USA Today‘s cover story today (12/5/12) is a moving piece by Marisol Bello headlined, “For the Poor, ‘Recovery’ Is a Mirage.”
The kind of poverty, as Bello reported, that is
lived by Nancy Scott, a former stay-at-home mom working a temporary minimum-wage job, who says she had to choose between exhausting her paycheck on rent and utilities or living in her 1990 pickup.
She chose the truck.
Bello focuses one town in Ohio:
But for people in Troy–and the tens of millions of Americans like them–the daily hardships of poverty aren’t captured in statistics or healed by political promises. As lawmakers in Washington grapple with the “fiscal cliff” and Americans do their holiday shopping, thousands of people in Miami County are managing on little or no income.
Bello manages to write a moving, humane portrait of poor workers without a soundbite from someone like the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector, who tends to show up in fairly often in such reporting to make the point that the poor don’t have it that bad.
And then, right beneath this story, another bit of front-page news: a glimpse of an entirely different world. In “A Calling Card for the Café Riche,” the paper tells readers that Starbucks has announced a super-limited $450 gift card:
Just in time for the holidays, the trend-setting coffee behemoth today will be at the forefront of what could be yet another cultural hot button: the super-premium gift card. The Starbucks Metal Card isn’t made of plastic, but steel. Each specially etched card, loaded with $400, costs $50 to make, which Starbucks says explains the $450 price tag.
The cards will “only be sold on the luxury goods website Gilt.com,” so you’re never likely to see one, or even care that they exist. An official with the website, of course, sees it differently: “When you’re waiting in line at Starbucks, the next person in line won’t have it.”
This is, of course, his business, so he’s bound to say something like that. And anyone who has $450 to spend on a fancy gift card can go ahead and spend their money that way.
But does anyone in the world really want to pretend this is news?
I wonder what the ratio of poverty to puffery is on the front page of USA Today, or any other corpress rag?
Whatever the result, it’s a given that you’ll have to look up the spelling of “infinitesimal” to describe it.
It may be stupid to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one and say it was actually a brilliant bit of contrast by the editors, but what the hey. At the least, it’ll fill my quota for assuming good faith for the rest of the year.
But does anyone in the world really want to pretend this is news?
Yes indeed they do, those who have the money to buy that $450 gift card. Not necessarily those who can afford to drop $450 on a Gift like that with no thought, but those who can cough up the money and then give it to “someone special” who they hope, appreciates it.
So this is news in that blurred line of advertising/Information Adformtising. So you present the ‘poor’ who are ‘as poor as disabled banana’, and then you present a way to show to everyone that ‘above all else, you are not that poor as that’ and you can prove it by buying this card.
I have to agree with RasmusXera; it was brilliant move on the part of the copy Editor, in the placement pf the ad, for capturing the Rubes who will manage to cough up $450.
I guess if it happens to the rich, its news.
We have forgotten our pilgrims, what they preached, what they believed in. Let me quote here John Winthrop who in1630 exhorted his flock that “every man afford his help to another in every want in distress….and that perform this out of the same affection which makes him careful of his own good.”
We have forsaken the idea that the strong do not possess the right to exploit the weak simply by the virtue of strength. We have forgotten that simply by the virtue of their strength, the strong bear the greater duty to protect the weak, for in any just society all must enjoy the same opportunity to realize their potential and equal rights to enjoy the fruits of their uniqueness. Quoted Gerry Spence from the book Give Me Liberty p. 328.
What is uproar about the people who flaunt their wealth, we have known that there are rich, and super rich people in the U.S. When we have an extreme difference in pay, 400 times between the top, and the bottom earners, and 1% owning 40% of all the wealth in the U.S., we should expect that some people will show their ill gotten loot.
Was that an anecdote that the French Revolution was triggered by the extreme wealth, of a few, and the extreme poverty by the so many? When Mary Antoinette jokingly responded to the thousands asking for bread, by telling them to eat the cake!
