Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Paid Parental Leave
I firmly believe the United States should adopt parental leave policies similar to those instituted in Europe, as well as the European model of universal health care system. I believe it would greatly benefit children and parents to have the year paid leave for the child’s first year. It has been proven the best caretaker for a baby is its own parent(s). Many negative effects have been linked to placing children in day care for their first year of life. So, why does America refuse to catch up to the rest of the world, in regard to health care and placing value on children? America is supposed to be “Number One”. It is obvious from our societal ills that the status quo just isn’t working. As with every other issue in our country the problem can be traced back to the root issue of money, or actually more specifically greed. It is time for America to open its wallet and invest its resources into a resource beneficial for everyone, our children. It seems America prefers to invest time and money to address problems later in life(many times unsuccessfully), than to part with money early on to invest in the future health and well being of child and family. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, wake up America!
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Working Poor: A Book Critique
In 1997, while many Americans appeared to be enjoying the benefits of a soaring economy, author David K. Shipler was on a quest to unveil a faction of society that was hidden in plain sight, America’s working poor. Shipler set out to bring to light the forgotten America, those living at or under the federal government’s official poverty line, employed yet still struggling to survive, day by day. In hopes of vanquishing the invisibility cloak that obscured a large portion of American society, Shipler dedicated six years of his life to conducting fieldwork which would eventually provide the heart wrenching personal stories throughout his book, The Working Poor Invisible in America. Shipler’s chosen field research method of interview combined with observation granted him access into the inner lives of eight families tumbling about in poverty’s cycle. This method bestowed on his readers’ eyes the ability with which to see the invisible America. He takes readers on a journey into the world of the working poor to witness their ever present, exhausting struggles. His entrance into the workplaces, homes, personal thoughts and feelings of the working poor provides the reader with a level of insight which likely could not have been achieved any other way.
While standing in line at the grocery store watching a customer pay for her groceries with food stamps, Mrs. Middle Class American thinks to herself, “Why doesn’t she get a job and stop living off the taxes taken out of my paychecks?”, this said from the comfortable vantage point provided to the observer wearing a pair of $125.00 shoes. Mrs. Middle Class America self righteously calls another person’s work ethic and character into question without knowing anything about her. Such a remark is a true display of the type of ignorance that furthers stereotypes such as those “on food-stamps” as a picture of a lazy good for nothing, sitting at home watching TV all day while sucking the welfare system dry.
Contrary to this stereotype, many times the customer in line paying with food stamps does indeed work hard, sometimes working two jobs and yet still can’t earn enough money to provide for her family. How can that be? After all, this is the land of The American dream, where success, fame and wealth are available to all through wise thriftiness and hard work, right? No, unfortunately the American Dream is but a ghost of the past.
There is no one specific problem that is the root of the noxious and invasive vine that is working class poverty. It is instead a combination of financial, psychological, health, and societal issues which when tangled together compound the effects of all. This vine winds its way throughout the lives of the unfortunate, often times binding so tightly around those relegated into the class of the working poor, it is nearly impossible for them to break free. Shipler illustrates the dilemma of the winding vine perfectly when he states, “Poverty leads to health and housing problems. Poor health and housing lead to cognitive deficiencies and school problems. Educational failure leads to poverty. (228) Imagine that a family is suddenly forced to move from a comfortable apartment to a much less expensive and poorly maintained apartment due to job and income loss. In the new residence there is untreated mold growing inside the walls and ceiling, which exacerbates the asthmatic condition of a child in the family. The asthma problems he continually suffers at home keep him up wheezing and coughing much of the night causing him to fall asleep often in school. Sleeping in school causes him to miss important lessons, which leads to academic failure, academic failure is linked to poverty, and around and around the cycle of poverty goes.
Identical problems experienced by those of both middle and lower class often prove to have much more serious consequences to those of the latter status. For example, when a person of middle class status gets a flat tire while driving to work, it is usually an inconvenience that slows him down a bit. But, after a call to AAA from his cell phone, Mr. Middle Class America thanks the AAA worker for putting on the spare tire, and is soon back on the road headed to the office. Conversely, when a person of the working poor experiences the same delay due to public transportation issues, it often times can be cause for employment termination. Those working in low wage jobs with a high rate of turnover, such as the fast food industry, are not valued or afforded the same degrees of leniency and understanding by those in management positions that most professionals would receive in the same situation.
