The Other Half Blog #3

Gloria Winchester-O’Brien 3rd Book Blog  

1.     On pages 272-273, Abramsky discusses ways to help people save their homes from foreclosure.  His suggestion about the federal government buying the homes from the bank at the currently assessed value would allow the homeowners to stay in the home.  The government  acting as landlord by collecting a monthly rent lower than the original unaffordable mortgage payment presents a workable, rational solution here.  After the government takes out expenses for rent, insurance and utilities, the remainder of the money would be put into an account that could be later used to purchase the home from the government if they still desire to resume ownership of the home.

            In my opinion this is a brilliant plan that could work as long as the government does not become greedy and use the homeowner’s property just to turn a profit.  It could save many Americans from losing their homes or claiming bankruptcy and ruining their credit.  These homeowners got into this predicament in the first place because the banks allowed subprime borrowers to take multiple loans out on over inflated home prices, thereafter experiencing a major loss on their properties after they suffered subsequent declines in value.

2.       On pages 308-309, Abramsky talks about Focus: HOPE;  a workforce program that focuses on training adults in skills they can use, then creating jobs utilizing these skilled workers to create products that can be sold.  This is not a new concept, however the holistic approach offered by project HOPE makes it a successful one.  They pay their workers a fair family sustaining wage and people in the program get a great education while learning to operate state of the art equipment.  Additionally, the program offers the families free child care services and transportation vouchers.  There’s even the Hope Village initiative where students can learn how to help prevent crimes.

    This sounds like a prototype program that could be mimicked in cities all over the world.  Many people have the common misconception that those that are out of work or homeless are living that way because they are lazy.  I think more projects like these could offer the solutions so many people living in poverty could benefit from.  I would like to see the American Indian Reservations start their own programs to help the poorest people in our country redevelop their sense of pride and accomplishment.

3.     On page 325-326, Abramsky offers many suggestions on how Americans can pay for such ambitious projects.  He suggests it is time to “un-starve the beast”, the beast in this instance being social assistance for the poor, the young and the elderly.  Instead, we should increase taxes on the wealthy, limit defense spending increases, and reduce the percentage of healthcare dollars being spent to fatten insurance company executive’s wallets.  Abramsky suggests we can get America to accept such a holistic project through specific education and by empowering the people to apply resources where they will do the most good.

             Personally, I think Sasha Abramsky would make an outstanding President of the United States on the basis of populist ideas such as these.  He would have my vote and I would even spend my free time campaigning on his behalf.   I fear the future I see unfolding with each presidential campaign is moving us further and further away from the humanitarian idealism we so desperately need, and he presents so convincingly in this book.