SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 5, 2022
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/11/22
In this edition:
*Harvest Heads Up
*Differences in Neighborhoods
*Register Article on “Surplus”
*Why Do We Accept This?
*My Favorite Quote
*Did You Know?
*Harvest Heads Up
Harvest is upon us, and farmers are in the fields. Please be aware as you are driving or biking – farm implements are very large and slow moving. Please take your time and be careful – there are avoidable accidents every year. Take a little extra time and enjoy the scenery – Iowa is beautiful this time of year!
*Differences in Neighborhoods
I continue to marvel at the differences between the neighborhood I left on East Court Street in Iowa City, and the neighborhood to which I moved at 514 North Linn Street.
For starters – considering both sides of the street, my block on Court had 6 residential structures, one church, and 13 residents. My current block on Linn has 8 residential structures and about 100 residents.
Court had 7 garage stalls visible from the street. Linn has none. Court had thousands of cars pass by every day on a wide concrete road. Linn has just a couple hundred on a narrow brick street. Court had a stoplight; Linn has a stop sign.
On Court, we had two neighbors on one side, one on the other, who between them were 270 years old. On Linn, we have approximately 6 neighbors on one side, four on the other, and I would be shocked if their ages totaled 260.
Court Street had zero front porches. Linn has 5. Every structure on Court was built after 1960. Only one structure on Linn was built after 1960. Five out of 6 residences on Court were owner occupied; two out of eight on Linn.
I note this not to say one is better than the other; they are definitely different, however. Obviously, different strokes for different folks. I feel as though we have adjusted pretty well, but it is definitely a change!
*Register Article on “Surplus”
The Des Moines Register recently ran an article on the State of Iowa’s so-called “budget surplus,” and it read exactly like a campaign ad. The Register clearly sold it’s soul when it allowed Governor Reynolds to push it into no longer doing candidate endorsements. But now they have taken an additional step are simply letting her campaign write their news stories.
The real story on the “budget surplus” is this: Iowa got a tremendous amount of federal money during and after the pandemic. And Governor Reynolds has chosen to not spend it. So children, seniors, people with disabilities, low-income folks – they got very little. Meanwhile, Reynolds sits on this money for a bit, basically launders it, and gives it back to the wealthiest Iowans in the form of income tax cuts. It is shameful.
In the article, Reynolds proudly states that, “We have not listened to the self-appointed experts.” Who are those “self-appointed” experts? Actually, they are just experts. Economists and budget and policy experts from around the US. And the experts agree that Iowa has significant needs. Too bad the Register chose not to speak with any of them for the article!
Reynolds keeps talking about mental health, but never actually puts any new resources into the system. The pay for people who work in that industry is abysmal. Providers are screaming about the lack of resources. But rather than address this, the rich are going to get a check. The exact same thing is happening with our seniors. And teachers are leaving Iowa in droves.
Reynolds continues to choose the wants of the rich over the needs of the poor. And she should be called out on that!
But never fear! The Des Moines Register is on the story. Or not.
*Why Do We Accept This?
A friend and I had breakfast together a while back, and we kept running into a common theme: Why Do We Accept This? Why do we, as American citizens, accept certain situations? For example:
Why do we accept the phenomenal volume of gun deaths we have in this country? It is not like this in ANY other country in the world!
Why do we accept that the private sector needs to run healthcare? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!
Why do we accept that voluntary efforts will clean up our water? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!
Why do we accept the incredible wealth disparity in the US? It is not like this in ANY other country in the world!
Why do we accept the stock market as the only measure of the economy? It is not like this in almost ANY other country in the world!
We are told that, “This is how it works.” Except that for 99% of all people, it DOESN’T work! Do not just accept that things must be the way they are. Look around the world. It is eye opening.
*My Favorite Quote
The following ran in Salvos in 2018. It remains true today.
My all-time favorite quote comes from Saint Augustine (354-430), who said: “Charity is no substitute for Justice.”
This quote goes straight to one of the root problems of today’s neoliberal thought. Way too many people in this world think that because they give alms, they are doing their part. Perhaps a better analogy for today is, “I posted about it on Facebook, so I did something.” In fact, charity is easy. Justice is hard.
Here are some examples: You donate to the clothing drive at the local “poor school,” but you will not fight for redistricting and rezoning that eliminates the existence of the “poor school.” That is charity, not justice.
You volunteer at a food bank, but you will not support a higher minimum wage. That is charity, not justice.
You donate money to veteran’s groups, but you fail to speak out against unjust wars. That is charity, not justice.
Your City Council sponsors a Juneteenth celebration, but refuses to take seriously issues of disproportionate minority contact. That is charity, not justice.
Charity is generally a good thing. It is critical for individuals in the moment. But we must not lose sight of the march toward justice. We must not allow charitable good works to clear our consciences and pretend we have somehow done our part. Not until justice is served.
*DID YOU KNOW? The number of indigenous people living in the Americas prior to Columbus is widely debated by scientists. Some think there were as many as 112 million (in North, South, and Central America combined); others put that total as low as 10 million. Most land somewhere in the middle. Whatever the case, DNA research done by National Geographic shows a post-Columbus population crash unrivaled in human history.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 7:49 PM
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