It was said the plant was to go in there because the area had not yet recovered from the last Recession? Of course, the $3 Billion in Tax Incentives to be provided won't hurt any either? What did we offer to the non starting Cracker Plant South of P'burg to go in there? 25 years of reduced Property Tax Reductions and a tax on "Personal Property" at 5% which is called "salvage value" that was said to be worth over $500 Billion Dollars? (I just caught a typo. it is 500 MILLION in incentives) Corrected 2:30 P.M., 31 July 2017. Yet, that plant seemingly is still on hold after one of the mug wumps from Brazil where the company is located seems to have gotten himself arrested in Spain on charges of bribery? Should have stayed here where bribery is a non-existent issue? Now it seems the powers that be are saying that Plant will not happen because of recalculated smaller reserves of Gas. So now we are off on the huge Storage Facility idea like the "Strategic Petroleum Reserve"?
In any case, when I first heard about that huge plant and its potential payroll, I envisioned it in the Southern part of the State where it would have been like a chamber maid marrying a Prince? Wait a minute, that sounds like Cinderella? I don't know if we ever had the work recession to begin with since the State has been rolling up its businesses for years as it regressed into a poverty bowl of Tax Dollars in for survival of so many versus a stand up place that could pull its own weight? But we have to remember that this has been a hot bed of Obama programs to keep people on the dole and enticing ever more to join up.
When I saw what had happened, I initially thought maybe Mr. Trump had pulled it off? But than going back over the past 18 months where Mr. Ryan has stonewalled Mr. Trump at every turn, it seemed he had made the coup happen?
And here is something that was so telling to me that someone had pulled off a Helluva deal:
NICO SAVIDGE Wisconsin STATE JOURNAL
28 July 2017 (posted here 2:00 P.M. 30 July 20217)
"UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank had a two-part pitch for Foxconn executives when she chatted with them during a dinner at the governor’s mansion earlier this month.
First: Her university could play an important role in training the workers who would fill Foxconn’s facility........................"
So may I ask, where the Hell are we in this game? They have a University that will train people for needed openings. We have Colleges/ Universities that can not seem to train anyone for anything? At least to keep them at home, here in West Virginia? Did West Virginia even try for that facility? Or did our gang in D.C. spend their capital on defeating the Health Care Bills? Damn but what that would have been a great deal for here. Mr. Ryan is for sure a mover and a shaker. And all this while working Mr. Trump like a puppet.
Going back to the Forum on Poverty Barriers article in the Daily Blat of 25 July, it seems there are a hundred reasons for not going to work. The so called cut off of State/ Federal assistance should one have the good luck to land a job. I am of mixed thoughts on the so called "gradual reduction in assistance" idea? It may well have some merit for some folks, but others would not learn to adjust into the new salary/ wages versus intermittent assistance/ wages/ salaries? That is called knowing how to manage ones money and too few can really do well at that unless they are disciplined enough to know how and when to say "NO". Not just to the urchins who want all the garbage goodies but even to themselves.
This "I grew up in poverty" song is for sure sad, but many of us grew up living in a family that lived from paycheck to paycheck. And speaking for myself, when my stepfather died and my mother was fighting not to die from her disease, things got really tight for me. While I had the family home to live in, I had to insure that the few dollars a month my mom sent me (50.00 to be exact), had to pay phone, lights, water, garbage, food for me. I learned to live on a large can of Pork and Beans for three (3) meals and that excluded lunch at school which cost me $.30/ day if I had any money by the end of the month? No free lunches/ breakfasts in those days. That can of beans was "Brunch and Dinner" on a weekend.
Transportation was either 1. the school bus during the week. 2. Hitchhike to School or, if I did anything after school such as Track, Cross Country or Wrestling; or on weekends, no matter the weather and in the Pacific Northwest along the Coast, it can get really, really wet. 3. Catch a ride with a friend who may have a car and was going where I needed. It was not my policy to ask for a special stop if not right on my friends agenda. Can't abuse favors much or people can resent it?
If one does not know how to drive, ask your friends to teach you. If they are your friends, they will say yes and help or better yet, tell you why they would not trust you behind the wheel of their rig.
Once I graduated, I worked odd jobs until I turned 18 and got a job in the local Plywood Mill. I walked/ hitchhiked even then until I could save up money for a down payment on a car. Try walking down a road after a swing shift from 3:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M. where you might see three cars during that two hour hike at night? At least more traffic during the day.
Now there is no doubt that transportation here can be tough. But there is a semi bus system for those who have daytime needs to go somewhere if willing to walk some from the route at its closest point? Maybe for the kids and I know this is going to make some say "NO, but Hell NO", I would suggest the possibility of a School arranging for a child to be picked up/dropped off even if in the so called "walk zone" if it would help to get them somewhere? Would require some very close coordination and insure non abuse by the user to get where needed? Just a thought to augment the limited commercial bus routes and could not compete with it.
I am going to really push the envelope here and suggest looking at allowing non-students to ride a bus in limited areas on a needs based program? Understand Liability issues, but that is when we sign waivers about sometimes? Just some thoughts that cost nothing and if can do any good for a few might be worth the effort?
As for a Library or the internet, was no internet in the day. School Library closed when school ended unless one was in detention? Than that extra hour if serious about classes. Town Library was tough to get too when open and Sunday was a non-event.
Some of what I read in the article and saw in what passes for another media source still seemed to want to rely on the various assistance programs versus self help? Life is tough in this World folks and not going to get better no matter our Prayers. The infamous "Blood, sweat and tears" is what it will take. I still believe that "God helps those who help themselves".
Why am I putting out my early years of High School and going to a job? Because living in Poverty as it is called is embarrassing, painful and an emotional nightmare when people look down on you because you are wearing clothes obviously from Goodwill or the Salvation Army?
While wearing a pair of white corduroy pants which were WAY out of style and having people make fun of me because I was wearing them to School taught me humility to understand what it is like to be poor. But, if one really wants to do something, they will persevere to get it done. And that builds character which will stand them in good stead all the rest of their days.
Am very sympathetic on struggling to make do from one month to another several times over the years. Some my problems, others beyond my control. But in each and everyone, I pulled in my belt and made it happen.
I am not ashamed now of having been poor; I had no control over it. I am a bit ashamed now in telling the stories of then versus now. But it shows as I said that one can succeed to one degree or another, if willing to work for it. Probably more than "nuff said" this time?