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Letter: Investment in human capital pays great dividends

To the editor:

When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 while in Memphis to support the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) sanitation workers' strike, he was organizing the Poor People's Campaign for social and economic justice.

He believed that economic security, as well as racial equality, was a basic human right. "What good is the right to sit at a lunch counter," King asked, "if one can't afford the price of a meal?"

In many ways, the Poor People's Campaign is still with us. Today in Arizona there are nearly 900,000 people living in poverty, of which 350,000 are children under the age of 18. The number of working poor in Arizona is two million. In October 2008 more than 700,000 people were receiving food stamps, a 21percent increase in participation since October 2007. In November 2008, nearly 90,000 households received an Emergency Food Box through the Association of Arizona Food Banks member food banks, a 34 percent increase since November 2007. With record home foreclosures, restrictions in the credit market, and increasing gasoline and food costs, all Arizonans are impacted by the economy.

Economic hardship means more demand for essential safety net services. AHCCCS, foods stamps, unemployment claims and other caseload numbers are rising significantly. This is not a time to cut critical health and human services which contribute to the economy and quality of life. As the economy worsens, the government must enable individuals and families to meet their basic needs, regain their stability, and support their return to the workforce.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is a time to reflect on our moral obligation to condemn social and economic systems that rob people of dignity and equal opportunity. It is a time to remember the philosophy of non-violent action for creating positive social change. The holiday invites us to act - act in a way that reaches out to those in most need and in a way that will have our elected officials understand that investment in human capital pays great dividends.

To commemorate the birth of Dr. King in a way that does not mock his legacy, I would suggest that our lawmakers, as they consider plans and proposals to deal with the state budget deficit, measure funding reductions with health and human services against the yardstick of King's hope and dream.

James Kimes

Prescott Valley


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