I became aware of how desperate the economic situation is among ordinary people when I visited the office of social assistance. As I walked into the room, the atmosphere of desperation could very well be felt all around. The looks on people's faces were if not murderous, (I would advise politicians to stay away, people believe politicians care only about fattening their wallets) but in essence people have given up hope. I learned later, many persons have exhausted savings,and relatives' good will and have turned to the system to provide temporary economic assistance.
Families were represented, mothers with young children,seniors, others who through job displacement now find themselves at the mercy of landlords and mortgage companies alike. Even though there are certain measures in place, there now exists in the mindset of people the feeling that hope is lost. The economic turn-around people have been hoping and anticipating just hasn't happened. Most people now feel that America has become the land of the haves and the haves not. Individuals who in an earlier time would never find themselves at the mercy of public assistance now find they have to remain dependent on a system to determine their economic survival. CLICK HERE to read the entire article.
Visit Harriet Cammock at www.harrietcammock.org for more information on her latest book, "Through the Fire" and the great things she's working on.
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Poverty. Afficher tous les articles
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Poverty. Afficher tous les articles
mardi 13 septembre 2011
lundi 12 septembre 2011
Rev. Jesse Jackson: "Poverty Is Bad For Your Health"
In the words of Rev. Jesse Jackson, poverty is bad for your health. I sat in an audience at a recently concluded "State Of The Black Family" summit, organized by The Word Network, and hosted by Greater Grace Temple of Detroit, MI. A panel including Rev. Jackson discussed the state of the black family in America today. The aim of the summit was to highlight issues facing the African American family and what remedies can be applied. I was intrigued at the information presented to the audience. Knowledge is power and if we are to remove ourselves from the bondage of poverty then we must empower and arm ourselves with information. We are all aware of diseases affecting our population.
What we might not have internalized is the extent to which poverty impacts diseases. For example, a person living in an inner city community without reliable transportation has very little options in order to maintain a diet that is healthy and supportive of his wellness goals. The store on the corner is less inclined to carry times such as fresh fruit and vegetables but is armed to the teeth with alcohol, canned goods, foods high in sodium,and low in nutrition. Poverty is bad for your health. Poverty is also a vicious cycle as it afflicts generation after generation of individuals who exist on the edges of society who never have enough to maintain their current situation or to allow for economic empowerment of the next generation.
How do we stop this vicious cycle from afflicting our population? We need programs that offer support and and educational investment among youth of inner city populations.There has to be some community regeneration projects with the underlying intention of making each community economically empowered. Read more: http://harrietcammock.blogspot.com/2011/09/poverty-is-bad-for-your-health.html?spref=bl
What we might not have internalized is the extent to which poverty impacts diseases. For example, a person living in an inner city community without reliable transportation has very little options in order to maintain a diet that is healthy and supportive of his wellness goals. The store on the corner is less inclined to carry times such as fresh fruit and vegetables but is armed to the teeth with alcohol, canned goods, foods high in sodium,and low in nutrition. Poverty is bad for your health. Poverty is also a vicious cycle as it afflicts generation after generation of individuals who exist on the edges of society who never have enough to maintain their current situation or to allow for economic empowerment of the next generation.
How do we stop this vicious cycle from afflicting our population? We need programs that offer support and and educational investment among youth of inner city populations.There has to be some community regeneration projects with the underlying intention of making each community economically empowered. Read more: http://harrietcammock.blogspot.com/2011/09/poverty-is-bad-for-your-health.html?spref=bl
mercredi 23 septembre 2009
RNC Chairman Michael Steele Says "Martin Luther King Jr. Would Be 'Disappointed' In Country's Leadership"
RNC Chairman Michael Steele is at it again. He told students at a historically black Philander Smith College, in Arkansas yesterday that Martin Luther King Jr. would be disappointed with President Obama. He said, "Dr. King would be disappointed in the political leadership of this country for failing to address the least of us." Really? I beg to differ. He needs to stop using Dr. King's name to score political points. That's just low and dirty. He faulted both the Democrats and the Republicans for failing to address poverty and said the GOP must take steps to win over black voters. If the GOP thinks sending this clown in to win black voters, they have wasted their precious resources. Add that with the racism being pushed by fringe elements of the Republican Party. That spells doom for the GOP attracting black voters.
