An Unholy Alliance
Driving back to my office today, I caught a little bit of Al Franken's show on Air America. He was discussing the state of the welfare state in America with the head of Catholic Charities. His guest (whose name escapes me) was a priest who spoke articulately and passionately about the sad state of affairs for the poor and working poor in this country.
After one of the commercial breaks (why we have this on subscription satellite radio is beyond me) they had the traditional "bumper music" playing back into the discussion. It was odd to hear a live version of "Franklin's Tower" by the Grateful Dead playing while Franken did his voice over announcement of his guest, the priest, talking about welfare. Cognitive dissonance.
Which matters none to the discussion, which confirmed that, by every objective measure, the poor and working poor are worse off than they were 5 years ago. And although Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress ended "welfare as we know it" in the 90s, everyone forgot to follow through with the health care support and child care support and light rail transportation systems and training that make it possible for welfare recipients to transition into the workforce.
During the Clinton years, those things were less of a priority because the booming economy meant a scarcity of labor. This translated to fast food joints offering signing bonuses and base wages higher than minimum wage, and obviated much of the need for the support systems. But everyone - Clinton included - knew that would end someday (the scope of the massive thud and continuing downward spiral were only understood by those who "saw into the heart" of George Bush) and that the huge migration of people from welfare to work would reverse course.
The problem we're facing today is that the safety net is largely gone and none of the support systems ever materialized. So, welfare as we know it is gone. Poverty, as we've always known it, marches on, leaving the most vulnerable among us with nowhere to go.
"In another times forgotten space,
Your eyes looked from your mother's face..."
After one of the commercial breaks (why we have this on subscription satellite radio is beyond me) they had the traditional "bumper music" playing back into the discussion. It was odd to hear a live version of "Franklin's Tower" by the Grateful Dead playing while Franken did his voice over announcement of his guest, the priest, talking about welfare. Cognitive dissonance.
Which matters none to the discussion, which confirmed that, by every objective measure, the poor and working poor are worse off than they were 5 years ago. And although Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress ended "welfare as we know it" in the 90s, everyone forgot to follow through with the health care support and child care support and light rail transportation systems and training that make it possible for welfare recipients to transition into the workforce.
During the Clinton years, those things were less of a priority because the booming economy meant a scarcity of labor. This translated to fast food joints offering signing bonuses and base wages higher than minimum wage, and obviated much of the need for the support systems. But everyone - Clinton included - knew that would end someday (the scope of the massive thud and continuing downward spiral were only understood by those who "saw into the heart" of George Bush) and that the huge migration of people from welfare to work would reverse course.
The problem we're facing today is that the safety net is largely gone and none of the support systems ever materialized. So, welfare as we know it is gone. Poverty, as we've always known it, marches on, leaving the most vulnerable among us with nowhere to go.
"In another times forgotten space,
Your eyes looked from your mother's face..."
posted by John at 3:38 PM
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