Blog Post 6 : Reflections on Researching the Social Context of other U.S. Cities

         As we worked in small groups last week and researched the social dynamics of a particular city outside of our own, I was intitiallystruck by a feeling of pessimism based on the possibility that the whole country may suffer a decline in health and well bein based on the current administrations stance and policy on the eradication of needed services vulnerable populations may face.  Maine is one of the smaller states population wise and when you begin talking about major cities, you start to wonder how devastating it could be for millions.
          I can't go as far as to say that healthcare should be a "right". I'm a proponent of socialized heathcare/single payer system yet to call it a "right" is difficult for me because "healthcare" is a term with loose connotation as well. Healthcare at least, has to be affordable for citizens. Before it was pulled off the table, Trumps attempt to repeal ObamaCare looked nothing short as either an attempt to sabotage the work previous president Obama provided for providers or decrease taxes for wealthy individuals. By no means was Obamacare perfect by any means but it DID improve the access of healthcare to many more Americans than previously. President Trump's bill seemed to do the opposite.
           Another observation I've had is in regards to the DHHS service. When I first got involved with social services 15 years ago or so, the Department of Health and Human Services was some what of a prestigious place to work at. Almost as if, you have reached your full potential if were successful enough to get hired by the state as  DHHS worker. Yet slowly over time, funding taken away, programs ending and not returning, pay freezes, etc. DHHS has turned into  almost like a laughing stalk because the ridiculously long waits, high turn over with staff, the inability for several sections of DHHS to cross communicate with each other leading to often communication issues and a diffusion of responsibility from the agency as a whole.

The reason I bring up DHHS is because it feels as though the Governor of Maine has similar beliefs and aspirations at the president. My worry is that all social services program will in shambles across the United States like how I perceive DHHS to be. But that's just one program, there's so many social service programs looking for a reduction including planned parenthood, and meals on wheels etc.  that are all around the country that could literally kill many of the vulnerable populations..

Blog 5: Trump and the "rural vote"

I would argue that the social services set up in Maine is a microcosm for the difficulties that  rural communities in the United States face with accessing and providing  services to those in need. The list includes lack of medical, mental health, education, and basic needs such as food, and toiletries, can be worlds apart between cities like Portland and Lewiston compared to small towns like Buckfield and Mars Hill in Aroostook county.

Another way in which the state of Maine is a microcosm for the United States in terms of rural living verses dense areas is the way in which those communities voted in the presidential election. Just like on the national level, for the most part, The more rural and lack of services, the more votes went for Trump which inevitably led to him being the 45^th president of the Unites States. If you take a look at his popularity in the state, it's almost parallel with the size and economic stability of the town or city. The outliers of this are the small towns who have been historically known for their economic richness such as Bar Harbor and Ogunquit who both have plenty of outside money coming in and both had much more Hillary votes in November compared to Trump.



We know that Hillary Clinton did much better in mega cities like New York and Los Angeles and won the popular vote by almost three million but questions remain. Why did Trump get so many rural votes in Maine and in the nation compared to Hillary. Why is the country so divided in this regard in so many areas of the United States? Of course those questions can't be easily answered yet part of Trump's appeal was his stance on jobs, specifically manufacturing jobs that have been notoriously sent over seas for cheaper labor prices. Trump getting upon a podium in areas that are chronically poor, and have faced rapid deindustrialization and severe job loss (Wei et al. 2013) promising to punish companies who do, do that practice along with promising to build a wall to prevent the immigrants from “taking our jobs” coming from a billionaire who has the appearance of knowing how to run businesses. If you're a white male with “traditional” American values, this may be an option you would gravitate to especially if the Obama years didn't help you obtain any good job with benefits and your health insurance continues to rise and rise and rise.