Think Progress points out that a student approached the microphone and asked, "In all seriousness, I'm curious what you think that Dr. King would think about your party's current attempts to block universal health care?" "It's a great myth that we're doing all this blocking. I wish we had that kind of control with the numbers, but we don't," Steele responded. "As I've said to the president many times, 'If that's the bill you want, vote it up or down.'"
Michael Steele, if you cared so much about poverty in this country, what do you propose to do to help the millions of people who fall below the poverty line in this country? To take it a step further, why did you have to raise the issue of poverty at a historically black college? Isn't that a little racial too?I have yet to hear him bring this up in other venues. He has been pulling the race card lately and that will only backfire. What Dr. King would be disgusted with is your lack of decorum and effectiveness as the leader of the RNC.
Think Progress points out that a student approached the microphone and asked, "In all seriousness, I'm curious what you think that Dr. King would think about your party's current attempts to block universal health care?" "It's a great myth that we're doing all this blocking. I wish we had that kind of control with the numbers, but we don't," Steele responded. "As I've said to the president many times, 'If that's the bill you want, vote it up or down.'"
Michael Steele, if you cared so much about poverty in this country, what do you propose to do to help the millions of people who fall below the poverty line in this country? To take it a step further, why did you have to raise the issue of poverty at a historically black college? Isn't that a little racial too?I have yet to hear him bring this up in other venues. He has been pulling the race card lately and that will only backfire. What Dr. King would be disgusted with is your lack of decorum and effectiveness as the leader of the RNC.
mardi 9 décembre 2008
Poverty, Crime & Education: Detroit’s Real Big 3 Bailout
The city of Detroit A.K.A. Motor City or Motown is famous for its auto industry which has been the headline in the news lately. The big topic of political conversation is concerning the economy and the auto industry is now the major concern. The big 3 automakers, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all call Detroit their home and many Americans want to see the auto industry saved from bankruptcy and failure.
It may not be so much for the industry itself and its history within America as much as it is probably for the workers, the economy and the city of Detroit itself. Many American’s have differing opinions on the auto bailout, but regardless of the company and CEO’s, the workers will be the ones that suffer the most.
The city of Detroit itself is already suffering and evidently that portion of the bailout is being completely overlooked. The city of Detroit has the same social ills of any major city in America. Crime, poverty, drugs, low education levels all plague our major cities. Since the city of Detroit is in the headlines seeking a bailout for the big 3 automakers, let’s take a look at 3 of Detroit’s major social problems that really need a bailout.
Detroit’s population is just under one million and with its declining middle class of both Blacks and Whites, the city is 85% black. Blacks began to migrate to Detroit and other northern cities from the South from 1910 to 1940. Blacks migrated to the North in large numbers seeking jobs and a better standard of living than in the South. After race riots in 1943 and again in 1967, Detroit’s middle class population began to move to the suburbs along with its jobs and tax base.
With the crack epidemic of the 1980’s, a continuing declining tax base and poor leadership, all have left the city of Detroit on the path of despair.
• Detroit has a murder rate of 21.7% with 400 murders in 2007
• a poverty rate of 1 in every 3 people living below the federal poverty level of $19,157 making it the poorest large city in America with 47.8% of its children living in poverty
• the nation’s second highest unemployment rate of 8.8%
• a dropout rate of 68% the country’s highest along with Indianapolis and Cleveland
• the state of Michigan has the highest incarceration rate than any other state
• a social service system that is stretched beyond its resources
• in 2007 Detroit was named by the FBI as the country’s most dangerous city
The social ills of Detroit can and will continue as long as Americans continue to ignore its poor and downtrodden. The big issues for many are the automakers of Detroit who abandoned Detroit and its citizens decades ago moving to the suburbs and taking its tax base with it. The true bailout of Detroit should be it citizens. Call the bailout something else without Detroit in the name. It is apparent that the big 3 automakers could care less about the city of Detroit. And to be exploited even more, community leaders pray and speak of a bailout like it will really make a difference to the citizens of the demoralized city.
It may not be so much for the industry itself and its history within America as much as it is probably for the workers, the economy and the city of Detroit itself. Many American’s have differing opinions on the auto bailout, but regardless of the company and CEO’s, the workers will be the ones that suffer the most.
