Greenspan Declares Recession – DUH

Over the last five years those of us who work with people who have slipped from barely making a living into devastating poverty are in no way surprised by Mr. Greenspan’s statements yesterday. There has been a recession going on for our lower income citizens since the price of gas went over two and a half dollars.

Working single mothers, minimum wage earners and those who rely on generous tips from their customers hit the benchmark and have continued to fall further and further into desperation. Making decisions no American should have to make. Decisions like, do I buy my medicine or do I buy food? Do I go to the doctor or do I try to ride this illness out and feed my family?

As many of you know we have a project providing Outreach, Education and Screening Mammograms for women and men who are underinsured, uninsured or can not afford their co-payments for regular breast screenings, diagnostic or ultrasound procedures in Carroll and Madison Counties of Northwest Arkansas.

Each year we not only pay for these procedures we reach out to over two thousand women with educational programs and literature on breast health and breast self-examinations. We even have a breast care navigator to assist those who do find they need additional procedures to help them through the complex maze of the medical world which becomes even more complex when you do not have insurance or money to pay for these effective but very costly procedures.

In the last 15 months we have provided over $57,750 in financial assistance and have a commitment for over $42,000 for these services over the next 12 months. That amounts to nearly $100,000 in breast care in 27 months.

While every one of us involved in the project gasps when someone gets negative results our hearts raise up a prayer of thanks that we might be a small part of saving someone’s life. We have seen the faces of women whose lives have been saved because of these early detection and educational programs.

The next question is where do we get the funds to continue this needed service in these low income areas? The answer is two sources. The main source in the Ozark Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen, For the Cure. Where do they get their money? A lot of sources, but the main source is their annual “Race for the Cure” held in Springdale, Arkansas. This year it will be held – come rain or shine – on April 19th. I personally, our Board and those two thousand women who count on us are asking you to come out and join in this fun and worthwhile event. For more information call the Affiliate Office at (479) 750-PINK. You’ll have a great time, meet many wonderful people, many who are survivors, and be helping so many in these difficult times.

The other source is from people just like you. People who care about those less fortunate and want to be part of saving lives in this area. You can donate on-line at our website and specify for Women’s Health or any one of our successful projects or programs by clicking here

If filling your gas tank with $3.25 a gallon gas is an aggravation and not a choice between getting to work or feeding your children… make a difference… right now. Call the Affiliate and sign up for the race or make your direct gift right now.

A Day Off

It is Saturday and I've decided to take the day off from my basic Foundation duties. Cleaned up around my work area, but mostly just took a little time to think and get back on track. I’ve made the statement many times lately that everything seems to be going so fast. I wish others would have replied that they disagreed with me, but so far everyone has said something like “sure does”.

It is sad that we are all on the merry-go-round turning at high speed. I think we are missing a lot of the quality available to us on life’s journey. Those quality parts that make for smiles when we get old and can no longer find a whole lot to smile about.

I was talking to a friend the other day about her experience of going on family vacations. She smiled, a very important comment in itself, and began to tell me several of the places they all went and exactly which month they went. Down to the exact week of the month.

Later, I was reflecting, as I am now that I have not taken a vacation, at least nothing more than a day trip, since starting the Foundation in 1993. That means two things. One, I have gone almost 15 years without taking a vacation and two, I’m not very smart.

I am so quick to say that the family unit in America has nearly vanished. A family together and families together are the glue that holds the delicate threads of civilized society together. I can’t help but wonder if I, a advocate for children and families, am walking my talk. Surely not, at least based on my behavior over these past 15 years.

Perhaps this is going to be the final tear in the fabric of our society. When those of us who are blessed with the job of trying to hold lives together lose their own. Perhaps that is the tipping point where we have lost the battle. Are we, the helpers, failing to walk in the steps of our great teachers?

I’m glad I took a little time off on this windy Saturday to think and reflect. To look at myself and to get back on track. Well, at least see the direction to take. Back to who I am, what I believe and to walk my talk. If I don’t I would be of no more value than the majority of our politicians whose talk is so very different from their walk.

I urge you to take a day or even a week and rediscover your personal philosophy. See if you are living it or living with the rest of the mice on the wheel. Me I’m scheduling a vacation.

Education - Up or Down?

I purchased one of those new internet phone, PDA do everything toys Friday. It is now Sunday afternoon and I finally have the device set up to the point where I can do email, call, find contacts and surf the internet. There are many more whistles and bells, but for the most part it is in operation.

I don’t claim to be a computer guru nor a whiz in math, but I believe my skills in those areas are well above average. It took most of two days and my brain is well worn after this experience. I imagine most people can understand. I might add that I don’t have a lot of money and this was a major purchase which adds to the stress. I can’t afford to break it or toss it without suffering a big loss.

In my tired state I let my mind drift. Something that is easy to do at my age. I remembered an article recently published in one of the five or six newspapers I regularly read. It said that American high school students scored 26th on math tests when compared against all nations.

I don’t know if I can name many more than 26 Nations much less name 25 that are, at least in math, better educated than our American children. Can you?

In the survey for best jobs in the future MSN published a report that went like this. High Tech side of the computer business… programmers etc; then financial gurus; followed by medicine including dental professions.

Now it has been a lot of years since I since I taught at the university level and even more since I finished my grad degrees, but in those days all of these professions required considerable math skills.

America is moving and has been moving for the past two decades out of manufacturing into services and high tech. It isn’t a new trend. So my question is… what are we doing in education?
In our dinky state of Arkansas if taken at all levels combined the largest burden on the tax payer is education. Health and human services run a close second. My guess is if we add economic development, mainly geared to attract high tech jobs, it makes up over 60% of the state tax burden.

I guess it all proves the low math scores are correct. The public can not calculate return on investment when it comes to government spending vs. payback. Are our children and our future going the way of an uneducated third world country? Have we reached the tipping point in education?

Education, up or down you decide.

Something to Think About

On August 22, 2007, Leonard Doyle, a Washington based news correspondent with the London newspaper, The Independent, published one of the most interesting articles I have read in a great while. I’ll provide a link here with the caveat that I cannot control how long the link will be active. Click here.

Mr. Doyle’s prose focused on the US Congress (Democrat Controlled) and its’ change of heart towards reducing the carbon footprint of the USA. He explains that they see great economic growth by turning America Green. The House of Representatives wants to spend nearly $7 billion in the coming year to start the process in a big way.

He readily admits there will be White House opposition. “The oil industry”, he states “is keen to open vast new areas off Alaska’s coast for drilling. The rising temperatures brought on by global warming, have made this a possibility, which the industry wants to exploit.”

Forces from the three sacred cows of congress, coal, cars and corn are bound to contribute efforts to steal the thunder and the cash which could divert much of the effort.

What does this mean to you? I surely don’t know, but it means a lot to me. First, if I had a child finishing high school, I would have him or her look at college majors that would work in to this new economic expansion. Clean technology, wind-turbine and solar panel installers and engineers. The new green collar workers are on their way. Next, as an investor, worried about my retirement I would keep a close eye on this one for possible investing.

Last, I will watch my Congressional Delegation, who sides with big oil and who votes for the future of America and our planet.

It appears that America has finally figured out a way to make money by doing something good. I hope it replaces our economy which has been based on war for so many years.

Please write a letter, send an email or call your Congressional Representative and let him or her know what you think. You can find out who they are and how to contact them on our website – “Resource Page”, click here. Just as important set down with a young person and express your concerns. Tomorrow and for the rest of their life this is important.

Just something to think about.