The Progressive Center of Texas

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Community leaders speak their minds, inspire us, share their visions, and challenge our thinking.

FEATURED WRITER:

Larry James
Larry became CEO of Central Dallas Ministries in September 2004 after serving as Executive Director for 10 years. Larry is known in the Dallas faith, business, and media communities as a social entrepreneur and committed servant to the people of East and South Dallas.

Could you put your life in a shopping cart?

Systemic Decisions. . .Systemic Results.

The children of Dallas, Texas grow up in at least two very different communities.

At a meeting not long ago, I sat transfixed, staring at the E. T. look-alike outline of the map of our city. The red portion of the city map indicated areas of high poverty. The green sections marked out the affluent parts of town.

The red overwhelms the green, as well as the "in between" sections of blue.

The facts behind the colors startle anyone who cares about quality of life issues and the city.

Consider:

Poverty among households with children--almost 50% of the households in South Dallas proper; over 25% in the much larger Southern Sector; and a little above 15% in the Northern Sector.

Jobs per 1,000 people--a little under 300 in South Dallas; right at 200 in the Southern Sector; almost 900 in the Northern Sector.

Annual payroll (in billions)--way, way under one in the South Dallas; a little above 4 in the Southern Sector; a bit above 35 in the Northern Sector.

Houses older than 50 years--over 60% in South Dallas; just under 40% in the Southern Sector; 20% in the Northern Sector.

People with less than a high school diploma--right at 50% in South Dallas; 45% in the Southern Sector; a click above 20% in the Northern Sector.

Average SAT scores--southern sector, 777, to the north, 1102.

[SOURCE: Institute for Urban Policy Research, University of Texas--Dallas]

Can't we beat this???

States can be a lot like people. Operating philosophies produce certain results. Neglect tends toward tragedy and amazingly disturbing outcomes.

Here's how bad things are in Texas these days: The Dallas Morning News ran a multipage, feature report in its Points section last Sunday with the headline, "The bottom line" (December 23, 2007, 1P, 4-10P) chronicling the social nightmare that is playing out in the overly proud Lone Star State.

Here's how the editorial board of the paper leads the story:

"Hidden among Texas' great abundance--the booming businesses and mega-malls--are statistics that all of us would just as soon ignore. But the state can't afford to forget the faces behind those numbers. . . . No liberal blog or legislator is spinning these numbers. In fact, they aren't even new. They are simply compiled from statistics published by sources including the Texas state comptroller's office, the U. S. Census Bureau and other government agencies. . . . Looking at the statistics, it's almost impossible to comprehend how a state with such a healthy bottom line has crashed to the bottom in so many social areas. How many lives must be ruined before we get the picture?"

Want a study in the extended consequences of "trickle down," laissez-faire public policy?

Come to Texas.

The state is a model of how not to do it in just about every category related to the prevention and relief of human suffering and societal injustice. Talk about the power of a system gone wrong.

Consider the facts, just the facts, about Texas:

25% of Texas' children are born into poverty
49th in the number of working poor (that is, Texas is second in the number of people who work and remain poor)
$14,700--the average annual income of the poorest 20% of Texas families
$203,200--average annual income of the richest 5% of Texas families (13.8 times as high as the poorest 20%)
16% of Texans live with hunger or in fear of starvation, just ahead of New Mexico and Mississippi
48th in the nation in state and local government expenditures for public welfare--$808 per capita
Second highest Gross Domestic Product in the U. S.
Number 1 in cancerous emissions into the air and toxic chemicals into the water.
8th largest GDP in the world--$1.1 trillion in 2006
1st in number of shopping malls in the nation

Not a pretty picture.

If I'm a Texas preacher today, I figure I have a few things to bring up with my congregation.

If I'm a Texas legislator, after I take a long look at myself in the mirror, I figure I've got a few things to work on.

If I'm a citizen of the state, and I am, I figure I need to be engaged at several levels.

For more information on Central Dallas Ministries: www.CentralDallasMinistries.org

OTHER ARTICLES
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The Industrious Woman.
The Proverbs woman, says Anyaa, is an industrious woman who cares about the bounty of God’s earth and seeks to maintain quality and workmanship with every loop on the loom, which she uses even today.
READ MORE >

Let’s Not Forget About the Elderly.
As health care reform becomes a reality, the care of the frail and elderly must be addressed. The fastest growing segment of the population is comprised of those over the age of 85.
READ MORE >

Youth Power Event.
The Progressive Center hosted Youth Power's first event. Students were invited to ask questions and discuss what was on their minds with a couple of local community leaders.
READ MORE >

What’s a Planet to Do?
Sierra Club leaders talk about
environmental issues affecting our city and state. Elizabeth Walley’s report is full of useful links and information.
READ MORE >

ARCHIVES
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American Workers Need a Fair Chance.

For the People, By the People, of the People.

Maria Arita Looks at One Man’s Mission.

Moving from Disease Care.

Very Few Voters in Local
Elections. Why?

What’s the Profile of Poverty in North Texas?

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