|
| A Reader Writes. November, 2009 |
 |
| Disagreement Can Be a Good thing. |
Sun Gazette Reader sends AAAP publisher a letter. Other Points:
Direct Answers
There were some points that were not addressed in the rebuttal to the “hard-working, fifth generation home-owning businessman’s” letter. So let’s take them one at a time:
One – Home ownership for low income Americans: The economic meltdown began in the secondary mortgage markets two years ago. High-risk loans from companies like Countrywide Mortgage became packaged deals that were sold to banks. When large numbers of homeowners defaulted on the loans, the banks were caught with “toxic assets” on their books. Freddie Mac and Fanny Mac are quasi-governmental agencies that offer home mortgages to real estate customers. Both failed in the fiasco and needed new cash to stay afloat. ACORN is a grassroots agency that helps low income individuals. It has been under attack by the political right for questionable business practices.
Two – Just what is a living wage? Does welfare pay more than minimum wage jobs? To be fair, that is an interesting topic to explore. How does welfare affect the work ethic? Some conservative observers say that a new economic group has emerged during the last twenty years – the non-working poor. Lawrence Mead says that there are large numbers of able-bodied individuals refusing to work. Don’t forget to add to the mix the high unemployment figures last month, 10.2% in October. According to Professor’s Amy Glasmeir’s living wage calculator, a single adult with child needs to earn $12.88 per hour in Williamsport (2007).
Three – The business of poverty: The administration of goods and services to the poor has become a booming industry. Minimum wage jobs, are generally, not protected by unions and the working poor are easily exploited.
Four – Black men behaving badly. There are too many single female-headed households in the Black community. Black males need to “man-up” and be responsible for their children. President Obama has spoke about this and I wrote about it in an earlier Sun Gazette column. Although I cannot directly blame “whitey” for these problems, I also recognize that Black people in the United States did not create these conditions by themselves.
Five – Would I hire a Black high school dropout? Currently my newsletter is not a business. It is more of a hobby. But I would hire members of the hip-hop generation as long as they met basic standards of employment.
Six – Getting back to God. I agree. There needs to be a return to moral values. The Black church needs to redefine itself and reach out to our youth. Some Black churches need to return to God. (in my opinion)
Seven – Blacks should see the glass as half-full. Easy for you to say. Should Blacks be more optimistic? That’s a good question. That’s why the Obama Presidency is so important. I am a skeptic. All social progress enjoyed by American Blacks today were hard fought. The majority does not relinguish power easily. Is this a post-racial era? Only time will tell.
| Related links:
|
| Support these Organizations. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
