Carole Simpson

The Fighting 112th

Jan 7, 2011 | Economy, Republicans | 0 comments

The oaths have been taken, the Speaker’s gavel has passed from Democrat to Republican in the House, and new members flocked to TV cameras to blather about the “new day” in Washington.  Republicans railed about how this new 112th Congress will repeal laws passed by the Democratic majority on Obama’s behalf; Democrats vowed, “not over our dead bodies.”  They are all now ensconced in the U.S. Capitol for the next two years of President Obama’s term.  Hold on to your seats.  It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

As soon as he received the gavel from Democrat Nancy Pelosi making him the new Speaker of the House, Ohio Representative John Boehner promised the American people that the 112th Congress would give them their country back.  I never did know who got it and where they took it.  Oh, yes, Tea Party supporters blame President Obama what some would call, his “gang of thieves.”

Republican California Congressman Darrell Issa recently said unwisely, “Obama is one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times.”  Later he backtracked and said, “The Obama Administration is one of the most corrupt in modern times.”  Has Rep. Issa forgotten about President Nixon and the Watergate scandal?  Or President Reagan’s selling arms to Iran, an avowed enemy of the United States?

But Issa promises, as the new chair of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee, that he will dig deep to ferret out Obama “corruption,” while his colleagues try to make good on their promises to the Tea Party, corporate America, and the hard right GOP base, to upend everything the President has done, good or bad.

But what about the jobs?  The unemployment rate has gone down, thank you kindly, but before the 112th was seated.  I didn’t hear any Republicans talk about the country’s greatest challenge, getting Americans back to work.  All the talk was about getting Obama.

I contemplate all of this after reading a report that at least seven states are experimenting with a four-day school week.  Six others are considering it.

Because the economy has left most of our states nearly bankrupt, the shortened school week is cutting school budgets by 20 percent in the cost of transportation, heating and staff.   The school days are longer, like 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.  But Fridays are off.  Let our children’s education pay the economic burden? Do we really want to do that?

Recent statistics show that among 34 nations, American 15-year-olds ranked 25th in math and 17th in science and reading.  Chinese students, you might have guessed were number one in both categories. The last thing our kids need is less school.

While Congress fiddles with scores to settle, our children’s academic achievement continues its slow burn.  The 112th should take heed, but it won’t.  There’s too much money to be had from wealthy special interest groups.   Our children don’t have any cash to spread into the pockets of those members of Congress who have little interest in the least of them.  Children are still our future.  Neglect them, neglect America.

Out of Work, Out of Joy

Dec 25, 2010 | Economy | 1 comment

We were seated together at a holiday dinner party in a fancy downtown hotel.  She looked beautiful in her floor-length gown of Christmas red.  As we dined on filet mignon and lobster macaroni cakes, we chatted about our mutual plans for Christmas.  She has two children, aged six and four and she proudly said that Santa Claus was coming to town for her children in a big way this year.

Then, in the most matter of fact tone, she said she was glad she had taken care of Santa early because she had lost her job the week before.  “Lost your job?”  I exclaimed.  “Yes,” she replied.  “I was a buyer for A.J. Wright and I got my notice Friday.”

I had heard the bad economic news on television.  TJX Companies, the discount retailers, announced that they was closing all 162 of the A. J. Wright stores, putting 44-hundred employees on the street.

The CEO of the TJX Companies, Carol Meyrowitz, issued a written statement saying, “…I am deeply grateful for those Associates affected by this action for their hard work and dedication and know this is a difficult time for them.”

Why do companies always seem to wait until the Christmas holidays to announce layoffs and cutbacks?  “Have yourself an un-merry little Christmas.”

As the unemployment rate has continued to rise, now standing at 9.8 percent, I have been frustrated by the economy’s devastatingly slow recovery and its tragic impact on American workers.  But I didn’t know anyone directly affected.  My dinner companion finally put a human face on the problem.  My heart went out to her.

“What are you going to do?” I asked this college-educated woman, who appeared to be in her late thirties.  She had worked for A. J. Wright for many years.

In what seemed forced good humor, she said she was going to enjoy the holidays (How?) and then re-group in January and figure out what she’s going to do with the rest of her life.

I put myself in her shoes.  No job.  Almost 40 years old, two small children in private school, a husband who is working, but a mortgage, plenty of household bills, and cars that need to keep running. Not a happy prospect for 2011.

There are so many millions of Americans suffering the plight of my new friend, but many in far worse shape than she.

As I enjoy Christmastime with my family and friends, I will have a special prayer this year.  It will be for those who are depressed and fearful of the future because they are out of work.  Perhaps, you, too, will remember them in your prayers.  God bless them, every one.