones studio anywhere in this town rents for $1000.+ - and there are lines of people waiting to get it. No one can afford to live here - and until this is addressed, people will be living on the beaches."
Of course no one can afford to live there, it's freaking HAWAII. If it was affordable, everyone would live in a place like that. I just find it amusing that the writer scoffs at the cost of living, right after calling it a "paradise." Well, duh! - thewaz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16so true, DC has one of the highest populations per capita of homeless people. they even have their own newspaper with statistics about it. stange..
- Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21Maybe, just maybe your parents shouldn't have had kids....
Honestly, "most" Americans are about 3-6 paychecks away from being homeless.
(unemployment and other "social programs" not withstanding of course)
It's very hard to predict the future. When my children were born I was making $50,000/year with a household income of $85,000/year. 7 years, a layoff and a divorce later I'm lucky to make $35,000 a year, my savings is gone, literally I live paycheck to paycheck now. With 2 kids to feed, I would be out on the street (if I lost my job) within 90 days. - kaje, on 10/12/2007, -11/+25Makes sense. Those people have the freedom to ruin their lives with bad decisions.
- thewaz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13being devoured alive by insects on the beach is no paradise
- Bradl3y, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Why the ***** does it matter? If people feel they are interesting stories, they digg them. If they weren't worthy, they wouldn't be on the front page, and most people would not know they existed.
- Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Wow, so if I were to be laid off again, I'd somehow be considered "irresponsible". I'll be sure and tell my kids that when we have nothing to eat. I'm sure it will make them feel better.
As for my income, I was simply trying to point out that many people have childen when they are doing well, they plan them. But in this nation with it's rather volatile economy (outsourcing anyone?) it's entirely possible that while you made "responsible" decisions, "luck" can play a role for almost anyone. It's not easy to plan for 18-20 years no matter how responsible you are.
I'd say the example of 9 kids is an extreme, a fluke even. I've seen plenty of homeless with 1 or 2 children, it's a problem, nationwide. - Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10@h00paj00
"@Cronus: Shoulda stuck with your wife. You know... "in good times and bad" "
You nailed it at the end of your post, it was she and not I. She received plenty of attention, thanks for your concern. The courts found plenty of fault with her behavour, that's how I ended up full full custody. Sorry murder is not an option.
It's interesting to note (offtopic) that the Courts do NOT go after women who owe back childsupport in the same way they do men... currently she owes about $6000.00, they don't seem to give a *****. I male would be locked up by now. - dragongrrl, on 10/12/2007, -9/+19
in America, there is a very large income and wealth disparity and also a class rigidity that has not been seen since the "Gilded Age" of the early 20th century. the US evidences a far larger income disparity than Europe or perhaps any other civilized country.
if that wasn't striking enough, evidence of the low-to-nil protection for the quality of life of those who aren't super-wealthy is abundant. all it takes is a small amount of super-wealthy folks to buy up far more Hawaiian land than they can reasonably use. people build mansions on huge pieces of property for a part-time residence. meanwhile, native families are getting displaced and forced to live on the beach.
it's shameful that there are no protections put in place to keep this from happening. - piper999, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I feel sorry for anyone that DOES work 40 hours a week flipping burgers.
- scooterbooter, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10VeganG: You wouldnt understand if you haven't lived there.
But you see, people are born in hawaii, just like they are born in any other place.
And you can't expect people to just pick up and leave in search of a better place to live elsewhere.. their familys their culture.. everything they know is there... not to mention its expensive to try and leave... if they can't afford $2000 a month for rent, how will they afford $6000 to move to the mainland?
The cost of living in hawaii is 20% higher than the average city in America.. but it is not the most expensive. The big problem is that the average person makes 20% LESS income than the average american. So there is a huge gap between the money people make and the cost of living.
So don't make yourself out to be such a moron by commenting "well duh" when you do not understand the full dynamics of the situation.
That said..
I recently left Hawaii to move to Portland but if things were to ever not work out here and I can't get work or something.. I'll definately head back to Maui.. because it's certainly the best place on earth to be homeless. - toneii, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Hawaii suffers from "Last Chance Saloon" syndrome. In other words, there is little competition to lower prices.
Many of the beach dwellers are native hawaiians who choose to live there. Others are drug addicts who are satisfied to live there and not pay rent.
The sovereignty of Hawaiians was stolen by white corporate interests backed by the US Navy. For this reason there, is a guilt about forcing the last natives to accept the white customs. Hawaii protects beach dwelling because it is the native way and nobody can tell a native he can't follow the old ways.