An ironic example of another hardship faced by those of the working poor is the statistical imbalance of income tax audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. Ever since the Earned Income Tax credit was instituted in 1999, the working class poor have had higher numbers of audits than individuals of higher tax brackets. Republican congressional leaders fearing the working poor were abusing the earned income tax credit program instigated the increase of audits. The working poor have also been financially taken advantage of by those playing on their fears and ignorance of the I.R.S. This advantage allows companies to charge excessively high fees for income tax preparation and filing services. These firms also offer additional services such as issuance of temporary bank accounts and preloaded ATM cards for the deposit of tax return checks. These services are specifically designed for low wage earners without personal bank accounts. Most banks require account holders to maintain high balance minimums, and assess fees when an account falls below the required minimum balance. This practice makes it unlikely for low wage earners to open bank accounts. These tax firms are happy to provide these additional services to those with no bank accounts, at an additional fee of course.
The large tax firm H&R Block has taken advantage of low wage clients by using underhanded advertising schemes, such as was implemented in their Rapid Refund Program to obscure the true nature of the program. The slick wording of the program made it less than apparent that it was actually a short term loan that came with an extremely high interest rate. Although H&R Block was required by law to disclose the loan interest rate on documents signed by their client, the agents were not required to explain the forms unless requested by the client. Often times the explanation given to the clients still left them confused about how much was being charged to receive their tax refund money.
Growing up surrounded by poverty often times there are no positive role models of working adults for children to observe and in turn emulate. How can these children be expected to strive for success if it hasn’t been defined for them? Worse than the absence of a positive role model, is exposure to the opposite. Most times poverty stricken areas are filled with drug activity, criminal behavior, and violence. The criminals in the area are often looked upon as role models by the kids in the neighborhood. The drug dealers appear to be the picture of success, having nice cars, nice clothes and plenty of cash; it’s all very enticing to those who are growing up right next to it. Aside from the danger of emulating the dealers is the high likelihood of the emergence drug addiction. A person already dealing with the struggles of poverty who becomes addicted to drugs is effectively solidifying his position in the cycle of poverty.
Emotional and physical abuse is found throughout all levels of society, but is has been found in higher rates in areas of poverty. Abuse suffered in childhood can so damage individuals that they believe their future is devoid of choice, that life is unable to be controlled. Those living with this ingrained belief are laying the foundation for a future of continued abuse, and to staying in the cycle of poverty. This type of thinking leaves no possibility of hope, and without hope, success is nearly impossible.
While a child’s future success in life is dependent on multiple issues, perhaps at the top of this list is the level and quality of education he receives. Schools in poverty stricken areas do not receive the same amount of funding as schools in affluent areas, leaving schools in poorer areas ill equipped of necessary teaching materials, understaffed, and sometimes even staffed with incompetent, insensitive teachers. How can a school be expected to encourage students to excel if it lacks the basic necessary resources with which to provide those students a quality education? Where is the justice for the children who through no fault of their own are denied access to quality education? Those in charge of funding decisions for school districts effectively choose which groups of children will receive a better education, providing opportunity for some while denying it to others. In addition to a poor education, those who grow up in poverty most times are not exposed to situations that would provide them with the necessary skills needed to enter the job market. In addition to “hard skills” such as knowing how to operate a machine relevant to the job, “soft skills” are also required, a set of social skills that would foster an ability to follow orders from superiors willingly, encourage good interaction with coworkers, and good emotional self control.
For those living right on the line of poverty, an act of achievement such as getting a raise in pay can actually feel like punishment. The government formula that calculates the allotment of quantity of food stamps and rental subsidy benefits allowable is based upon the recipient’s income level. So, a slight raise in pay can actually be detrimental to the family budget. Instead of bringing more money into the household, a slight pay raise can decrease the allotment of the recipient’s allowable benefits, which would mean having to pay more out of pocket for food and rent.
The United States federal government defined poverty in 2004 as an income of less than $19,233 for a single adult family with three children. However, this figure should not be considered accurate. The formula used to calculate the definition of poverty was designed over forty years ago, and hasn’t been updated to reflect huge lifestyle changes brought about since its inception. The model set in 1955 used a formula that provided 1/3 of the family income for food budget. This is no longer realistic, since today’s families only spend 1/6 of the family income on food. Further skewing the data of this model is the absence of accounting for a family’s debt to income ratio which indicates how much money of the family budget has to be used to pay previous outstanding debt.
Another challenge faced by the working poor is poor health. America’s private health insurance industry makes it almost impossible for those of lesser financial means to have access to good health insurance. The method of obtaining health insurance through place of employment leaves millions of Americans uninsured and at risk. Only those of considerable financial means or those working for huge companies of considerable financial means are able to obtain sufficient quality health insurance coverage.
