Americans Goes Hungry While Congress Plays Politics

State and local food stamps programs were due for an over-haul many years ago but have gone greatly ignored by those in Washington. America's poor struggles even more now to provide a decent meal for their children and in some cases have to seek other remedies. Some in Washington have attributed this increase in food stamp enrollment to lazy people who do not wish to get a job. They could not be further from the truth but in today's political environment, the truth doesn't matter.

We are all well aware of how the extensions of unemployment benefits were blocked but we hear very little about the ineffectiveness of our food stamp programs. These programs, while it may detest some, are the only thing keeping America's poor from being the poster child for a third world country. Those who have been greatly affected by this economic turndown are not those making over $250,000.00 per year nor are they those making over $100,000.00 per year. It is those making anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000.00 per year. This has always been the case and continues to be. Nothing has changed for these families and until it does America will always be "The Land of Opportunity" that provides none.

For those politicians and others who are of the mind that those struggling the most, allow me to offer this bit of reality. The "struggling class" is not all gang members living in the projects. The "struggling class" is not all single parents with any education and drive to seek a better life for their children. The "struggling class" is not all of one party or another. Parts of the "struggling class" are former veterans who served this country honorably. Parts of the "struggling class" are college graduates who are denied jobs because they are not currently employed. Millions can be bussed to a rally in Washington and influenced to purchase "keepsakes" but there are no rallies for America's poor. Hundreds can show up for a political fundraiser but there are no fundraiser for America's poor. The truly sad part is that when these "struggling class" citizens try to contact their local offices, either they are completely empty, seriously busy or didn't pay their phone bill. No American deserves that and this is not the America that I was willing to give my life for.

My sister just recently completed receiving her college degree but when applying for jobs she was told that she needed at least three (3) years experience before she could be hired. My question is why then would anyone go into debt to obtain a college degree and how would they ever get the experience if they will not be hired without it? One of America's biggest concerns is how this country may be viewed by other countries when its primary focus should be on how we see ourselves. The Bible say that before you assist your brother in removing the splinter from his eye, you must first remove the board from your own. In a nation which claims to be of Christians, why then are our neighbors the last to receive our undivided attention? No one of any spine is looking for a hand-out but they are asking for a hand-up.