Michigan: Foster children would be allowed to get clothing only from second hand stores

[Shallah Kali]

http://michiganmessenger.com/48487/foster-children-would-be-allowed-to-get-clothing-only-from-second-hand-stores


Under a new budget proposal from State Sen. Bruce Casswell, children in the state’s foster care system would be allowed to purchase clothing only in used clothing stores.

Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio.

snip

“I never had anything new,” Caswell says. “I got all the hand-me-downs. And my dad, he did a lot of shopping at the Salvation Army, and his comment was — and quite frankly it’s true — once you’re out of the store and you walk down the street, nobody knows where you bought your clothes.”

snip

“Honestly, I was flabbergasted,” Jacobs says. “I really couldn’t believe this. Because I think, gosh, is this where we’ve gone in this state? I think that there’s the whole issue of dignity. You’re saying to somebody, you don’t deserve to go in and buy a new pair of gym shoes. You know, for a lot of foster kids, they already have so much stacked against them.”

Welcome to Pure Michigan, the land of Dickens
http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2011/04/post_44.html


About 160,000 kids wouldn't receive their back-to-school clothing allowance under the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget passed by a House subcommittee. That saves $9.9 million (which will go a long way to pay for the $1.2 billion tax break we're handing businesses).

Chair Dave Agema (R-Grandville) -- best known for skipping the crucial 2007 tax hike votes to obliterate sheep with a shotgun in Siberia -- suggested that the money isn't being spent on clothes anyway by those greedy urchins.

"I think the hardship is negligible,” he shrugged.

snip

"Unfortunately, we are leaving behind many in this budget, and they are all people who are easy to target. These are groups that do not have highly paid lobbyists and expense accounts to wine and dine lawmakers,’" said Gilda Jacobs, MLHS president and CEO.

This second article in particular has many good points so please click through and read. This last election has exposed more than ever the vast majority of republican politicians have immense contempt and disgust for anyone who is not wealthy or a corporation (remember corporations are people too now and have special rights). Twisted sick hateful. I wish all elected officials would be required to undergo psych evals before being allowed to run for office including the Hare Psychopathology test ( http://www.hare.org/ ) for I fear many of them would score quite high on it and should never be in charge of any living biological thing.

[KittyWampus]

1. What a mean and despicable person.

[roguevalley]

7. I got second hand and one pair of shoes a year at school time. I

haven't still forgotten it and my parents worked so hard and were so honorable. Someone needs to drag this goon off and beat his ass. Truly, Michigan. what's up?

[KittyWampus]

10. I wore my brothers hand me downs- I'm a female.

[roguevalley]

29. i hug you, honey. Been there. Charles Bronson had to wear

sibling hand me downs. his sisters.

[JuniperLea]

2. What a horrible freak Caswell is...

Class bigotry is despicable.

[MineralMan]

3. Many things are proposed. Few are passed.

May this be one of the many that fail.

[pnwmom]

4. I like it because it highlights this man's character.

Hopefully his opponent next time will successfully use this against him.

[MineralMan]

28. I hope so, too.

[ljm2002]

5. "I never had anything new"... Really, Mr. Caswell? Really?

So your dad never bought you new shoes? Did he buy you used underwear, Mr. Caswell? Because frankly I have a hard time believing that.

"And my dad, he did a lot of shopping at the Salvation Army,"... key words there, Mr. Caswell: "a lot". Not "all".

Stupid people write stupid laws.

You know, another thing: nowadays, with all the cheap stuff from China, you can buy really cheap new clothes at stores like Wal-Mart, and Target, and many others.

What a smug demeaning asshole.

[thecrow]

6. Why?

Does he regard these children as second-hand children??

I try not to hate but I REALLY HATE it when stupid ignorant people try to impose their shit on the rest of us.

[fishwax]

8. such ugliness these people demonstrate

:puke:

[TxVietVet]

9. Conservanazis forget why we have government.

If not, some poor kid that was in foster care take a more resentful attitude against a prick like Casswell and put Casswell out of his misery.
Without government and laws protecting idiots like Casswell, he'd be fair game.

