Tourists are a target? Does anyone realize how much commerce occurs because of tourism in the world?

September 21, 2015

Two Canadian tourists, (click here) a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from a popular resort island in the southern Philippines, the army said on Tuesday.

Philippines army Captain Alberto Caber said the four were taken at gunpoint during a raid late on Monday night on the Oceanview resort on Samal island, near Davao City, the largest city on Mindanao island in the restive southern Philippines.

Military and police officials were surprised by the latest attack, which came as a reminder of volatile security in the south despite recent peace initiatives with Islamist rebels.

The Davao region has been relatively peaceful for more than a decade. In 2014, a peace agreement with the largest Muslim rebel group in the south ended 45 years of conflict that had killed about 120,000 people and displaced 2 million.

“Four people were taken but we do not know what group was behind the attack,” Caber told reporters. He said there were about 30 foreign tourists at the resort at the time of the raid....

There are nine resorts on Samal Island. (click here)

...In 2001, al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamist militants tried but failed to kidnap foreign tourists on Samal island’s Pearl Farm resort. Three security men died fighting the attackers.

Tourism - The World Bank (click here)

 

Over the decades, (click here) tourism has experienced continued growth and deepening ‎diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. ‎Modern tourism is closely linked to development and encompasses a growing number ‎of new destinations. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for socio-‎economic progress.‎

Today, the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, ‎food products or automobiles. Tourism has become one of the major players in ‎international commerce, and represents at the same time one of the main income ‎sources for many developing countries. This growth goes hand in hand with an ‎increasing diversification and competition among destinations.‎...

Tourism only begins the economic growth. The area where tourists come to visit find ways of capitalizing on that aspect of their land and it's beauty. County's have to have intelligence to protect their tourism industry. This aspect of Daesh has had me concerned since it raised it's ugly head awhile ago. It is a charismatic movement that will cause ripples throughout the world. 

The travel and tourism industry (click here) is one of the world’s largest industries with a global economic contribution (direct, indirect and induced) of almost seven trillion U.S. dollars in 2013. The direct economic impact of the industry, including accommodation, transportation, entertainment and attractions, was approximately 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars that year. A number of countries, such as France and the United States, are consistently popular tourism destinations, but other, less well-known countries are quickly emerging in order to reap the economic benefits of the industry.... 

Countries have to remember their rebel movements and follow the path back in time to reassess the revitalization that can occur. ie: Tamils.

I worry about Indonesia, but, they have their infrastructure down to a science. They are tough. Any drug infraction is a major sentence. They have so many islands to police they have to come down hard on law infractions. 

Abortion in the USA is a socio-economic issue.

The answer to abortion in the USA is a strong economy with a living wage.

Abortion has been a socioeconomic issue for Americans since the back street abortions of Roe v. Wade. It has never changed.

The statistics that women only earn 79 cents to $1.00 a man makes should say a lot to the American public about the state of the working poor. 

It has been known sixty percent of children born in the USA are born to single parent families. That means women care for children alone. The USA has to address the issues of income and income security if they expect abortions to decline.

Just the facts please.

September 17, 2015

The Obama IRS (click here) revoked the nonprofit status of a veterans group after the organization sold tickets to a Trump event to raise money for US veterans....

Political PACs became popular after Citizens' United. You could almost say they are a dime a dozen.

501(c)(4) organizations (click here) can engage in unlimited lobbying so long as it pertains to the organization's mission. 501(c)(3) organizations are not permitted to engage in political activity, endorse or oppose political candidates, or donate money or time to political campaigns, but 501(c)(4) organizations can do all of the above. 

I am not a lawyer or a Certified Public Account, so I cannot say for sure if the PACs are required to file a tax return if they don't take in monies. But, this organization did not have any revenue, except, what might be perhaps $30 for stamps by the organizer. According to "Open Secrets" this was the reporting of the organization called "Veteran's for a Strong America." (click here) This issue has not made it's way into the mainstream press because there simply is not much to know about this organization without filing a demand for information.

Joel Arends is the organizer. It is reported that Mr. Arends is a decorated veteran. At least this organization has a veteran organizing it.