The city of Detroit itself is already suffering and evidently that portion of the bailout is being completely overlooked. The city of Detroit has the same social ills of any major city in America. Crime, poverty, drugs, low education levels all plague our major cities. Since the city of Detroit is in the headlines seeking a bailout for the big 3 automakers, let’s take a look at 3 of Detroit’s major social problems that really need a bailout.
Detroit’s population is just under one million and with its declining middle class of both Blacks and Whites, the city is 85% black. Blacks began to migrate to Detroit and other northern cities from the South from 1910 to 1940. Blacks migrated to the North in large numbers seeking jobs and a better standard of living than in the South. After race riots in 1943 and again in 1967, Detroit’s middle class population began to move to the suburbs along with its jobs and tax base.
With the crack epidemic of the 1980’s, a continuing declining tax base and poor leadership, all have left the city of Detroit on the path of despair.
• Detroit has a murder rate of 21.7% with 400 murders in 2007
• a poverty rate of 1 in every 3 people living below the federal poverty level of $19,157 making it the poorest large city in America with 47.8% of its children living in poverty
• the nation’s second highest unemployment rate of 8.8%
• a dropout rate of 68% the country’s highest along with Indianapolis and Cleveland
• the state of Michigan has the highest incarceration rate than any other state
• a social service system that is stretched beyond its resources
• in 2007 Detroit was named by the FBI as the country’s most dangerous city
The social ills of Detroit can and will continue as long as Americans continue to ignore its poor and downtrodden. The big issues for many are the automakers of Detroit who abandoned Detroit and its citizens decades ago moving to the suburbs and taking its tax base with it. The true bailout of Detroit should be it citizens. Call the bailout something else without Detroit in the name. It is apparent that the big 3 automakers could care less about the city of Detroit. And to be exploited even more, community leaders pray and speak of a bailout like it will really make a difference to the citizens of the demoralized city.
Poverty, Crime & Education: Detroit’s Real Big 3 Bailout
The city of Detroit A.K.A. Motor City or Motown is famous for its auto industry which has been the headline in the news lately. The big topic of political conversation is concerning the economy and the auto industry is now the major concern. The big 3 automakers, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all call Detroit their home and many Americans want to see the auto industry saved from bankruptcy and failure.
It may not be so much for the industry itself and its history within America as much as it is probably for the workers, the economy and the city of Detroit itself. Many American’s have differing opinions on the auto bailout, but regardless of the company and CEO’s, the workers will be the ones that suffer the most.
The city of Detroit itself is already suffering and evidently that portion of the bailout is being completely overlooked. The city of Detroit has the same social ills of any major city in America. Crime, poverty, drugs, low education levels all plague our major cities. Since the city of Detroit is in the headlines seeking a bailout for the big 3 automakers, let’s take a look at 3 of Detroit’s major social problems that really need a bailout.
Detroit’s population is just under one million and with its declining middle class of both Blacks and Whites, the city is 85% black. Blacks began to migrate to Detroit and other northern cities from the South from 1910 to 1940. Blacks migrated to the North in large numbers seeking jobs and a better standard of living than in the South. After race riots in 1943 and again in 1967, Detroit’s middle class population began to move to the suburbs along with its jobs and tax base.
With the crack epidemic of the 1980’s, a continuing declining tax base and poor leadership, all have left the city of Detroit on the path of despair.
• Detroit has a murder rate of 21.7% with 400 murders in 2007
• a poverty rate of 1 in every 3 people living below the federal poverty level of $19,157 making it the poorest large city in America with 47.8% of its children living in poverty
• the nation’s second highest unemployment rate of 8.8%
• a dropout rate of 68% the country’s highest along with Indianapolis and Cleveland
• the state of Michigan has the highest incarceration rate than any other state
• a social service system that is stretched beyond its resources
• in 2007 Detroit was named by the FBI as the country’s most dangerous city
The social ills of Detroit can and will continue as long as Americans continue to ignore its poor and downtrodden. The big issues for many are the automakers of Detroit who abandoned Detroit and its citizens decades ago moving to the suburbs and taking its tax base with it. The true bailout of Detroit should be it citizens. Call the bailout something else without Detroit in the name. It is apparent that the big 3 automakers could care less about the city of Detroit. And to be exploited even more, community leaders pray and speak of a bailout like it will really make a difference to the citizens of the demoralized city.
It may not be so much for the industry itself and its history within America as much as it is probably for the workers, the economy and the city of Detroit itself. Many American’s have differing opinions on the auto bailout, but regardless of the company and CEO’s, the workers will be the ones that suffer the most.
