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>>> hello and welcome to "atissue." issue."i am h. wayne wilson. i am h. wayne wilson.the economic opportunity act of the economic opportunity act of1964 created the office of 1964 created the office ofeconomic opportunity which was economic opportunity which wasdesigned to take federal funds designed to take federal fundsand use them locally to fight and use them locally to fightthe war on poverty. the war on poverty.that's how we came to know the

that's how we came to know theact of 1964, the war on poverty. act of 1964, the war on poverty.it was announced january 8, it was announced january 8,1964, in the state of the union 1964, in the state of the unionaddress by president lyndon address by president lyndonbanes johnson. banes johnson.we are thousand at the 50th we are thousand at the 50thanniversary of that act. anniversary of that act.we are going to discuss the we are going to discuss theprogress or maybe some areas

progress or maybe some areaswhere we haven't progressed in where we haven't progressed inthe next half hour here on "at the next half hour here on "atissue." issue."to do that, we have done jackson to do that, we have done jacksonwith us. with us.don is the current president of don is the current president ofthe local chapter of the the local chapter of then.a.a.c.p. here in peoria, and a n.a.a.c.p. here in peoria, and apast ten year president of

past ten year president ofstate. state.>>that's correct, yes. >>that's correct, yes.>>and we thank you for joining >>and we thank you for joiningus. us.my pleasure. my pleasure.mcfarland bragg who is mcfarland bragg who ispresident and c.e.o. of the president and c.e.o. of thepeoria citizens committee for peoria citizens committee foreconomic opportunity, community

economic opportunity, communityaction agency would be a term action agency would be a termmany people would be familiar many people would be familiarwith, part of the pcceo. with, part of the pcceo.>>correct. >>correct.>>before we get started with the >>before we get started with theconversation, a couple of conversation, a couple ofcomments, first, deborah white, comments, first, deborah white,executive director of mid executive director of midcentral community action in

central community action inmclean county, attempted to mclean county, attempted todrive here today. drive here today.we will miss her conversation. we will miss her conversation.she got halfway here and pulled she got halfway here and pulledoff the road after seeing too off the road after seeing toomany cars in the ditch. many cars in the ditch.because we recorded this a week because we recorded this a weekago when there was a snowstorm. ago when there was a snowstorm.when this airs, it is probably

when this airs, it is probablygoing to be sunny and going to be sunny and45 degrees. 45 degrees.>>we hope! >>we hope!>>we hope! >>we hope!(laughing). (laughing).>>secondly, every year, i read >>secondly, every year, i readto the kids in the fourth grade to the kids in the fourth gradeclass at keller school in class at keller school indistrict 150, and again, this

district 150, and again, thisyear i had that opportunity. year i had that opportunity.i learned a lot by reading i learned a lot by reading"wimpy kids" which i had not had "wimpy kids" which i had not hadthe opportunity to do before. the opportunity to do before.grammar is not a strength of grammar is not a strength ofthat book, but it is certainly that book, but it is certainlyentertaining. entertaining.i'd like to say hi to all the i'd like to say hi to all thechildren in mrs. shaw's fourth

children in mrs. shaw's fourthgrade class at keller school. grade class at keller school.thank you for the opportunity. thank you for the opportunity.mrs. shaw, i look forward to mrs. shaw, i look forward toseeing you next year reading at seeing you next year reading atkeller school again. keller school again.there you see all the kids' there you see all the kids'signatures. signatures.every year they sign form i have every year they sign form i havehere.