The Associated Press has one article about the organization and the article appeared in Newsweek. Best I can tell the IRS revoked it's non-profit status and not California. 

September 16, 2015
By Jeff Horwitz

Washington  (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service (click here) revoked the nonprofit status of the veterans benefit organization that hosted and sold tickets to a foreign policy speech by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump aboard a retired U.S. battleship, The Associated Press has learned. The group's endorsement of Trump at the event also could raise legal problems under campaign finance laws.
Trump's campaign did not respond to questions from the AP about whether it was aware that the IRS had revoked the nonprofit status of the Veterans for a Strong America, which sold tickets to Trump's event for up to $1,000 as a fundraiser. The IRS issued its decision Aug. 10, citing the group's failure to file any tax returns for three consecutive years, according to IRS records reviewed by the AP.
The group's chairman, Joel Arends of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said the organization was appealing the IRS decision. He would not provide AP with copies of any tax returns, which would show how much money the group has collected over the years and how it spends its money. By law, such records are supposed to be available to the general public for inspection.
"We disagree with the IRS determination letter," Arends told the AP in an interview. He appeared alongside Trump on Tuesday night on the ship....

This is one of those PACs that stated they were victimized by the IRS when filing for non-profit status.

...Rachel Maddow points out, (click here) in the video below, it appears as if Arends is the only member of Veterans for a Strong America, and it is actually not possible to join this organization. Making matters worse, Arends was not only involved with a fake U.S. Senate candidate in South Dakota, he was also involved a phony super PAC scam in Texas, and he is currently under investigation in Arizona....

The PAC has a website (click here). Benghazi is listed, so it is obviously a political organization with right wing preferences. It also lists Donald Trump's speech and provides tickets. Advertising on a website and providing tickets are legitimate functions of a PAC.

Staff Report
Southern Arizona News-Examiner

This week Veterans for a Strong America and Harper Polling (click here) conducted a poll of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona.

The poll results were released before the organization mounted a massive ad campaign claiming Jones lied about her military service.

 The nation’s leading organization of conservative veterans announced the release of its second ad against Christine Jones, a candidate for governor in the Republican primary in Arizona by releasing a television spot entitled Air Farce  about Jones’ lying to Arizona voters when she falsely claimed she served in the Air Force. Veterans for a Strong America is exposing Jones’ exceptionally poor character and her poor judgment when she claimed to have left the Air Force – which in actuality she was never a member of. The Department of Defense has no record of Christine Jones ever serving in the Air Force.

VSA Chairman Joel Arends said, “Christine Jones lied to Arizona when she said she got out of the Air Force – she led voters to believe that she had served in our nation’s military when in actuality she never served – her military record is non-existent. GOP primary voters deserve to know the facts about her non-existent military record.”....

Okay, I am not going to spend anymore time on this because there is all kind of conflicting information on the web about it. There may be lawsuits or investigations, but, something is going on. If Donald Trump appeared at a fund raiser, then he attended a fund raiser. It is not a fund raiser for his campaign and maybe he has been scammed. 

If this organization is actually legitimate, it stands to be an example of the PACs the IRS moved against. If it is as poorly run as it appears there may be more problems ahead for Mr. Arends. If this activity on a battleship with Donald Trump means an 'in kind' donation to Donald Trump I am not sure how the value is determined.

At this point with so much conflicting information who knowa what is actually going on. If Mr. Arends carried out a successful fund raiser with Donald Trump appearing then he needs a business manager. Besides members and volunteers a paid business manager is a legitimate expense for a PAC.

I will say this. Ted Cruz has a billionaire backing his run for office. To the best of my knowledge, there are no members to the billionaire's PAC. So, why would this PAC be any different than the one the billionaire runs, except, for the amount of money in it's treasury. I don't know the answers to that, but, there must be answers somewhere. I hesitate to condemn anyone without obvious indications they are involved with criminal content.

About Us

Veterans for a Strong America is a grassroots action organization committed to ensuring that America remains a strong nation by advancing liberty, safeguarding freedom and opposing tyranny.

- See more at: http://www.veteransforastrongamerica.org/#sthash.3Fgl5ljT.dpucontinued... 

