Obama Care 2013

   San Diego is home to over 10,000 homeless. Many use carts, bicycles pulling carts, or ropes pulling two or three pieces of luggage. The San Diego circus never stops. Many use their food cards for grub like Seven Eleven Hot Dogs or pizzas. It is only a dollar each.
   Obama City  is made up of camps of people sharing their food and drinks. Many live on C Street close to the City Hall and the main concert hall. The fortunate ones have homesteaded a office front for their encampment. They own an office roof and use a sleeping bag for their bedroom. Flat cardboard boxes make up their box frame. If lucky, they live by a dumpster for their toilet.
   There is nary any Mexicans or Asians inside these encampments. It is mostly black and white. On rainy days they run under the Five underpass bridge. Some lucky ones obtain a voucher to stay inside a hotel. Most of them have psychological or physical issues. Some have wasted away to skin and bone. It is common to find an ambulance pick up a dead weight on the city streets. The handlers need special gloves to pick them up.
   The biggest industry is one of panhandling. In Dickens' day, the called it begging. Many sit in front of hotels wiggling their toes and feeding a whining dog. Others carry a sign like, "Feed a Vet." Other signs say work for food. Obama City does not sleep at night. It is too tired, sick and hungry.
   I have taken the Trolley many a night. One large man who looked like Jack-the Ripper sat in the middle of the train where people exit or enter. His chin stuck out an extra inch since he owned nary a tooth. His eyes focused in one direction, too tired to take in the trolley scene.
   One man wiggled his way to the rear car singing Dixie and holding a fifth of Jim Beam whiskey. Most had been given an EBT card to keep them alive, and also a Compass bus and trolley pass. The new tourists to San Diego only glanced there way, trying to avoid any delay on their way to the Gas Lamp or Little Italy.
   Many speak loudly too themselves, and louder when provided an audience. I have learned not to eat when close to the homeless to avoid a unfriendly confrontation. Cigarette butts and food cards are traded for spirits ,pack of Marlboro Gold, or a one dollar lotto ticket.
   At least with the food ticket they can go to Starbucks in the early morning, and buy a coffee. It allows them to get the combination of the back bathroom. Some spend more than ten minutes doing their toilet. They find joy in small things. (More to come)