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Poverty: Numbers vs. Need As we address sequestration and the pending decision relating to the threats of shutting down our government, the topic of poverty enters the mix. The House just voted to cut back $40 billion on the food stamp program. While there are some who truly need assistance, this is one of the government programs that has its share of "waste, fraud and abuse." A recent report claims that we have 46.5 million, 15 percent of all U.S. residents, living in poverty. This begs the question, what exactly is poverty? How is it measured? One of the following links states that 80.9 percent of those in this category have cell phones, 96.1 percent have TVs, and a huge number have computers, with 83.2 percent having VCRs. Aside from washing machines, dryers and microwaves, many have air conditioning. Having traveled to Africa and China, we have witnessed those living in true poverty. That is a much different picture of alleged poverty than exists in America: i.e. "Each year for the past two decades, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that over 30 million Americans were living in ‘poverty.’ In recent years, the Census has reported that one in seven Americans are poor. But what does it mean to be “poor” in America? How poor are America’s poor? For most Americans, the word “poverty” suggests destitution: an inability to provide a family with nutritious food, clothing, and reasonable shelter. For example, the Poverty Pulse poll taken by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development asked the general public: “How would you describe being poor in the U.S.?” The overwhelming majority of responses focused on homelessness, hunger or not being able to eat properly, and not being able to meet basic needs. That perception is bolstered by news stories about poverty that routinely feature homelessness and hunger. Yet if poverty means lacking nutritious food, adequate warm housing, and clothing for a family, relatively few of the more than 30 million people identified as being “in poverty” by the Census Bureau could be characterized as poor. While material hardship definitely exists in the United States, it is restricted in scope and severity. The average poor person, as defined by the government, has a living standard far higher than the public imagines. As scholar James Q. Wilson has stated, “The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.” In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation. In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker." Another story pointing out the flaws of the program stated: "Food Stamp Advertising Emphasizes Enrollment over Need. The USDA has conducted a massive campaign to increase the number of food stamp recipients, even hiring recruiters who must fulfill enrollment quotas. The USDA in its ‘Community Partner Outreach Toolkit’ webpage gives ideas of how to spread awareness and increase enrollment. Ideas have been implemented such as SNAP-based bingo games for the elderly, food-stamp parties, and fliers that read, ‘Be a patriot. Bring your food stamp money home.’ But it doesn’t stop here; the U.S. and Mexico began a partnership in 2004 to ‘provide information on eligibility criteria for Food and Nutrition Service programs,’ and that includes disseminating a Spanish language flyer that tells undocumented immigrants, ‘You need not divulge information regarding your immigration status in seeking this benefit [food stamps] for your children.’ The U.S. also supplies 1/3 of the Puerto Rican population with food stamps, costing U.S. taxpayers roughly $2 billion annually. Clearly, food stamp programs have become more and more about numbers, instead of need." The following links are some of my sources for this report. http://www.ssa.gov/history/fisheronpoverty.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/17/us-usa-economy-poverty-idUSBRE98G0PN20130917 http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/07/what-is-poverty |
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Government Reform 101 Following are guidelines for reforming government at all levels. Elected government officials of state and local governments shall support and promote the adoption of the following Principles of State and Local Government Reform. 1. Identify core (essential) and non-core (non-essential) government programs and services now being provided by their government. Those identified as non-core programs and services that have limited value or impact on the general public shall be eliminated. 2. Identify local government programs and services that duplicate others provided by their government, by governments at other levels or by the private sector. Those programs and services that duplicate or are similar in nature to those provided by government or by the private sector shall be eliminated. 3. Identify and eliminate all taxes, fees and charges that fully or partially fund non-core and duplicate programs and services by their government. 4. Require a complete and accurate Cost-Benefit Analysis when considering the creation or expansion of any government program or service. The Cost-Benefit Analysis shall include an assessment of the public need and the potential broad public use of the proposed project and whether the proposed program or service is provided by other public or private-sector providers or could be provided by the private sector. It shall also include an accurate assessment of the total annual taxpayer and user per-capita cost of the program or service. 