Detroit: Too broke to bury their dead

[ckn]

CNN

What a sad story... Have the churches stopped doing pauper's funerals? In most other countries I know, if you can't afford to bury people the church will step in and provide a basic service.

[IMFREAKZILLA]

I can see with unemployment approaching 28 percent why there is no money
to bury someone,28 percent is only 5 percent away from 33 percent which
makes 1/3 unemployed,no wonder people don't have money it is'nt out
there for the taken and all those corpses.

[pliny_2001]

The money is out there for claimed bodies -- the article authors notified the family profiled that government grants were available; they ended up cremating the body with money from the deceased's church, social services, and her social security death benefit.

I don't think that churches are involved with potter's fields anymore; I know that the state offers pauper burials - bodies are stacked 3 deep in barely-marked graves. The one thing I'm sure of, though, is that the deceased are well past caring about it. I know of several urban churches that are involved with feeding the poor, but don't know of any that do burying on their own. IME, most suburban churches collect food for food pantries, but are mostly concerned with paying off their old building or buying a new one. Not that I'm bitter

But yeah, the economy sucks. Detroit sucks worse.

[ckn]

Originally Posted by IMFREAKZILLA

I can see with unemployment approaching 28 percent why there is no money
to bury someone,28 percent is only 5 percent away from 33 percent which
makes 1/3 unemployed,no wonder people don't have money it is'nt out
there for the taken and all those corpses.

Announced today that the US has a 9.8% unemployment rate. Highest since 1983.

I bet all those newly unemployed will be very happy that banks are back to paying pre-recession bonuses. Some banks are even paying more than before the recession because they need to make up for a lean year for the poor bankers.

It's on issues like this that revolutions start...

[IMFREAKZILLA]

at least you tell it THE WAY IT IS ckn

[RunningMan27]

And to add to the pre-recession bank bonuses...failing CEO's are rewarded 10's of millions a year for their work. 1 in 10 people without work is rediculous when these guys are paid enough to support 1000's of people's lives every year...and these guys aren't even accomplished at what their responsibilities are.

The 5 most overpaid CEOs - Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money

[ckn]

California - a failing state

Admittedly from a very left-leaning newspaper but still an interesting read.

[Italianangel]

cremation is prob cheaper, bet that is up in popularity.