The Sixth Fleet is no joke. It is a vital part of NATO.

150913-N-AX546-002 BOSPHORUS STRAIT (Sept. 13, 2015) 
USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) exits the Black Sea and transits through the Bosphorus Strait Sept. 13, 2015. Donald Cook, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interest in Europe. 
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Sean Spratt/Released)

 It was amazing to realize how quickly the USA's role in NATO was mobilized when Crimea became an issue. It was very quick and the USA's part was at the ready. There COULD have been many more problems if NATO hadn't muscled their presence in the region.

It wasn't just the Sixth Fleet. The military units were dispersed through the post-Soviet states that belong to NATO. 

After the events in Ukraine, NATO asked the newly elected government if it wanted to join NATO. At that time Ukraine declined. The new leadership wanted to remain neutral. The new government believed it could build trading relationships with Europe and Russia. 

The rebels along the Russian - Ukraine border made peace impossible. So, then the four countries that originally signed the treaty had to meet to decide the best way forward. Eventually, Minske II occurred and it is the supreme document at this time. All parties are seeking to adhere to it. 

Ukraine has now made application to NATO. So, does the Sixth Fleet and the USA unites deployed within NATO need to be strengthened? It doesn't seem as so. I doubt seriously the Joints Chiefs would compromise NATO.

No one can say anything about France. France has been instrumental in the instability in Libya and Ukraine along with the USA. The USA is very lucky. We have good friends and they are loyal. So to think the USA would ever short change NATO is strange. 

I do believe the reductions in the size of the USA's military budget is necessary. The USA had too much muscle and that showed under Bush. We are suppose to have a defense force, not an offense force. And certainly not trillions of dollars spending on such unrealistic projects as the F-35.

If the F-35 was eliminated and the contracts cancelled because they are so very overdue, that would solve the budget problems of the USA military all by itself. 

So, considering the failure of the Iraq War and the outcomes in Afghanistan; realizing the USA was instrumental in destabilizing the Arab nations of the Middle East; what is the reason Carly Fiorina wants to increase the size of the USA military? What does she have in mind?

Quick Facts: (click here) 

Donald Cook entered the Black Sea Aug. 28, 2015 in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to the collective security of its NATO allies as part of Atlantic Resolve.

USS Donald Cook, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, Va., is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. The ship deployed from Naval Station Rota XX, 2015.

 U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

That was an amazing speech by Walker.

He couldn't get enough money because there were too many candidates. So, he decided to be a martyr and lead so there would be less Republicans to divide the donor money between.

Excuse me, but, quitting is not leading and the current leader of the Republican field don't have big money donors. So the point is what?

Scott Walker can't be humble?

Walker had a temper tantrum.   

The Republicans ruined his victory record. 

That is so laughable. He had a temper tantrum because he could not intimidate the other candidates out of declaring. Amazing. Get a pin the ego balloon has to be relieved. Priebus whispered too many sweet nothing in his ear. 

When I was in high school, my girlfriends and I had a name for men like him. We called them, "God's gift." See, it was a code name for "He thinks he's God's gift to women."  

We had each other's back. So, when we finally decided to have one man in our lives to date and go to proms and all that neat stuff, they were all really nice guys. You might say, they qualified.

Do you want to know how screwed up the American public is about gender? 

A simple joke, ready?

I once asked a moron these questions.

Q: What do they call women that date younger men?

Moron: Cougars.

Q: What do they call men that date younger women?

Moron: Oh. I don't know.

Me: Panthers. 

Moron: Oh, I thought it was sexy.

There is no such place as Hillary Land.

"W" was a disaster in every way. His brother has been blind to the truth for the past 14 years, why change now?

The USA is not going back to war. It won't happen. The past two major wars of the USA has been lethal without any purpose. 

It has never been more evident than today that the USA's idea of war is actually nation building to be a mirror image of the USA. It has no respect for other cultures and other people. It won't happen ever again.

The non-proliferation treaty is very important.

There should be a CD set of Pope Francis' visit. My mother said she has the books from other Papal visits. The monies can go to Pope Francis' charities.

He is a man of great faith. He is much loved. People want to hear his message.

