Telephone Teaching
Monday night, a group of individuals I had been assisting back in Michigan contacted me via telephone (I gave one of the group my number and asked they be my central contact-I do not necessarily feel comfortable passing out my contact information, but the community college is still not available for assistance in this regard). They had recieved form letters from their respective representatives about the recent budget agreements, and were angry and confused why they were recieving responses that did not address their concerns specifically, why everything was so impersonal. I suggested they try calling the next morning to get the one-on-one interaction they desired, while I was looking up phone numbers on my computer. Before I had the numbers on my screen, however, they informed me that they had all been trying (this was a group of 11 individuals) throughout the past two days but no phones were being answered, and their faxes were not going through either.
I tried to calm their anger, though it was certainly not addressed to me, and I explained that after such a huge issue they were not the only ones likely to be in contact with their representatives and that they need to have some patience. That being said, and with everyone off the phone, I wrote up some questions for a few of these government offices, including the office of Jennifer Granholm and called a contact I have who has a few of the lesser known government phone numbers.
Yesterday, I spent several hours on the phone waiting for my elected officials to become ‘available’ to speak with me. Explaining I was leading a group of concerned individuals in my specific county who were feeling slighted, I was granted access to the Governor’s secretary’s page, or some similar employee. I was only disconnected a few dozen times. Nevertheless, perhaps it was best I was forwarded to this person, because what I was informed of is sickening, to say the least, and most likely not something a public relations person would share.
Apparently, for the past several weeks, the lines of communication were jammed as concerned citizens were calling, faxing, emailing, even visiting the offices to make their voices heard. The page informed me that all fax machines not linked internally had been shut off days before the budget deadline and have not since been returned to normal recieving status, but should be within the next week or two. Emails are being forwarded to an account to be sorted when time is available, and the governor is not accepting calls from the public at this time. “May I leave a message?” I inquired. Our governor is not accepting those either, it seems.
A few of the smaller, local representatives are somewhat available-and I sent a quick list to my group contact of those who were. It is important to note, though, those who are accepting calls, emails, faxes and the like are nearly exclusively those who opposed the tax increases. I imagine there are many reasons why this is the case, but I am not going to make any public assumptions, nor to my group. I will allow them to make what they will of it, and provide contact information where I can.
I am rather at a loss what to say to these people, but they have been acting overly greatful that I was able to help them as much as I have thus far and they are asking when I can next organize a class. I am not quite sure what to make of this situation-I feel as though I am helping people feel they can take an active role in politics, yet I also feel I am indirectly making them feel as though ultimately there is nothing that can be done.
One funny little thing I was reflecting back on, as I was talking to Meg-my group contact-is how excited these people were when I was teaching them about the computers…they really did not want to leave, and as the day wore on Meg went out and brought back pizza for everyone (a collection was taken up at the end, even though she insisted it was no problem, which I thought was sweet).
There is some part of me enjoying this, I wonder if I should consider getting involved in some sort of advocacy group.
Welcome to My Secret Organization
Since returning from Michigan, I have been rather sluggish to write in my blog. Last weekend was overwhelming to say the least and I almost do not know where to begin.
Michigan is economically destroyed, in a way that I personally have a hard time imagining the people being able to recover from. Manufacturing has gone overseas to cheaper labor, the many plants that used to produce everything from automobiles and tanks to cereal and potato chips litter the state as half-decomposed architectual skeletons.
Grand hotels and resorts are nearly abandoned as the cost of gas prevents tourism on the shores of Michigan’s Great Lakes, where the poorest families could enjoy an afternoon in a simple row boat-talking and fishing, while some of the country’s most elite sipped wine from their balconies overlooking.
In the state of Michigan, one in every 28 homes is in forclosure. The newer bankruptcy laws put into effect under the Bush administration is preventing some of the most hard-hit individuals from even finding financial sanctuary in this medium. Well educated individuals are at a loss for employment as buisnesses are exclusively hiring part time for professions truely designed for full time, and student loans bear no forgiving. The hiring of Canadians has become commonplace where I live because they do not require medical coverage, or retirement plans. Canada, though, has a law that only Canadian citizens can work there.