5. Identify existing public programs and services that can be contracted out to private-sector service providers. By using low-cost competitive bidding, elected officials shall seek to reduce the cost and the size of government bureaucracies while maintaining high-quality services. Virtually all government programs and services can be provided by the private sector, including administrative, operational, maintenance, public safety, recreation, legal, financial, planning, development, human resources and research. 6. Take all necessary action to protect individual property rights by using “eminent domain” only to “take” private property for an important “public use,” not for a public or private “purpose.” 7. Oppose state, regional and local mandates of “affordable welfare” housing on landowners, developers and cities that is paid for by the landowners, other homebuyers and renters or taxpayers. When government dictates the sale or rental price of private property, it violates the owners’ property rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. 8. Vigorously oppose attempts by state, regional and local bureaucrats to dictate policy mandates onto local elected boards and councils. A free representative democracy requires that law and public policy be made by officeholders elected by the voters, not by bureaucrats who are not elected by or accountable to the citizen voters. 9. Oppose all zoning changes for the purpose of building high-density housing in low-density areas that can result in increased costs associated with traffic congestion, public safety or school classroom overcrowding. 10. Promote the creation of charter schools, private schools, school vouchers or similar programs that give parents more K-12 education choices for their children. 11. Evaluate the current public employee pension systems by conducting an independent audit to determine the level of pension under-funding that currently exists and take steps to research the possibility of creating a private-sector pension fund system for new government employees. 12. Take all necessary steps to guarantee that all hired public employees are legal residents of the United States and that governments contract only with private-sector contractors that hire legal residents. 13. Prohibit the use of race, color, ethnicity, national origin or sex in public employment, student admissions or contracting with private- or public-service providers. 14. Local governments shall operate on a two-year budget cycle and shall conduct open public hearings on proposed budgets that allow extensive public input. Each budget shall clearly identify all revenues from local taxes, fees and charges and from all intergovernmental taxes, fees and charges; and shall clearly identify proposed budget expenditures by agency and function. In every other budget cycle elected officials shall reduce total budget requests by 2.5 percent below the previous budget before approving a new budget for the next budget cycle. 15. Budget reserves shall be 50 percent of the total operational budget, shall be spent only for essential government services and shall be used only for costs resulting from unexpected emergencies. 16. For every four government employees that retire, only two or three will be hired to replace them. 17. Elected officials shall contract with the private sector to identify ways in which computer and other technology can be used to increase government efficiency and effectiveness while reducing the bureaucracy and other costs relating to providing essential programs and services. 18. Elected officials shall appoint a citizen advisory board of seven to fifteen citizens to assist them in the adoption of these government reform principles and to assist and advise them on other problems and policy choices facing their government jurisdiction. The citizen advisory board shall not be compensated and should be comprised of citizens that have expertise in government and/or experience in government services, budgeting, finance or law. |
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Diane Harkey’s Lawsuit Political news broke last week when Assemblywoman Diane Harkey sued opponent California Senator Mark Wyland for $10 million. Wyland and Harkey are both running for the California Board of Equalization. The article appeared in some newspapers but not the OC Register, Hrabe’s article was picked up by an OC political blog: http://ocpoliticsblog.com/an-open-letter-to-diane-harkey-from-john-hrabe/#more-15847 Dear Assemblywoman Diane Harkey: Yesterday, I, along with several other journalists, incorrectly reported that you filed a $5 million lawsuit against state Senator Mark Wyland, R-San Diego, for defamation, presenting in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. I acknowledge now that “only a portion of my statement is true.” Yes, it is true that you filed a lawsuit against Mr. Wyland for defamation, presenting in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It is also true that you claim Wyland’s statements caused you “severe and grievous mental and emotional suffering, fright, anguish, shock, nervousness, and anxiety.” It is also true that you claim to have obtained “medical treatment on a number of occasions” as a result of the statements. It is also true that, as of August 26, “medical treatment will continue for an indeterminable length of time.” Thanks to the meticulous work of the UT San Diego’s Michael Gardner, I now realize that, in fact, your frivolous lawsuit against Wyland is for $10 million, not the lower figure of $5 million. I apologize for this error. I misinterpreted Paragraphs 24 and 25 of your frivolous lawsuit and did not realize that you are seeking $5 million for “severe and grievous mental and emotional suffering” and another $5 million for the “medical treatment.” 24. