Well, the issue of whether or not Barack Hussein Obama was indeed born in the United States of America has been settled. [photo: J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press]Perhaps now everyone can address legitimate issues, and we can separate the chaff-y presidential hopefuls from the wheat-y ones.
Jobs are supposed to be looking up (despite record layoffs-Nokia has by now let 7,000 people go), but economic growth is down. Perhaps if minimum wage was pay we could live on, it could go a long way in solving some poverty problems. When pay fails to keep up with prices, people have no choice but to spend less. We can save less, if anything at all. A livable minimum wage will mean a better economy. It doesn’t seem like rocket science.
I think our president is on the right track about 
one thing: oil companies don’t need the tax breaks and subsidies they’ve enjoyed for decades if they can report record profits, as they are expected to do for the 1st quarter of 2011. That’s going to be a hard sell, though. Nevertheless, Barack Obama has revived my faith in our country like no president in my lifetime.
Meanwhile, severe weather around the nation, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades, leaves more people homeless, and federal disaster aid is being refused. Street paper salesmen, street musicians, and mentally ill people with no health care resources, are getting harassed by police who have new laws to back them up.
And the big news stories at the time of this writing are Barack Obama’s birth certificate and the latest royal wedding.
This week’s links follow.
Spare some change editorial from Deseret News [Follow-up info on last week’s report about parking meters to help homeless people. Thanks, English Lady.(click on images to enlarge.)]
Police enforce San Francisco ban on sidewalk-sitting by Terry Collins, Associated Press via Deseret News-“A year after a controversial ordinance prohibiting sitting or lying on San Francisco sidewalks was first proposed, police are now enforcing the new law 
along the city's most famous thoroughfares. Yet, vigorous squabbling continues between supporters who claim the "sit-lie" law is working and opponents who argue it unfairly targets the homeless, day laborers and mentally ill.” [AP photo/Eric Risberg from the same article in The Salt Lake Tribune]
Entertainment 
Books: A City Devoid of Sharp Edges-[This is the latest (deeeeep breath)Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Series (whew!) book. Written by writers of varied talents, abilities, backgrounds, and genres. Some are, or have been, homeless, including Your Editor.]All past and present editions are available at our Salt Lake City and County Libraries, or for purchase at SLCC-CWC on Library Square. Give it a glance, wontcha?
Music: Utah band Fictionist makes Rolling Stone [magazine] cover final four by David Burger, The Salt Lake Tribune. Hear the music HERE .
It’s hard not to get caught up in the media whirlwinds and non-news that gets thrown at us constantly through every avenue available. My internet tv application even has commercial breaks, as does every screen on my cell phone. We are bombarded with advertising, propaganda and misinformation. therefore, it can be hard for us to make informed, intelligent decisions.
Here at RGR I try to bring you the best information available concerning issues relative to homelessness and poverty. I read several articles on the same subject from several different sources, checking for discrepancies, before I choose the ones I link you to. I try to be unbiased and complete, giving you, the readers, the option of learning more about a reported subject than just what I say.
With another presidential election year approaching, I’m going to get political. I hope that all of you will, too. Don’t just take my word for what’s up, or adopt my opinions. Get more involved in advocating for yourself, because you will always be your best promoter, and only you know what your best interests are.
In this way only, can you assure your voice will be heard, and our government will work the way it’s intended to: through the power of "We The People..."
I apologise for the lateness and incompleteness of this week’s report. If you, readers, are tired of excuses, I can relate. Lately, I get nothing but excuses from my internet service provider, school officials, doctors and pee-sychiatrists. But I’m bearing with them all, and ask you to do the same with, and for, me.
I’m somewhat glad this is going out later. Osama Bin laden is dead. Good. Pretty much ensures President Obama at least his party nomination for 2012 elections, and gives him a damn good chance of winning a second term.
So, in spite of a hospital stay, the madness of matriculating, supposed “friends” and supporters, and insomnia that would kill a bear, I feel hopeful. I just smile. It disarms them every time.
We as a country have something to smile B-I-G about today. [Insert deity of choice] Bless America, and bless you-all of you.
Until next time... stay real; say what you mean and mean what you say; fight, and remember just when you’re about to go mad – :) - !
Your Editor
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