There are very scant wages to be made in Hawaii. I was on contract there for 1 year and when it came time for the perm offer, it was roughly 1/3 of the contract rate. So the prices are California high and the wages are middle-of-nowhere low.
There is also some inter-Asian racism. Japanese are top, and Korean bottom, Chinese somewhere in the middle. Also Micronesian are on the bottom. Also inter-japnese racism. Okinawans are lowest while light skinned Japanese from Tokyo consider themselves superior to all other races. They truly control the island. - omnithought, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8It's a perfect symbol of how our gov't operates. If some alien culture came and saw this, they'd likely decide that we don't deserve to live as a species. We can't even take care of the very basics for our own citizens.
- founderofpork, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"I got a solution: MOVE OUT OF HAWAII!"
Because it's just that easy to pick up and move half way across the world, where you don't know anyone, have no job waiting for you, etc. - bluejet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6A modern day "The Grapes of Wrath". Bush is working real hard with the help of sweet baby Jesus and Dick Cheney to help make all of us more-er free-er. Maybe one day soon most of us will be free and homeless just like these poor folks. Keep importing junk made by slaves and exporting freedom USofA! Woot!
End Rant... - omnithought, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7@drake546
You gonna' buy 'em a plane ticket? It's a ***** ISLAND! How the hell do you expect them to move, with no money? - piper999, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8@h00paj00
You are still a virgin aren't you? - iceperson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"the US evidences a far larger income disparity than Europe or perhaps any other civilized country."
there's a reason italian men live off mother's tit until they're 40... - nrecob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"It's interesting to note (offtopic) that the Courts do NOT go after women who owe back childsupport in the same way they do men... currently she owes about $6000.00, they don't seem to give a *****. I male would be locked up by now."
God damned right. And women continue to bitch about how "badly" they're treated.
What a joke!
- ceoandpresident, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Don't you realize, these people have no money? That is the whole point of the article. How are they going to AFFORD any kind of transportation to the mainland? Do you even know how much money a flight costs from Hawaii?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7If I ever get divorced...and life goes to the dogs...
I am going to Hawaii !!! - JMartin13, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Again, your situation is in no way similar to this one. Are you trying to tell me that an ex drug addict had 9 "planned" kids at points in his life where he was stable? I understand what you are trying to say, but it doesnt apply to this situation.
- lalee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It is sad to see the homeless situation in Hawaii (I'm born and raised here).
But the fact of the matter is, there are two very distinct groups of homeless:
The first group: those who were forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing rent prices. Most of these people have real salary-jobs (and the rest have multiple minimum-wage jobs). They're the ones that people should have compassion for -- the honest, Average-Joe, trying to make an honest living and provide for the family.
The second group: those who CHOOSE to live that lifestyle. Native-Hawaiians struggling to find a way to live off of the land; people who aren't motivated to get a day-job; the mentally-ill (sadly, Hawaii has TERRIBLE support-facilities for mentally-ill -- if they're not a threat to anyone, they're back on the streets..) ; and finally, those involved in drugs and other criminal activities. Aside from the mentally-ill, I've no sympathy for these people, as it's their active choice to continue in that lifestyle.
Now I'll let you in on a dirty-little-secret: Hawaii's rents are super-high because we have a HUGE Military Presence here! Active Military people have a cost-of-living allowance (in the range of $3000/month, last I heard) that is easily applied to rent.
It is absolutely unfair to the locals who actually live here, but that's the honest truth. - MrIcee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4VeganG said: Of course no one can afford to live there, it's freaking HAWAII. If it was affordable, everyone would live in a place like that. I just find it amusing that the writer scoffs at the cost of living, right after calling it a "paradise." Well, duh!
Well not "duh" veganG... I live on the Big Island of Hawai'i and when I moved here 9 years ago house prices were very inexpensive. For example, my 3000 sq ft. house which is on an acre of beautiful tropical rainforest cost me $115,000. That is VERY inexpensive, even by mainland standards.
However, in the last few years Hawai'i property prices have skyrocketed. A similar property down the road from mine, with a much smaller house and no landscaping - is now going for around $800,000.
What happened is that since 9/11 anyone who thought about moving here did so, immediately (we are just now starting to see this slack off). This meant that all housing prices went way up... and that also meant that all RENTALS went way up in cost. This forced out many local people who had lived here comfortably for years. Even if they owned and sold their house, they couldn't afford to buy a new place.
So yes, our homeless population has skyrocketed. These are not slackers, these are people who were forced out of their houses and rentals due to skyrocketing prices (even my own 'fixed rate mortgage' shot up due to the property value of the area 'increasing' thus changing the escrow requirements).
