We the People: 2 Arkansans Sound Off on Jobs, Economy
By: Jonathan Athens, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 3, 2012
"The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer," says Springhill resident Grady Baker.
He's 68 years old, works as a grocery store manager, and the biggest issue for him is jobs and the economy.
"We're going to keep seeing more of one class going down, a big split. I think we'll see a higher class and a lower class," he says.
Baker comes to the Country Gentlemen's Barber Shop in Conway every month for a haircut.
His barber Max Henry has seen first-hand folks who have been hit hard by the bad economy.
"When I have some of my customers who have lost their jobs and can't find one, you see the tears running down their cheeks when they're talking about it, it really hurts your heart if you love people the way I do," Henry says.
Unemployment in Arkansas stands at 7.2 percent, and just this week, three companies in the state announced they are laying off a combined total of almost 500 people.
It's obvious, times are tough.
Henry has seen his share of the good and bad times. He's 68 years old and has been in business for almost 50 years.
Like Grady, he thinks America is heading in the wrong direction.
Both men agree that Washington politicians aren't going to make things better.
"They argue too much, claim too much, they don't have any real ideas that will work," Baker says.
"Our congress seems to be elected with good thoughts and values but it seems like they are swayed by someone when they get to Washington," Henry surmises.
If Grady had the chance to have a word with President Obama and Mitt Romney, here's what he'd tell them:
"Come on down guys, just live a life like us, see what the people are suffering trying to make ends meet. "
But no one is holding their breath that that's going to happen anytime soon.
He's 68 years old, works as a grocery store manager, and the biggest issue for him is jobs and the economy.
"We're going to keep seeing more of one class going down, a big split. I think we'll see a higher class and a lower class," he says.
Baker comes to the Country Gentlemen's Barber Shop in Conway every month for a haircut.
His barber Max Henry has seen first-hand folks who have been hit hard by the bad economy.
"When I have some of my customers who have lost their jobs and can't find one, you see the tears running down their cheeks when they're talking about it, it really hurts your heart if you love people the way I do," Henry says.
Unemployment in Arkansas stands at 7.2 percent, and just this week, three companies in the state announced they are laying off a combined total of almost 500 people.
It's obvious, times are tough.
Henry has seen his share of the good and bad times. He's 68 years old and has been in business for almost 50 years.
Like Grady, he thinks America is heading in the wrong direction.
Both men agree that Washington politicians aren't going to make things better.
"They argue too much, claim too much, they don't have any real ideas that will work," Baker says.
"Our congress seems to be elected with good thoughts and values but it seems like they are swayed by someone when they get to Washington," Henry surmises.
If Grady had the chance to have a word with President Obama and Mitt Romney, here's what he'd tell them:
"Come on down guys, just live a life like us, see what the people are suffering trying to make ends meet. "
But no one is holding their breath that that's going to happen anytime soon.
Comments
I completely agree with these guys. Let's focus on this country and this country's problems. Let's get our noses out of international affairs, stop importing oil, and get back to the good old USA. I bet if we went back to our grass roots democracy of our founding fathers as our government things would be much better. Let everyone in D.C. and on the campaign trail become unemployed and all accounts frozen have absolutely nothing and let's see how easy it is for them to get by for a few months. I am willing to bet everything there would be some that would start working on changes that would work.
Nathan J.
August 4, 2012 at 8:00 am