Unfortunately however, for those living in rural, Trump has thus far done nothing thus far for the same rural people that got him elected such as the low income Home Energy Assistance Program, Federal Aviation Administration which provides services to rural airports, USDA feeding programs, and most notably that's directly effected for rural prosperity is his call to completely eliminate the Rural Business and Cooperative Service that gives loans to individuals and in return fuels the economy (Hopkins Boudreau, Bottemiller 2017). There are many more cuts as well that are similar which Trump is looking to eliminate as well.





Hopkins, J., Boudreu, C., Bottemiller E.H. (2017) Rural voters lose in Trump's budget plan. Retrieved from http://politico.com/story/2017/03/trump/-budget-rural-voters-236153



Weil, M., Reisch, M., & Ohmer, M. (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd Edition.  Sage

Blog 4: rural and community practice

I came to the realization that this week of how much I truly love the arts and volunteering in the community for the idealistic view that I can make a difference and make a better environment for all. Unfortunately, I've also come to realize that I have become somewhat jaded in my experiences of community organization and the arts in the community as well.

It's been a little over ten years ago since I was in undergrad school participating in a program my senior year that involved volunteering in the community for a nonprofit organization.  That program was called Lots to Gardens and the premise was and is, is  to support the community by building and sustaining gardens in spots where there are vacant lots in urban areas. I loved that idea and jumped willingly to the chance to be part of something. Although I completely enjoyed my time building fences, creating gardens, and working with volunteers, I also began understanding the realistic sustainability of programs like that when the actual volunteers step away from the picture. As I observed in that program, few people if any who actually lived in the buildings adjacent to the lots came out to participate in the program even after receiving notification that work will be done.


The documentary Chambless showed more of the rural side of community engagement and at some points while viewing, I felt the hair stick up on my arms hearing the history of that community in a small town in West Texas. I feeling of redemption for a town with apparent low moral and very little identity outside of football. Mart, like other racial divided towns in the south have divisions. Divisions in communities are often both spatial and normative (Weil pg. 463 2016). A town with history that can viewed as a microcosm for small towns in the south with a long slow decline in its economy and still much of a racial divide with one item aspect of the community keeping pride alive. As evident in the documentary, Football is that one thing.
As the community organizer listed at one point as the purpose of the organization was hope healing, and reconciliation (Gersenblatt-Davis 2011) in regards to creating a portion of a library to the black history of the town. Although the mission is of the project has great intent, the sustainability of it may be difficult left inside Mart Texas.








Gersenblatt-Davis, P. (Producer). (2013). Chambless [Film].  Retrieved from      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVLobZIQ58



Weil, M., Reisch, M., & Ohmer, M. (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd    Edition. Sage.

SWO 553 # Building a better community

T         The TED Talk featuring Jason Roberts was very inspiring to hear as the simplicity that is needed to basically make the change you want to see in your community. Roberts opens his presentation which had the biggest impact on me by reporting how him and his wife went to Europe and saw memorable and aesthetically pleasing art and layout at places people would stop, eat, rest, etc. that was intentionally either left there or created there for those purposes.  He then cut to his home town of Dallas and it showed basically long raised highways which appeared to be for the soul purpose of traffic moving as quickly as possible. The first thought in my mine was blaming this on American capitalism.  I’m sure the highways were paid for by tax dollars and all yet the intent to build those was strictly based on, the questions, “How do we eliminate the traffic issue here for people to not have a long commute and having people live outside the city or another state?”  

           

            One of the steps he lists to make changes is to, “show up”. I’ve heard that often for multiple community organizations. In my personal life, two of my children are in cub scouts and every week they send emails and make public announcements informing the parents that they are encouraged to attend. It seems like those that show up consistently, are the people who have their ideas heard and often have the primary choice of how things ought to be. Also like Roberts stated, it’s always the same people who show up. This can form a business partnership with individuals and it can further integrate different ideas and that community members can collaborate with each other working for a common goal. Comparing the easiness as he leads the audience into believe however, I’m a little skeptical about. Much of his ideas are costly have a lot of red tape. At least in my community where I’m specifically thinking of a few years back when they created bike lanes in the down town area, it was very costly and the project had to go thru many boards for approval. This leads me wonder if Dallas is easier equipped to change laws and bypass procedures quicker than my city.