The funniest (if one can say that) thing about this is that 50% of the people who move here, leave within 5 years (either #1, they don't get along with the locals, or #2, they get island fever, or #3, they miss family/friends, or #4, they can't find work, or #5, they can't stand the climate).
The good side of this is that our unemployment is very low (about the lowest in the nation) which equates to low crime. When I purchased 9 years ago, it was exactly the opposite. The bad side is there are many many homeless, however, since the housing market is taking a MAJOR slowdown right now, hopefully prices will begin to fall back to reasonable levels (the are starting to slide now).
Aloha nui loa - Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@JMartin13:
No I'm not trying to say that an addict had 9 planned children.
I'm trying to say that you shouldn't be so quick to judge people in general.
Bad things can happen to anyone, at anytime.
Personally I think that a society as "great" as ours should be worried about those 9 children, rather than how their parents got there. - pdbq, on 10/12/2007, -12/+15That's America for ya.
- gmillerd, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6"The homeless sleep on the beach in other warm-weather U.S. states as well. Between 200 and 300 people live on the sand near Jacksonville, Florida, and in Santa Monica, California, some of the city's 2,000 homeless spend the night on the beach, though authorities do not let them set up tents. But the line of encampments along Oahu's Waianae Coast is particularly extensive."
How can you digg these people down without a response ... seems like homelessness is a valid issue to try to bend the might of the US. - tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@toneii
The way these homeless people are living on the beaches is *not* the "native way", I can assure you. Being homeless should never be associated with cultural heritage.
Also, Hawaii probably has one of the most diverse and tolerant ethnic mixes in the entire country. And, there is a huge percentage that is mixed heritage. I don't believe that the lines between the races here are as rigidly divided as you claim. - MrIcee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2(whoops posted this to the wrong comment earler)
beltch writes: A large eruption will clear out the problem. People by the water may escape the crucible of death raining down on the rich in their mansions with upper floors pinning them to the merciless lava flow.
Just to point out Beltch... the story is about beaches on Oahu... Oahu does not have any active volcanoes. You are thinking of the Big Island, where we also have a homeless problem and we DO have active volcanoes. However, there are few (I can count them on one hand) of homeless that are actually in the 'path' of lava (e.g., close enough to the active flow where they may need to move if it swings in a certain direction).
The rest of us have some degree of protection (I'm in a Lava Zone 3 area, the land my house and property occupy is around 450 years old). However, I moved to Hawai'i specifically to be closer to the volcano so don't weep for me :)
aloha nui loa - B111, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4"But you see, people are born in hawaii, just like they are born in any other place.
And you can't expect people to just pick up and leave in search of a better place to live elsewhere.. their familys their culture.. everything they know is there... not to mention its expensive to try and leave... if they can't afford $2000 a month for rent, how will they afford $6000 to move to the mainland?"
People leave their homelands in search of a better life all the time, ***** Mexicans, et al, are doing it everyday, and they have to pay the $6K + AND risk their lives crossing deserts, etc, and coming into a TOTALLY different culture, country, etc.
Being attached to your culture is no excuse, you take your culture with you. And as far as the plane ticket, you scrimp, you save, you borrow, you steal, whatever, if you really want a better life. If immigrants from other countries can do, surely Hawaiians can. - satori3000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3anyone got photos? Honestly, I think Toronto's tent city was far worse:
http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_02.28.02/news/tentcity.php - millixaw, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6"Roxy Bustamante, his wife, is the breadwinner, working at a pizza delivery call center and making about $2,000 (?1,570) a month. She says they are stuck on the beach because her husband needs to watch the kids, and she does not make enough to move to a more permanent home."
I got a solution: MOVE OUT OF HAWAII!
"Waaa! I don't make enough to live in luxary! My kid has to live in a tent because of my bad decision-making skills." Boo hoo!
$2000/month is more than I make and I can afford a decent apartment. Of course, I live in upstate NY, not as glamourous as Hawaii. And the rent for decent places is even cheaper in the mid-west and south-west.
Jesus Christ, I can't feel sorry for someone who makes enough to live in a "normal" part of the USA but not enough to live in a luxary part. They have the choice to be homeless in Hawaii or not-homeless in a less glamourous part of the USA, yet you chose the former. Your own f**king fault, lady. - dmclone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Most of the homeless people I see (midwest) have either mental problems or drug problems.
As far as Hawaii, if the unemployment is low then you should be able to find a job. If you're working and homeless I'm guessing that you can save a lot of money? Save for a few months and fly to Idaho or something. If you're truly homeless I'm guessing you don't have a lot to move. - pcheaven2k, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I spent 6 years on the streets in Florida (Keywest then Fort Lauderdale) and let me tell you, I rather have been in Chicago, Toronto, etc.
