< llH a rt binò © hsvruvr Page A4 October 19. 2005 Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer O pinion We have a plan for college. Discrimination at Work Another obstacle on the path of equality by Saving for college may not be easy, but it helps if you have a plan. That's why families all over Oregon are investing with the Oregon College Savings Plan. - investors enjoy these benefits - State tax deduction up to $2000 per year' Tax-free growth and withdrawals2 Use your savings at schools nationwide a OREGON COUEGF SAVINGS Call toll free today or visit our website for your free enrollment kit. » R a n d a ll E d w a rd s Oregon Stale Treasurer 1-866-772-8464 w w w .o re g o n c o lte g e s a v in g s .c o m OppenheimerFunds "This plan helps Oregon families achieve the dream of higher education Its flexibility and outstanding tax benefits make it an ideal choice when saving for college ' State Treasurer Randatt Edwards. Plan Administrator 'Hie orvg<«i G illtge Savings Plan” 1 is administered In Oregon Slate Treasurer Randall Fdwurds and distributed In O|ipenhein»rFunds Distributor, Inc. OppcitlteiineiTunds. luc is the program manager ot the Plan Some stales oiler favorable tax treatment Io their residents only if they invest in the state s own plan, Nonresidents of Oregon should consider whether their state offers its residents a 52M plan with alternative tax advantages and should consult tin ir tax advisor. The tax bill exempting earnings on qualified withdraw ids from Federal income taxes expires I2/JI/10. requiring Gmgress to take Itirtlier a, n to , and tin,o-pi .... , ........ t ,a i these seeiirilies are neither FDIl, insured nor guaranteed and may lose value. Please read plan documents for inore complete information, including investment objectives, fees, expenses and risks OppenheimerFunds Distributor, In c . Member NASD. SIIH,. 'hvo World Financial tenter. 225 Liberty Street. New York. NT 10281 11X18 ©Copyright 21X15 Oppenlwimerfunds Distributor, Inc Ml rights reservtxl. 1 Oregon state tax deduction for contributions of up Io <2lXXt per tax filing. -Tax-free withdrawals lor qualified ex|tenses. J udge G reg M athis A large number of American companies boast about their com­ mitment to employing a diverse la­ bor force. However, a recent poll shows more than 30-percent of A frican-A m erican w hite-collar workers knows someone who has been a victim of workplace racial discrimination ; less than 20-percent of white workerscould say the same. While workplace diversity has vastly improved over the last sev­ eral decades, it’s clear that more work needs to be done and more resources utilized in the fight to eliminate it. The recent restructuri ng of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stands to negatively affect the way the organization deals with workplace discrimina­ tion complaints, hindering the en­ during struggle for equal opportu­ nity. The EEOC is a federal agency, charged with enforcing Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the ba­ sis of race, nationality, religion or gender. The Commission also en­ forces other laws and statutes, in­ cluding the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits sex-based pay dis­ crimination and the Age Discrimi­ nation in Employment Act of 1967, which protects workers 40 or older. Despite the continued need to guarantee these laws are enforced, the EEOC has bee reorganized: seven of the Com m ission’s eight district offices will be converted to field offices and one district office will become an area office. Those whodisagree with the new arrange­ ment say the changes will result in delays and poor service and that local cases will not receive the at­ tention they deserve. The EEOC had trouble keeping up with its caseload before the bias out of the workplace, puts yet another obstacle on the path to true racial equality. If you feel you have been a vic­ tim of workplace discrimination, you can file a claim - by mail or in person - at the nearest EEOC office. ou’H need to provide your personal information, contact information for your employer, along with a de­ scription of the alleged discrimina­ tion. Don’t delay in contacting the EEOC: acharge must be filed within We cannot let budget cuts and restructuring deny justice and hinder progress. changes. In 1998, the Commission 180 days from the date of the al­ had a backlog of nearly 65,000 leged violation. If, at any tim e dur­ cases; the number was reduced to ing the p ro c e s s you feel the about 40,000 in 2000 -still too high EEOC doesn’t offer quality ser­ a figure. A report released last year vice, let it be know n - contact the revealed only 43-percent of inves­ national EEOC office and your tigations by federal agencies was local legislators and vocalize your frustrations. The same is true if completed on time. For the last several decades, y o u ’ve already fi led a com plaint. corporations big and small have W e cannot let budget cuts and made a concerted effort to recruit restructuring deny ju stic e and and retain a workforce that accu­ hinder progress. Judge Greg Mathis is Chair­ rately reflects American society. Nevertheless, workplace discrimi­ man o f the Rainbow PUSH-Excel nation is a reality that endures. To Board and a National Board Mem­ restructure and, in effect, weaken ber ofthe Southern Christian Lead­ the agency responsible for keeping ership Conference. ite America’s Progressive Ideals Movement