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s acts alleged herein, HARKEY was caused to incur severe and grievous mental and emotional suffering, fright, anguish, shock, nervousness, and anxiety. HARKEY continues to be fearful, anxious, and nervous. For this harm, HARKEY requests compensatory damages in the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). 25. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s acts alleged herein, HARKEY was caused to obtain medical treatment on a number of occasions as of the filing of this Complaint, which medical treatment will continue for an indeterminable length of time. HARKEY requests compensatory damages in the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). Ironically, my mistake of undervaluing your lawsuit is the same mistake that Mr. Wyland made when he said that some of the investors in your husband’s failed company were “of modest means”. Please don’t sue me for making the same $10 million mistake that Wyland made. Not to pass blame, but your complaint is very confusing. After all, it incorrectly claims that you are running for the Franchise Tax Board, when you are truly a candidate for the Board of Equalization. It also doesn’t help that you have refused to answer any questions about the lawsuit. Below are two questions that I emailed to your chief of staff and chief political consultant. 1. Medical Treatment: According to the lawsuit, Harkey sought “medical treatment on a number of occasions” as a result of Wyland’s statements. When and where did she obtain medical treatment? 2. Reopening Old Wounds: In her floor speech against SB 131, Harkey said that lawsuits by sexual abuse victims are an example of “reopening wounds and feeding trial attorneys.” Why is it acceptable for her to reopen wounds and feed trial attorneys, but not acceptable for victims of sexual abuse? That last question is particularly urgent. SB 131 is sitting on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. If you have any insight as to why you deserve $10 million in damages, but some sexual abuse victims should not be allowed to file a lawsuit, I am certain he would appreciate your comments. Again, I offer my apologies for undervaluing your $10 million frivolous lawsuit. Sincerely, PS: I am willing to bet that SD Rostra, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee are also really sorry. Please don’t sue them before they’ve had a chance to issue a correction. |
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Non-government Events Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups. Mount of Olives Church, “Stretch & Pray,” Wed., Sept., 25, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., meets Wednesdays in The ROCK http://moochurch.org/stretch . On Oct. 6 (first Sunday of each month) bring food for the SHARE Food Drive, http://moochurch.org/share . Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org/ Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, 949-830-3557. Concordia University Studio Theatre, “The Brothers Menaechmus,” classic Roman comedy, Fri.-Sat., Sept. 27-28, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 29, 2:00 p.m. 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/theatre Soka University concert, Fri.-Sun., Sept. 27-29, Third Annual Soka International Jazz Festival, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu O’Neill’s Sunday Brunch, Sun., Sept. 29, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Live jazz, R&B, soul and vocals. Enjoy Belgium waffles, gourmet salad bar, carved meats, hot entrees and assorted desserts. O’Neill’s Bar and Grill, 26772 Avery Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 305-5100, http://www.arroyotrabuco.com/oneills.aspx Festival of Children, through Sun., Sept. 29, South Coast Plaza, more than 100 shows, activities and events, 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, (714) 438-3247, http://www.festivalofchildren.org La Vida Drum Circle, Fri., Oct. 18, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Oct. 18, Nov. 17, Dec. 17, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/ St. Kilian’s Recycling Drive, Sat., Oct. 19, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org Lake Eerie at Lake Mission Viejo, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 18-19, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Halloween activities, food and entertainment, balloon artist and Star Wars Light Saber Show. Lake members and their guests, (949) 770-1313, http://www.lakemissionviejo.org |
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Political and Government Events Calendar AlertOC, Tues., Sept. 24, 10:00 a.m., Orange County residents who have registered their phone numbers with AlertOC.com will receive a call to test the system for delivery of emergency information. The message on Tuesday will encourage registration of cell phones and text numbers for receiving emergency alerts when away from home. Saddleback Valley Unified School District regular board meeting (“if necessary”) on Tues., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Sept. 25, 7:00 p.m., district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/ Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors will meet on Wed., Sept. 25, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Nixon Library concert on Sun., Sept 29, composer Brent Pierce and friends. Doors open at 1:30 and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m. On Mon., Nov. 4, 7:00 p.m., “Meet Ann Coulter,” Distinguished Speakers Series Lecture and Book Signing, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649 OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Oct. 9, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Oct. 14, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Oct. 17, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/ Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Oct. 14. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. The organization meets on the second Monday of the month. Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m., at the Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays. Call (949) 496-2525 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m. Program will be a roundtable discussion of problems and solutions. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in July, August and September) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 769-1412. SOC912, Fri., Oct. 18, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. A $5 donation at the door will help pay for costs; free to first-time visitors and young people through age 24. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/137078642/ |
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The Buzz Did anyone look for an article about Assemblywoman Diane Harkey’s lawsuit against State Senator Mark Wyland in the Orange County Register? Given OCR editors’ privilege of ignoring what they don’t like, perhaps they will endorse Harkey for Board of Equalization. Information about the lawsuit is posted on this blog. Harkey is seeking $5 million for “severe and grievous mental and emotional suffering” and another $5 million for “medical treatment” after Wyland talked about her during a Tea Party gathering. *** South County residents who have seen Harkey lately say they observed no change or anything unusual about her appearance. For example, she wasn’t limping and appearing sore. As a basis for comparison on what $5 million might cover for medical treatment, here are examples from investopedia.com: heart transplant $767,700, lung transplant $657,800 double ($450,400 for single), open heart surgery $324,000, kidney transplant $259,000, tracheotomy $205,000, destruction of lesion of retina $153,000. http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0310/top-10-most-expensive-medical-procedures.aspx *** When volunteers distributed copies of Community Common Sense in their neighborhoods this month, their feedback was reported on this blog, http://www.missionviejoca.org/html/article184.html. Another volunteer who walked his neighborhood in south Mission Viejo discovered information about newspaper subscribers. He said, “Because of the hot weather, I walked my area between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The Times and Register had just been delivered, and they were still in driveways. My area has a lot of professionals who are up early during the week, but I didn’t see anyone picking up newspapers that early on Saturday morning. I was surprised to see subscribers to the Times outnumber Register subscribers. The other surprise was to see most in my neighborhood don’t subscribe to either one. I am estimating 25 percent take the Times and 15 percent take the Register.” *** The Sept. 16 Mission Viejo council meeting provided additional information to discredit Councilman Frank Ury’s claim he is a conservative. The affordable housing developer with a project at Los Alisos and Jeronimo is having trouble selling the affordable units. Several years ago when a council majority voted to approve the project, the developer was touting how thousands of people would line up to live there. Just as watchdogs said, the “professionals” the developer was talking about don’t qualify for affordable housing. Councilman Dave Leckness led the charge, with Ury signing on, to cut the developer some slack and allow an applicant a chance to buy a unit who does not qualify. During the meeting, information was revealed that the applicant’s brother bought an affordable unit in the project, and he likely did not qualify. http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=14&clip_id=1045 *** The council meetings are perhaps the most unprofessional, un-businesslike productions in the history of Mission Viejo council meetings, and that’s saying something. As one example, Leckness, who was appointed to serve as the city’s Vector Control representative, makes a joke of disease and other serious problems addressed by the agency. Every voter who wants to keep the council majority in office should be required to watch at least one council meeting before the next election. *** The following schedule of events was forwarded to this blog by Mission Viejo resident Joe Holtzman. September 26: Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing 6 PM – 9 PM (doors open at 5 PM for security screening) The NRC will give us an opportunity to ask questions about decommissioning at San Onofre. Please submit yours to the Coalition to Decommission San Onofre for consideration. E-mail suggestions to genston@spcglobal.net October 1: California Public Utilities Commission hearing 1 PM: press conference by members of the Coalition to Decommission San Onofre 2 PM – 5 PM and 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM: CPUC hearing The CPUC will give 2 minutes’ speaking opportunity to each person who signs up to testify. Contact: Martha Sullivan at msmarthasullivan@gmail.com or Ray Lutz at raylutz@citizensoversight.org October 9: Nuclear Regulatory Commission “waste confidence” hearing 6 PM – 7 PM open house, 7 PM – 9 PM meeting October 19: Symposium – Coalition to Decommission San Onofre 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM presentation by experts, panel discussions, questions and answers on nuclear waste and other decommissioning issues at San Onofre. Center for Spiritual Living, 1201 Puerta del Sol, First Floor, San Clemente |
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