There was an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. It occurred in Vatican City, in St. Peter's Square. The one place no one would ever expect to find someone determined to kill the Pope. I am sure all police along the route of Pope Francis' travel are taking any threats seriously.

Pope Francis doesn't have a Secret Service. I remember when President Clinton was traveling, it was the secret service that put the puzzle together of a threat that became evident while the President was in the car. His route was changed at the last minute to avoid a bridge and it was a credible threat.

So, while no one believes Pope Francis could ever be harmed, there can be holes in his protections. 

September 21, 2015

East Side (WABC)

Pope Francis (click here for video) is spending his final full day in Cuba before heading to Washington Tuesday and then on to New York City, and heavy security is already in place in the Big Apple.

Police Commissioner William Bratton offered an all-encompassing rundown of what to expect during the visit, including the pope's visit to the United Nations on Friday. He will be the fifth pope to visit the UN and the fourth to speak there, meeting first with the secretary general and his family before addressing the staff of about 400 people and then the General Assembly.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral, where the pope will hold prayer service Thursday, there are still no visible signs of added security. But that is not the case at the Papal Nuncio on the Upper East Side, where he'll be staying during his visit. Huge multi-ton concrete barriers and vehicle barricades are being put in place. The townhouse will be as protected as the White House, and Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city is ready....

How is it goin' Priebus?

September 21, 2015
By Ed Straker

The new CNN poll(click here) has Scott Walker polling at less than one half of one percent, or effectively zero.  Statistically speaking, no one supports Scott Walker – not his campaign staff, not his family, not even himself.  He is the epitome of zero, zilch, nada.... 

I thought the Kochs could buy your boy love. I mean, the right rhetoric and everything. All the trappings of success. 

You want the elections of 2016 are? They are the 'get for real' elections!

I can hear it now, "I am not going to the kiddy table, Priebus!" 

This was before Walker was bought out by the Kochs and their extremism. This video showed the major difference between the Walker then and Walker now. It validated the corruption involved with Republican politics and how it has changed the country for the worse.

The threat against the budget vote is brinkmanship and nothing short of it.

9/21/15

The House Oversight Committee (click here) plans to call Planned Parenthood to a hearing on the undercover videos one day before the government is due to run out of money, according to Democrats on the committee.
Democratic members are demanding that David Daleiden, the man behind the video operation, is also called to testify at the Sept. 29 hearing. If he isn’t, they say in a letter to Chairman Jason Chaffetz today that they will call him to their own minority hearing.... 

There is no way a corporation this size providing valuable services to women's health can be completely defunded overnight. So, while the Republicans are threatening to shut down the government the US House ? thought ? it should hold hearings first.

Republican would be kinder to Planned Parenthood if it had a branch that was a bank. 

Don't get the wrong idea that the US House with it's Republican majority has finally decided there is parliamentary procedure to follow before it defunds Planned Parenthood. The hearing is for photo ops for their elections.

The laws practiced in the Middle East among Arab countries are based in Sharia and/or Wahhabism. 

Now. You go ahead and practice nation building with this as the criminal code and call it a democracy.

This is about Sharia law.

September 21, 2015

Calls are growing (click here) for Republican Ben Carson to quit the 2016 race after he said a Muslim should not be president.
Muslim-American groups, among others, have said these views make him unqualified to run himself.
Mr Carson, a Christian, made the comments on Sunday, adding that Islam was inconsistent with the Constitution.'
Another Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, said on Monday a Muslim president should swear on a Bible to uphold the Constitution.
He said a Muslim Republican who fought to protect religious liberty, respected the Judeo-Christian heritage of the US and was committed to destroying Islamic State and radical Islam, and condemned cultures that treated women as second class citizens would get his vote....

There is an interesting reality that has come out of the Republican race for the presidency in 2016. Most of the topics require amendments of the US Constitution and averts any demand quality of life of Americans. I find that interesting in realizing how extreme Republicans have become. 

For Sharia law to be instilled into the USA the constitution would have to be abandoned. I don't see that happening unless there is an indescribable underground that matches the ambitions of the Ba'athists.

POTUS is not a dictator. The Executive Branch cannot simply roll out this type of change in laws without the legislature.

