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February 27, 2007
On Budgets and War on the Poor
by de sententia
Sadly, it is no surprise to read what we already know: the gulf between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' is growing ever wider. The signs have been there for all to see, if we would only look. Three years ago, we should have seen the reports that corporate profits were at all time highs, while labor compensation was at a 38 year low. Corporate profits continued to surge while labor compensation continued to fall. But in the United States, where a great many people measure their success by the
returns on their portfolios, we see corporate profits as a good thing. We do not see the impact on the poor.
Plato once said "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics." Still, we see the surging profits generated by corporations as a benefit to us. Its the capitalistic view, and we tend to ignore those less fortunate. But it is not just the corporations and our never ending pursuit of profit that contribute to poverty. Traditionally, government programs have helped alleviate the hardships. Those programs are now treated as afterthoughts in federal budgets devoted to war making and driven by fear. As Faithful Progressive notes, the cost of the war in Iraq has only made things worse. It is an issue that we have been warned of for some time.
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." Dwight D. EisenhowerEnding the war in Iraq will not put an end to poverty, but it would be a good first step in righting this imbalance between rich and poor. Ben Cohen, founder of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, came up with this video with TrueMajority.org to demonstrate the issues. I will make my voice heard to my senators and representatives, letting them know that the money we spend on war making and fear could be better spent addressing the poverty, the extreme poverty, we are seeing here at home. I hope you join me.
Posted by de sententia at February 27, 2007 04:18 PM
Comments
Many people have been so brainwashed by Govt.
pronouncements about how good the economy is, and
persuaded by heavy public relation dribble about
the well being of the USA, that they are blinded
to the true condition of America and America"s
middle class and especially the poor and the
extreme poor. As a matter of fact many people
who live in this dream world have no compassion for the poor bordering upon hatred. Poverty in our
nation is a inconvient fact. As long as the stock market is doing well and the rich are getting richer, they are happy. Jesus Christ taught that
compassion for the poor was one of the first steps
to being a real Christian. We see very little
compassion and understanding from the wealthy and
from corp. America.
Leonard Adams
Posted by: Leonard D Adams at March 6, 2007 07:35 PM
I don't vote for Republicans they hate the poor and lie all the time I am 68 years old and can count the times Republicans has told the truth on my fingers and as for as Christianity goes I have never heard them use a quote made by Jesus Christ in context; and I blame the Republican Party for the bad shape the world is in.
Exodus 23: 2 "Do not join a crowd that intends to do evil. And all who voted Republican need to atone; NOW
Posted by: Monte Schlarman at March 21, 2007 11:31 PM
