Jimi I never said I wasn't poor. Believe me, oh be-lieve me - I know I'm poor. What I meant to imply was that even though I -am- poor, I try to find a modicum of gratitude because I could be much, much worse off as others in other countries - and others even here in the US are. Poverty is globally shared.

I think what I and others also mean to indicate is that for the most part here in America, when people say they're poor - look what they have comparatively: I'm sitting in my own bedroom, with a bed and an air conditioner, a laptop computer, a NOOK reader (given to me) - I can go take a hot shower right now if I feel like it, I can go watch my cable television or chat with friends on the Internet which is readily available and if I don't want to do any of that, I can get in my car and drive wherever I want (provided I have gas). Poor people in America have it good - and I'm saying that as a poor American who is sick and tired of the stress and depression that accompany poverty and repression. As much as I know I'm poor, as much as I hate it, as much as I think out government should do something about it instead of spewing rhetoric and making it worse, I fall to my knees in gratitude with the knowledge that I could have it, and many do have it, much worse.

They say "Money doesn't buy you happiness." And to that I say B.S. - It could certainly buy me peace of mind out of this impoverished life, and that? Yessir, that would make me happy.