While seeing the exhibition of the Kremlin Gold in Chicago, there were two guests who looking at the solid gold sarcophagus for the coffin for the Tsarevih Dmitry son of Ivan the Terrible commented….’A small wander that they had the Revolution, they were not only born with the gold spoon in their mouths, they were even buried in gold.’
To call it arrogance is not a close metaphor, an insult to injury is closer, if not perfect.
I think the first article shamed them–some editor figured the rentier class might imagine a slight, or even possibly that they were being blamed for the massive surge in poverty, hence the Starbucks story (actually, it’s an ad).
“”Was that an anecdote that the French Revolution was triggered by the extreme wealth, of a few, and the extreme poverty by the so many? When Mary Antoinette jokingly responded to the thousands asking for bread, by telling them to eat the cake!””
Funny you should bring that up, and two things to note; one, it being anecdotal it is hard to prove anything, but I do believe, it is now believed she did not say ‘cake’ but “Caking”; being French and all that you know. So it was ‘a practical idea’, only as with our current ‘royalty’ here in America, those who just ran for President, it was completely foolish, not a real solution for the immensity of the situation, and so shows complete and utter lack concept even, of what it was like for the people below them.
Then you have the folks who are there to make a living off the ‘crap’ these royalty produce. Is there any reason to doubt as to why this stuff smells to high heaven.
This is our real problem. It is not that some folks made a lot of money and are happy, and share the wealth so to speak. That is the tide that raises almost all boats. It is the people who made the money by taking what we had, and sticking it away. No one like to mention, except here, what the tax rates were back in the ‘good old days’.
Padremellryn,
The rich have a clever invention for the millions of the poor, and the poorest in the U.S. It is called The American Dream. A belief that through hard work alone, one can rise from just rags, to riches; ‘prendre la lune avec les dents,’ as you may say in France. I took special interest in this myth and after two years of hard study am convinced that using the best statistical probabilities, the chances for those currently on the bottom to get rich are worse , than being hit by the lightening. This Protestant work ethic, combined with religion is a very powerful obstacle to instituting efficient measure to create a safety net for the unemployed, and the low paying jobs. Capitalism thrives on inequalities, it creates poverty, misery, and at the same time the astronomical differences in wealth, the ultimate goal of the system. One year, thanks to the lack of restrictions, David Rockefeller made more money, than the National Gross Product of the entire U.S. Check the records, it is there. ‘La plupart des homes employment la premiere partie de leur vie a render miserable.’
Bozidar Kornic
The only thing I can ‘disagree’ with is that the Rich invented the ‘american dream’. We did that to ourselves. I have tried to live the dream where I work and though I am not rich in money, I am rich in my life. But otherwise I have to totally agree, the current crop of ‘Industrial Captains’ are little more than Bullies and Brigands doing all they can to make everyone else miserable. What I don’t think they understand is the situation they are creating for themselves; this is the same type of stupidity that lead to the French Revolution with Napoleon and its seriously headed in that direction. People are going to grow tired of the greed, insensitivity and outright immorality posing ‘high society’ and it will come to a tragic end.
And we don’t even need to go back as far Rockefeller, just look to the stupid, greedy siblings that are the children of Sam Walton. They currently control enough money flow they can crush and oppresses small countries on their own.
At some point, we are going to have to step up, take everything away from these people and if need, remove them from society, permanently. If the people at the top truly want “global economies” then they are going to have to stop placing the entire globe at risk of economic collapse. I look forward to the day when these people ‘board a spaceship to leave’ and we the people take everything they have, and send them on their way because they will not find a friendly face or kind word in the world due to their own poor conduct.
Padremellyrn,
In the late 1970’s I read the book “Injury To Insult” by Verba and Schlosen that not only writes about the working situation, but goes to prove that this American Dream is just as big an obstacle in leveling the plain field between the rich, and the ‘other,’ people, it goes deep into the consequences of the belief in the dream by the poor. In my previous comments, I mentioned as one serious result of the Dream, a psychological Cognitive Dissonance, which is basically believing in two DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE FACTS, but on a conscious level. Black is also white. A poor guy can get rich by hard work alone. This is what keeps the poor from redoing the system over, because they have been brainwashed from the time they were born, plus our educational system, and the media for sure. It boils down to this; it is your fault if you did not get rich, blaming the victims is a normal way that the ruling class refuses to correct the system.