So, what is the answer to the dilemma of the working poor? It is a combination of many changes that must be implemented together. Shipler states that to break free from the cycle of poverty an individual must have: clarity of purpose, courageous self esteem, lack of substantial debt, freedom from illness or addiction, a functional family, and help from friends and private or governmental agencies.” (4) This is a long and challenging list. How can we as a society help those of the working poor achieve these goals?
Shipler provides an example of how to help through the cooperation between private industry and nonprofit corporations which produced successful programs to help prepare people for the workplace, while also making the process beneficial to all involved. Another method to help would be the implementation of a universal health care system, which would assure every American access to health insurance coverage, allowing these individuals the ability to receive treatment and medicines to better their health. A combination of services provided by community hospitals, schools, housing authorities, police, social workers, lawyers, doctors and other critical institutions could create an interconnection of services, making the approach to assistance holistic in nature. The creation of this interconnection of services would come through a shift of governmental priorities, a shift that will not be felt until the working poor begin to make their voices heard by voting.
In short, the answer to how to help America’s working poor is that we must all contribute. We must all take responsibility for our part in the health of America’s society. Government must do its part by providing access to good health care and education to all. The business sector must work with the government to provide mutually beneficial opportunities. Individuals must do their part through taking an active role in the voting process so governmental priority change can begin. Individuals must also do their part by working hard, by making a commitment to education and making a commitment to provide a safe, caring home environment.
While standing in line at the grocery store watching a customer pay for her groceries with food stamps, Mrs. Middle Class American thinks to herself, “Why doesn’t she get a job and stop living off the taxes taken out of my paychecks?”, this said from the comfortable vantage point provided to the observer wearing a pair of $125.00 shoes. Mrs. Middle Class America self righteously calls another person’s work ethic and character into question without knowing anything about her. Such a remark is a true display of the type of ignorance that furthers stereotypes such as those “on food-stamps” as a picture of a lazy good for nothing, sitting at home watching TV all day while sucking the welfare system dry.
Contrary to this stereotype, many times the customer in line paying with food stamps does indeed work hard, sometimes working two jobs and yet still can’t earn enough money to provide for her family. How can that be? After all, this is the land of The American dream, where success, fame and wealth are available to all through wise thriftiness and hard work, right? No, unfortunately the American Dream is but a ghost of the past.
There is no one specific problem that is the root of the noxious and invasive vine that is working class poverty. It is instead a combination of financial, psychological, health, and societal issues which when tangled together compound the effects of all. This vine winds its way throughout the lives of the unfortunate, often times binding so tightly around those relegated into the class of the working poor, it is nearly impossible for them to break free. Shipler illustrates the dilemma of the winding vine perfectly when he states, “Poverty leads to health and housing problems. Poor health and housing lead to cognitive deficiencies and school problems. Educational failure leads to poverty. (228) Imagine that a family is suddenly forced to move from a comfortable apartment to a much less expensive and poorly maintained apartment due to job and income loss. In the new residence there is untreated mold growing inside the walls and ceiling, which exacerbates the asthmatic condition of a child in the family. The asthma problems he continually suffers at home keep him up wheezing and coughing much of the night causing him to fall asleep often in school. Sleeping in school causes him to miss important lessons, which leads to academic failure, academic failure is linked to poverty, and around and around the cycle of poverty goes.
Identical problems experienced by those of both middle and lower class often prove to have much more serious consequences to those of the latter status. For example, when a person of middle class status gets a flat tire while driving to work, it is usually an inconvenience that slows him down a bit. But, after a call to AAA from his cell phone, Mr. Middle Class America thanks the AAA worker for putting on the spare tire, and is soon back on the road headed to the office. Conversely, when a person of the working poor experiences the same delay due to public transportation issues, it often times can be cause for employment termination. Those working in low wage jobs with a high rate of turnover, such as the fast food industry, are not valued or afforded the same degrees of leniency and understanding by those in management positions that most professionals would receive in the same situation.
An ironic example of another hardship faced by those of the working poor is the statistical imbalance of income tax audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. Ever since the Earned Income Tax credit was instituted in 1999, the working class poor have had higher numbers of audits than individuals of higher tax brackets. Republican congressional leaders fearing the working poor were abusing the earned income tax credit program instigated the increase of audits. The working poor have also been financially taken advantage of by those playing on their fears and ignorance of the I.R.S. This advantage allows companies to charge excessively high fees for income tax preparation and filing services. These firms also offer additional services such as issuance of temporary bank accounts and preloaded ATM cards for the deposit of tax return checks. These services are specifically designed for low wage earners without personal bank accounts. Most banks require account holders to maintain high balance minimums, and assess fees when an account falls below the required minimum balance. This practice makes it unlikely for low wage earners to open bank accounts. These tax firms are happy to provide these additional services to those with no bank accounts, at an additional fee of course.
