Wow, talk about empathy, the Alabama Rep with our name knows from poverty and is leading a front on it at home. A poignant recounting in the Decatur Daily News reveals how he earned his understanding.
Mike (shown here in part of a family picture was born in 1954 in a California charity hospital. His early childhood in Stockton was poor. He knows that this puts him in a position to understand and help others. As the article puts it:
"Poverty is a complex thing; every family has a different story. There is no one-size-fits-all solution," Ball said. "My perspective is not from reading research papers and looking at surveys. I have a different take on poverty." Ball said it is important to teach people how to make good choices and how to discourage bad choices. He speaks with the authority of someone who lived both ways as a child.He had a tough life in many ways, including seeing his father killed in a sawmill accident. He made his way through school and earned a spot at the table.
He now co-chairs the new House Task Force on Poverty. He doesn't believe in, and doesn't believe it is necessary, to throw money at the problem of poverty. Instead, the article continues,"Ball said it is important to teach people how to make good choices and how to discourage bad choices. He speaks with the authority of someone who lived both ways as a child."
Blog note: You can search above for "Alabama" in this blog to find numerous other small posts on this Mike Ball.
Tags: Mike Ball, Alabama, Representative, poverty
