The Flow of Consciousness

Approximately 25 minutes ago, I left my work holiday party. It was a potluck, so there were a lot of leftovers. As such, lots of folks went home with containers full of food.

I was obviously one of them. I had some pesto tortellini, turkey tetrazzini, homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese, roasted ham, hand-made pierogies, and more in my stereotypical take-out container. I couldn’t wait to wake up late tomorrow, sleeping in on a lazy Saturday, and enjoy my leftovers.

I was very careful on my way out not to spill the container in the stairwell while I put on my hat, scarf, and gloves. I braced myself and stepped out into the chilly Pittsburgh night.

A few steps from the door, at a major intersection in Squirrel Hill, a older black man approached me. “Excuse me, sir, do you have any spare cash so I can get something to eee..” he said, but I cut him off. “I’m sorry,” I said, “but I don’t have any cash on me.” I rarely carry cash.

It dawned on me after a few steps closer to the intersection that he wanted money to get something to eat. I took a step back and asked him if he wanted something to eat. He answered positively, and I thrusted my treasured leftovers container toward him.

“What’s this?” he asked. ”I just came from my company’s holiday party,” I replied. “It’s leftovers. I don’t need them. You can have them.”

He took the container, peeked inside, and walked away without a “thank you” or anything. I figured his silence to be caused by amazement. He walked into the drug store right there at the corner. I presumed he went there to get some utensils.

I walked to my car, which was approximately two blocks away. These are Pittsburgh blocks, so I was to it in less than five minutes.

The entire way to my car, I felt awesome. Here’s this 20-something guy with a cushy job who just came from a company party, giving food he really wants but doesn’t need to a down-on-his-luck, likely homeless guy begging for money on the streets of a upper-class Pittsburgh neighborhood. Yeah, I did my good turn for the day.

This isn’t the first time I’ve done something like this, and I assure you no matter how this story ends, it won’t be the last. I’ve had the “do a good turn daily” Boy Scout slogan drilled into my head since I was 10.

My path home involves going back through that intersection. I drove to it and got caught at the red light. Who do I see walking across the street? My beneficiary. What’s in his hands? Nothing.

I tried to reason with myself. “Maybe he gave it to some other homeless person,” I thought. I scanned the area. No sign of my leftovers. “Maybe he ate it?” No, impossible. There was enough food there to feed two people heartily, he couldn’t have devoured it in less than five minutes.

I can only assume he tossed it. Threw it away. Discarded it, unwanted. My heart was filled with disgust; I could feel the bile rising. I was so displeased with this person’s actions that I could have vomited on the spot.

I feel betrayed by a someone I didn’t know and, now, wouldn’t ever care to know. He could have fed himself for a weekend on that food, or have a day without a single rumbling in his stomach. He could have given it to someone else, who could have fed themselves or their starving loved ones.

Now I understand why many people are so hesitant to give money or things to homeless or homeless-looking folk: they are afraid their gift will be misused. Had I not had a big container of food in my hands, I would have probably kept walking. Having nowhere specific to be tonight, I may have offered to take him to a restaurant of his choice to see him fed. Instead, I willingly surrendered something of mine I felt I didn’t need, and it was likely discarded.

If he’d wanted a beer, he could have asked honestly. I’m a 20-something, visibly overweight. There’s probably a 99% chance I drink beer, would appreciate his honesty, and would see the man to a beer.

I can only hope that I’m wrong and this guy is a former world champion speed eater or “paid it forward” and gave the food to someone else.

An abbreviated version of this ran in the Tuesday, July 29, 2008 edition of the New Castle News as “Mortgage bailout hits taxpayers.”

Dear Editor,

Recently, government-sponsored, private lending companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were affected so deeply by the present housing debt crisis that Congress has taken it upon itself to bail out the two to prevent them from going bankrupt and foreclosing on hundreds of thousands of Americans.

These two corporations combined own or guarantee approximately half of the country’s $12 trillion mortgage market, according to the New York Times.

It will take at least $400 billion, and, by S&P estimates, as much as $1 trillion in order to bail out these two troubled government-sponsored enterprises. Where would this money come from?

It will come from America’s debtors: ourselves.

Right now, the national debt is $9,545,842,200,233.46—nearly $10 trillion, up from $6 trillion in 2001. If the bail out would cost $400 billion, each American is responsible for $1,300 of that—in addition to the $31,355.92 we already owe. If the bail out would cost $1 trillion, each American would be responsible for another $3,300 of the national debt.

The House passed a bill which essentially authorizes the bail out, which will help approximately 400,000 Americans avoid foreclosure. However, that’s only $1,000 per person, folks.

Congress is authorizing the expenditure of money which is not its to give. I urge News readers to read Congressman David Crockett’s “Not Yours To Give” to understand my perspective in this situation.

Also, I urge New readers to call the office of Senators Specter and Casey and urge them to vote against any legislation which authorizes this misplaced government charity to save mismanaged corporations which practiced unethical lending. I urge readers to contact the office of Representative Altmire, as well, and discover how he voted, congratulating him if he voted against the bill, or the opposite if he voted in favor of it.

Congress once voted to appropriate relief aid for a couple of families in Georgetown whose houses had burned. Congressman David “Davy” Crockett was out a few days later seeking votes for an upcoming election. He met a person named Bunce who disagreed with the vote, because Congress was not granted the power of charity.

“The congressmen chose to keep their own money, which, if reports be true, some of them spend not very creditably; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for relieving them from necessity of giving what was not yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution.”

Mr. Bunce said this, speaking to Congressman Crockett. Crockett immediately agreed, and changed his stance on the matter, promising never again to vote in favor of such a bill.

You should read the full story, available at a certain favorable candidate’s web site.

Side note: If you’re in western PA, join the RP meetup group.