here.carson and jenna and madison, carson and jenna and madison,and kelsey, and montarian. and kelsey, and montarian.thank you for entertaining me. thank you for entertaining me.with that, let's get down to the with that, let's get down to theact. act.january 8, it was announced -- january 8, it was announced --it wasn't too much longer before it wasn't too much longer beforeit was passed. it was passed.in general, just overview, what

in general, just overview, whatkind of progress have we made in kind of progress have we made inthe past 50 years with regard to the past 50 years with regard tothe war on poverty? the war on poverty?>> well, in my opinion, very, >> well, in my opinion, very,very little. very little.in fact, maybe we need a second in fact, maybe we need a secondgeneration war on poverty generation war on povertybecause it continues to grow in because it continues to grow inthis country, and certainly in

this country, and certainly inour community. our community.so while the effort has been so while the effort has beenthere over the years, we still there over the years, we stillhave a lot of people in poverty, have a lot of people in poverty,and because of the economic and because of the economiccircumstances of this country circumstances of this countrytoday, people -- the middle today, people -- the middleclass that used to be class that used to becontributors towards people

contributors towards peopleof -- who were in poverty are of -- who were in poverty arenow finding themselves in now finding themselves inpoverty as well. poverty as well.so that's just my opinion. but so that's just my opinion. buti believe that the facts will i believe that the facts willbear that opinion out. bear that opinion out.>> mcfarland? >> mcfarland?>> i think if you look at >> i think if you look atspecific examples that created

specific examples that createdthe problem that we have today, the problem that we have today,and that's basically was the and that's basically was thegreat recession that started in great recession that started inlate 2004, early 2008, late 2004, early 2008,caterpillar downsized a caterpillar downsized asignificant number of significant number ofindividuals, but people don't individuals, but people don'ttake into conversation, the take into conversation, theancillary impact that had.

ancillary impact that had.because a lot of the small because a lot of the smallbusinesses that had contracts businesses that had contractswith caterpillar to provide with caterpillar to provideparts, to provide other parts, to provide otherservices, when caterpillar services, when caterpillardownsized, they went by the downsized, they went by thewayside. wayside.so those individuals who, as don so those individuals who, as donsaid, were middle class families

said, were middle class familiestaking care of paying taxes, taking care of paying taxes,taking care of their taking care of theircommunities, they are now communities, they are nowunemployed and seeking unemployed and seekingassistance from community assistance from communityaction, seeking assistance from action, seeking assistance fromlocal area food pantries because local area food pantries becausethey don't have enough income to they don't have enough income tostretch their money to provide

stretch their money to providefood for the families through food for the families throughthe end of the month. the end of the month.so that number has increased so that number has increasedsignificantly. significantly.just some basic information just some basic informationbetween 2012 and 2013, the between 2012 and 2013, thenumber of individuals who are number of individuals who areconsidered in poverty in peoria considered in poverty in peoriahas increased by 2,000.

has increased by 2,000.>> by 2,000 people in one year? >> by 2,000 people in one year?>> yes. >> yes.>>you talk about the change from >>you talk about the change from2009 to the current year. 2009 to the current year.if we had not had the acts that if we had not had the acts thatoccurred in 1964 and '65, we occurred in 1964 and '65, wewill talk about there are four will talk about there are fouracts that occurred back them, acts that occurred back them,where would we be?

where would we be?>> i think that those numbers -- >> i think that those numbers --the number that increased the number that increasedfrom -- the percentage increase from -- the percentage increasefrom 2011 to 2012 would probably from 2011 to 2012 would probablybe triple, and that's on the low be triple, and that's on the lownumber. number.>>let's talk about those acts >>let's talk about those actsjust to make sure that everybody just to make sure that everybodyis aware of the great society

is aware of the great societyand the four main acts that and the four main acts thatoccurred in '64, and '65. occurred in '64, and '65.economic act of 1964 which we economic act of 1964 which wehave already referenced. have already referenced.food stamp p act of 1964, food stamp p act of 1964,elementary and secondary elementary and secondaryeducation act of 1965, and the education act of 1965, and thesocial security act of 1965. social security act of 1965.before you say social security

before you say social securitywas in place in the 30's, yes, was in place in the 30's, yes,it was, but that act of '65 it was, but that act of '65created medicare and medicaid created medicare and medicaidprogram. program.so without those, where would we so without those, where would webe? be?>> in deep trouble as far as -- >> in deep trouble as far as --you know, as far as i am you know, as far as i amconcerned.