In a capitalist system, one can have the rich class and accompanying misery for the workers, or, a more like a socialist system with less than astronomical gap in wealth and earnings between the top, and bottom. Que voulez-vous?
I think we should applaud journalists whenever and wherever they advertently or inadvertently commit compassion, something that is highly discouraged by their bosses. It is not fair of FAIR to couple these two articles together. It takes away from their kudos to Bello. She had nothing to do with the succeeding article.
As for the second article, there is nothing newly or uniquely scandalous about that. As long as there is obscene wealth, there will be obscene products and services to be purchased with it.
It might be on purpose? I mean it’s hard for reporters / editors to really express their own potential disgust by what passes for new at their own publication… maybe this was someone’s subversive idea of commentary.
Free Spirit
When we talk about the newspapers, nothing has changed from the very beginning. Here is what a very well known 19 century American had to say about the press: “As for the newspapers, I do not chance to know one country that will deliberately print anything that will ultimately and permanently reduce the numbers of its subscribers. They do not believe it would be expedient. If we do not say pleasant things, they argue, nobody will attend to us.” Thoreau, 1859. Few years earlier, fanny Wright wrote, ‘The press does not speak the voice of the nation. It does not even speak the voice of those who write for it.” Our modern printed media is about one half commercials, and the other half lies, and half truths.
Early 20century well known woman Helen Keller was quoted: “The money power behind the newspapers is against socialism, and the editors, obedient to the hand that feeds them, will to any length to put down socialism.” The following quotes are from the book, The Little Red White and Blue Book, Revolutionary Quotations by Great Americans. Johnny (Appleseed) Rossen, Grove Press, Inc. New York, 1969, Second printing.
Bozidar Kornic
I meant to say “I agree with everything you said”.
Free Spirit,
Thank you, it helps when to have at least one in this group has an approval as you have. The way I see it, we have an irrational society, our obstacles are the system based on exploitation, greed, profit, and power. I have read our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence so many times, and yet I was unable to find the word ‘capitalism’ in any of these hollowed documents. In five of the 12 major world religions, greed is a greater crime than a killing of another person, because this pathological illness causes many killings. Power too, absolute power, corrupts absolutely. Reading Cicero and Ovid you will find this motto, “Corruptio optimi pessima.” (Corruption of the best man is the worst). And when it comes to our so called Guardians or Democracy, you will find in Juvenal, ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (Who will guard the guards), very illustrative as to what we have today. So poverty is men made, and CAN, and must be men corrected.
See how much your president and his Vice president have given to Charity.Judge them on that and only that- as the price for their entrances into the kingdoms of heaven, and earth.Then if you have one brain cell firing never think of them again as anything but what they are.Frauds,liars,and hypocrites.How is Obamas brother doing by the way.Still living in squaller?Ha ha ha.Ya cant make this stuff up
Michael e,
I have no clue what you are talking about. Are we judging Obama based on what he had donated, and what his brother got because of nepotism? I did not keep this kind of info, but since you do, please list the last 15-20 U.S. Presidents how much had each given to charity. In my previous email addressed to you, I offered to you an opportunity to collaborate with me on integrating Kant’s Categorical Imperative, The Basic Human Rights, and the answer to the question,’ what is a fair wage for any human activity called work.’ Have you thought about it, and if you did not, why not? I would be more than interested to know if you had read the book by Joe Conason, Big Lies, and The Right-Wing Propaganda and How it Distorts the Truth. You may find the entire Bush family in, and most of their ‘speculative’ swindles.
