Beech Tree News Network

Some newspaper articles in recent months have provoked my interest. The topics are loosely related. These five articles each shine a light on one of our nation’s problems.

-In December 2017, Joyce Rosenberg of The Associated Press reported that business owners were rebounding slowly from the recession years. Many of those survivors had to lay off workers, forgo salaries or find new ways to earn money. Surviving business owners have been thoughtful, being cautious about hiring or borrowing money. Some businesses survived by shifting or broadening their focuses; others started over in another arena. Rosenberg’s article (Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 17, 2017, 5C) provided descriptive sketches about the recession’s toll.

-Interestingly in the same newspaper (Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 17, 2017, 1C, 4C), Christopher Rugaber reported that some areas are thriving while others are failing. Alan Berube, an expert in metro U.S. economics at the Brookings Institute, explained, “There’s definitely a pattern of the coasts pulling away from the middle of the country on income.” He also said that many places have not yet gotten back to where they were 15 years ago. The author stated that eight of the ten cities with the largest income gains are tech hubs, but data shows that 65% of Americans in urban areas live in places where the typical household income is still below its 1999 level.

-In November 2017, Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan of The Washington Post wrote an article explaining that education advocates have seen a growing disdain for universities. “Though U.S universities are envied around the world, …conservatives want to reduce the flow of government cash to what they see as elitist, politically correct institutions that often fail to provide practical skills for the job market” (Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, November 26, 2017, 14A). Many worry about college cost, skyrocketing student debt, and the increasing difficulty for low-and-middle-income students to obtain an education. Finally, “…Trump has not emphasized the importance of Americans going to college,” largely ignoring higher education during his first year in office.

-In January, Roger Ford of the Appalachian News-Express wrote “Too Many Are Saying Farewell to Kentucky” (Todd County Standard, January 10 to 16, 2018, p. 2). Ford explained that a national study of state-by-state migration trends showed that Kentucky ranked eighth out of states that had more people moving out than moving in. “Of the number of Kentuckians on the move, nearly 55 percent said their reason was due to job opportunities elsewhere.” This out-migration often results in an increased tax burden on remaining individuals, families and businesses. It also results in local workforce shortages and decreased political influence, including the ability to qualify for federal and state funding.

-In June 2017, Jose A. Delreal and Scott Clement of The Washington Post discussed poll results showing the differences in rural and urban America ” (Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, June 25, 2017, 3C). One of their findings was that the poverty rates between the two areas were similar. Based on an analysis of Census Bureau data, they reported a 16% poverty rate in cities and a 17% poverty rate in rural areas.

As these newspaper articles show, economic factors impact our way of life. The longstanding problem of making a living is still a problem – individually, within the family, the community, the state or the nation: there are ripple effects. Winston Churchill said, “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required” (http://quotbasechest6.info/top-15-winston-churchill-greatest-quotes). One of the things that is clearly required is that we must proceed with caution and teach our children to be wise with financial resources. Life isn’t getting any easier.