[HPN] Government-funded faith-based charities? Good? Yes, Hillary says! FWD FWD

[Scofield]

Dear Tom,
As a single mom who cycled between welfare and the secondary labor market
six times over a five year period, I strongly disagree with Hillary
Clintons statement for the following reasons:
First, the very idea of substituting charity for justice is repulsive to
me; every time we provide shelter, food or services to poor people instead
of giving them cash, we are treating them as less than responsible. I have
not yet seen any provider of shelter, food or services conceived of,
planned for and implemented exclusively by poor folks, (who are the only
credible "experts" in my book). About the closest I've seen is
HousingWorks in NYC, and come to think of it, I've never heard a complaint
from anybody about one of their shelters or services, so they mustr be ok.
Like Theresa Funiciello, I say just shut 'em all down, distribute the
savings to poor folks, and they can purchase the shelter, food and
services they feel are appropriate for themswelves and their families.
Secondly, many of these "faith-based charities" act in a manner that would
turn anybody off to organized religion. Here in Suffolk County, New York
(where the poor sufferngetfucked), many shelters and food pantries are
computerized, and guess WHY?! So if you don't have an open public
assistance case, they can trun you away!!! That's right, God forbid we
should reward someone who is sanctioned with a cot in a warm room or a bag
of groceries.
Last, and this is really a much more difficult argument, but try to stay
with me - I honestly feel that, even though many good folks donate their
time and energy, we are actually wasting resources that could be spent on
rearranging our society so that folks don't NEED this emergency help. Now,
before you get ready to duke it out with me, let me make clear that I am
NOT suggesting we stopproviding emergency shelter, food or "services".
What I am suggesting is that anyone who works or donates time to any of
the above without ALSO working to alleviate the need to do so is a
good-hearted schmuck, but a schmuck nonetheless. Unless and until we have
rearranged society to provide housing, food, health care and education to
EVERYONE, whether they "work" or not, sans all this income-eligibility
crap, I won't do shit for charity, but will continue to work hard for
justice.
I ask all who read this to pass it on to whomever you think will act on
it.
Terri Scofield

On Fri, 11 Feb 2000, Tom Boland wrote:

> Hillary Clinton's campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson, according to the
> article below, said Clinton supports:
> 
> "using faith-based charities to carry out social programs
> if it is done in a Constitutional manner."
> 
> Do you agree or disagree?  Why or why not, or under what conditions?
> 
> http://newsfinder.arinet.com/fpweb/fp.dll/$stargeneral/htm/x_dv.htm/_ibyx/cg0302
> 6/_itox/starnet/_svc/news/_Id/638784722/_k/bgsgBTdq49ryUC50
> FWD  Associated Press - AP Wire Service - Feb 09 2000 10:06
> 
>      CLINTON COMPLAINS GIULIANI LETTER PLAYS RELIGION CARD 
> 
>      By MARC HUMBERT
>      Associated Press Writer
> 
> ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) _ An obviously angry Hillary Rodham Clinton
> today accused Senate rival Rudolph Giuliani of ``injecting religion
> into this race.''
> 
> ``As a person of faith, I am appalled that he would make false
> statements about me and my respect for religion in order to raise
> money for his campaign,'' the first lady told reporters at a
> Rochester hotel.
> 
> Clinton was referring to an eight-page fund-raising letter
> apparently sent by the New York City mayor to religious
> conservatives in an attempt to raise campaign funds.
> 
> The letter, a copy of which was distributed by the Clinton
> campaign, is signed by Giuliani. It was first written about in
> today's Village Voice.
> 
> In the appeal, Giuliani writes: ``Hillary Clinton further
> revealed her hostility towards America's religious traditions when
> she attacked Gov. George W. Bush's idea that we should look toward
> America's faith-based charities more than government programs to
> address social problems.''
> 
> Giuliani's assertion appeared to misrepresent Clinton's
> position. On Nov. 30, 1999, she thanked a group of ministers for
> providing services to the homeless and others in need in a speech
> at the New York Theological Seminary in Manhattan.
> 
> ``The work you do day in and day out has never been more
> needed,'' she told the group of predominantly black clergy. ``I
> know many of you have programs in your churches to get people off
> drugs, to get people out of prison, food pantries and soup kitchens
> that feed the homeless.''
> 
> Later that day, in response to a question from a minister, she
> stated: ``I believe in faith-based institutions providing
> services.''
> 
> Clinton said today she was ``outraged he would inject religion
> into this campaign in any form whatsoever. And to do it in a way
> designed to raise money for his campaign is something he should
> take responsibility for.''
> 
> She added: ``I have worked very hard my entire life to support
> our fundamental religious values in my own life and in our public
> life.''
> 
> Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said Clinton never
> attacked Bush's proposal. Wolfson said Clinton supports using
> faith-based charities to carry out social programs if it is done in
> a Constitutional manner.
> 
> Clinton was raised in a devout Methodist family. Her interest in
> political activism began through a church youth group she belonged
> to as a teen-ager.
> 
> Giuliani's letter also complains about ``liberal judges'' who
> oppose posting the Ten Commandments in public schools, suggesting
> that Giuliani does support posting the Biblical commands.
> 
> Bruce Teitelbaum, Giuliani's campaign manager, declined to
> comment on the letter Tuesday. A call placed for comment this
> morning was not immediately returned.
> 
> Asked if she wanted an apology from the mayor, Clinton said:
> ``He'll have to decide what he is going to do.''
> 
> AP-ES-02-09-00 1106EST
> Received  Id AP100040AFF357CA on Feb 09 2000 10:06
> 
> END FORWARD
> 
> **In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
> is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
> expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
> for non-profit research and educational purposes only.**
> 
> ***********************************************************
> 7,500+ articles by or via homeless & ex-homeless people
> INFO & to join/leave list - Tom Boland <wgcp@earthlink.net>
> Nothing About Us Without Us - Democratize Public Policy
> ***********************************************************
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
>