concerned.people that need that help -- people that need that help --well, you know, i guess in well, you know, i guess inreality, one of the ancillary reality, one of the ancillaryproblems that we would be problems that we would befacing, i think crime would be facing, i think crime would beup in -- i just learned that up in -- i just learned thatwith the exception of murder in with the exception of murder inour community, crime is down in our community, crime is down inall categories.

all categories.but i think it would be up but i think it would be upbecause people -- it is the old because people -- it is the oldtheory, survival of the fittest. theory, survival of the fittest.people would find ways to feed people would find ways to feedtheir families to protect them. their families to protect them.but for programs like food but for programs like foodstamps and but for programs like stamps and but for programs likeassistance with utilities that assistance with utilities thatwe operate at the community

we operate at the communityaction agency, those people action agency, those peoplewould be in dire straits today. would be in dire straits today.thanks to the foresight of thanks to the foresight oflyndon johnson, president lyndon lyndon johnson, president lyndonjohnson, while we are not better johnson, while we are not betteroff today, at least people have off today, at least people havea social network of something to a social network of something tofall back onto assist them in fall back onto assist them intimes of this nature.

times of this nature.>>let me turn to mcfarland >>let me turn to mcfarlandagain and ask in terms of your again and ask in terms of yourlocal operation, you have a local operation, you have aliheap program. liheap program.>>yes. >>yes.>>energy assistance. >>energy assistance.where are you financially there? where are you financially there?>> actually our energy >> actually our energyassistance sign up day for

assistance sign up day forfebruary yesterday. february yesterday.in the past two years, we have in the past two years, we haveserved over ten thousand served over ten thousandhouseholds just in peoria households just in peoriacounty. county.i met with staff a week ago, we i met with staff a week ago, weanticipated we would have enough anticipated we would have enoughfunding to provide services to funding to provide services toindividuals through the end of

individuals through the end offebruary. february.unless the state gives us some unless the state gives us someadditional dollars, we are going additional dollars, we are goingto be out of money at the end of to be out of money at the end offebruary. february.>>that would be the half year >>that would be the half yearmark for that program. mark for that program.>>yes, correct. >>yes, correct.>>one of the things -- one of

>>one of the things -- one ofthe programs that came out of the programs that came out ofthis legislation, 50 years ago, this legislation, 50 years ago,was the head start program. was the head start program.where are we with head start where are we with head startfunding? funding?>> due to sequestration, we >> due to sequestration, weactually lost 5.72% of our actually lost 5.72% of ourfunding effective july 1 of funding effective july 1 of2013.

2013.thankfully, with the omnibus thankfully, with the omnibusbudget act of 2014 that was budget act of 2014 that wasapproved and signed by the approved and signed by thepresident, we will get those president, we will get thosedollars back which means we will dollars back which means we willrestore 35 slots, 35 head start restore 35 slots, 35 head startslots, six early head start slots, six early head startslots of we will be able to slots of we will be able tobring back two of the education

bring back two of the educationstaff that we had to layoff. staff that we had to layoff.we will be able to bring back we will be able to bring backnine of the 18 -- excuse me, we nine of the 18 -- excuse me, wefunded 18 training slots with funded 18 training slots withparents. parents.we had to downsize nine of we had to downsize nine ofthose. those.we will be able to bring those we will be able to bring thoseback.

back.so we haven't received the so we haven't received thespecific information in terms of specific information in terms ofhow that is going to be applied. how that is going to be applied.but when i met with them, the but when i met with them, thelast week of january, in last week of january, inwashington, at our leadership washington, at our leadershipconference, we know those funds conference, we know those fundsare being restored. are being restored.we are waiting for specific

we are waiting for specificinstructions how that will get instructions how that will getdone. done.i want to talk about work force i want to talk about work forcedevelopment, look at adults. development, look at adults.let's continue the conversation let's continue the conversationabout head start. about head start.>>you know, mac has certainly >>you know, mac has certainlyoutlined in a very detailed outlined in a very detailedmanner the technicalities of the

manner the technicalities of theprogram, financially where we program, financially where weare at with it. are at with it.but you also have to look at the but you also have to look at thevalue of head start to this value of head start to thiscommunity. we are training community. we are trainingyoung people at a early young young people at a early youngage to be able to go into higher age to be able to go into highereducation and do good things for education and do good things forthis country.