The large tax firm H&R Block has taken advantage of low wage clients by using underhanded advertising schemes, such as was implemented in their Rapid Refund Program to obscure the true nature of the program. The slick wording of the program made it less than apparent that it was actually a short term loan that came with an extremely high interest rate. Although H&R Block was required by law to disclose the loan interest rate on documents signed by their client, the agents were not required to explain the forms unless requested by the client. Often times the explanation given to the clients still left them confused about how much was being charged to receive their tax refund money.
Growing up surrounded by poverty often times there are no positive role models of working adults for children to observe and in turn emulate. How can these children be expected to strive for success if it hasn’t been defined for them? Worse than the absence of a positive role model, is exposure to the opposite. Most times poverty stricken areas are filled with drug activity, criminal behavior, and violence. The criminals in the area are often looked upon as role models by the kids in the neighborhood. The drug dealers appear to be the picture of success, having nice cars, nice clothes and plenty of cash; it’s all very enticing to those who are growing up right next to it. Aside from the danger of emulating the dealers is the high likelihood of the emergence drug addiction. A person already dealing with the struggles of poverty who becomes addicted to drugs is effectively solidifying his position in the cycle of poverty.
Emotional and physical abuse is found throughout all levels of society, but is has been found in higher rates in areas of poverty. Abuse suffered in childhood can so damage individuals that they believe their future is devoid of choice, that life is unable to be controlled. Those living with this ingrained belief are laying the foundation for a future of continued abuse, and to staying in the cycle of poverty. This type of thinking leaves no possibility of hope, and without hope, success is nearly impossible.
While a child’s future success in life is dependent on multiple issues, perhaps at the top of this list is the level and quality of education he receives. Schools in poverty stricken areas do not receive the same amount of funding as schools in affluent areas, leaving schools in poorer areas ill equipped of necessary teaching materials, understaffed, and sometimes even staffed with incompetent, insensitive teachers. How can a school be expected to encourage students to excel if it lacks the basic necessary resources with which to provide those students a quality education? Where is the justice for the children who through no fault of their own are denied access to quality education? Those in charge of funding decisions for school districts effectively choose which groups of children will receive a better education, providing opportunity for some while denying it to others. In addition to a poor education, those who grow up in poverty most times are not exposed to situations that would provide them with the necessary skills needed to enter the job market. In addition to “hard skills” such as knowing how to operate a machine relevant to the job, “soft skills” are also required, a set of social skills that would foster an ability to follow orders from superiors willingly, encourage good interaction with coworkers, and good emotional self control.
For those living right on the line of poverty, an act of achievement such as getting a raise in pay can actually feel like punishment. The government formula that calculates the allotment of quantity of food stamps and rental subsidy benefits allowable is based upon the recipient’s income level. So, a slight raise in pay can actually be detrimental to the family budget. Instead of bringing more money into the household, a slight pay raise can decrease the allotment of the recipient’s allowable benefits, which would mean having to pay more out of pocket for food and rent.
The United States federal government defined poverty in 2004 as an income of less than $19,233 for a single adult family with three children. However, this figure should not be considered accurate. The formula used to calculate the definition of poverty was designed over forty years ago, and hasn’t been updated to reflect huge lifestyle changes brought about since its inception. The model set in 1955 used a formula that provided 1/3 of the family income for food budget. This is no longer realistic, since today’s families only spend 1/6 of the family income on food. Further skewing the data of this model is the absence of accounting for a family’s debt to income ratio which indicates how much money of the family budget has to be used to pay previous outstanding debt.
Another challenge faced by the working poor is poor health. America’s private health insurance industry makes it almost impossible for those of lesser financial means to have access to good health insurance. The method of obtaining health insurance through place of employment leaves millions of Americans uninsured and at risk. Only those of considerable financial means or those working for huge companies of considerable financial means are able to obtain sufficient quality health insurance coverage.
So, what is the answer to the dilemma of the working poor? It is a combination of many changes that must be implemented together. Shipler states that to break free from the cycle of poverty an individual must have: clarity of purpose, courageous self esteem, lack of substantial debt, freedom from illness or addiction, a functional family, and help from friends and private or governmental agencies.” (4) This is a long and challenging list. How can we as a society help those of the working poor achieve these goals?