The city of Detroit itself is already suffering and evidently that portion of the bailout is being completely overlooked. The city of Detroit has the same social ills of any major city in America. Crime, poverty, drugs, low education levels all plague our major cities. Since the city of Detroit is in the headlines seeking a bailout for the big 3 automakers, let’s take a look at 3 of Detroit’s major social problems that really need a bailout.
Detroit’s population is just under one million and with its declining middle class of both Blacks and Whites, the city is 85% black. Blacks began to migrate to Detroit and other northern cities from the South from 1910 to 1940. Blacks migrated to the North in large numbers seeking jobs and a better standard of living than in the South. After race riots in 1943 and again in 1967, Detroit’s middle class population began to move to the suburbs along with its jobs and tax base.
With the crack epidemic of the 1980’s, a continuing declining tax base and poor leadership, all have left the city of Detroit on the path of despair.
• Detroit has a murder rate of 21.7% with 400 murders in 2007
• a poverty rate of 1 in every 3 people living below the federal poverty level of $19,157 making it the poorest large city in America with 47.8% of its children living in poverty
• the nation’s second highest unemployment rate of 8.8%
• a dropout rate of 68% the country’s highest along with Indianapolis and Cleveland
• the state of Michigan has the highest incarceration rate than any other state
• a social service system that is stretched beyond its resources
• in 2007 Detroit was named by the FBI as the country’s most dangerous city
The social ills of Detroit can and will continue as long as Americans continue to ignore its poor and downtrodden. The big issues for many are the automakers of Detroit who abandoned Detroit and its citizens decades ago moving to the suburbs and taking its tax base with it. The true bailout of Detroit should be it citizens. Call the bailout something else without Detroit in the name. It is apparent that the big 3 automakers could care less about the city of Detroit. And to be exploited even more, community leaders pray and speak of a bailout like it will really make a difference to the citizens of the demoralized city.
mardi 18 novembre 2008
While the U.S. is busy minding everyone else's business, child hunger rose 50% In 2007
You know, they say that charity starts at home, and the measure of a society can be seen in how they care for the least among them; their poor, their elderly, their sick, and their mentally challenged.
The [U.S. Agriculture] department's annual report on food security showed that during 2007 the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006 and the largest figure since 716,000 in 1998. Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. [...]So what does this say about the United States of America when child hunger rises 50% in one year? It says that we are not nearly as civilized as we think we are.
The findings should increase pressure to meet President-elect Barack Obama's campaign pledge to expand food aid and end childhood hunger by 2015, said James Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, an anti-hunger group. Source: Newsnet5.com
These statistics clearly illustrate that poverty has not been a priority in this country, and that needs to change. For all the talk of the waning middle class, we have heard very little about the condition of the poor in this country. If the middle class has been relegated to struggling for survival, where does that leave those who've already been struggling to survive?
One of the things that I would like to see addressed by the Obama administration are issues facing the poor. Obama's "to do" list gets longer by the day, but we cannot ignore the issue of child hunger in our own country.
So I ask you, do you feel that child hunger should be a priority for the Obama Administration?
While the U.S. is busy minding everyone else's business, child hunger rose 50% In 2007
You know, they say that charity starts at home, and the measure of a society can be seen in how they care for the least among them; their poor, their elderly, their sick, and their mentally challenged.
The [U.S. Agriculture] department's annual report on food security showed that during 2007 the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006 and the largest figure since 716,000 in 1998. Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. [...]So what does this say about the United States of America when child hunger rises 50% in one year? It says that we are not nearly as civilized as we think we are.
The findings should increase pressure to meet President-elect Barack Obama's campaign pledge to expand food aid and end childhood hunger by 2015, said James Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, an anti-hunger group. Source: Newsnet5.com
These statistics clearly illustrate that poverty has not been a priority in this country, and that needs to change. For all the talk of the waning middle class, we have heard very little about the condition of the poor in this country. If the middle class has been relegated to struggling for survival, where does that leave those who've already been struggling to survive?
One of the things that I would like to see addressed by the Obama administration are issues facing the poor. Obama's "to do" list gets longer by the day, but we cannot ignore the issue of child hunger in our own country.
So I ask you, do you feel that child hunger should be a priority for the Obama Administration?
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