Casswell is another conservanazi :puke:

[elocs]

11. There's a long thread from earlier today about this on LBN:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4824045

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. Stupid at a lot of levels

1) So if I can get lower prices on new, I still have to buy used. That's dumb.
2) Unnecessary confusion. Suppose I foster, and I have money. Now I'll wonder "is it illegal for me to whip out the Visa for little Billy at Target.
3) Politicians should have to go to the Salvation Army first, but that's JMHO

[Shallah Kali]

15. also with so many already turning to used clothing stores

and fewer donating how many would go without when they can't find things in their size especially undergarments and shoes?

[MedleyMisty]

13. Right on with the psych evaluation!

Another thing to add to our list of demands of the revolution, along with publically funded campaigns.

[franzia99]

14. Disgusting people. Screwing those who are weaker than them.

[Solly Mack]

16. Damn

[pacalo]

17. Unbelievable! There's nothing wrong with buying second-hand clothes, but

there is a problem with creating a law that would, in effect, send a message to these foster kids that they are not worthy of having the same advantages & choices as other kids.

[Shallah Kali]

18. & what of things like underpants & shoes

I shop at thrift stores and it is rare to have underpants or socks or shoes that aren't worn out. that on top of more people needing to shop there in the past few years and fewer people who can donate means less clothing with decent amount of wear left in 'em to go around.

This on top of what you said. It is a horrivle thing to say not only did your parent(s) treat you like trash now the state says you are not worth a clean new set of undergarments.

[pacalo]

22. Mandatory secondhand undergarments & shoes are especially troublesome.

The issue of secondhand undergarments is obvious, but secondhand shoes are only as good as the integrity of those donating them. Would those who had athlete's foot opt to pass them on to a charity rather than throw them out? As a consumer, I'd rather not take the chance. And in this once great nation of the free, everyone should have that choice.

Twenty years ago, this legislator would have been run out of public service on a rail for having been so callous. It's becoming the norm these days, thanks to the corporate media giving these freaks credibility.

[Shallah Kali]

25. at least undergarments could be bleached but still ugh

I have only dared buy used shoes when they new for fear of getting a foot fungus. The local thrifts never have anything nasty looking for sale but I still worry and so avoid.

& back to underwear - even with bleach I would never buy underpants used. The thrifts sometimes have new underpants but never more than a few dozen and in few sizes. I have better luck at bitlots but still then they must be inspected carefully for they are usually factory 2nds with wonky seams. I don't mind imperfections in return for otherwise good items but do mind lopsided garments. Ditto for socks - they have a very small selection if any at thrift stores which would pose a problem for people locked into only shopping thrifts.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. I agree with you 1000% on both points.

[pacalo]

23. That's what makes us Democrats.

:hi:

[Withywindle]

19. That's just cruel and hateful.

Not that there's anything wrong with second-hand clothing, but there is a LOT wrong with explicitly telling kids that they're just not good enough for anything new. Poor kids are already very painfully conscious of that, unfortunately.

[Bozita]

21. Welcome to North Mississippi.

My apologies to the citizens of the real Mississippi.

[tanyev]

24. So he wants everyone else to pay for his own inferiority complex.

It seems to be the Republican way.

[SoCalDem]

26. and meals from soup kitchens?

I know several people who are foster parents, and they treat those kids like their own..in fact most of them have ended up adopting some of the kids they fostered..

Republicans are petty petty people

[Orsino]

27. Lady Catherine likes to have the distinctions of rank preserved.

Perhaps these children should be made to wear a special badge of some sort.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

30. Taking the one thing they may have from the poor to give the rich a little more...

This makes me fucking sick!

[Quantess]

31. I get almost all my clothing at thrift stores. I have a nice wardrobe, too.

But then, it is more time consuming than just going to the mall and picking out what you want quickly.

But yeah, shoes...that's another matter entirely. Especially boy's shoes. Good luck finding those second hand, and in good condition.

[SpankMe]

32. Republicans are just plain, fucking evil. n/t