On the evening of Sept. 25, Vice President Dick Cheney rested in the Naval Observatory mansion, closely guarded by secret service and surveillance cameras. A minute’s walk away the candidate who hopes to unseat him was catching up on sleep. No, not John Edwards but none other than the Green Party’s vice presidential candidate Pat LaMarche.
Having spent the previous night in a New York City homeless shelter, LaMarche needed some rest. On Sept. 21, LaMarche embarked on a two week “Left Out Tour,” spending the night in a different homeless shelter at each metropolitan city she visited in an effort to call attention to the issue of poverty and homelessness. During her night at the nation’s capital, LaMarche opted against sleeping at a shelter and decided to bring the debate to the Vice President’s very own doorstep.
While LaMarche slept, a handful of people camped out in lawn chairs, cheering as the cars drove by. Above them stood a big flag banner that read: D.C. Statehood Green Party. The Green Party ticket includes presidential candidate David Cobb and Pat LaMarche.
LaMarche, a single mother of two, agreed to talk with Lisa Thomas from Street Sense about her impressions of the homeless situation across America and what needs to be done in the next four years.
What did you decide to do this tour of homeless shelters?
To help shape some of the debate for the presidential election. We’re not considered full grown candidates and we’re not allowed very much commentary and we get very little attention when we do.
What have you learned so far in your experience?
I’ve learned that if you give a homeless person a palm pilot and a suit, they’d rule the world. They’re the most resourceful people I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot of gut-level anger from the homeless community. Unfortunately, it seems that the anger is directed at each other and not directed at the policies. Sometimes it ends up as a fight on the street. Anybody would be angry, this is justifiable anger. No one ever listens to their anger. SO much could be done to correct the situation if the homeless were consulted and their anger was validated.
How was your experience of protesting outside the Vice President’s house?
I’m pretty fed up with the Vice President’s situation. We, the taxpayers, are building a bunker background at the Vice President’s mansion. How ridiculous. For the price of that bunker I imagine we could build an awful lot of affordable housing. Why does he need a bunker? A true leader cares more for his/her people than for themselves.
How do you think the current administration has failed or succeeded om fighting the issue of homelessness?
They need to be fired. They have given huge tax cuts to the rich, inflated the deficit, left debt to our grandchildren, encouraged drop out rates with No Child Left Behind and sent our children, spouses, siblings and parents to war. They have done nothing for poverty except fuel its growth. 800,000 more children live in poverty this year than last year.
What specifically has the current administration failed to do for homelessness and poverty?
Everything, there’s nothing they have done. I wish they’d spend the rest of the nights with me on this tour.
What is it like to be a homeless person for two weeks?
That horrible feeling, I don’t have it because I know, at any minute, I can get on a plane and go home.
As a vice presidential candidate, how would you and your colleague, presidential candidate David Cobb, fight poverty and homelessness differently?
Living wage, affordable housing, universal health care, equal access to education, plus ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home.
What were your impressions of the homeless shelters? Was the care adequate?
There’s too much of the horrible conditions and not enough of the good conditions.
Worse off than you thought?
Oh yeah, oh my god. And I was born in a housing project… pretty tough but I had no idea. Torture and misery, those are the words I’d use. Who can blame someone for having substance abuse issues? Some of these horrible conditions that people are living in, probably the substances are the only things that make them tolerable.
Which were the best shelters?
Nicest was in Augusta, Maine. Every wonderful place had a waiting line because there is just not enough of them. Since then I have found a wonderful shelter in Detroit. Communities built by homeless themselves have much to contribute.
What was your impression of the D.C. homeless shelter CCNV?
The outreach to the needs of the homeless is second to none. The care, concern and opportunity for those who show up at the door are unmistakable. They are good, kind folks who help each other, 92,000 volunteers since 1984… That says so much about the commitment and results.
Do you think there will be any real, tangible difference for a homeless person whether John Kerry or George W. Bush is elected in November?
Yes, I do. George Bush’s tax structure exacerbates the problems of the poor. George Bush needs to be fired for his poor performance as a president.
Do you think that homelessness and poverty are priorities on the minds of average Americans as they go to vote?
I think the people in the United States care. I also think that they have no idea how pervasive the problem is and that they feel they have no control over the issue.
What must be done to place homelessness and poverty on the forefront of the national debate and on the minds of Americans?
We need to empower the average folks to understand that this issue is within their grasp. We merely lack the collective will. Curing poverty is within our grasp.
What must be done to elevate the importance of the poverty issue so that it is a part of the regular debate and not discussed only during an election season?
As voters, taxpayers, citizens, we need to get on the phone to our representatives, legislators, all of our elected officials and would-be elected officials and demands that they make this a priority. We are supposed to be the architects of our future, of our reality as a country, we must shape the dialogue within written and verbal demands directly to the decision makers.
