The Buie Knife

Who's Most Generous?

America's poor are the most generous givers, even though it's far more expensive to be poor, and 28 million Americans have neither a checking nor savings account.

To raise generous children, parents need to model volunteering and helping others. According to Independent Sector, the factors most linked to adult generosity is learning to be generous as a child by:

• Seeing an admired person who isn't a family member help others.
• Seeing a family member help others.
• Doing volunteer work.
• Raising money door to door.
• Being active in student government.
• Belonging to a youth group, such as the Boy Scouts.
• Being active in a religious organization.
• Being helped by others.

The biggest deterrent to generosity: not seeing a family member help others.

Will Candidates Embrace Vision to Build Online Communities for Real-World Action, Such As Fighting Poverty?

I posted the following to a discussion on Ed Cone's blog about the legacy of John Edwards' campaign, particularly the emphasis on fighting poverty. Ed started with a quote from Edwards' final speech: "Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us, all of us together, to make the two Americas one."

Many commenters claim Edwards is simply a hypocrite, an "empty suit" who cares no more about poverty than anyone else, and was simply using the issue to preen and enhance his own reputation. But I pointed out:

John Edwards recruited hundreds if not thousands of people to join him on Habitat for Humanity volunteer rebuilding projects in the Gulf Coast. Indeed, after he withdrew from the race, he spent a good part of the afternoon rebuilding a house in New Orleans. Members of his "One Corps" participated in canned food collections for the poor, and were encouraged to set up and work in food pantries for the hungry.

He and Elizabeth set up a "college for everyone" program in two North Carolina communities with their own money.

So, his commitment to the poor wasn't just grandstanding, he actually did tangible things. Even if you cynically assume he was simply image-polishing, it was image-polishing with far more positive outcomes than the other pols who simply talk about helping the poor.

The Edwards campaign pioneered the notion of supporters using online organizing tools for real-world action, now. Though his campaign never really got off the ground with a single primary win, I do hope other candidates will utilize his model to organize people for social good. That, to me, is potentially the true legacy of his campaign.

I wrote about this more than a year ago: http://jimbuie.blogs.com/journal/2007/01/on_building_onl.html

Edwards never "clinched the deal" with me in terms of his presidential candidacy, never persuaded me that he would be the best president, but I'm sorry these ideas didn't catch fire. I do hope there's still a chance they will.

Sam, a conservative commentator, replied that Edwards is simply "a limousine liberal, do as I say, not as I do," which misses the point. Fighting poverty is much larger than liberal politics vs. conservative politics. From a religious perspective, many people believe it's a commandment. If Edwards quietly, secretly gave away all his money to fight poverty, yeah he could have placed maybe a drop in the bucket of fighting poverty around the world. Maybe he will still do that as a private citizen, I dunno. But he was trying to create a movement, focus national and even international attention on the issue. That is the only way the systematic issues are going to be addressed -- if millions of people focus attention on it.

Related:

• Elective Career of John Edwards Comes to An End; So Does His Campaign Against Poverty
• On Building Online Communities for Real-World Action

In Helena, Montana, 'Pogoman' Draws Attention to Homelessness, Affordable Housing

I ran into this guy bouncing around the state capitol in Helena, Montana to draw attention to homelessness and affordable housing in the U.S. Details on his interesting message can be found at www.pogoman.org

At one point in the 1880s and 1890s, Helena was the richest town in the US, thanks to gold strikes. The "gold rush" mentality can still be found in the town's main thoroughfare, called Last Chance Gulch -- viewed as the visitor's "last chance" to strike gold.

Finally, an Increase in the National Minimum Wage

For the first time since 1997, America's lowest page workers are getting a raise. Congress has finally passed an increase in the minimum wage, from $5.15 an hour to $5.85 in September, 2007. Another 70 cents an hour will be added next year, and by September 2009, the minimum wage will be $7.25 an hour. CBS News report: "Democratic leaders attached the provision to the $120 billion Iraq war spending bill, which was vetoed by the GOP-controlled White House on May 1 because Democrats insisted on a pullout date for American troops. But with the House passing a rewritten bill 280-142 and the Senate 80-14, the end is likely near for the longest stretch without the federal pay floor rising since the minimum wage was established in 1938."

Preying on the Poor

Businesses continue to extract huge profits from the working poor, many of whom are falling into a deep hole of debt from which they may never recover. In “The Poverty Business,” Business Week investigates U.S. companies that are extracting more profits from low-income consumers, charging nearly 25 percent on car loans, 10.4 percent for income tax refunds, and $199 in fees and initial payment on a credit card with a $300 limit. As one reader observes, it's "the new American caste system." A consumers points out: "If you have money to begin with, you don't have these issues or these kinds of bills. You don't have to worry about the rent or pay double for a car."

