AboveTheRayne

Walking at the Mall, I see those volunteering for the Salvation Army Christmas Drive. We should still be fighting the unconditioned war on poverty announced by Johnson in 1964 and it does take an army. In 1963 the poverty rate was estimated to be between 20 and 25% of the American population, which meant about 32 million Americans were poor. By 1965, due to anti-poverty measures, the percentage had dropped below 15%. In 1973 it was 11.1%. Some in congress would have us believe that poverty programs actually hurt the poor, that poverty was due to a defect in character, not circumstances, disregarding the fact of our current problems – grinding unemployment, persistent wage stagnation, and increasing inequality.

At present 1 in 5 American children lives in poverty. According to official Census numbers, 46.5 million Americans are poor (15%). Nine out of 10 food stamp recipients live in a household with a child, a senior citizen or someone with a disability.

In September, some in the House of Representatives voted to slash food assistance by 40billion. And these poor surely don’t have health insurance. Quite a few governors made sure they won’t. They rejected Medicaid expansion, shutting out half of all low-wage earners in the country from any knd of insurance coverage. Many children need more besides toys.