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k-THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1992
14A
Letters, from 4a
unimportant, but it is not a valid basis for conclusions on
economic mobility. The important question is what hap
pened to individuals during the period in question. Millions
of teenagers plus increasing millions of immigrants vying
for entry level jobs continue to flood the "poverty" rolls and
replace other millions moving up the economic ladder. It is
true that an ever increasing number of citizens has adapted
to welfare and extend no significant effort to enter the job
market but that does not signify the lack of opportunity for
the many others to whom welfare is a a temporary and un
desired condition of their lives. Two recent studies mea
sured economic mobility in the eighties, I am not aware of
any published studies covering a more recent period, but
would be surprised if the facts were much different.
A Treasury Department study done at the request of
Congress traced the incomes reported by 14,351 taxpayers
between 1979 and 1988. Only 14 percent of the taxpayers
who were in the bottom quintile in 1979 remained in the
bottom quintile in 1988; 14.7 percent of those in the lowest
quintile in 1979 rose to the highest in 1988. In other words
a person near the bottom in 1979 was more likely to rise to
the top (14.7 percent) than to remain at the bottom (14.2)
during the following decade. Also more than half of the top
1 percent in 1979 were not in that group in 1988.
Isabel Sawhill and Mark Condon of the Urban Institute
tracked the incomes of individuals over a nine year period
(see chart). They concluded: "The general public has been
led to believe that the poor were literally getting poorer over
the past decade and that the incomes of the rich were sky
rocketing. This is simply not true."
Incomes and Social Mobility
(1991 Dollars)
Average Family Income of
1977 Quintile Members in
1977 Quintile 1977 1986 % Change
Bottom 20% $15,853 $27,998 77
Second 20% 31,349 43,041 37
Third 20% 43,297 51,796 20
Fourth 20% 57,486 63,314 10
Top 20% 92,531 97,140 5
All 48,101 56,658 15
(Source: Urban Instituite)
The United States of America is still the land of oppor
tunity. It is likely to remain so unless increasing govern
mental interference on our affairs and a near universal dole
combine to destroy the driving initiative for upward
movement.
Your truly,
Theo L. Rosebrock
Perry
Passage of Amendment 3
will insure better health care
Dear Editor:
On Nov. 3, Georgians will have an opportunity to im
prove the lives of thousands of medically needy citizens of
our state by voting yes for Amendment 3 to modify the
Indigent Care Trust Fund. Since the Trust Fund began op
erating in 1991, it has brought more than S3OO million in
additional federal Medicaid funds to Georgia. If it is to
continue, it must be modified to comply with new federal
Medicaid guidelines.
These funds currently provide desperately needed basic
health care services to Georgia residents-particularly to
pregnant women and babies. Thanks to the Trust Fund,
more programs are offered to provide prenatal and postnatal
care to expectant mothers. It perhaps is the most effective
weapon we currently have to combat the horrendous death
rate of Georgia's babes. (Georgia is the worst state in the
nation for infant mortality.)
By voting "YES" for Amendment 3 on Nov. 3,
Georgians can be proud that they are voting yes to continue
providing basic health care for those most in need.
Jim Peak
Perry Hospital Administrator
Lucas makes plea to car
dealer
Dear Editor:
On August 11, 1992 I paid Wayne Morris Ford Co.
$lO6 to fix my air conditioner in my car. Two days later I
returned because the air conditioner would not work. Mr.
Wilder said it would cost another SSOO to fix it; they knew
when I left there that the air conditioner was not fixed.
I tried to work something out with them to get my SIOO
back. I'm sure SIOO to the Ford Co. doesn't seem much,
but to me and my son it is a great deal. I'm not a well per
son and I make three trips a week to Macon for treatment.
My son (8 yrs. old) needs a lot of things that SIOO could
buy.
Mr. Morris, I am appealing to your heart; please give us
back our money.
Thank You,
Grace Lucas
Ga. voters should vote 'yes' to
Amendment 3
Dear Editor:
Georgia voters will have an opportunity Nov. 3 to im
prove the lives of thousands of medically needy citizens of
our state by voting yes for Amendment 3 to continue the
state's Indigent Care Trust Fund. Since the Trust Fund was
established in 1991, it has brought more than S3OO million
in additional federal Medicaid funds to Georgia. If it is to
continue, it must be modified to comply with new federal
Medicaid guidelines.
These funds currently provide desperately needed basic
health care services to indigent Georgia residents-particu
larly to children, the elderly, pregnant women and babies.
The Indigent Trust Fund generates matching federal funds
which lessen the "cost shift" for treatment of the uninsured
and thereby contains tax and insurance premium increases.
However, voters must approve Amendment 3 if the
Indigent Care Trust Fund is to continue.
Until national policy is set for health care reform, this is
one thing voters can do to address the high cost of health
care and continue to provide basic health services for those
most in need.
Charlie Harman, president
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Reading association opposes
the lottery
Dear Editor:
Please say NO to the lottery. The Georgia Council of
International Reading Association Board, in their meeting
Oct. 17, 1992, went on record as opposing the lottery in
connection with education. These educators are tired of our
youth being the pawn when legislators want something
passed. Why is the future of our children placed in such a
risky situation? It was noted that these legislators did not
use highway improvements, raising political salaries and
building more prisons (we will need more because of crime
increasing) as their reasons for the lottery.
Are you aware that if the lottery is passed these legisla
tors can change the distribution of the monies to anything
they want in the next legislative session?
Educators from the other states with lotteries are quick to
say their educational programs have gone down-hill since
the lottery has become part of their finances.
Where will these pro-lottery people be when the bully
takes the student's lunch money away to buy lottery tickets;
that teenager is stealing everything for his gambling habit
(most start from 13 to 19 years); or that precious child
asks, "What am I going to do? Mama and daddy gambled
all our money away and I don’t have a home to go to?"
Georgia teachers are already having to deal with neglect,
abuse, poverty, drugs and alcohol, and now they want to
add gambling.
Please be a real friend to education - VOTE NO on Nov.
3, 1992.
Your friend for education,
Sandra C. Odom
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Legislative Chairman
Georgia Council International
Reading Association
Clinton's record shows he
shouldn't be president
Dear Editor:
While it is late in the season to write this, I must do so in
all good conscience.
Who is Bill Clinton? As the Governor of Arkansas, he
raised taxes and fees 128 times. The spending of tax money
nearly doubled during the 12 years of his tenure as
Governor, and the state debt doubled. Government man
agement was ranked 41st worst, and state bureaucracy
ballooned.
Compared to other states, this is how Arkansas ranks.
It is number 50, at the bottom of the list on youth em
ployment and workplace safety. It is number 50 for lack of
government action to protect the environment.
Bill Clinton says he is an education man, Arkansas ranks
50, at the bottom of the list in teacher pay. It also ranks 50,
at the bottom of the list, in pre capita spending on police,
and 50 in per capita justice system spending.
Here are some other ranks for Arkansas:
Economy
44th in tax fairness;
48th in disposable personal income;
47th in per capita income;
48th in percentage of people living in poverty;
17th highest tax burden;
Environment
48th in overall environmental quality;
42nd in percent of clean rivers and streams; and
10th highest in per capita ozone depleting emissions.
Education
47th in per capita education spending;
sth highest percent of adult illiteracy; and
43rd in per capita higher education spending;
Children
45th in well being of children;
45th in low-weight babies;
49th in child death rates;
47th in teen violent death;
45th in single teen births; and
9th highest in percent of children in single parent fami
lies.
We certainly need to look at this record for service as
Governor and know that his record a President would not
be any better.
Anne Ward Cork
Valdosta, GA