While visiting Atlanta over the past couple of days I talked with an immigrant cabbie from Nigeria. During our conversation we talked about the number of homeless people sleeping on the street around the Georgia Capitol. He told me he immigrated to America from his home so he could enjoy the fruits of America. I asked him if the money being made from oil has trickled down to the Nigerian people, and he told me that poverty and political corruption continued to rule his home.… [Read more]
The “Nuns on the Bus” Immigration Tour Closes Today
Last year, Sister Simone Campbell made quite a splash on national television when she took her mission on the road. She went from around the nation, neighbourhood to neighbourhood, raising awareness about those among us who live in poverty, and she took her fight to congress when she brought attention to how their budget adversely impacts the most vulnerable in our society.… [Read more]
G8 Summit: Avoidance of Discussions about the Environment
The 39th G8 summit is being held in the United Kingdom today and tomorrow.
Representing approximately 15 percent of the world’s population, 65 percent of the global gross domestic product and two thirds of international trade, the G8 is an informal group of advanced economies that meets once a year at a Summit of Heads of State and Government.… [Read more]
Homeless
This week’s “Say It In Song” pick is “Homeless,”performed by Paul Simon on the album Graceland.
“Strong wind destroy our home Many dead, tonight it could be you Strong wind, strong wind Many dead, tonight it could be you”
On any given night in this country, 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless.… [Read more]
The Politics of ‘Food Insecurity’
Hungry children are less likely to develop properly and they are far less likely to be able to pay attention and focus on educational pursuits. So, given how pervasive hunger is for children in this nation, doesn’t it seem all the more incredible that children would be forced to throw out school lunches because of an inability to pay?… [Read more]
Fixing Food Stamps
Part of the fallout from our current recession has been the growth of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), neé ‘Food Stamps,” participation throughout the nation. This Federal program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food & Nutrition Service and the states, provides non-cash food assistance to households in impoverished financial distress.
Republican conservatives regularly use SNAP as a poster child for lambasting ‘welfare’.… [Read more]
When We Look Back, What Will We See?
Beginnings, endings and periods that mark great changes occur during every moment of every day. Wrapping up this week, a few events in history that took place on February 24th caught my attention:
- In 2008, Fidel Castro retired as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years, and his brother Raul Castro was unanimously elected.
- In 2011, the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) took place.
The Forgotten
“Poverty” was not represented in the State of the Union address by President Barack Obama. As I watched and listened, I realized the address is not intended to speak to all Americans but just a select few. There were gun supporters, gun opponents, CEOs and many more in attendance when the President gave his speech, but not one person represented the 50 million Americans who live in poverty.… [Read more]
Jeff Sessions wants to balance the budget by cutting food stamps
Try to stay with me here: According to Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, the food stamp program has quadrupled in the last ten years hence the food stamp program is clearly being abused hence the food stamp program should be cut back.
“One in six Americans are now receiving food stamps,” Jeff Sessions told Soledad O’Brien. “.… [Read more]
If they don’t want to be part of the social contract, let them go.
I met a woman recently and she asked this question: Why should the government have the right to tax people and tell them how much they should pay in taxes for things they do not want, like feeding the poor?
She did not believe the government should be in the business of taking care of poor people.… [Read more]