Portland Observar April 2 , 1M1 Pago 3
No one needs me to tell them
these days are economically tough
for all o f us and when such times
come it’ s always toughest on Blacks.
T h a t’ s because the Black unem
ployment rate far exceeds that o f
whites and also because so many
Blacks hold low paying jobs.
So, i t ’ s easy to see why many
Black families could be having big
trouble
in
staying
afloat
economically.
Fortunately there is a local
program available for anyone who
has some sort o f income, but not
enough to make all the payments
each month. I t ’ s not a government
program and i t ’ s defin ite ly not a
giveaway.
Located at S.E. 34th and Powell,
the Consumer C redit Counseling
Service is helping 1200 Portlanders
keep the w olf away from the door.
It began operating in 1968 after it
was noticed that Oregon was in the
top three states fo r number o f
bankruptcies in 1967. That very
high rate dropped the next year, the
first year for CCCS, by 23 per cent.
Some o f the biggest names in the
retail business are supporters o f the
service such as J.C. Penney and
many others. Their support is
necessary both because they con
trib u te fin a n cia lly and because
many o f them are credit grantors
who would otherwise be left holding
the bag if debtors don’ t pay.
Doug De Hann, chairman o f the
board o f CCCS, says 20 to 25 per
cent o f the people seeking help with
their debt problems need only coun
seling and help in communicating
with each other as well as instruc
tions as to how to prepare and use a
household budget.
He says about 15 per cent are not
serious and d on’ t undertake the
program when they find out what it
requires o f them. De Haan says the
m a jo rity , about 60 per cent, are
serious and really want to get out o f
debt.
What they do is prepare a list o f
debts and the amount scheduled for
payment. A professional counselor
then w ill examine the list and work
up a payment program usually for a
reduced amount. For example if the
regular payment to Meier and Frank
is $35.00, perhaps the proposed plan
w ill call fo r payment o f $25.00 a
month instead. A fter this is done,
the entire proposal is submitted to
the creditors for their approval.
This, more often then not, is
okayed by the credit grantors
because they realize their money,
even though a reduced amount, will
be coming in regularly.
After the creditors okay the plan,
the hard part comes. The debtor
then takes all his paychecks to
C.C.C.S., where they return to him
money fo r housing, food and
clothes. C .C .C .S ., takes the
rem aining amount and mails
payment to those owed.
De Haan says the average time for
a family or individual to get out o f
trouble is between one and two
years. He also says the average per
son coming fo r help owes about
$6,000.00 to 15 creditors. This, he
said, does not count real estate nor
car payments.
Now the big question. How much
does this cost? De Haan says most
people pay a little b it, never over
$10.00 a m onth and i f a fa m ily
doesn’ t want to pay at all, it doesn’ t
have to.
De Haan sees the use o f this
program as one way o f avoiding
bankruptcy which by the way is
easier since 1976 than ever before.
In 1979, the Congress revised the
federal bankruptcy laws which
hadn’ t been significantly changed
since their inception in 1898.
De Haan says, “ What had been
intended as a grubstake fo r the
needy instead created a cop out for
the greedy.”
This has caused a massive in
crease in the number o f bankrupt
cies filed to just under 100*1» more
in the past year. This amounts to
$35 b illio n dollars lost to bank
ruptcy in the firs t year under the
new law. Some are expecting that
amount to clim b to 50 b illio n in
1981.
What concerns men like De Haan
is many people are filing that are not
now nor never have been delinquent
in their bills and have the ability to
pay.
The revisions in the law created so
many exemptions that one can file
bankruptcy and keep most o f his
possessions.
De Haan says one section o f the
law states i f a State does not like the
exemptions as stated, that the State
can adjust them ot its own liking.
There are moves here in Oregon
to make such changes in the law but
their chances o f passing are not
clear at this time.
From the Capitol
Congressman Ron Wyden
Q. Congressman Wyden, the
savings rate is falling to a
desperately-low level in Oregon and
throughout the country. What can
we do to reserse this disturbing
trend?
A. A t the outset, we must get rid
of the tax on savings. Americans are
understandably reluctant to save
when their money is taxed twice -
once when they earn it, and once
again when they earn interest on it.
To help alleviate this problem, 1 am
co-sponsoring HR 1541 which in
creases the amount o f dividends and
interest that can be excluded from
taxes to $1,000 on an individ u a l
return and $2,000 on a joint return.
This legislation would also allow in
dividuals 65 years o f age and older
to exclude $5,000 (for an individual
return) to $10,000 (fo r a jo in t
return) from taxes. I am a firm
believer that i f we make it
econom ically attractive to save,
people will begin to do so.