Shipler provides an example of how to help through the cooperation between private industry and nonprofit corporations which produced successful programs to help prepare people for the workplace, while also making the process beneficial to all involved. Another method to help would be the implementation of a universal health care system, which would assure every American access to health insurance coverage, allowing these individuals the ability to receive treatment and medicines to better their health. A combination of services provided by community hospitals, schools, housing authorities, police, social workers, lawyers, doctors and other critical institutions could create an interconnection of services, making the approach to assistance holistic in nature. The creation of this interconnection of services would come through a shift of governmental priorities, a shift that will not be felt until the working poor begin to make their voices heard by voting.
In short, the answer to how to help America’s working poor is that we must all contribute. We must all take responsibility for our part in the health of America’s society. Government must do its part by providing access to good health care and education to all. The business sector must work with the government to provide mutually beneficial opportunities. Individuals must do their part through taking an active role in the voting process so governmental priority change can begin. Individuals must also do their part by working hard, by making a commitment to education and making a commitment to provide a safe, caring home environment.
Health Care Implications
The implications of limited health care delivery to physical and psychological development are ominous at best, at times life threatening. It is sad that as a country we continue to allow around 20,000 Americans to die each year because they can't get the health care they need. (National Academy of Sciences) The preceding statement in itself illustrates how warped our national value system has become.
Another indication of how far our nation’s values have fallen is that the health insurance companies which supposedly exist to provide “health security” to their paying customers award their employees bonuses based on the amount of policy rescissions they are able to make. Insurance companies justify this rescission as protection from fraud. However the insurance companies abuse this authority to routinely rescind policies after a customer has filed a costly claim, scouring the medical records of these customers to find a notation that will allow them to rescind their policy due to “failure to disclose information”. In just such a case Frontline brought this company protocol to the attention of Samuel Nussbaum, M.D., Exec. VP & Chief Medical Officer, WellPoint, and asked him to comment, to which he replied,” Yeah, and I- and I can't speak to that circumstance.” Though the answer is obviously litigious in nature, this writer’s rhetorical question to Dr. Nussbaum is, “Why not?”
It is despicable that our American capitalist system is a part of what makes it possible for these providers of “health security” to accept their customers’ premium checks month after month, and just at the time of greatest need abandon their customers by rescinding their policies leaving them utterly vulnerable, all in the quest of the “almighty buck”. There is no easy fix for the broken health care (and values) system of America. However, it is this writer’s hope that the health care reform process initiated by President Obama will prove successful in bringing all Americans true health security.
Another indication of how far our nation’s values have fallen is that the health insurance companies which supposedly exist to provide “health security” to their paying customers award their employees bonuses based on the amount of policy rescissions they are able to make. Insurance companies justify this rescission as protection from fraud. However the insurance companies abuse this authority to routinely rescind policies after a customer has filed a costly claim, scouring the medical records of these customers to find a notation that will allow them to rescind their policy due to “failure to disclose information”. In just such a case Frontline brought this company protocol to the attention of Samuel Nussbaum, M.D., Exec. VP & Chief Medical Officer, WellPoint, and asked him to comment, to which he replied,” Yeah, and I- and I can't speak to that circumstance.” Though the answer is obviously litigious in nature, this writer’s rhetorical question to Dr. Nussbaum is, “Why not?”
It is despicable that our American capitalist system is a part of what makes it possible for these providers of “health security” to accept their customers’ premium checks month after month, and just at the time of greatest need abandon their customers by rescinding their policies leaving them utterly vulnerable, all in the quest of the “almighty buck”. There is no easy fix for the broken health care (and values) system of America. However, it is this writer’s hope that the health care reform process initiated by President Obama will prove successful in bringing all Americans true health security.
Favorite Story
Unfortunately I am not able to give any example of a favorite story from an elderly person. The only elderly people I had contact with through out my life were my maternal grandparents. They were both immigrants from Estonia. I can only remember them talking about a very few things from their lives growing up and early adulthood. I remember my grandfather "Papi" Kaarel Kaes talking about being a cook for the Army (?)Navy during the Korean War. I remember him talking about peeling hundreds of potatoes. My grandmother "Grama" Emilie Kaes told me how she remembered walking to school in the winter time, when it had snowed so much she would be level to fence tops. I know life was hard in Estonia back in the 1920's when they were both living there. My mother told me that my grama had an uncle who starved to death in Estonia. Papi was always more interested in hearing stories from my brother and I, than he was in telling them to us. Every single time we would go to his house, he would have us come sit near him, smile so big it reached his sparkling blue eyes and heartily say, "Tell me all about it." That is one of my fondest memories of Papi, the fact that he cared about the trivial goings on in our young lives. I miss him very much. He died when Reina was a little younger than 2 years old, so unfortunately she doesn't remember him, which is such a shame...he was wonderful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)