Opened Door
In politics, the poor almost always get screwed. Plus: Reader’s Poll!
(Oct. 21, 2010) Investigating child abuse is not a priority. Neither is providing mental health services to children who need them. And providing child care for low-income parents trying to stay off welfare? Ha! says California’s governor, who sliced funding for the above out of the most recent overdue budget. Just a little reminder that the least powerful — children, the poor — are the most politically mistreated.
On a happier note, from an Oct. 12 NCJ blog post, Open Door Community Health Centers is scheduled to receive $9.8 million in federal funding to build a new facility in Eureka. As a long-time Open Door user, I’m thrilled for all of us. Sure, some people continue to believe health care is a privilege, not a right — but seriously, folks, an educated society realizes the benefit in taking care of its people. To know that low-income and insurance-less folks in Humboldt will have expanded and improved options definitely brings a little light into our currently bleak economic picture.
If doctor visits are not in your budget, take extra good care of yourself. You can’t stave off every illness, but you minimize your risk by the obvious: don’t smoke, take walks, do some yoga, meditate, eat your beets and please, oh, please, don’t skip the flossing. Uncared-for teeth can develop cavities, which can abscess or rot, needing expensive treatment that, when you can’t afford it, means you end up having your teeth yanked like some poor backwoods hillbilly — or the infection can spread into your brain and kill you. Brush for two minutes at least twice daily and floss once a day. Tedious, I know, but I remember the sound of my tooth cracking as a dentist broke it apart at the roots — extraction is cheaper than a root canal. Neither pass for fun. Better 10 tedious minutes a day than hours of pain, potential infection and dooming yourself to gumming your food in your old age. Listen to me now and you’ll thank me in the future!
Speaking of what we wished we’d done when we were younger, I recently asked people a question: “What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago about money?” Unsurprisingly, people had a lot to say. What surprised me was how contradictory that advice turned out to be.
On education:
“Go back to school and get your degree.”
“Teach your children that what university you go to matters if you want to make some real cash.”
“Don’t get suckered into spending twice as much to go to a ‘name-brand’ college.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent savage money
Jan. 20, 2011
Quit Your Whining
In this country, the destitute have never had it so good!
Dec. 23, 2010
Resolved: Solvency
After the Xmas deluge, put your financial house in order this January
Nov. 25, 2010
That Dreadful Time of Year
But if you keep your head about you, Christmas can actually be kinda fun
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
More →
10 Comments
Comment / By Jennifer Savage / Oct. 21, 6:38 a.m.
The conclusion I failed to add in the original column is, context is everything.
People who inherit a chunk of money or have parents willing to gift a down payment have a different reality when it comes to buying a home. Those who see no windfall in their future seek ways to have a fulfilling life as long-term renters.
Childless people with a knack for saving see both their past and future differently than the mom counting nickels to put gas in the car and praying the MediCal gets approved.
Voluntarily eating rice and beans for six months because you’re saving up for something big is not the same as eating rice and beans for six months because you can’t afford anything else.
Etcetera.
So the trick is, as always, to assess your own circumstances and figure out either how to live within them or to change them. Take advice accordingly.
Saving and flossing remains universally recommended.
On more bit of advice to the younger crowd: Being pretty rarely works out as a long-term career choice. Attractiveness is an asset, but cultivate your brain and personality with at least as much attention as you give your looks. That way, when they fade, or when you’re no longer the youngest, hottest thing in the room, you’ll still be able to hold your own – and you’ll be a hell of a lot more interesting person besides.
Comment / By Jim Walsh / Oct. 22, 3:22 p.m.
Thanks Jennifer, I really enjoyed reading the reminders (given in some familiar quotes). Sure, most of us have tried to adhere to the basic elements here. I am back in college (taking some loans…ouch!) and trying to save money, etc., but the reality is…well, at least I still floss.
Comment / By John / Oct. 22, 7:44 p.m.
Jennifer, I enjoyed the column but more so your comment that context is everything.
Comment / By Joel Mielke / Oct. 23, 2:07 p.m.
John said it well. Jennifer’s comment above made me glad I stopped to check the online version of the piece. The beans and rice aphorism is now a hand-written addendum in my Bartlett’s.
Comment / By Sarah O / Oct. 23, 9:17 p.m.
Jen’s addendum is great. But I also love the last sentence in the piece: “And vote to take care of those around you.” Most of us reading this have the choice of sorting out how we will spend or not spend. Always a good plan to remember those who don’t have even that choice.
Comment / By Jennifer Savage / Oct. 23, 9:35 p.m.
So hard to navigate the student loan decision. I’m floored by how deep in debt attending school left me, but I can’t say I would’ve done things too different given the circumstances I had to work with.
Thanks for all kind words! I appreciate the comments. Suggestions always encouraged.
Comment / By Joel Mielke / Oct. 24, 9:16 a.m.
Jennifer, I’d love to have you look at the local Payday Loan industry (the link is to an industry blog: they’re proud of the “services” they offer).
Comment / By Jennifer Savage / Oct. 24, 8:29 p.m.
Oh, Joel, don’t get me started! I could go on and on about the evils of the “payday loan” industry. For now, a look back at an earlier column:
Comment / By Joel Mielke / Oct. 24, 9:18 p.m.
I posted the first sentence from that same citation on Gary Rivlin’s website/blog some time ago. Another Savage in my Bartlett’s.
Comment / By Re: payday loans / Oct. 25, 10:37 a.m.
elizabeth warren is one of the latest celebrity politicians most people seem to be smiling on. She’s been coached starting a looooong time ago to be in her current position….a perfect example of open eyed political indoctrination, assisted by “the media” nonetheless. She’s all for payday loans and similar industry…she banks on it out in the open, but doesn’t say it like that, nor per her media clout is ever asked, let alone pressed on such matters.
…this is totally off topic, but so what. The pro-payday-loans site joel linked writes about her. Praise, nonetheless.