Poverty Series Did Well to Stir the Conscience of Times’ Readers

* The Thanksgiving season is more meaningful to the residents of Orange County this year thanks to the thought-provoking series of articles published by The Times on “The Poor Among Us” (Nov. 12-16). Although the news media are often criticized for their coverage of current events, The Times is to be commended--indeed, applauded--for its courage in addressing the crying need for all of us to do a better job of helping those in our community who are far less fortunate than ourselves.

While it is true that Orange Countians are generally conservative in their politics, it has been my experience, particularly in trying to raise money for the Public Law Center--the volunteer attorneys’ program that serves indigent persons in Orange County--that the people of Orange County respond with care and compassion when you personally appeal to them to help the needy and underprivileged. Thank you for fulfilling one of the solemn duties of a free press: to stir the conscience of the people.

ED CONNOR

San Juan Capistrano

* I feel your survey missed areas of giving by Orange County employers that don’t fit the usual mold.

I work for a company located in the Buena Clinton area of Garden Grove. For several years my employer offered space and employee time to tutor neighborhood children.

We joined United Way this year. Employees make charitable contributions through payroll deduction, and the company matches it 100%. The majority of our employees designated homeless, food bank and child-care services for their contributions.

Our landlord gives space to a Hispanic youth ministry program, which offers neighborhood youth help with homework and computer skills. Other donated space is used for a neighborhood police office. I know of other landlords who offer space to charitable organizations.

I believe these examples represent the new way of giving--a hand up rather than a handout.

KATHLEEN ROBE

Newport Beach

* The struggles portrayed in the profiles of low-income persons in Orange County represent the reality of too many lives in society today. Affordable housing is clearly one answer. Another is raising the minimum wage; it is terribly wrong that someone working full time cannot rise above poverty. A spurious argument has been made that jobs will be eliminated if the minimum wage is raised. If we are so concerned about jobs, then why is nothing being done about the loss of thousands of jobs to corporate downsizing and mergers? Raise the minimum wage and give a tax break to small stores so that people can make an honest living.

SUSAN PERLSON

Brea

* There might be a direct connection between how the people of Orange County give to charities and the type of people they are supposed to help as illustrated by the life story of Say Leng (“Aid a Way of Life for Some Cambodians,” Nov. 16)

America was founded on the principle of hard work and, most important, personal responsibility. Until immigrants, both legal and illegal, realize that America will no longer tolerate able-bodied individuals who refuse to work, they will continue to line up at Social Service offices throughout the county. Leng has been in our country for 12 years and has never made any effort to become self-sufficient. By my calculations, this woman, who has never worked in this country or paid taxes, has received over $200,000 over the past 12 years while being on welfare, She even has a married daughter with four children who, because of her upbringing, also finds it acceptable to require the government to support her. The even more incredible fact is that neither has any intention of removing herself from the dole.

I think the majority of Orange Countians would be willing to help charities that help people get back on their feet, not just continue to promote a cycle of welfare dependency and a lack of personal responsibility for immigrants who have no intentions of becoming productive, tax-paying citizens of this country.

TERRI LARMER

Aliso Viejo

* Thank you for [the] weeklong series. Thank you for exposing the compassionately weak, morally bankrupt majority of Orange County poll respondents who feel the poor deserve their fate. I am in the 1% that believe this issue is of utmost importance. In this era of blame, to pick on the most disenfranchised among us is cowardly and morally reprehensible. I support continued public, private and personal funding to combat a problem whose impact is much broader than any of these poll respondents have considered. Poverty coupled with societal ignorance is at the root of a crumbling system.

LESLIE COLLIER

Capistrano Beach

* How ironic, and sad, that at the same time (even on the same page!) you are reporting on the plight of Orange County’s needy, the county spends $25,000 on “its image.” I’m sure the homeless and hungry will appreciate these efforts! It seems that selfish, snobbish Orange County has deeper problems than its bankruptcy-tarnished image.

THERESA SHAY

Cypress

* Your recent series on the homeless in Orange County was very good. I was appalled at the mean-spirited responses of some of the people you quoted.

But I felt much better after reading about the kind and thoughtful people who offered help, food, money, etc. Then I realized you had finally contacted some Democrats too: (smile).

JOHN MCLELLAN

Huntington Beach

* The last sentence in an editorial on Nov. 19, “Helping the less fortunate is part of being a good citizen and having a decent society,” sounded very politically correct and is a statement to which I wholeheartedly agree.

T.S. Eliot wrote these words many years ago, “What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” A parish priest I know offers these words each Sunday as he dismisses the congregation, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord by loving and serving each other.” I find these words, although not politically correct, a great deal more powerful and spirit-moving.

SAUNDRA SCHMIDT

San Juan Capistrano