michigan messenger: Foster children clothing only from second hand stores

[Thiebear]

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.

His explanation?

“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.”

Under his plan, foster children would receive gift cards that could only be used at places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and other second hand clothing stores.

The plan was knocked by the Michigan League for Human Services. Gilda Jacobs, executive director of the group, had this to say:

“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.”

Casswell says the plan will save the state money, though it isn’t clear how much the state spends on clothing for foster children or how much could be saved this way.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the face of the Republican party mentally abusing foster children.

This man should be fired on the spot and forced to work at a thrift store for 2 years and report back to the Senate with his findings.

[twa]

How much would it save?

[Destino]

Tax cuts are expensive and they have to be paid for somehow.

[DRSmith]

New clothes for unwanted kids is holding up tax cuts

[grhqofb5]

Maybe the solution is just to offer no gift cards at all. Require school uniforms (honestly, that's where clothing seems to matter most isn't it?) and have the state purchase the uniforms for foster children.

[Burgold]

Wait til next week where they begin proposing that foster kids only be fed dog food and that school cafeterias will be supplied with a special trough for them to eat in. Then again, Cassell has already been quoted as saying, "If plague blankets were good enough for our noble Native American ancestors then they're good enough for today's foster children."

I don't mind the idea of gift cards for the kids and their foster parents to use for the purpose of buying clothing. That might help with abuse, but I think that the foster parent or state agency should be able to determine whether they buy at Target, the Gap, or at the Salvation Army or whether they can stretch that money into one pair of jeans or three.

[sacase]

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

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the face of the Republican party mentally abusing foster children.

This man should be fired on the spot and forced to work at a thrift store for 2 years and report back to the Senate with his findings.

Since when is used clothing mental abuse?

[Burgold]

Since when is used clothing mental abuse?

The subtextual message is really lousy. Don't you agree? Do you really want people telling these kids that they're second hand citizens only good enough for the scraps others discard?

[ACW]

Then again, Cassell has already been quoted as saying, "If plague blankets were good enough for our noble Native American ancestors then they're good enough for today's foster children."

:rubeyes: WHAT?

[Destino]

Maybe the solution is just to offer no gift cards at all. Require school uniforms (honestly, that's where clothing seems to matter most isn't it?) and have the state purchase the uniforms for foster children.

Even better! That way when people and kids out on a weekend or after school the kids most easily victimized are easier to spot.

[JimboDaMan]

Since when is used clothing mental abuse?

When it's used clothing only, that's a pretty ****ty message to send these kids who are most likely at-risk to begin with. I wouldn't call it mental abuse, but the message is unmistakable. You are not worth it, even season-end 80% off is for your betters.

[twa]

How much does it save?

[DRSmith]

Next Foster kids should only get left over, food from food banks and only one bowl of gruel.

And the answer is no to the question please sir can I have some more.

[DM72]

Some people you'll just like to punch in the face. And people wonder why kids in this kind of situation don't succeed.

[Corcaigh]

Forcing people to buy in a particular location will probably increase prices.

[Larry]

Hey, maybe they could only allow them to shop in businesses that donate to the GOP.

[twa]

They could have the prison inmates sew them jumpsuits

[JimboDaMan]

Forcing people to buy in a particular location will probably increase prices.

That was my thought also. Casswell's cheapskate dad would have been pissed if prices went up and selection sucked because all the throwaway kids had to shop there too.

[Predicto]

How much does it save?

Dunno. Maybe he should have checked into that and explained it before he proposed the bill.

It will be pretty funny to see these kids trying to get underwear and socks. We buy almost all of out clothes at Goodwill, but they never have kids uderwear and socks. Meh, they don't need those luxuries.

[Larry]

Why, when I was a kid, we didn't have underwear. We used tree bark, and we were damned glad to have it.

[Teller]

Since when is used clothing mental abuse?

It happened right around the same time Bruce Casswell became the "face of the republican party."

[Predicto]

It happened right around the same time Bruce Casswell became the "face of the republican party."

You're right. Michele Bachman and Glenn Beck remain unchallenged in that role.

[Larry]

You're right. Michele Bachman and Glenn Beck remain unchallenged in that role.

And Sarah Palin, and the states of Arizona and Oklahoma, are still ticked about it, too.

[Teller]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the food and gas price thread remains silent because there's no longer a right-wing boogeyman to blame there.

[Destino]

And Sarah Palin, and the states of Arizona and Oklahoma, are still ticked about it, too.

Rick Snyder (Michigan) and Scott Walker are making a run.