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Jose and Maria
The JOSE and MARIA DILEMMA: A Stepback Analysis Similar to the challenge faced by every individual or organization which is in a helping mode: does all the good work change lives, either from an offensive standpoint — moving forward, or a defensive standpoint — avoiding negative results, the question arises: where are we […]
In My Shoes
IN MY SHOES Why are there two police cars with flashing lights outside the restaurant where the Hispanic Resource Center (HRC) is interacting with people applying for assistance from its Emergency Relief Fund (ERF)? Are they interested locally or are they coordinating with ICE? The latter was in town two days before, at a […]
Truth in Travelogues
TRUTH IN TRAVELOGUES Christmas, 2024 Number three in a truly discontinuous series that began decades ago. It had been several years since I logged the 600 mile (one-way) trip to be with my daughters and their families on the Big Day itself. Not yet being into the world of podcasts, I knew that something […]
Jose Santiago
JOSE SANTIAGO: AN INTROSPECTIVE VIGNETTE PRE-ELECTION, as Written by an Anglo Friend In 1990, my father Carlos came to the United States from Colombia. As we say within the family or with trusted friends, “he took the scenic route.” Like the vast majority of those attracted to this country for many years, Carlos wanted to […]
Everything But …
The car engines kept exploding; in fact they were killing people. While the engine manufacturers recognized that an engine was involved, they insisted the engines were not relevant to the problem. So the companies making car doors reinforced their product, providing some protection if the engines exploded, which they continued to do. The stronger doors […]
RESPECT UNIVERSITY
Our phone number is 737-732-8968 (RespectYou). We answer the phone with a human voice, because it is a human. Better yet, come visit. We’re open 24/7; please bring your own coffee. Respect University (RU) is located at 842 Peachtree Lane, Fredricksburg, Virginia 07683. Surprise: RU knows that the cost of college is like a big […]
A Callous Country
It is difficult to succinctly summarize the prior Negative Data Observations. Below is my emotional take, some of which connects to specifics in the three parts of NDO; some of which would require extended essays. What is the common message in the following attitudes: resistance to gun reform legislation, non-differentiated approach to […]
Negative Data Observations: Part Three
(7) Erosion in the American Dream. *Can anyone who works hard get ahead regardless of background? 2012: 53%, 2016: 48%, 2023: 36%. The latter number drops to 28% when the poll respondent is under 50. It also drops to 28% when the respondent is a woman. *Will you earn more than your parents: 55%, down […]
Negative Data Observations: Part Two
(4) Two huge costs. *Healthcare insurance more than four times what it cost in 2000. A brutally expensive category that cries out for systemic policy changes. *Apartment rents in the past 20 years up 135% compared with personal income up 77%. *Number of rental units under $600/month: 7.2 million compared with 9.4 million in 2022. […]
Negative Data Observations: Part One
(1) It starts with the family. *1980: 77% of children lived with married parents; today, it is less than 60%. Some 25% of children live in a one-parent home; this is a higher percentage than any country with relevant data. It is difficult to detect anything positive from these data. *62% of white children living […]