Q. Recently the National Com
mission on Social Security System.
What do you think o f the Com
mission 's proposals. Congressman
Wyden?
A. I t ’ s really a mixed bag, w ith
some pluses and some minuses. On
the plus side, I was pleased that the
commission did not recommend
that we tax Social Security benefits.
1 am very concerned however, about
the commission’ s recommendation
that we raise the normal retirement
age from 65 to 68 beginning in the
year 2000. To do so would break a
long-standing contract with workers
who’ ve already paid into the system
w ith the understanding that they
could retire and receive benefits at
age 65. I am also concerned about
the commission’ s recommendation
to m aintain (at age 72) and later
raise (to age 75) the age at which
older workers can earn a reasonable
salary w ith o u t losing their Social
Security benefits. Such a recom
mendation only provides yet
another disincentive fo r older
workers to remain in the w ork
force. With the birth rate, and con
sequently, the potential labor pool
on the decline, we become less and
less able to afford this loss with each
passing year.
Q. Congressman Wyden, what do
you think o f the tax credit approach
to energy conservation?
A. The concept is great. U n
fortunately, IRS statistics indicate
that Jess than 20 percent o f energy
tax credits go to people with modest
incomes. Since the m a jo rity o f
Americans fa ll in to this income
bracket, I believe we should begin to
look at a refundable type o f credit
or some other plan that would allow
those with modest incomes to par
ticipate as well.
Parents learn computers
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H arriet Tubman M iddle School
has a goal: get more parents in
volved in the education o f their
children.
One big way that the goal has
been realized is through a series of
Computer Workshops for parents.
These sessions are amazingly well
attended on a Friday night and en
joyed by parents.
H arriet Tubman has been most
fortunate to have the computer
program in the school. Craig
M oore, coordinator, and Michael
Grice, assistant p rin cip a l, began
w orking in August to set up the
program. There are two banks o f
computers in the school. One bank
operates under the direction of An-
Michael Grice halpa aa parents of Harriet Tubman Middle School
drena Penn and provides d rill and
learn about computers.
practice fo r students in language
more attractive according to p rin
had to turn o ff the equipment to get
arts and mathematics and keep
cipal, Edith Wilson, because plans
their attention again.”
track o f student progress right up to
are being drawn to give more
According to M ichael Grice,
ihe m inute. The second bank o f
students an opportunity to take the
parent’ s enthusiasm is high because
computers is a network system o f 16
courses and more sophisticated
it is such an unusual opportunity to
term inals tied in to the teacher’ s
courses for advanced students.
explore electronic learning. The in
unit. The classes on the network
Because they have been so suc
tent o f the project is to bring
system learn programming skills in
cessful the parent com puter
parents close enough to the ex
Basic (computer language). Because
workshops are lik e ly to continue
periences o f their child that they can
students have advanced so rapidly
and be more numerous for the 1981-
share the excitement, ask the
this year the school expects to have
82 year.
questions, and solve the problems
an upper level class next year in
About the project, Michael Grice
students encounter daily. They also
robotics.
says “ We are glad to be leading the
get a chance to meet w ith other
Computers used in a class are part
way in bringing parents and stu
parents and compare feelings about
o f a new com m unication concept
dents together at the curriculum
the computer program and the first
level. Computers, whether we like it
called “ inter-active media.” When
year operation o f Harriet Tubman
parents sit down, many for the first
or not, are here to stay; they’ re not
Middle School in general.
just a fad. I t ’ s tim e we point our
time, a whole new world is opened
young people tow ard a broader
up to them. In cooperation with the
Because there is so much to ab
range career option and help them
Northwest Regional Educational
sorb about com puter language,
understand
the
preparation
Lab Joyce H o llis provides an in
hardware, software, management
troduction to the many functions of
necessary.”
and so on the March 27 conference
If their interest is any indicator,
computers, while Craig Moore and
was only one in a series. The next
fear o f electronic supplements is
Michael Grice outline the specific
and last computer conference for
gone and this batch o f tom orrow ’ s
uses for computers at Harriet Tub-
parents will be held on Friday, April
adults may be a little closer to a new
24, at 7:00 p.m ., in the school's
man.
“ The parents reaction is just like
reality. Parents who support their
computer lab, 2508 N.E. Everett.
student's learning by participation
Anyone interested in attending
that o f their students'* claims Craig
help the child's and the teacher’s iqji
should call 231-4996.
M oore, coordinator. “ They get
be more profitable.
started and d o n 't want to stop. I
Next year promises to be even
i I9AI P*ifW Not,to»e«t Urli