2001-02-23 - 18:19 MST

February 23, 2001

Figures

There is more poverty in our country than most of us know about. A certain amount of our population doesn't really give a damn as long as their comfort is not threatened.

In the Rocky Mountain News this morning, a small article tucked into an obscure corner tells about a Syracuse University study to be released today. In New York state the figure for the poverty rate among children is 26.3 %. The study also indicates that one out of every four children in California lives in poverty, in fact 25.7 % -- almost 26.

The article mentions that the poverty rate in New York indicates that the figure is so high because of the upstate figures. I am no expert on figures or census but it seems to me that there is something not quite right about that. The millions in the New York City area with its well fed and well treated children and still the poverty rate there in the state is 26.3 % - - -Say what ? The old saying that, figures don't lie, but liars figure," doesn't seem to take into account the Spin Doctors, the graphologist (as in charts) twisting the available figures to slant the real situation even more than the actual liars.

"Ya know, our state poverty rate is because of all those damn people upstate." Yah riiiight !

No matter, poverty is poverty and some one suffers and the most damage is done to the children.

No one seems to want to talk about Appalachia or any of the areas where poverty is and has been so bad for so long.

I see by the paper this morning that an old line Company in Denver, Samsonite is closing its big plant here in Denver 91 years since its beginning. How many of our people are familiar with the hard shell attache cases and luggage so prominent not too long ago. It still is manufactured by them by the way, but not in the quantity as before. They are in the soft side luggage business now too. The thing is they have 12 other manufacturing facilities, in Europe, India, China and Mexico. But they are retreating here. People here are getting laid off.

I can see there is something wrong, but can't come up with a solution. There are hungry and poverty stricken people all over the world. People who will work in unsafe conditions, no benefits for almost nothing American Money. No trade union dares raise its head in those locations. No one or organization can gain an inch there. Working conditions ? Poof -- work for what we give you or go out on the street.

We truly are in a bind, self made in America. We have not helped other countries pull themselves up by their bootstraps to be on a level playing field with us. We have allowed our United States owned businesses to gain a foothold in other countries where bribery and political clout can get them privileges and allow them to pay just pennies more per hour than what the people of that country can make normally. So the stockholders in the US gain greatly, the CEO's here are in tall cotton. But the poverty rate here in our country seems to be rising.

The bind ? Well if we keep our money home and our manufacturing home then the otherworld will compete with us backed by money invested there by the big money companies of Europe to gain the easy bucks.

We live in one world, yes but not all of us are equal, and I doubt that we can ever become equal until the Big Wheels sit down and get real.

Someday, if the ideal should miracluously be accomplished, then an hour of work in the same job will receive the same pay no matter where in the world the work is done and the same benefits will be given.

To my way of thinking there will be poverty and want as long as the big boys not only of the US but of the whole world can shift the work to the low paying countries where no benefits and health care, pensions etc. are available and where an hours work pays much less there.

I have this handicap, ignorant as I am, that will not let me solve the middle part of things. I can see the existing problem, I can see the ideal situation. How the hell we will get from here to there will probably cost the blood of millions.

And somewhere the bean counters will be playing with phony Figures . . . . . �

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