Comments on: The Best Two Sentences You Use Today.

By: Shadow's Heart

Shadow's Heart — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:12:25 +0000

Sauerkraut -These are the children that the Right To Lifers don’t worry about after the birth process is complete. If they put as much time, energy and money into championing for children who are already here they wouldn’t have enough time to worry about the unborn. I spent my childhood in foster care. I was blessed to have a foster mother who encouraged me to be the best I could be. A lot of people don’t realize that many of the homeless living on the streets were at one time in the foster care system. There are many who take in foster children for selfish reasons looking for an easy way to make a buck hopefully those are far and few between. I applaud those who foster with the intent to nurture, protect and care for children who are truly considered America’s second class citizens. Hopefully they can relate to the adoptive child’s creed: “Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone but still miraculously my own, never forget for a single minute you didn’t grow under my heart but in it.”

By: Tidelines

Tidelines — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:11:49 +0000

As a former foster parent with the state taking in emergency placement kids, I can vouch for the sensibility in this. One of the girls I had went on to move to another state trying to hook up with her birth mother after leaving foster care, and ended up with 5 children out of wedlock. It’s not a moral judgment to state this, just validation of having few options in-state. I’ve often wondered how we justify “caring” enough to place these children, then suddenly at age 18 cut them off with little or no support other than what the immediate foster family might provide out of pocket. Would we do that to our own kids, all of them, each time they came of age? I’m not advocating a welfare state, but this makes so much sense. I say yes!

By: Palimonium

Palimonium — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:01:23 +0000

It’s late, but I sent a message to the legislature in support, Sauerkraut. I suspect there are more supporters than you know.

By: jojobo1

jojobo1 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:35:36 +0000

I agree if alaska does not have something to help these kids it should.I don’t think Gino really cares one way or another as it does not effect her o her family and if passed would need money from her budget,I applaud Foster Parents everywhere but i have also seen thew worse of them that are in it for the money onlt so I can see where some of these kids come from. I have see foster children in homes wit bio children and the foster children have to pick up most of the slack and the bio kids get away with much more than they should have.Children being Killed by foster parents as a MIlwaukee baby was are becomming more the norm instead of the opposite and that hurts everyone

By: sauerkraut

sauerkraut — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:04:28 +0000

Only 10 comments… always knew people didn’t care too much for us foster kids.

By: Just Had To Jump In

Just Had To Jump In — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:35:54 +0000

Our letter of support has now been sent. More attention to this subject is vital.
Thanks

By: Judi

Judi — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:17:30 +0000

Although I do not live in Alaska…I cannot tell you how very important this bill if to the kids.
I was a foster parent for years, both in Pa and NH…I only took long term foster kids, who stayed in my home for years. In fact I became guardian of one severly disabled girl (now 35) and she continues to live with my ex
Like Kristin I worked not in foster care, but with “troubled” youth…many were in or had been in foster care.
These kids, and they are kids, have so many needs. One of the biggest obstacles is low self esteem and confidence…little to no hope in the future.
We have transitional housing here for youth…what a difference!
Oh AK you are so right when you speak of the money. It may cost dollars to help these kids out now, but if you dont, the expense of jail (around $40,000 or so a year), rehabs, etc is so much more expensive.
Our future is in our children…all children.
I applaud your efforts in making this bill known to the public and I hope that all in Alaska will respond positively and call, write, email each and every one of the leg

By: ATF

ATF — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:16:43 +0000

I was shocked to learn how foster kids are treated. I will be making those calls. Thank you for keeping us up to date on the really important information.

By: Village Reader

Village Reader — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:16:40 +0000

Thank you. I was debating whether or not to write e-mails to Juneau concerning the nomination by GINO of another commercial fisherman to the Board of Fisheries when I read your article. You are correct when you wrote that silence is a form of consent.

If this nomination goes through, there will not be 1 member of the Board of Fisheries that lives or fishes north of Wasilla. With Brent Johnson, GINO will place 4 representatives from the Cook Inlet Region to sit on the Board of Fisheries. Which leaves the Interior, Alaska Natives and subsistence / personal use fisheries with no representation on the BOF.

As I mentioned above, i was debating whether to write an e-mail to Juneau and your article was a sign not to give silent consent.

I now have 2 subjects to write the Representatives and Senators about.
THanks!

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:08:16 +0000

OT – I haven’t been over to BO’s site for a few weeks because of the Palinese drama. There’s a nice article from the NYTimes, about how young people are taking “community organizing” as a new career at universities … realizing it’s not about how much money one makes, but the impact one has on people’s lives.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGxCPj/commentary

(hope & change has come to America)