this country.training that they would not training that they would nothave, but forehead start and so have, but forehead start and sowhen i look at the youngsters when i look at the youngstersthat are in the program and who that are in the program and whograduate from the program, the graduate from the program, thefuture bodes well for us as far future bodes well for us as faras those youngsters are as those youngsters areconcerned. concerned.we all know education is the key

we all know education is the keyto get good jobs in this to get good jobs in thiscountry, to surviving and country, to surviving andserving your families. serving your families.so we teach them the value. so we teach them the value.when i say "we," in the interest when i say "we," in the interestof full disclosure, i am also on of full disclosure, i am also onthe board of directors at the the board of directors at thecommunity action agency. community action agency.but we train them at a very,

but we train them at a very,very early age to understand the very early age to understand thevalue of education and what it value of education and what itis going to mean to them and is going to mean to them andtheir families in the future. their families in the future.let's continue that to the later let's continue that to the lateryears in terms of high school. years in terms of high school.some school districts don't have some school districts don't havevocational education at all. vocational education at all.district 150 in peoria does have

district 150 in peoria does havesome vocational education. some vocational education.is that helping in your still is that helping in your stillmation? mation?>> -- will that help in your he >> -- will that help in your heis ty mation. is ty mation.i took a tour of the program up i took a tour of the program upin woodruff, and while they have in woodruff, and while they havesome creative -- some very good some creative -- some very goodfacilities up there, we have

facilities up there, we havefacilities, we are training a facilities, we are training alot of barbers and a lot of lot of barbers and a lot ofcosmetologists. cosmetologists.this community practically is this community practically isalready over saturated with already over saturated withthose kind of jobs. those kind of jobs.the training for jobs that i the training for jobs that ithink are necessary, like think are necessary, liketraining for electricians and

training for electricians andplumbers and plasterers and that plumbers and plasterers and thatsort of thing, to either get sort of thing, to either getinto the building trades -- the into the building trades -- theroad building trades or home road building trades or homebuilding trades is severely building trades is severelylacking as far as i am lacking as far as i amconcerned. concerned.it is a good start. it is a good start.but you know, years ago in this

but you know, years ago in thiscommunity, we had those community, we had thoseprograms. programs.they used to have a program at they used to have a program atcentral where youngsters were central where youngsters weretrained while in high school to trained while in high school tobuild houses. build houses.they were trained to be they were trained to beplumbers. they were trained to plumbers. they were trained tobe electricians.

be electricians.they actually built the houses. they actually built the houses.they had automotive -- they had automotive -->>on main street. >>on main street.>>right. >>right.program as well, and they were program as well, and they weretaught to repair the cars of taught to repair the cars ofthose times. those times.at manual, they had printing. at manual, they had printing.in fact, lin unis, a good

in fact, lin unis, a goodfriend, went through the friend, went through theprograms at manual. programs at manual.while it is a good start, i while it is a good start, idon't think it is where it don't think it is where itshould be. should be.>>we talk about work force >>we talk about work forcedevelopment and people are development and people aretrained for certain skills, and trained for certain skills, andthen those jobs aren't there yet

then those jobs aren't there yetwe hear people like mr. parsons we hear people like mr. parsonsat excel foundry, south of at excel foundry, south ofpekin, he can't find the proper pekin, he can't find the propercandidates for jobs at his candidates for jobs at hisplace. place.>>right. >>right.i think there has been a i think there has been adisconnect between the business disconnect between the businesscommunity work force, and the

community work force, and theschool district. school district.and, hopefully now with the and, hopefully now with theinitiative that came out of the initiative that came out of thefocus forward central illinois, focus forward central illinois,those entities have been those entities have beenmeeting. meeting.they have been planning. they have been planning.work force network is being work force network is beingreorganized.

