TR> DB> victimization. Usually, these are people who spit into the
TR> wind, or DB> worse. They've be subjected to everything from OTJ
TR> harassment and
TR> When you talk about the person who would spit into the wind or
TR> worse, I can only assume you are talking about folks who either
TR> don't have much sense or are non-conformists. I know some folks
TR> who do some very bizarre things,
I refer to non-conformists. People who would have been called 
neurotics, in the 50's. They'll never be able to hold a 9-5 job, or 
stay in one place long enough to grow roots. The only thing which 
bothers me about them is that society just won't make room or 
provisions for them. The stigmata of being footloose or 
"unresponsible" actually creates more problems of a social nature then 
if there were places a stranger could go, get cleaned up, without the 
requirement of a "program" and find easy but worthwhile labor.  
These people usually don't want or require much... their living 
conditions could very well improved were they not viewed as some form 
of non-human.
Seattle has a great day-job center, run by a consortium of churches 
and the city itself. Also, the downtown busses are free! (I almost 
fainted when I got on one the first time.) Los Angeles also has some 
acceptable labor pools. There's ways to make honorable money but we 
need more "revolving door" labor pools. Manpower, Kelly, United and 
the type won't even talk to you unless you have a permanent address 
and checking account.  
TR> DB> I was surprised to find the great majority of the ones I got
TR> to know DB> rather well were Viet Vets.
TR> overcome. One of my closest friends was a tunnel rat for two
TR> years, and he is really just now getting his life back together.
TR> This is another example of something you would have to experience
TR> and be there to fully understand.
I'm well aware of that. I don't think 'Nam was the actual cause of a 
lot of the people I saw who'd gone a little into the deep end. It did 
excerbate their problems, though. There were a few, though, who just 
had a hard time dealing with what they had to do over there.
TR> DB> Substance abuse is the general underlying theme. It
TR> is_not_the_cause DB> but is a symptom. Many, however, are
TR> "natural" substance abusers and
TR> Don, I think that you've listed the scourge of mankind here,
TR> something that probably causes more human misery and suffering
TR> than whole lists of other problems. I don't know that we will ever
TR> have an answer. Many people spend
I don't have any answers, either. Fortunately I had a skill. After 
bouncing around the country for decades I somehow managed to end up in 
a truck. I drove a little bobtail for an Okie who was a real work 
hound. Never made any money, but I got a world of experience. We'll 
just say that your laws were only used as a guideline, as far as 
operations were concerned. :) Eventually I ended up driving a small 
city tractor with a half-set (unlicensed) and finally went a got a 
permit... drove on the permit for four months before we found a truck 
and trailer that was legal enough to pass inspection so I could take 
the upgrade test. No joke! We had to borrow a tractor from one of the 
operators in the Co-Op, and a trailer from one of the road drivers who 
brought freight into the warehouse. Once I had that license I was set 
up for life. Perfect job for me. I now could walk into just about any 
city in the country and be working within a few days; driving 
something or another. Now, there's a lot more regulation. Had I been 
born 10 years later I'd probably be standing at a red light with a 
squeegee in my hand... Not bad for a hard core substance abuser.  
TR> I read with interest your description of migrant workers, hobos,
TR> tramps, etc. You do have a lot of information in this area and
TR> some very interesting perspectives. I learn something from many of
TR> your posts, and this one is no exception. I really appreciate you
TR> sharing this information. Perception is
Think I mentioned to someone earler in this echo: "I've not had a 
normal life." Anybody in San Francisco who knew me well has mentioned 
I should write a book. Funny thing is I can walk down a street in an 
unfamiliar neighborhood and as far as society is concerned I'm one of 
"them." Too bad we can't do this with other dysfunctional people. No?
Ok, I've carried this thread just about as far as it can go... unless 
you've something to add, EOT
DB
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 * RM 1.31 3089 * Just when I hit bottom, someone hands me a shovel....
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
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