Location, location, location.  and poverty.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/upshot/an-atlas-of-upward-mobility-shows-paths-out-of-poverty.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/03/upshot/the-best-and-worst-places-to-grow-up-how-your-area-compares.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Forcing Black Men out of Society.  Race and Class Matters
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/opinion/sunday/forcing-black-men-out-of-society.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

Forcing Black Men out of Society.  Class and Race Matters
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/opinion/sunday/forcing-black-men-out-of-society.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

Here's a reminder on the different kinds of posts expected in reference to our readings or to the posted articles.   If you are focusing on the articles I've posted, please make references to course texts. You must use each of the kinds of posts below at least once and label the post. 

ARGUMENT and evidence:  Describe the author’s argument or main idea and then explain that argument in your own words. The goal here is to look beyond the data or information in the text and focus on the point(s) or contribution to the topic.  It might be helpful to draw on the evidence.

Choose three significant QUOTES from the text and explain what they mean, their relevance and how they have shaped your understanding of this text. (this is for the course readings)

Use the reading/ post  to make CONNECTIONS to two other readings we have done in class.  Identify the author’s main idea and then discuss it in relation to others. 

Discuss the issues the author raises in the text in relation to real world concerns by creating HYPERLINKS to articles, videos, and other websites that illuminate the issues at hand. Discuss both the text and the hyperlink in detail to fully explain the connections.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/upshot/why-workers-without-much-education-are-being-hammered.html?ref=us&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0
Fascinating article.  "The median earnings of working men aged 30 to 45 without a high school diploma fell 20 percent from 1990 to 2013 when adjusted for inflation."

http://abc13.com/news/towing-company-responds-to-reporters-temper-tantrum/668719/
did you see this reporter's angry comments when her car was towed?  Yes, she lost her temper but I was struck by the content of her comments.  Is this classism?  Explain? 

http://bitchmagazine.org/post/reliable-birth-control-should-be-for-everyone%E2%80%94not-class-divide
another way of looking at women and class

Punitive welfare restrictions and classism? 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/07/the-double-standard-of-making-poor-people-prove-theyre-worthy-of-government-benefits/

The double-standard of making the poor prove they’re worthy of government benefits

 What do you think of this article and the 3 reasons this is problematic?

 and for the flip side.....   http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/09/the-rich-get-government-handouts-just-like-the-poor-here-are-10-of-them/?tid=pm_business_pop_b

stop the poor from taking cruises!  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/04/kansas-welfare_n_7001116.html

more on punitive welfare restrictions
 http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article18673983.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/what-if-black-america-were-a-country/380953/
If Black America were a country

The 2015 National Urban League report on The State of Black American was just issued.
Here is a summary of the report with good charts.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/state-of-black-america-infographic_n_6905594.html

As we learned from the DOJ report, its always best to see the full report
http://soba.iamempowered.com/

Here's an article on how policy, the systems under which we live, directly shape one's opportunities and place some in a life of poverty.
http://www.thenation.com/article/201089/should-criminal-record-be-life-sentence-poverty

this article addresses many of the criticisms that we often have of how poor people live and manage their money.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-5-stupidest-habits-you-develop-growing-up-poor/

Here are several articles on the Department of Justice recent report on the police department in Ferguson.  The first is an article on the report, the second is an editorial and the third and fourth underscores the vulnerability of poor and working class people to police systems.
You can also find the DOJ report online.  Reading just the table of contents is instructive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/justice-department-finds-pattern-of-police-bias-and-excessive-force-in-ferguson.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/us/us-calls-on-ferguson-to-overhaul-criminal-justice-system.html
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-robinson/the-shocking-finding-from-the-doj-ferguson_b_6858388.html
http://www.thenation.com/article/200345/its-not-just-ferguson

Here is whole DOJ report
 http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/04/ferguson_police_department_report.pdf

I raised this in class in reference to the retreat from national citizenship and political action that Fine et al found in their study of alienated poor and working class high school students.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/198369/why-do-americans-feel-entitled-tell-poor-what-eat

This is a really interesting article on how and why so many people feel they can criticize the shopping choices of people who have EBT

Exploring Income Inequality,  The Loss of Shared Prosperity

The link below provides some easy to read and to understand charts about the growth of income in the US up to the 1970s and then after when there is a sharp change in income and in distribution..  Please take a moment to review.  I'll post the next charts in a few days.

http://www.offthechartsblog.org/exploring-income-inequality-part-2-the-loss-of-shared-prosperity/

Be sure to read about the purpose and objectives of The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities so you can better assess its credibility.

John Oliver on inequality

Hello everyone,
Many apologies for my delay in getting this up and beginning our conversations.  I've been down with the flu and then there was some snow and wind ..............hope everyone has been able to stay warm.   Waiting to see all your introductions

I thought it might be fun to start with a conversation prompted by a video piece on income inequality.  I'm a big fan of John Oliver who has a new HBO show that discusses interesting contemporary issues with a measure of humor, irreverence, and some profanity.  This 14 minute clip is on income inequality. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgSEwjAeno&noredirect=1
Here are some issues this raised for me; what does Obama suggest that American stands for here?  Why is it so toxic to discuss income inequality?  Oliver argues that it is very peculiar that in a democracy, policy makers have been so very successful in passing legislation that disproportionately benefits the wealthy.  what is his explanation for this and what do you think of this idea? How do we make sense of the poll where Americans recognize incredible inequality in wealth but also believe that people can get ahead (mobility) if they just work hard enough.
feel free to weigh in on any or all of these.