reorganized.it is going to be administered it is going to be administeredfor the most part by illinois for the most part by illinoiscentral college. central college.i think you will see the i think you will see thetraining programs that come out training programs that come outof our initiative going forward of our initiative going forwardare going to be tailored to meet are going to be tailored to meetthe needs of those industries the needs of those industriesthat actually are looking for

that actually are looking forindividuals. individuals.>>if i could add something to >>if i could add something tothat. that.i recall years ago, i work at i recall years ago, i work atthe urban league. the urban league.i was the associate director to i was the associate director tocreate jobs in the community. create jobs in the community.they used to have a program -- i they used to have a program -- idon't know it if it was under c,

don't know it if it was under c,but they encouraged employers to but they encouraged employers tohire people that needed to be hire people that needed to betrained for their particular trained for their particularjob. job.and then the employer was given and then the employer was givenfinancial incentives to do that, financial incentives to do that,bring people in, and if you bring people in, and if youneeded to train them to run a needed to train them to run arobotic machine, you did it on

robotic machine, you did it onthe job, and they could pay a the job, and they could pay alower wage, and the government lower wage, and the governmentwould subsidize that wage. would subsidize that wage.we need to go back to programs we need to go back to programslike that. like that.when you got a manufacturing when you got a manufacturingfirm like that, that needs firm like that, that needsemployees, and we got all these employees, and we got all thesepeople that need jobs, somehow

people that need jobs, somehowthe marriage has to happen. the marriage has to happen.and that was a program that and that was a program thatwould fit well in that would fit well in thatcircumstance today. circumstance today.>>let's stay on the job >>let's stay on the jobdiscussion, in terms of minimum discussion, in terms of minimumwage. wage.i believe the state is one i believe the state is onedollar over the national

dollar over the nationalaverage. average.national, mcfarland, 7 and a national, mcfarland, 7 and aquarter. quarter.>>7.25. >>7.25.>>national 8.25. >>national 8.25.president raised it to $10.10. president raised it to $10.10.what is your take on moving what is your take on movingminimum wage to $10.10 or minimum wage to $10.10 oranother number if you prefer,

another number if you prefer,and should it be done and should it be doneincrementally? incrementally?should we jump? should we jump?>> i think we need to move >> i think we need to movetoward it like yesterday. toward it like yesterday.because we have been at even in because we have been at even inillinois, we have been at 8.25 illinois, we have been at 8.25the last three or four years. the last three or four years.if we just take -- and i will

if we just take -- and i willgive an example. give an example.using the 8.25 that is minimum using the 8.25 that is minimumwage salary right now, a person wage salary right now, a personwould have to work 66 hours a would have to work 66 hours aweek to be able to afford a two week to be able to afford a twobedroom apartment at fair market bedroom apartment at fair marketrate in peoria. rate in peoria.66 hours, that's a bit. 66 hours, that's a bit.>>i agree with mcfarland. i

>>i agree with mcfarland. ithink it is something that needs think it is something that needsto happen today. to happen today.this is not a figure that was this is not a figure that wasjust snatched out of thin air. just snatched out of thin air.at $10.10 an hour, it just puts at $10.10 an hour, it just putsindividuals above, slightly individuals above, slightlyabove the poverty line today. above the poverty line today.we are not bestowing upon them, we are not bestowing upon them,you know, wealth that will allow

you know, wealth that will allowthem to take a summer vacations them to take a summer vacationswith their families and that with their families and thatsort of thing or get into that sort of thing or get into that1% category. 1% category.this is enough for them to just this is enough for them to justget above the poverty line. get above the poverty line.what also has to happen, as i what also has to happen, as ihave said before, is that it have said before, is that itneeds to be indexed so that five

needs to be indexed so that fiveyears from now, we are not years from now, we are nothaving this same discussion. having this same discussion.in other words, gradual in other words, gradualincreases based on the consumer increases based on the consumerprice, i don't care how it is price, i don't care how it isindexed, so long as it is indexed, so long as it isindexed so that it increases, indexed so that it increases,and we keep people above the and we keep people above thepoverty line.

