Letters to the editor

Dispelling myths about poverty

”Try That In A Small Town” is in the news. Apparently, one thing we don’t do in this small town is build affordable housing for those looking to come to Washington to work and be part of the community.

The mission of Washington for Justice is to help create a welcoming community where all people, regardless of their socio-economic status, race, ethnic background, religion or sexual-gender identification are embraced.

We were disheartened to see that the proposed project to build affordable housing in Washington was skuttled mainly due to opposition from some residents.

It is sad to believe that some Washington residents think in such classist and stereotypical ways about those that are less well-off than they are. To see low-income people described as loud, obnoxious, lawbreakers, and other stereotypical tropes defies reason and reality. The unspoken racial component speaks loudly.

Here is the truth. More than 40% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 60 will be poor for at least a year of their lives. Over the same period, more than half of Americans will be poor or nearly poor, with income at 150% of the poverty line. Many of those opposing affordable housing their neighborhood have probably experienced poverty at some point in their life.

Here are some myths about the poor:

MYTH: Poor people are unmotivated and have weak work ethics.

Although poor people are often stereotyped as lazy, two-thirds of people living in poverty work an average of 1.7 jobs; 83% of children from low-income families have at least one employed parent. That sound you hear at night might just be parents coming or going to that late night extra job.

MYTH: Poor people tend to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Although drug sales are more visible in poor neighborhoods, drug use is equally distributed across poor, middle class, and wealthy communities. Studies have found that alcohol consumption is significantly higher among upper middle class white high school students than among poor black high school students. Middle and upper classes simply hide their addictions better.

MYTH: Those who get on welfare stay on welfare.

Of the poor that receive welfare assistance, more than half stop receiving benefits after a year, 70% within two years, and 85% within four years. Welfare is normally a short-term support.

A welcoming community will build affordable housing, reject the myths and stereotypes, and provide help and support for people looking to improve their lives. Washington for Justice will promote and support the building of affordable housing for our community.

Dan Henderson

Washington for Justice

Not just a clump of cells

If you are pronounced dead when your heart stops beating, why aren’t you declared alive when your heart starts beating? Thankfully, that is what our Governor and State Legislature approved in the Fetal Heartbeat bill that was recently passed.

Yet, there are those who oppose protecting the lives of our most innocent and vulnerable – our brothers and sisters in the womb. We have been misled! For almost 50 years, the mainstream media and abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Abortion Clinic in Iowa City have drummed these ideas into our heads:

My Body, My Choice!; It’s just a clump of cells; It’s a quick fix to an unplanned pregnancy.

Misleading and wrong on all counts.

A preborn baby has never been part of a woman’s body – nourished by her body, yes – but a separate, unique human being from conception. Follow the science!

Clump of cells/blob of tissue. Hardly! The heartbeat can be detected at about 5 weeks; brain waves – 42 days; hiccups and yawns – 52 days; all organs function – 8 weeks; fingerprints – 9 weeks; 10 weeks – can feel pain; 12 weeks – can smile. Follow the science!

Quick fix? Nope! Women report regretting their abortion years after ending the life of their preborn child, leading some to abuse alcohol, drugs, and even attempt suicide. Adoption is the loving option if one is unable to provide for their child.

Will it take 50 years for us to learn the truth about abortion? I pray not.

I won’t even go into detail about all the facts about abortion being a multi-billion dollar a year business, with Planned Parenthood’s 2019-20 annual report showing $1.6 billion in income and in 2018-19, performing 354,871 abortions. Heartbreaking.

Karen Crossland

Fairfield