Free Spirit,
Let me bring up another passage from old Latin Poetry when Petronius talks about Nero…’Qui male agit odit lucem.’ (The evil doer hates the light). The Right-Wing propaganda hates the internet, and especially the Wiki leeks since they bring to light, expose, the abuses by the super wealthy, and the powerful banksters, politicians, and their coattails/servants. I am familiar with the Persian mythology and religions in general. I had in college courses that dealt with philosophy of religion, comparative religions, impact of religions on societies, and had to read a number of sources ‘prima facie’ (original documents) right in the very centers of these bastions of power, and deception. I did not read just the classics; those were the auxiliary sources for me. I am critical of both Plato, and Aristotle, I am skeptical of any ‘expert’ and never trust any politician 100%.
My wife’s first husband was from Pakistan, born in Iran. I talked to a number of Iranian students attending the same university with me, and got to know a lot of what had our country, and U.K. done to Iran to grab the oil.
I feel sorry for the guys like this ‘Michael e,’ who are defending the evil doers believing that it is ‘patriotic’ to get rich at the expense of those exploited. Their arguments in support of these sinister actions are at best just a palaver. The rich have a great occupation beside getting richer; Il n’y rien de mieux a faire que de s’amuser. Il vaut mieux s’exposer a l’ingratitude que de manquer aux miserable.
Bozidar You quote john Winthrop and I point out how far from him your president is ,yet you don’t get it.See if you get this.Under Obama poverty has exploded.And will continue to explode.His mode of government is flawed.It taxes success and subsidizes failure.You call anyone who has succeeded “evil doers”.And like obama you believe no one succeeds except on the backs of others.I consider that liberal clap trap.Self defeating.The fast train to the bottom.
Poverty will lesson when opportunity rises.The poor can not offer opportunity.The rich can.So when we demonize the rich in an effort to eliminate them …..we kill the engine toward the recreation of wealth.
I read all your posts.The fact is,is you are(and have been) educating yourself on anti capitalist,anti American literature.So surprise surprise you come out on the self fulfilling side of the coin.You still have not stated what form of government it is you do believe in.Obviously it is not ours.I still wonder why you stay in a land that rankles you so.I wonder if you don’t simply revel in the freedoms afforded.Freedoms to act like the smartest guy in the room as you attack all the keystones of this society.I met a lot of bores in Harvard with the same mentality.In the end it is so debilitating.
The ‘fast train to the bottom,’ started a long time ago, in 1972, when we started mass job exodus to China, thanks to Tricky Dick’s paradoxical politics with Communist Mao. And the ‘freedoms’ that Michael talks about are for the rich mostly. I talk about The Basic Human Rights being; food and shelter, education, health, jobs, free speech, and the right to life. These Rights are mostly the privileges for the rich, the poor have the right to go with less food, or hungry, be homeless, not be taken care of when sick, not be able to get the higher education, and of course, in the U.S. we consider 5% of unemployment as a FULL EMPLOYMENT, because, we have to have a sizable pool of unemployed people so that the wages would not go higher. I have read many a times this idea that we count the % of unemployed only above 5%. This is a SINE QUA NON in the capitalist economic system where the formula of supply and demand is a must.
Another point, I consider it my duty to fight against social injustices, and try to improve the lives of those in need. The rich class has bought the government; they are holding on to their privileges, I am trying to level the plainfield, have all the people, not just the rich, enjoy the very Basic Human Rights.
The Largest Brothel In America
“We worry endlessly about the blank-eyed prostitutes who sell their wares in skimpy costumes in the streets of our cities. I say that the most dissolute whores in America do not wear skin-tight hot pants, and low cut blouses. They wear business suits with dignified pinstripes, starched white collars, and two hundred dollar silk ties. They will sell themselves to whomever, and what ever will buy them-usually on the cheap. They have become the most powerful, the most skilled whores in the history of the world, piously, willfully screwing us under the bedcovers of government in the largest brothel in America, the Congress of the United States.” Gerry Spence, Give Me Liberty, p.209.
Link
I am sure about the 5% being considered by the Republicans as a nominal, or ‘normal; level of unemployment. This is NOT my approval. As for the necessity of the supply of the unemployed to keep the wages down, look up the historical data pertaining to the economic connection between the supply of labor, and the wages. My MA thesis was on the American Dream, and I learned a lot about this connection while doing the research.