tied to women’s, minority rights women’s suffrage and the forma­ The term progressive is widely tion of the NAACP. Progressives in the 21st cen­ used by contemporary writers, poli­ ticians, and liberals, but an under­ tury continue in this tradition of standing of what makes up a pro­ dem ocracy building and open gressive agenda is generally un­ transparency o f corporate and political power. Progressive val­ known. Many people have a vague sense ues are rooted in the A merican that progressives are left-of-center traditions of equality, fairness, folks mostly concerned with soci­ due process, and dem ocratic de­ etal fairness and governmental cision making at the deepest level transparency. This notion is rooted possible. Progressives recognize in the Progressive movement that that in stitu tio n al pow er, both occurred in the U. S. between 1900 public and private, has created by P eter P hillips im p riso n m en t for n o n -v io len t crimes. Progressives encourage socio­ economic and political systems that maximize individual participation, self-actualization, loving interper­ sonal relationships and healthy environments. They are a diversi­ fied bunch who come from all politi­ cal parties with a full range of hu­ man characteristics. More importantly, progressives seek personal life styles that reflect theircore values. Simplicity ishighly valued through a life of slower pace, natural foods, sus­ tainable consump­ tion, efficient living spaces, and a daily consciousness of striving for human betterment through social action. Social action based on progres­ sive values is possible locally, re­ gionally, nationally and internation­ al ly. It is action emerging from i nter- nalized values that lead people to self-actualization and fair liveli­ hood. One step at a time can lead us to a progressive future. Imagine a society with region­ ally su sta in a b le e c o n o m ie s, crimelessness, and general equal­ ity. Such a life is possible, not just for us but for the world. Progressives believe in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Bill of Rights, open access to corporate and governmental information, democratic media and individual human freedom. The Joys Of Your Heart Live In Your Home and 1914. According to Richard Hofstadfer in his book "The Pro­ gressive Movement,” 100 years ago our grandparents and great grandparents faced the accumu­ lated evils of political bosses, bank­ ing trusts, railroad greed and over­ charging, unjust taxation, million­ aire senators, yellow-dog journal­ ism and cities filled with pollution and tenements. A nationwide multi-party politi­ cal movement of mostly middle class working people emerged that sought political reform, increased governmental regulation.city sani­ tation, and objective media. The movement was closely tied into inequalities o f race, class and gender, and that dem ocratic gov­ ernm ental regulation is needed to m ake necessary social ju stice corrections for hum anity w orld­ wide. P rogressives believe in the U niversal D eclaration of Human Rights, the Bill o f Rights, open access to corporate and govern­ mental inform ation, dem ocratic media and individual human free­ dom. Progressives believe that human freedom includes the free­ dom from hunger, hom elessness, unem ploym ent, environm ental pollution, discrim ination based on physical attributes and long Peter Phillips is a professor o f Sociology at Sonoma State Uni­ versity and director o f Project Censored, a media research group at www.projectcensored. org. A t Am erican Fam ily Insurance, we know that home is the place where you spend the best moments o f your life. For this reason, regardless o f whether you are an owner or a tenant, we have a great variety o f policies that could o ffe r you the protection you need. C all one o f our local agents today or v isit w w w .am fam .com to become more inform ed about coverage options that exist to protect the jo ys o f your heart...home. A r r w c a n Family Mutua» Insurance Company and its Subsidiares Morm» OWca ^aonr¡r\ M Xi?93 www amtam com ©P006 001473- 1 A» AMERICAN FAMILY IN S U R A N C E poor proroenon under nne roo/ ' New B eginning Throughout the fearsome drama played by Hurri­ cane Katrina and the subsequent enraged Rita; then the seeming abandonment of the suffering citizens by an indifferent and incompetent Federal Emergency Management Agency, we Americans - indeed the whole world - have been witness to the entire spec­ trum of human emotions. We have seen and heard stores of great courage, great endurance, despair, hope reborn, anguish, fear and anger — and we have seen mostly black Ameri­ cans as never before. Now the healing has begun. The Bush Administra­ tion, grossly inept when the emergency was at its zenith, is now running hard to make up for its failure at the beginning of the crisis. Now America — and again the world - is seeing those of exceptional courage and spiritual strength, who endured and survived the traumas of the hurri­ canes, remake their lives and reconnect with loved ones. White Americans have seen and heard black Americans as never before. May it be a new beginning of greater understanding and concord between the races. Heroes have emerged. Mayor Ray Nagin, though criticized by some, is passionate, articulate and char­ ismatic. Thank God for Ray Nagin. May he have a long and distinguished service in government. June Potter Acosta Southwest Portland