The state has created many social programs, perhaps at the worst time possible as those who are trying to make a living can ill afford additional taxes to assist in the welfare of others-as is the case with the ‘No Worker Left Behind’ program where displaced automotive and manufacturing employees are granted state money to attend school to pursue different fields for employment. Property taxes are out of control, small buisnesses cannot afford to operate within the state, people are just loading up their cars and moving-adandoned houses are on the rise, and farms are either being divvied up for future subdivisions, or they are sitting empty while the banks reposess.
The governor has pushed, and been permitted to release thousands of criminals from the prison system, is currently fighting to reduce many felonies to misdemeanors while simultaniously cutting the police forces for the state. Our border with Canada is ill protected and many dangerous foreign criminals have made their way to our cities.
The night that I arrived in Michigan, tensions were high-a respectable family man who worked at a local store and his young coworker were shot point blank by a pair of criminals in what has always been a safe bedroom community. I know because my brother lives about a block away, and we used to live not much further. The coldness of the footage shown on the news was shocking, to say the least, and with the economic difficulties facing Michigan, I fear crime will only get worse. I can tell I am not the only one with these concerns.
The bigger news across the state, however, was the imminent government shut down. The governor had decided we should raise income taxes, and place a tax on services and would not back down, even under the threat of a government shutdown as budget agreements had to be in place by midnight Oct 1st. Strong-arming the senate, the governor refused to sign a 30 day extention on the senate talks and under this pressure the increases were just barely passed. The people in the state of Michigan are beyond angry at this point, and faith in government is undeniably low.
I was supposed to teach a computer literacy ’self-improvement’ class that weekend at the community college. However, under the threat of the school shutting down with the government-the plans changed dramatically. Suddenly I had thirty-something people waiting for me to teach them how to use computers, but nowhere to work.
I cannot really explain where I took them to instruct in the use of computers, as I was only granted access because it is a private institute and I still happened to have a key-no, so far as I know I did not engage in any questionable activity, did I mention-so far as I know? I knew many of these people are the unfortunate ones who have fallen through the cracks, who are working part time jobs but do not qualify for the ‘No Worker Left Behind’ program, people who cannot afford to attend college or in some cases, those who had years ago but have never dealt with online job searching. Many came because they wanted to know how to communicate with the Michigan senate-their representatives who exclusively interact online, if at all, with their constituants. I wonder how many people know that though Michigan has the worst housing market, we have some of the highest property taxes, but most ironic to me-we have the highest unemployment, and a high number of people below the poverty line yet we have the second highest payed representatives in the country, and I think the highest paid governor.
I was overwhelmed with the diverse needs and desires of the people who were looking to me for help and since we were not at the Community College, I had no one to assist and certainly could not call for help (in case I was doing something wrong by being there).
I led the group slowly through the basics, many already knew how to turn on a computer, how to load an internet page-where I was tied up was helping half the ‘class’ establish an email address, and the others I assisted in creating resume’s on Microsoft Word. Thankfully I had some floppy disks to pass out, I had a feeling I may be assisting in the use of Word.
What I found most rewarding, but most exhausting, was locating local representatives online, and helping people compose emails. I had not realized how out of reach the representatives had made themselves in the use of the internet.
I have been asked to come back, the nine hours I spent with them was apparently not enough, and they await my email. I am contacting a local Catholic school to ask if I can use their computer lab some weekend in the future, as I dare not repeat last weekend’s tutoring site situation, and the local community college will not answer my emails asking to use their lab in the future. Apparently some of my students sent some rather unhappy emails about being shut out of a college they pay taxes to support….
Under the circumstances, since this cannot be a permanent and ongoing training system- I wonder if I should even consider this a possibility for my 20 hours of service learning. Particularly since I cannot even provide the location for my last session.
Nevertheless, although it was a rewarding experience, I still do not feel I accomplished enough.
I wonder if I should return that key after-all?