            The last rule or piece of advice that Roberts listed is to commit mentally in doing the project. Like the self-help book and movie, The Secret which I personally question the pseudo-science yet I believe surrounding yourself with things you want to see and putting positive messages out to the universe will get you in the mine frame of getting where you want to be.

Ro       Roberts, J. (2012, February 1). Jason Roberts: better block [Video file].  Retrieved from betterblock.org/blog/2015/07/28/better-block-at-tedx/

SW0 553 Blog # 2: Student Demonstation Time!

                I have a confession to make.  I was not aware when I arrived at class last Wednesday that I was going to attend a protest. I also confess that I did not want to participate in the protest and felt a high level of discomfort in not knowing what was going to happen once there. Although Paula assured that this was an “observation” and we did not have to be active participants in the protest, I was still uncomfortable at best with the situation. http://paulaandlori403and553.pbworks.com/user/78da7fa94a37e9763f9c73309b3e1ebc58dbe6d1

                Let me back up for a moment. Immigration to me has always been what makes America so wonderful and great. Let me rephrase that. Immigration that occurs willingly is the what makes America so great. In a history that is highly clouded with unfair classism, brutal imperialism, slavery, and the eradication of the natives of the land, the American immigration is the idealistic hallmark of what’s good with us. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses” As we welcome others to that, “shiny city upon a hill” As Woody Guthrie sings, “this land is your land”.

                It has also been an American tradition to feel threatened be the newcomers. Feeling as though “our” way of life is somehow in jeopardy by a different group of settlers whether it be the English threatened by the French and Irish wave of immigrants in the 18^th century, or even today, the Somali refugees and Mexican immigrants are having fingers pointed at them with the traditional statements of, “They are taking are benefits!” Along with, “they are taking our jobs!” and of course, “why don’t we take care of our own first?” All of which are statements that are un-American at best and racist at worse. So now we have a president that believes in those statements and believes that those individuals are a threat to our homeland security.

                This leads to what occurred in Portland last Wednesday. Who were the people protesting and for what reason were questions I didn’t know the answers to. Were they simply against seemingly xenophobic policies? Were they just anti-Trump? Were some of them getting paid?  These were questions that were giving me reason to be hesitant to being a part of this protest. As I soon heard the speakers and talked to several people, I walked away with a positive outlook and a positive view as to the mission of the gathering. “I just came here to show support to all refugees and immigrants coming from afar and to let them know they are welcomed.” A Portland resident told me.  “We want to show everyone that we stand together here in Maine” a gentleman told me when asked why he came out tonight.  It occurred to me then that although how much I make or view the social work on the micro level, you’re not truly being by definition a true social worker by being silent on social issues that affect the vulnerable populations we serve.