poverty line.what does that do? what does that do?well, it benefits the whole well, it benefits the wholecommunity because people finally community because people finallyhave not only enough to put food have not only enough to put foodon the table, not only enough to on the table, not only enough topay their rent, or pay their pay their rent, or pay theirmortgage, but it also gives them mortgage, but it also gives thema little bit of excess income a little bit of excess incomethat they will spend in the

that they will spend in thecommunity. community.they will spend the full $10.10. they will spend the full $10.10.that will, m ni judgment, that will, m ni judgment,benefit the rest of the economy. benefit the rest of the economy.they will go to merchants and they will go to merchants andbuy shoes for their kids or buy buy shoes for their kids or buysome new jeannes and that sort some new jeannes and that sortof thing. so to me, it has of thing. so to me, it hasnothing but a positive effect.

nothing but a positive effect.i can't understand the i can't understand thereluctance of our politicians in reluctance of our politicians inwashington to raise it. washington to raise it.>>what about the argument that >>what about the argument thatthe small business owner, the the small business owner, theperson who owns a fast food person who owns a fast foodrestaurant, what have you, says restaurant, what have you, says"well, i am just going to employ "well, i am just going to employfewer people.

fewer people.i will pay the $10.10, but i i will pay the $10.10, but iwill have figure out how to will have figure out how tomanage my store, my operation manage my store, my operationwith fewer employees." with fewer employees.">>i think realistically, he or >>i think realistically, he orshe may do that for a minute, she may do that for a minute,but i think when they do the but i think when they do theanalysis, they will end up analysis, they will end uplosing money because there is

losing money because there isonly so many hours of the day, only so many hours of the day,and one person can't do the job and one person can't do the jobthat three people had been doing that three people had been doingpreviously. previously.so that will change. so that will change.and kind of following up on and kind of following up ondon's point, raising the minimum don's point, raising the minimumwage to 10.10 would provide wage to 10.10 would provideannual salary of one individual

annual salary of one individualabout $20,000 in peoria. about $20,000 in peoria.the median income in peoria is the median income in peoria is$47,000. $47,000.so there is still $27,000 under so there is still $27,000 underwhat it takes to live in peoria. what it takes to live in peoria.>>and not only that, that >>and not only that, thatargument is used over and over argument is used over and overand over again, but it is not and over again, but it is notfactually backed up.

factually backed up.not one person has come forward not one person has come forwardto show that there has been a to show that there has been adecrease in jobs as a result of decrease in jobs as a result ofraising the minimum wage raising the minimum wagehistorically. historically.in fact, those who favor an in fact, those who favor anincrease in the minimum wage, increase in the minimum wage,some to $12 an hour, it improves some to $12 an hour, it improvesthe economy which means there

the economy which means thereare more jobs for people. are more jobs for people.in fact, some of the -- perhaps in fact, some of the -- perhapsif we create more jobs, some of if we create more jobs, some ofthose people who are from the those people who are from themiddle class that used to have middle class that used to havegood jobs would move out of the good jobs would move out of therestaurant jobs and open those restaurant jobs and open thosejobs up for young people to jobs up for young people tooperate.

