UNCOMMON CENTS

HOW NOT TO EAT SIMPLY IS DEMONSTRATED AT A CULINARY INSTITUTE IN CHICAGO THAT TRAINS THE POOR AS CHEFS. LUCKILY, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR CHARITABLE DONATIONS SQUANDERED ON THIS PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS. THE MEAT, FOWL, FISH, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS SACRIFICED TO HELP THE POOR FIND JOBS IS ALSO AN OUTRAGE. THIS INSTITUTE’S FOOD DEPOSITORY (BANK) FEEDS 1,500 HUNGRY KIDS IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AN EFFORT THAT PROBABLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE EPIDEMIC OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY; CITYWIDE, IT FEEDS 500,000 POOR.

EXPENSES FOR THIS SPECIAL, SELECT COURSE FROM THE INSTITUTE, RUNS $4,000 PER PUPIL. WITH PROPER PLANNING, TWO PEOPLE CAN FEED THEMSELVES FOR $10.00 A DAY OR $3,650 A YEAR. AN OUTRIGHT GIFT OF $4,000 ACCOMPANIED BY REAL-WORLD, COMMON SENSE ADVICE ON ECONOMICAL MENU PLANNING AND CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS COULD REPLACE THIS PROGRAM. BUT AMERICA'S ‘FAILING’ ECONOMY SUPPORTS (THANKS TO CHARITY FROM THE 'WELL-OFF'), A SCHOOL FOR GOURMET CUISINE. CHEFS PREPARE ELITIST MENUS OF HALIBUT WITH SHERRY SAUCE, SCALLOPS WITH BACON WRAP, BELGIAN CHOCOLATE CAKE, CHICKEN BREAST WITH HOISIN SAUCE AND MOREL MUSHROOMS, CHICKEN PROVENCAL WITH RICE TIMBALE (I DON'T HAVE A CLUE) AND CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE. INGREDIENTS LIKE CHOPPED CHIVES, HUNGARIAN PAPRIKA, GROUND GINGER AND OTHER EXPENSIVE, FRESH SPICES, HIGH-PRICED FISH, POULTRY AND MEAT AND TURNIPS, SCALLIONS AND SUNDRY FRESH VEGETABLES TYPIFY THE SELECTIONS. THIS TRAINING PROGRAM ESCHEWS A KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC COOKING AND UNDERCUTS THE CONCEPT OF LIVING WITHIN ONE'S MEANS. I AM NOT SO LUCKY, AND POOR PEOPLE TOO, AS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD EXTRAVAGANCES. THE NEEDY WILL NOT BE RAISED OUT OF POVERTY WITHOUT A REALISTIC APPROACH TO BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS AND EATING ARRANGEMENTS COUPLED WITH A WORK ETHIC THAT SUPPORTS REGULAR EMPLOYMENT. GRANTED THIS 12 WEEK COURSE AIMS AT ENFORCING ON-TIME WORK HABITS AND STICK-TO-IT-IVENESS. BUT NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO HABITS OF POVERTY IS ON THE TABLE (SO TO SPEAK), AT THIS CULINARY ACADEMY.

I MUST REVEAL THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ONLY A MERE 750 STUDENTS A YEAR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS REGIMEN FOR CHEF. PUBLICIZING THIS CHARITABLE WASTE IS DETRIMENTAL. NO BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OR MIND SETS WILL CHANGE BECAUSE OF THIS, FEEL GOOD,' HUMANITARIAN, LIBERAL, INITIATIVE. THE ‘SUCCESS’ OF ONE GRADUATE WHO LANDED A POSITION AS HEAD COOK IN A CAFETERIA WILL BE SHORT-LIVED JUST AS EVERY OTHER ‘WELFARE’ EFFORT HAS FAILED. TYPICAL IS ANOTHER STUDENT WHO FELL BACK INTO LIVING IN A SHELTER. SIGNING UP FOR THIS COURSE AGAIN, SHE WILL CONSUME ANOTHER $4,000.

HINT: LEARN TO LIVE SIMPLY WITHIN A BUDGET. K.I.S.S. LATER, WITH FINANCIAL SUCCESS YOU CAN LIVE A MORE COMPLICATED LIFE.