Blog Action Day: Where do we stand on this day?

Today is Blog Action Day wherein people all over are joining together to think and write about poverty. It's a big task to undertake, and quite frankly, I'm not completely sure where to start. As I sit writing this I am thinking about the state budget cuts that are set to be announced later today. And, of course, I can't help but think every day about the larger economic crisis facing our country and the globe. So, if I am to write about poverty today, on a day when finances are pretty much all that's in the news, I guess I should consider the link between the news and how it affects people at the lower end of the economic spectrum.

Like many Americans I have watched my retirement account plummet over the last couple weeks. While it's disconcerting I realize that I have about 35 years left in my career (yikes), and I'll surely recover. So, while it hurts I'm trying to consider the bigger picture. I have savings, a good income, a home I can afford, and a Master's degree I can always hang my hat on. I can try to imagine the experience of someone without all those assets during a time like this. What if I were the same person I am today - a 31 year old single woman - but without financial stability? What if I didn't have a college education? The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds the median weekly earnings for a high school graduate is $595, whereas a person with a Master's degree can expect $1,140 per week. What if I had a low-wage job, or had to piece together a couple part-time jobs? I'd probably always worry about how to make it work, and how to hang on to those jobs when unemployment is increasing. People living near or below the poverty level are facing a much more uncertain future than I am.

Isn't it ironic that when there's an economic downturn and people need more support, there's always less public and private support to go around? With tax revenues down dramatically (because people are making less money) Massachusetts is faced with making very difficult budget cuts this evening. I imagine it will be impossible for the Administration not to make cuts to social service programs that are designed to help people travel the pathways out of poverty. Maybe I can think of this as an opportunity. Maybe this will be my personal call-to-action. I will recommit myself to doing what I can to help out during this challenging economic time. Even though my budget is getting tighter, it still doesn't compare to those who are facing layoffs. I can step up my giving to human service programs. Will you?