Another side to the U.S. coin

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 12

Another side to the U.S. coin

Far too much is heard these days of the decadence of American society. Too many of us sit smugly back, point an accusing finger to the north-east, and profess that we shall “learn from its mistakes.”

But is American life completely falling apart? Are its problems passing New Zealand by? After living with Pennsylvanian families and talking with dozens of people from all walks of life over eight weeks, I must say an emphatic “no” to both.

The ill-balanced image results from the type of news item demanded by the public crime, the spectacular, that which is macabre reinforced by widely-sweeping statements from those who have merely “done” New York one week and San Francisco the next, but deem themselves qualified to judge a whole nation and its people.

I, too, saw pornography which quite frankly made me, as a fattier, thankful for New Zealand’s censorship laws; spoke to many children who knew from whom of their classmates drugs could be obtained; mingled in Washington’s Potomac Parte with young people who are rightly expressing concern over Vietnam; drove through Philadelphia’s slums, the city with the worst Black gang problems; and lived in houses fitted with burglar alarms and lights which switch on automatically at dusk. There was much more too, which was most distasteful to a New Zealander. Clean-up campaign But all America is not like that. Indeed, I saw much more of the other side to the coin, a side which is more apparent outside the largest cities, in Pennsylvania anyway. What are some features often neglected in dispatches? First, the very countryside of eastern Pennsylvania (“Penn’s woods”) is beautiful. It is densely populated (one county is smaller than Stewart Island yet has Auckland's population spread evenly over it) and although this is the heart of the industrial Atlantic seaboard, it is not a landscape of high chimneys forever belching smoke, nor of dead fish floating down polluted streams. Pollution does exist, but to a much less extent than I had imagined. The important things that the last few years have seen a great

clean-up campaign by industry, forced by public pressure and legislation which has “teeth.” For example, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the nation’s second largest steel-producer and stretching along the Lehigh River for five miles, emits very little waste into the air, and streams in the area draw many fishermen. I saw more smoke in the atmosphere on returning to Auckland than anywhere in Pennsylvania’s east.

Industrial parks The many new industrial parks are neat, clean and generally welcomed to an area by the people. There are few hoardings and little rubbish along the highways. Houses are often set on oneacre lots with a pleasing lack of fences. Even the more crowded houses of Reading, Allentown and Bethlehem (each a city the size of Dunedin) are picturesque, as is the farmland of tall silos, stone houses, colourful bams and com fields. But everywhere are the trees.

Second, the people. We found them to be more like ourselves than different. One of my hosts, a man of the outdoors who enjoys hunting deer with a bow, loves fishing and ski-ing, and who frequently takes his family camping, was amused at the suggestion that he was more a “Kiwi” than many of my countrymen. We met friendly, very generous people who were wonderful hosts.

Courtesy and manners

It was, however, salutary to find greater courtesy and better manners than in New Zealand! The inevitable “You’re welcome” or “It’s my pleasure” in response to our thanks seemed always so sincere. The lack of swearing, the opening of a car door for a lady, the very efficient and pleasant service from all shop assistants we met, and the warm hand shaking on every meeting

were just some of the little differences. Certainly, the stereotype of the brash American tourist did not exist in our experience.

Sincerity deserves special mention. Those we spoke to were straight-talkers, shot their questions straight from the hip, and demanded straight answers. They put their social problem cards on the table and wanted to talk about them. We admired their self-incrimination which unfortunately acts against a good international image. Perhaps we New Zealanders can listen more attentively to foreign criticism of our country, and acknowledge that “God’s Own Country” does have weaknesses however comfortable it feels.

Third, the cost of living is not necessarily higher. American prices seem exorbitant, unless qualified, and the sales tax added to most items (6 per cent in Pennsylvania) makes them sound worse. Living costs A New Zealand dollar is worth just over 10 per cent more than a United States dollar, but American salaries are three times higher. (This is a rough “rule of thumb” with many exceptions, yet is useful in making comparisons. The average salary of $9OOO to $lO,OOO compares with about $3OOO here.) Thus, the exchange rate nowhere near compensates for the difference in salaries, and the New Zealand traveller is at a great disadvantage. This was aggravated until the Budget by the meagre travel allowance, and so is it any wonder that New Zealanders in America are centconscious? In these terms the United States cost of living is high. However, a man on an American salary can do more with his money than his New Zealand counterpart. A good steak at $2.40 per lb is the same price as here, relative to earnings; and chicken is less expensive. Apples at 39 cents per lb, oranges at 41b for $l.OO, and even butter at 93 cents compare favourably. Milk is much dearer there at 40 cents a quart delivered. I bought a dinner of fruit juice, fish, potatoes, beans,

cherry pie and a glass of milk for $2.27. Petrol is cheap in Pennsylvania at 34 to 39 cents a U.S. gallon (7, cents lower in California). Things to enjoy Although he may envy a family owning three new cars, its total outlay can in fact be less than that of a New Zealand family with only one car. A new car may amount to only one quarter of the average salary there, yet over a full year’s pay here. Many other prices could be quoted, and of course, such things as insurances for cars and medical care are very high. But in total, we felt that the Pennsylvanian with a job is better situated.

In short, we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside, the goodness and sincerity of the people and were a little surprised to find that living costs were not all high. It was a privilege to experience these, and many other good facets of life, as well as being able to confirm that there are many very disturbing features. Surely better international understanding can only come with a knowledge of both. I appreciate my own country all the more, but also see our glaring weakness much clearer—complacency. The making of westerns “I like to make Western pictures because I like, the people that I work with. I like to get out on location, to leave this town with the smog and the fog and traffic and speedways and freeways. I like to get out and live in the open. You get up early, you work late, you eat dinner with an appetite, you sleep well, and I do like the people you meet and that you work with. That is really my only interest in Westerns. As story material I’m not particularly fascinated by them.” Film director John Ford in a 8.8. C. interview.

Mr Roger T. Murdoch, a lecturer in social studies and geography at Christchurch Teachers* College, has just returned from two months in the United States. He was one of seven professional and business men chosen by Rotary to represent its South Island district in a group study exchange programme in Pennsylvania’s

easternmost Rotary district Next year, a similar team from Pennsylvania will study the South Island. Here, Mr Murdoch makes some initial observations, to be followed next week with a closer look at education.