SWO 553 Blog # 1: Critical Analysis of Several Confirmation Hearings

      The recent presidential election last November provided a clear division for many Americans in which direction the country should be headed in regarding its policies. Newly elected Trump campaigned on the idea of once elected, he would "drain the swamp" of Washington's insiders and bureaucracy. The President seems to have developed a strategy for his appointees to be against the very agency they have been chosen to lead. The two hearings I focused on is the senate hearing for the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt and Trump's pick for the department of education Betsy DeVos.
      Formerly Scott Pruitt was the attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. Pruitt has a history of suing the EPA over 13 times in the past and has won numerous times on the grounds of  "state rights" and the EPA "overstepping" their authority (Harder 2017). Pruitt has historically expressed criticism on environmental issues such as global warming and the minimizing concerns with fracking. Scott Pruitt seems to have been the least qualified person to run the EPA. As viewing the confirmation hearing it was exactly as I expected in the way in which it was completely partisan with party lines. I knew exactly which senators were democrats and which ones were republicans just by the questioning and the statements made by the representatives.
      I'm concerned that the environmental standards will digress during Trumps presidency. I will say it seems as though Pruitt will be supportive of state rights in smaller landlocked states that could bring in  more job growth based on less oversight by the EPA. I believe however, the environment and it's progress of declining less and less pollution is just as, if not more important.  As his history of being an attorney general, Pruitt appears well spoken, knowledgeable and very politically savvy which are strengths in dealing with bureaucracy.
 I was mostly impressed with senator Cory Booker who I believe will be our next president and his line of questioning and he seemed to have really done his research in questioning Pruitt's  past success with water pollution in his home state.
       Just like Pruitt, Trump  appeared to pick for secretary of education, someone who was/is a opponent of the very department she has been chosen to lead. Once again, lines were drawn with partisan between democrats and republicans in their line of questioning.  I must confess, like DeVos, I'm a fan of school voucher program/school choice program (Turner 2017). However, shortly after hearing Chairman Howard's opening  regarding his nod for the nomination, I found DeVos to be completely unqualified to run the Department of education which oversees the policy and procedures of all public schools in the United States. proponents can make arguments regarding  more vouchers and less public schools funding, but you cannot with good consciously allow a billionaire who has been adamantly against public schools and who also never attended a public school, worked in a public school or have had children attend.


                                                            References
Harder, A. (18 January 2017) Scott Pruitt, Donald Trump's Pick for EPA Chief, Backs     View Agency   Has Overreached. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/scott-pruitt-donald-trumps-pick-for-epa-chief-plans-to-emphasize-disagreements-with-obama-1484735405

Turner, C. (17 January 2017) At DeVos' Senate Hearing, Questions of Choice, Charters, 'Other    Options'. NPR Ed. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/01/17/510274817/watch-live-betsy-devos-secretary-of-education-confirmation-hearing

Blog 5

       There were several stories in the reading this week in, Uninsured In America that I feel I could relate to personally. Several years ago I was on the job and flipped my truck severally injuring a client of mine who was the passenger. I was very sore and took the following day off from work. My company recommended me using workman's compensation because it was on the job and I wouldn't have to use any of my own sick days. I remember thinking to myself, "this will be easy, just call them and let them know what happened." NOTHING was easy in that process! I was foolishly unaware that the workman's compensation office would be completely against me, treating me as if I was scam artist faking an injury. I felt so worthless and was so defensive of my situation that I gave up and used my earned time off instead.
         I get it. Their job is to try and pay out as little as possible, and my situation was just one day of missed work. What about the low paid factory worker who works long hours with very little pay who have no other income for their family. How frustrating and demoralizing  it would be to have to go thru that process when the injury occurred over a long period of time. Also too, people who obtain a more permanent injury or illness related or unrelated to work would go thru the process of obtaining social security. That process can take years and years to finally go thru. In the meantime, funds all become drained including liquidating assets (if you're fortunate to have any).

      
       I wanted to touch upon the election as well. This may sound in direct contrast from my fellow classmates but I am actually relieved that it is over and  we can press on with moving forward with our own agendas. Although I am a little nervous about the leadership qualities of the incoming president, and insensitiveness he displayed to certain populations, we as social workers can draw a line in the sand of what we will and will not tolerate. Bernie Sanders spoke with that same sentiment as well and also Elizabeth Warren stating that they are willing to work together, but they will not allow discrimination and racism to continue. Hillary Clinton conceded gracefully, Obama stated he would make the transition as smoothly as he could for Trump. Trump himself has at least appeared somewhat humbled by the experience and whether or not he can be a good leader and unite the country remains to be seen. He has the opportunity to reach out to the LGBT community along with Mexican Americans and our own Muslim community and anyone else he has offended and potentially create better relations.
        I disagree when I see people either online or in person paint Trump out to be the next Adolf Hitler. Their are many adjectives to describe him that are less than complimentary. For people to believe he will lead the country towards a path of tyranny and fascism, that is basically saying that we are easily led to evil as non thinking followers. Also, it's saying we have no ability to maintain reason, compassion, independent thinking and courage to stand up for our own beliefs.