No Rescue for the Hungry

[dajoki]

No Rescue for the Hungry
By Joel Berg
Sunday, September 28, 2008; Page B07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603265.html

When social services advocates like me hear that the cost of the federal bailout of the finance sector might top a trillion dollars, we're not quite sure how to process such a massive figure.

Our country has been told that a gargantuan government rescue of the private sector is necessary because the collapse of major financial institutions would lead to unthinkable outcomes for society. Almost as if by magic, our nation's leaders conjure up vast sums to respond to this crisis.

Yet when advocates point out that our nation is facing an altogether different kind of crisis, one of soaring hunger and homelessness, and that a large-scale bailout is needed to prevent social service providers nationwide from buckling under the increasing load, we are told that the money these agencies need just doesn't exist.

In 2006, fully 35.5 million Americans, 4 million more than in 1999, lived in households that couldn't afford enough food, according to the Agriculture Department. Those households included more than 12 million children.

Last December, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reported that out of 23 major American cities, 80 percent had an increase in people using emergency soup kitchens and food pantries and 43 percent had an increase in the number of homeless children. All that happened between November 2006 and November 2007.

How did the federal government respond? It didn't.

The only federal program that provides cash to both emergency feeding programs and homelessness prevention services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program, wasn't expanded by a penny. Even though the program enables thousands of nonprofit agencies (many of which are faith-based) to aid millions of struggling people nationwide, its budget hasn't been increased for six years. Given that costs for food and housing have skyrocketed over that time, the program has, in effect, suffered from massive cuts; the charities that depend on this money are reeling from the strain, many teetering on the verge of collapse.

[billyoc]

1. Are There No Prisons? Are There No Workhouses?

:eyes:

[knowbody0]

2. and the millions of homeless people- some Iraq Vets

and the Katrina victims still in Idaho.

We need to look hard at ourselves

[bobbolink]

8. Please, let's also don't forget the Katrina victims who killed themselves because they had no where

to go, and no way to survive.

After the media attention died down, they were turned out of many places and were left to die.

I think they deserve at least a memorial.

:cry:

[knowbody0]

18. I'm haunted by them

don't forget, KKKarl Rove was put in charge of reconstruction

[bobbolink]

20. I'm glad to know somebody is "haunted". Most don't seem to care.

HOWEVEr, it's time to stop shouting about Rove, and DO SOMETHING.

People's lives aren't saved by being angry with Rove.

[Sparkly]

3. Yup- or healthcare, which has put many Americans in dire straits. nt

[bobbolink]

9. It's not an either/or

It's BOTH.

[siligut]

4. Remember the food banks take donations.

Anyone who can might consider donating to a food bank. The one in our area is depleted and needing the basics, like peanut butter, pasta, rice and canned fruits and vegetables. Our local markets were having their ten for $10 on many items, so I was able to buy more.

[bobbolink]

10. So, the big banks get billions and we get a can of corn?

IT'S TIME TO STOP WITH THE CHARITY, AND WORK FOR JUSTICE!

[avaistheone1]

19. You got that right. Aptly put.

[Lint Head]

5. Give to the poor and disabled. Then.........

Eat the rich! :dem:

[dajoki]

6. kick

[bobbolink]

7. DAMN! STRAIGHT! WHERE'S OUR BAILOUT!!

We've been left to suffer for decades now, and all we get is more and more cuts.

WHERE'S OUR FRIGGIN' BAILOUT?????

C'MON, DEMS, WHERE'S OUR BAILOUT????

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[Subdivisions]

12. Don't you get it? Bailouts are only for the rich. n/t

[redqueen]

13. God Bless Joel Berg.

And the WaPo editor who approved it for print.

[bobbolink]

14. Absolutely! Articles about poverty in the "left press" are so scarce, they really stand out.

Scroll down this page, and look at the sad report about how seldom homelessness is reported in the "left" media:

http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org/

Yet, when I complain here on DU about it, I get very defensive replies.

Hurrah for Joel Berg and WaPo!!

[Kitty Herder]

15. K&R

:kick:

[crickets]

16. There's enough budget money to to help the poor and the uninsured.

Or at least there could be. The fact that a $700B bill was even discussed proves that. The money just isn't being allocated to those causes.

There are other ways to deal with the financial crisis that do not involve screwing the tax payers.

10 Ways to Bail Out Wall Street (and Main Street) Without Soaking Taxpayers in Debt
http://www.alternet.org/story/100223?page=entire

Stopping a Financial Crisis, the Swedish Way
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/worldbusiness/23krona.html

Looking for Savings in All the Wrong Places
http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20070321

How Wall Street Can Bail Itself Out Without Destroying The Dollar
http://www.thomhartmann.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=998&Itemid=1

WE NEED a COLD RE-BOOT NOT A SHORT TERM FIX
http://www.thomhartmann.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1005&Itemid=9


If, after all other alternatives have been investigated and discussed, Congress still wants to throw billions of dollars into a bottomless pit, there are other places to find it besides the piggy banks of the working class. The biggest invisible financial elephant in the room: the cost of the war in Iraq.

A Little Perspective on $87 billion.
http://www.crunchweb.net/87billion/

Iraq war could cost taxpayers $2.7 trillion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3444812

DURBIN TIES $$$ CRISIS TO IRAQ WAR-Calls For Repeal Of Bush Tax Cuts To Pay $700 Billion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4099286

The Cost of War
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=billions+of+U+S+dollars+in+Iraq

edit: added 2nd Hartmann link

[bobbolink]

17. "The fact that a $700B bill was even discussed proves that. "

:applause:

You are SOOO RIGHT!!

Let's face it.... Dems and "progressives" have decided that poverty and homelessnes is acceptable, so it continues.

WHEN Dems decide it's not longer acceptable in the richest country in the world, then it will end.

Thank you, crickets, for seeing through the subterfuge....

:yourock:

[maryf]

21. Thanks and Kick!

I would recommend but missed it until now!! keep posting this stuff, so needs to be seen!

[Stuart G]

22. Kick again...You know this is just as important as any other problem

facing this country today.....