The Observation Deck

Justine,
I had a response for you but I have just lost my post in a computer glitch. You bring up some great points but I do not have time to rewrite my post.

well I apologize if I offend anyone with my opinion. I don't mean to. I just know we need more accountability for any government run program with tax dollars. So the people who need and deserve it will have it when they do need it.

Don't loose heart Justine! It is easy to become cynical when you see what you've seen. People will always game the system whether rich, poor or anywhere in between at times. Accountability costs money too. In head start we spend a lot of time being accountable for all that we are charged with. If you don't document it, it didn't happen. Accountability can get in the way of the actual mission too and big business spends a lot of time fighting accountability as well. Then we get the BP disaster.

Poverty is a complicated thing and everyone wants access to a decent life. This is America right? what is a decent life anymore? What's a decent living? Are there enough jobs so people can have a decent life? If there aren't, what do we do for the dispossessed? People will always do what they think is best to just survive sometimes and the powerful will always try to maintain their power and so it goes and so it goes.

In short, the poor shouldn't be a scapegoat for the collapse of the economy and it is easy to banter that idea about in polite conversation and lots of people will agree with it. So it's important to fight against the urge to over generalize about people in difficult situations. And it sounds like you're doing a lot of good in what you are doing and fighting for an equitable system so don't doubt that you are making a difference! I hope that makes sense, I guess I see your frustration and want to be of assistance and I don't want to come across harshly.

Thank you Ellen for your NON harsh and kind post I am usually ready to be blasted for posting an opinion. I sometimes feel at a crossroads in this country. I do know that corporate and often government greed and corruption are at the heart of our economy's issues. I can't hide the fact that I am disheartened that middle class and working Americans are on attack right now throughout the country. I have dedicated my career and will continue to do so for many years in areas of poverty to help those that want to overcome the obstacles of poverty. I have read research on the racial achievement gap and recognize that many factors of the growing (instead of diminishing) racial achievement gap are factors in the home we cannot control except with slow preventative measures for future generations, starting with Head Start.

I applaud Kennedy and his initiatives with that program and know that he begged and pleaded for accountability and it did take years. I know being in the social service field the mountains of paperwork we must show for accountability as well. For me the accountability is more about the administration and how money was misused like in Title One. The workers get the brunt living on barely-above poverty wages.

I don't think we are going to help the financial achievement gap until the programs have more accountability though. Welfare should be a stepping stone and there should be more preventative outreach programs for those that want it but it looks like we will lose those. It looks like the poor will get poorer and yes the middle class will be most hit. I won't lose heart but get discouraged.

Thank you for a thoughtful reply.