...The Sharia law (click here) itself cannot be altered, but the interpretation of the Sharia law, called "figh," by imams is given some leeway....

According to the Sharia law:
•  Theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand (above).
•  Criticizing or denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.
•  Criticizing or denying Muhammad is a prophet is punishable by death.
•  Criticizing or denying Allah, the moon god of Islam is punishable by death.
•  A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.
•  A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
•  A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
•  A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old.
•  Girls' clitoris should be cut (per Muhammad's words in Book 41, Kitab Al-Adab, Hadith 5251).
•  A woman can have 1 husband, but a man can have up to 4 wives; Muhammad can have more.
•  A man can unilaterally divorce his wife but a woman needs her husband's consent to divorce.
•  A man can beat his wife for insubordination.
•  Testimonies of four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman.
•  A woman who has been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist(s).
•  A woman's testimony in court, allowed only in property cases, carries half the weight of a man's.
•  A female heir inherits half of what a male heir inherits.
•  A woman cannot drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).
•  A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.
•  Meat to be eaten must come from animals that have been sacrificed to Allah - i.e., be Halal.
•  Muslims should engage in Taqiyya and lie to non-Muslims to advance Islam.
•  The list goes on.

There is a definite movement to outlaw any ushering in of Sharia law. It is a political dogwhistle. Ben Carson is a standard extremist GOP. He roots out the extremists in the country and exacerbates the fear to bring them into a winning strategy. 

But, his address to the issue can be interpreted as hate speech. Excluding a religion from the Oval Office in elections is bigoted. Much of the extremist views of the GOP is all based in the Bush "Culture of Fear," post September 11, 2001.

April 8, 2015
By Melissa Davis

With the massive influx of Muslims immigrating (click here) to the United States, more and more state and local courts face the introduction of principles of Sharia law in their courtroom, with the result that some states are taking action to ensure that the Constitution continues to be the law of the land.
Alabama has become the most recent state to prohibit consideration of foreign or religious law that might violate the constitutional rights of its citizens.
The states have addressed the issue using various methods including ballot measure, constitutional amendment or legislation. In November, Alabama voters passed “The American and Alabama Laws for Alabama Courts Amendment” for inclusion in the state Constitution by an overwhelming margin of 72 percent to 28 percent....

Port expansions won't mean a thing if there isn't a chassis pool to match it.

It all has to work or nothing will work.

September 21, 2015
By Joseph Bonney
 
Organizers of a planned universal pool (click here) of interchangeable chassis at the Port of New York and New Jersey say they’re moving closer to completing a devilishly complex job that’s dragged on for more than a year.

"We are definitely making progress, and there certainly is a will to get this done. Everyone recognizes the importance of it,” said John Nardi, president of the New York Shipping Association.
Nardi wouldn’t predict when the planned port-wide “gray” pool might be launched. Keith Lovetro, CEO of TRAC Intermodal, which controls two-thirds of the port’s approximately 30,000 chassis, said it could begin operation in the first quarter of 2016.
The original goal was in the second quarter of 2015. That target was missed, extended, and missed again as industry factions bickered over how the pool would be structured, who would manage it, how to preserve competition, and myriad other issues....

There are reasons to bring the USA ports to deeper clearance. But...

,there is reason to measure the growth to shipping for USA ports. Wasted money on unnecessary expansion is a burden no one needs nor wants.

21 September 2015

China’s ports (click here) have seen several year-on-year declines in volumes as a result of the fall in export demand, which has affected the rate of growth at many of China’s major ports, despite all ports handling more than 120 million TEU in 2015, according to the Journal of Commerce.

The result comes shortly after the Chinese stock market crash, which led to a severe dip in China’s economic growth, as well as unpredictable swings in market performance.

China’s leading port, the Port of Shanghai, saw flat volumes compared to August, 2015, with volumes recorded at 3.15 million TEU....

Over reach is not a good idea. Measured expansions over long time frames than five years may prove a better decision. There is no doubt there is a need for deeper ports, but, expansion of warehouses, etc. may prove to be a too ambitious.