operate.so there are just no facts to so there are just no facts tosupport that conclusion that support that conclusion thathave ever been presented as far have ever been presented as faras i know. as i know.>>for perspective, the poverty >>for perspective, the povertylevel for family of four level for family of fournationally speaking, is $23,550 nationally speaking, is $23,550currently. currently.let's talk about the progression

let's talk about the progressionof the act. of the act.we started the conversation with we started the conversation withthe economic opportunity act of the economic opportunity act of'64. '64.then in 1973, i believe, then in 1973, i believe,president nixon signed president nixon signedlegislation that eliminated the legislation that eliminated theoffice of economic opportunity office of economic opportunitywhich had overseen many of those

which had overseen many of thoseprograms. programs.now many of the programs were now many of the programs weremaintained, but under different maintained, but under differentagencies. agencies.there was a change there. there was a change there.then in 1996, president clinton then in 1996, president clintonsigned the work responsibility signed the work responsibilityand job opportunity act which and job opportunity act whichbasically changed the concept of

basically changed the concept ofwelfare. welfare.i believe it was something to i believe it was something tothe effect of this has changed the effect of this has changedwelfare as we know it. welfare as we know it.looking back over that period of looking back over that period oftime, with the nixon changes, time, with the nixon changes,with the clinton changes, has with the clinton changes, hasthat been a good thing, a bad that been a good thing, a badthing?

thing?a neutral? a neutral?>> i don't know, i haven't >> i don't know, i haven'tstudied it, but i can tell you studied it, but i can tell youthis, you know, looking at it this, you know, looking at itfrom one favorable standpoint, from one favorable standpoint,there is no question there were there is no question there wereprobably people on welfare at probably people on welfare atthat time who were weeded out as that time who were weeded out asa result of the welfare to work

a result of the welfare to workaspect of that legislation. aspect of that legislation.i think that was a good thing. i think that was a good thing.but on the other hand, looking but on the other hand, lookingin today's society, until we in today's society, until weexpand the jobs that are expand the jobs that areavailable to people, i don't available to people, i don'tknow that we are helping the know that we are helping thesituation as much as we can. situation as much as we can.we need a jobs program in this

we need a jobs program in thiscountry so bad that it is just country so bad that it is justmind boggling to listen to our mind boggling to listen to ourrepresentatives, our elected representatives, our electedofficials talk about what they officials talk about what theyare not doing. are not doing.and that is creating jobs and that is creating jobsprogram. program.since this administration came since this administration camein office in 2009, we have not

in office in 2009, we have nothad a jobs program to benefit had a jobs program to benefitthis country. this country.our roads are in terrible shape. our roads are in terrible shape.our bridges are in terrible our bridges are in terribleshapes. shapes.our infrastructure in every city our infrastructure in every cityis in terrible shape. is in terrible shape.we could put millions of people we could put millions of peopleto work if we would just come up

to work if we would just come upwith a jobs program in this with a jobs program in thiscountry. country.and then some of this poverty, and then some of this poverty,put some of the poverty issues put some of the poverty issuesin my judgment will take care of in my judgment will take care ofthemselves. themselves.>>does trickle down economic, we >>does trickle down economic, wehave talked about it 30 years, have talked about it 30 years,as i recall.

as i recall.>>right. >>right.>>has that had an impact in >>has that had an impact interms of -- don has been talking terms of -- don has been talkingabout creating jobs. about creating jobs.does it create jobs this your does it create jobs this youropinion? opinion?>> in my opinion, it hasn't done >> in my opinion, it hasn't donethat. that.if you take a look at, you know,

if you take a look at, you know,the companies that have the companies that havedownsized and shift their downsized and shift theiroperations to mexico, to operations to mexico, tojapan -- not japan, to china, or japan -- not japan, to china, orwhere they are paying people, where they are paying people,maybe two dollars an hour, if maybe two dollars an hour, ifthat, it hasn't trickled down. that, it hasn't trickled down.and the focus has been so much and the focus has been so muchon creating wealth for a small

on creating wealth for a smallpercentage of individuals. percentage of individuals.it may have trickled down for it may have trickled down forthose 85, but for the rest of those 85, but for the rest ofus, it has not done that. us, it has not done that.>>you know, the thing that has >>you know, the thing that hasalways troubled me about what always troubled me about whatmac just said, is the offshoring mac just said, is the offshoringof jobs, if we don't have jobs of jobs, if we don't have jobsin this country, who is going to