- toneii, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"The storm that had been gathering broke on Jan. 17, 1893, when the Hawaiian monarchy ended in a day of bloodless revolution. Armed insurrection by a relatively small group of men, most of them American by birth or heritage, succeeded in wresting control of the Islands with the backing of American troops sent ashore from a warship in Honolulu Harbor. To this "superior force of the United States of America," Queen Lili`uokalani yielded her throne, under protest, in order to avoid bloodshed, trusting that the United States government would right the wrong that had been done to her and the Hawaiian people."
The Overthrow of the Monarchy
''Spirit of Aloha'' May 1994 - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3You know, this reminds me of something I've always wondered. Why are there homeless people in Toronto, or Milwaukee, or Chicago or anywhere that the winter temperatures are so harsh? Seems like if you lived in a northern city and found yourself homeless your first order of business would be to get yourself to Florida.
- B111, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3yeah, I'm sure living on the beach in HAWAII is a real drag.
I don't know, but wouldn't you think that people owning the beachside properties that these people are squatting in front of would have set up chairities to buy these people plane tickets already?
Not that it would matter, so long as the government lets them live on the sand, it's not like they are going to leave. - tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ VeganG
If you have to work two jobs just to live here - you don't get a whole lot of time to enjoy paradise. Classic double edged-sword.
A good surfboard is expensive, you know :) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3A large eruption will clear out the problem. People by the water may escape the crucible of death raining down on the rich in their mansions with upper floors pinning them to the merciless lava flow.
- MrIcee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1beltch writes: A large eruption will clear out the problem. People by the water may escape the crucible of death raining down on the rich in their mansions with upper floors pinning them to the merciless lava flow.
Just to point out Beltch... the story is about beaches on Oahu... Oahu does not have any active volcanoes. You are thinking of the Big Island, where we also have a homeless problem and we DO have active volcanoes. However, there are few (I can count them on one hand) of homeless that are actually in the 'path' of lava (e.g., close enough to the active flow where they may need to move if it swings in a certain direction).
The rest of us have some degree of protection (I'm in a Lava Zone 3 area, the land my house and property occupy is around 450 years old). However, I moved to Hawai'i specifically to be closer to the volcano so don't weep for me :)
aloha nui loa - threemagic, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Bradl3y: Because he may have buddies helping him gets his submissions to the front page. It's no longer about making Digg a better place but a way to help him make money. See?
- NoNom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1*condemn
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Round em up and throw em in the hoosegow. I don't wanna walk along the beach on vacation and step in some bum's puke or get stuck with his hypodermic needle.
- twinklyJesus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@B111 :
My wife and I decided 20 years ago, when we got married, that who ever got the best job offer, that's where we would go. I got an offer from a missile contractor in Sunnyvale, CA and she got an offer from a Corp. in Minneapolis. We went to Minneapolis. Then after a few years we moved to Dallas, and after that L.A. Now we live in Cleveland. You go where the job is. You can't just sit on your ass waiting for the job to come to you because you're in Hawaii and don't want to move.
We also put money away (every check) a little at a time in an account for just such things. When we were downsized out of a job in California, we were able to live off of that money, pay our mortgage and insurance for a year. If you are 3-6 paychecks from being homeless, you are not managing your money very well. You don't have to have the biggest house or the nicest car you can afford. You don't need to eat out every night. There are a lot of things people waste money on that they don't really need until they have backup funds available to cover yourself for at least a year of unemployment. It's not that hard, but you do have to give up the instant gratification idea. Also, we did not EVER finance a car. Whether we bought new or used, we would pay it off with a second mortgage on the home (on which interest is deductible) and have no car payment. All vehicles are paid for so you don't lose them if unemployed and don't have to worry about the payment.
This is poor planning on Senor Bustamante's part. He wasted money on drugs when he had responsibilities like a wife and kids. Also, realizing that each child costs approx. $2K per year, having NINE is absolutely stupid! That's $20K a year just to afford the kids. Then you add rent, food, insurance and car, etc. on top of that.
Seriously, 20 grand for the kids, 30 grand for rent add car payment and rent you could be looking at between 60 and 80 grand in expenses per year. The best job she gets is taking pizza orders over the phone for minimum wage. That's 10 grand a year. Whether he wants to or not, he can't afford to stay home with the kids. He could get a job when she is not at work. They trade off. It sounds to me like he's a loser and wants someone to feel sorry for him. I don't, I feel sorry for his wife and kids, mostly his kids as they didn't pick this jerk for a father.
This is sheer stupidity. -
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