It now takes a yearly income of $96.513 to be able to afford a median price home in Los Angeles—$481.000. That is the third highest in the country. The highest needed income of $145,361 is In San Francisco, and the second highest of $101,682 is in San Diego. These figures assume a 30-year mortgage at 4.25% and a 20% down payment. As a result, the housing market in California is needless to say slow, although as one would expect, the high-end market is doing quite well. Yes, there is the other end of the spectrum where the lowest needed yearly salary for a median priced house in that area is in Pittsburgh with $32,373. Regardless of those few housing markets that appear affordable, the high cost of housing in several key areas of the country continues to exclude an increasingly larger group of people. It’s only a matter of time before such prices have more general consequences because rents are affected too. The cost of housing in turn affects disposable income, and when it does, it’s a concern, because with less money, people spend less and the economy of that area suffers. The housing numbers, collected by the mortgage research firm HSH.com, may seem dull but behind them there are realities affecting many lives—and a new poll tells us the American Dream. That’s why high housing costs have prompted both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae to announce new housing programs with down payments as low as 3%, given that 20% down payment is a main obstacle to home ownership. Less people now believe that the American Dream, so centered on owning your own home, is within reach. These measures are a good step, but it’ll take a whole lot more than scattered efforts to restore the average person’s faith that the American dream can still be part of the national psyche.
Category: Social Conscience
Dear Officer Wilson
I saw clips of your interview with George Stephanopoulos and couldn’t help but be stunned by your certainty. You took a human life and you are apparently totally certain you acted rightly? Could it be that your moral compass is so narrow it doesn’t allow for doubt? There’s something about taking a human life and not questioning it that is very distressing. Often, that is what makes a criminal different from someone else. Being a police officer may familiarize someone with firearms, but in and itself does not restrict the use of that person’s conscience. I do wonder if you had handled the whole episode of the shooting as well as its aftermath with more humility—and I’m not even suggesting remorse or contrition, just humility—if the Ferguson Police Department and the DA had also handled the whole matter with more humility, meaning with some acknowledgment of doubt, if the reaction would have been as violent as it has been? It seems to me that wisdom would point to anyone in your position having some qualms, questions, regrets about taking a human life, no matter how justified the taking of that life might have been. Since there was none coming from you, I ask myself if what within yourself prompted you to shoot, or even to feel threatened, does not come from an equal lack of wisdom? That is why it is so hard to trust the verdict, or even what you say, for perhaps you are saying that you acted rightly in order to defend your action more than to describe what happened. You say you have a clear conscience, is that what you truly believe? As it stands your position and that of Ferguson’s police Department and DA have fueled anger, distrust and destruction. Naively or not, I do believe some acknowledgement of doubt, some show of humility, would have cast the whole shooting in a different light and at the very least lessened the violence. The Grand Jury did not charge you, essentially saying you are not guilty. But morally, and certainly spiritually, it’s a whole different answer.
The Love of Guns
During the first 10 months of 2014 the TSA seized 1855 firearms from people about to board airplanes. Of these 1471 were handguns and rifles which were loaded. The seizures occurred mainly in the airport of certain areas: Dallas/Fort Worth, Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta, Phoenix Sky Harbor and Houston George Bush International. The number of firearms which people attempted to carry on board has steadily increased since 2005 when 606 were uncovered. The TSA however declined to speculate as to the why for the increase. The 1855 firearms seized in the last few months were actually part of the 3084 weapons, firearm components, stun guns, replicas and inert explosive material which were detected in that same period. Arrests occur in about 20% of the cases, and the most common explanation given by travelers for having a firearm is that they forgot they had a weapon in their carry-ons. It’s a reason that does stretch one’s credulity. Regardless, it speaks for the love of guns some have. More than that it speaks for the love of guns of some placing many at risk. I have every reason to believe the TSA does its best, but after reading this story, I was left wondering if people really think they can make it through security checks with firearms, what does get through undetected?
Corporate Culture Gone Awry
Maybe you’ve read that Wal-Mart announced recently that it is ending health coverage for those of their workers who are working 30 hours or less per week. The plan, effective January 1st affects 2% of Wal-Mart’s 1.4 million workforce. They’re not alone, Target and Home Depot made similar announcements a few months ago. The Affordable Care Act mandates companies to provide health care for those working over 30 hours. Those who work less than 30 hours can it seems qualify for federal premium subsidies, or if their state allows it, enroll in Medicaid, a practice which leads critics to say that employers are dumping their employees on the government. There are two ironies at work here. The first is minor, the announcement follows another a few days before about Wal-Mart opening health clinics in some of its store also around the first of the year. The other goes deeper, it reflects the fact that corporations which have been so vocal against the Affordable Care Act, have become so adept at using it, and at doing the very thing they claim was wrong with it—that is to swell those being helped by government. One could say the Evil Empire has multiplied, but I doubt that would be helpful. Instead one could just recognize that Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot et al. are perfect examples of a corporate culture gone awry, one which places its own interests above those of the nation.