in this country, who is going tobe able to buy the products that be able to buy the products thatare being offshored to china and are being offshored to china andplaces like that? places like that?they can bring them back into they can bring them back intothis country, but who is going this country, but who is goingto have the income, the ability to have the income, the abilityto buy those products in this to buy those products in thiscountry? country?to me, it is like shooting

to me, it is like shootingyourself in the foot when you yourself in the foot when youdo -- when manufacturing do -- when manufacturingentities do those kinds of entities do those kinds ofthings. things.>>some things -- everything is >>some things -- everything isdynamic. dynamic.it is always changing. it is always changing.when we look at the programs when we look at the programsestablished in '64 and '65,

established in '64 and '65,those have been impacted by those have been impacted byother events that occurred. for other events that occurred. forinstance, high school graduation instance, high school graduationrate is up since 1964, a good rate is up since 1964, a goodthing. thing.more women are working than in more women are working than in1964. 1964.families are smaller which i families are smaller which isuppose in one way is good in

suppose in one way is good interms of financial support for a terms of financial support for afamily. family.so i guess my thought is there so i guess my thought is thereisn't a single bullet approach isn't a single bullet approachthat will work in trying to fix that will work in trying to fixthis over a long period of time. this over a long period of time.should be fluid in the way we should be fluid in the way weaddress these issues. address these issues.>>right.

>>right.uh-huh. uh-huh.i think a perfect example of i think a perfect example ofthat is the changes that have that is the changes that haveoccurred with respect to service occurred with respect to servicedelivery in the head start delivery in the head startprogram. program.one of the beauties of the head one of the beauties of the headstart program is its start program is itscomprehensive services in terms

comprehensive services in termsof serving the entire family. of serving the entire family.but we now have specific but we now have specificoutcomes that we are required to outcomes that we are required todocument. document.we have an evidence based we have an evidence basedcurriculum that we are working curriculum that we are workingon. on.we do assessments of our kids we do assessments of our kidsthree times a year.

three times a year.we actually aggravate that data we actually aggravate that datato be able to better articulate, to be able to better articulate,that kindergarten teacher, this that kindergarten teacher, thisis -- these are johnny's is -- these are johnny'sstrengths and weaknesses in 11 strengths and weaknesses in 11different domains. different domains.our curriculum and our outcomes our curriculum and our outcomeswith tied to the state's early with tied to the state's earlylearning outcomes tied to the

learning outcomes tied to thedistrict's early learning district's early learningoutcomes, and now with this new outcomes, and now with this newcommon core standards of common core standards ofeducation, we are required to education, we are required tomake sure all of those outcomes make sure all of those outcomesare aligned. are aligned.we also now have parent, and we also now have parent, andfamily community engagement family community engagementoutcome.

outcome.we have to work with that we have to work with thatindividual family to find out individual family to find outwhat their goals are and help what their goals are and helpthem move o toward that. them move o toward that.>>with that, we will have to con >>with that, we will have to contint conversation after the tint conversation after thecameras take a little siesta cameras take a little siestabecause we are out of time. because we are out of time.don jackson, n.a.a.c.p.

don jackson, n.a.a.c.p.president. president.thank you for joining us. thank you for joining us.>>my pleasure. >>my pleasure.>>mcfarland bragg, president >>mcfarland bragg, presidentand c.e.o. and c.e.o.pcceo. pcceo.we a tempt to have deborah we a tempt to have deborahwhite, from mid central white, from mid centralcommunity action.

community action.we hope she is safe and sound. we hope she is safe and sound.in 2012, $916 billion spent on in 2012, $916 billion spent onpoverty, about 100 million poverty, about 100 millionpeople in america who are ben people in america who are benrich physical of those dollars. rich physical of those dollars.we will be back next week for we will be back next week foranother edition of "at issue." another edition of "at issue."please join us then.>>