Related:

• Social Immobility in the U.S.
• It's Expensive to be Poor
• A Highly Charged Relationship: Americans and Their Credit Cards (Washington Post)

If You Think 'Entitlements' Are Too Great, Take the Food Stamp Challenge

June 5 is Hunger Awareness Day, coordinated by America's Second Harvest and the network of food banks around the country. Shockingly, some 35.1 million Americans -- 12 percent of the population -- could not put food on the table at least part of the time in 2005 (source), in the richest country in the world. More than 26 million Americans received food stamps, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Farm Bill, which funds the Food Stamp Program, is up for renewal this year, and several leaders are attempting to dramatize just how meager food stamp allotments are in feeding the hungry by trying to live on a Food Stamp budget. Food stamp allotments haven't been increased since 1996 -- the average benefit is $21 a week, or $1 a meal or $3 a day. To demonstrate how difficult it is to feed oneself on $3 a day, people are taking the Food Stamp Challenge (NPR coverage of Oregon challenge) -- could you feed yourself adequately on $3 a day or $21 a week? If not, shut up about "handouts" or "the dole."

Aside from food stamps, the only thing a hungry family can do is rely on food banks. They report that demand is increasing, at a time when government food donations and private cash contributions have fallen.

To show up at a food bank, or to apply for food stamps, a family often has to overcome pride and shame, and a feeling of being stigmatized, which they needn't feel so deeply. More than half of all Americans will receive food stamps at some point between the ages of 20 and 65. At any given time, one in nine households wonder how they are going to feed themselves for the month. For the vast majority, receiving food assistance does not become a way of life but simply help in times of trouble. Only 1 in 10 food stamp recipients who are children, for example, receive them for five consecutive years.

But qualifying for food stamps is not easy. A lot of people who are eligible for food stamps don't know it, or with limited literacy skills, don't get through the voluminous forms to qualify. Many families cannot get food stamps because their income is slightly above the limit. A family of three must earn less than $22,000 a year to qualify. That limit hasn't been changed since 1996, meaning that food stamps by less and less each year. Congress should raise the income limits, and tie the benefit formula to inflation, so more children and senior citizens get enough to eat.

Related:

• Still Going Hungry in America

One Out of Three Jobs in U.S. Offer Few Benefits, Pay Poorly

Some 40 million jobs in the United States – one out of every three – pay low wages, and few of these jobs offer upward mobility or such basic benefits as health insurance, paid leave and retirement savings. It is significantly harder for people in low-wage jobs to work their way into the middle class today. Read the full report at http://inclusionist.org/files/lowwagework.pdf

Related:

Don't Get Sick: Nearly Half of North Carolina Workers Lack Paid Sick Days (NC Budget and Tax Center report.)

Nationally, just 51 percent of workers have paid sick leave (Institute for Women's Policy Research fact sheet.)

Social Immobility in the U.S.: Born Rich, You'll Likely Stay Rich. Born Poor, Your Chances to Rise in the U.S. No Greater Than In Aristocratic Britain and Less Than in Canada or Norway.

Record Poverty in the U.S. Center for American Progress Proposes to Cut It In Half

"One in eight Americans now lives in poverty. One third of all Americans will experience poverty within a 13-year period. Poverty in the United States is far higher than in many other developed nations. The richest 1 percent of Americans in 2005 held the largest share of the nation’s income (19 percent) since 1929. At the same time, the poorest 20 percent of Americans held only 3.4 percent of the nation’s income." These statistics from the Center for American Poverty introduce their 10-point plan to cut poverty in half.

Related:

• U.S. Economy Leaves Record Numbers in Severe Poverty (McClatchy Newspapers)
• A Record 7.7 Million Low-Income School Children Are Served By School Breakfast Program.

Poverty Creates Chain Reactions That Are Expensive for Society -- Pay Now or Pay Later to Address the Problems

David Shipler, author of "The Working Poor: Invisible in America": "The chain reactions of poverty are costly. Bad housing conditions — mold and roaches — can exacerbate children's asthma, for example, leading to expensive emergency room treatment, missed days of work by parents and missed school by youngsters. Uninsured patients leave hospital bills unpaid, leading to higher premiums for the insured. Poor nutrition impairs cognitive ability, leading to school failure. Dropouts earn less, pay less in taxes, have worse health and commit more crime. Either we pay now to address these problems or pay later for not addressing them."

Drill Deeper:

• Interview with Shipler on PBS News Hour

Entrepreneurship in Robeson, Scotland Counties of NC

I've written before of my concern for the economy of my native Scotland County, NC. It's good to see the opening of a Center for Entrepreneurship in nearby Pembroke, in Robeson County. The Sandhills Business Times is helping to create a positive climate for business development. I was particularly impressed with their recent piece on Cypress Bend Vineyard near Wagram, how it's bringing tourists, and is a community gathering place for good music, good drink and good food.

Probably another force for economic development of the region would be if the indigenous Lumbee Indians receives tribal recognition by the federal government (background from American Indian News Service). The tribe could then apply for a gaming license, to open a big casino in nearby Robeson County. This could transform the region into the "Las Vegas of the East," which some fear would create gambling addicts and increase crime. But it would definitely draw tourists, and open opportunities for other entrepreneurs and small businesses.