21/09/2015
South Carolina’s ports (click here) are embarking on an ambitious five-year plan that will see the Charleston shipping channel deepened, a new container ship terminal come on line, a new rail transfer terminal begin operating and continued planning for a massive new container terminal the state will operate with Georgia.
The agenda for the ninth-largest container port in the nation was outlined this month in the latest State of the Port message by Jim Newsome, the chairman and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Ports Authority.
BIG INVESTMENT
An estimated $1 billion needs to be invested in port infrastructure projects during the next five years to keep the South Carolina Ports Authority competitive, Newsome said. That money includes such things as spending on a new container terminal in North Charleston, buying bigger cranes and strengthening the wharfs at the authority terminal in Mount Pleasant to handle larger ships....

September 21, 2015

By Michele Richinick

Vice President Joe Biden (click here) on Monday reiterated his past statements that his decision to run for president in next year's election relies on emotional support from his family in the wake of his son's death in May.

In his most recently released interview with America Media, which publishes weekly Catholic magazine America, Biden said he did not want to rush his decision to campaign for the nomination of the Democratic Party for a third time....

 

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at an event for first responders in New York City on September 11.

It seems to me there is sorrow in his eyes.

Joe Biden has been a rock when it comes to the Middle Class. We are a stronger country because of him and because of Beau and because of Jill. They are wonderful Americans, but, the family is suffering a loss. 

Kindly give them peace and space. They will come together to decide about a presidential run. But, putting them under a microscope to try to read the tea leaves, isn't good for them. He loves this country and that should be more than evident. Delaware have given the USA a remarkable statesman. He will decide soon enough.

What do Republicans think they are doing by oppose "Choice" for women? They are playing politics not good governance.

"Morning Papers"

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

A significant percentage (click here) of the nation’s foster care youth have been accused of crimes or have had contact with law enforcement within the first few years after they turned 18 years old (the age at which most children “age out” of foster care and some become homeless), according to recent studies. A University of Chicago study found that one-third of the former foster care children who were tracked in three Midwest states suffered a “high level” of involvement with the criminal justice system.2 Such findings have prompted California policymakers and researchers to ask the question that initiated this report: How many inmates in California’s adult prisons were once foster care children?...

Anything other than "Woman's Choice" is unamerican. When children are born without parents and institutionalized they don't receive love or the focus on success. I can't help believe but Foster Children are more comfortable with institutional settings than a family.

Children without parents don't have a chance in this world. The idea women can be forced to finish an unwanted pregnancy is barbaric and UnAmerican.

Unwanted pregnancies are unwanted children. 

Women are not baby factories for the political right wing. This is ridiculous. When one actually reflects on what is going on here, this is all political with absolutely no respect for quality of life. But, that is not new for Republicans. Babies and pregnancies are not a political issue and never should be! 

Why not put parentless children in the military?

March 24, 2015 

Whether to join the military (click here) is an important decision for any youth.  If you are in America’s foster care system, you might have additional questions about a military career.

Based on reports from foster care alumni organizations that a large number of youth in foster care were interested in joining or had joined the military, the Children’s Bureau decided to develop a guide to assist other youth in foster care. Using the assistance of a team of dedicated professionals, Joining the Military: A Guide to Assist Youth in Foster Care and Their Caregivers in Navigating the Military Enlistment Process was developed....

A perfect solution isn't it? We keep Christians happy by eliminating abortion while the children can be raised in an institution only to become a majority age and enlist in the military. PERFECT!

There are private organizations that exist to help Foster Children. The one that comes to mind is "The Children's Aid Society," but, there are others.

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (Jim Casey Initiative) (click here) focuses on improving the well-being of youth transitioning from foster care. The Jim Casey Initiative works with communities nationwide to help youth and young adults leaving foster care become successful, productive adults by helping reform the systems that support them. Jim Casey Initiative sites implement a broad set of strategies that include engaging young people bring together public and private partners, using data to drive decisions and galvanizing public support in order to improve policy and practice....

...Another consistent trend is related to young people who report facing additional challenges, such as being a young parent, experiencing in homelessness, living in multiple congregate care facilities, or having no adult to turn to for support. These more vulnerable young people continue to save and purchase assets at rates as good as or better than peers without these characteristics and young people who are themselves parents exceed the norm....