Dear Mr. President: Another Chance To Fight Poverty

Dear Mr. President:

As you near the State of the Union Address, I wanted to write again this year and urge you to use the opportunity to specifically address issues of poverty and to re-confirm your 2008 pledge to cut poverty in half within ten years.

The economic situation you inherited has made fulfilling that pledge difficult -- we have seen poverty increase to record levels -- but it is important that Americans understand that without your leadership and the policies you put in place even more people would be living in poverty.

Nonetheless, those living in poverty need to hear their president speak directly to them. They need to know they haven't been forgotten. Speaking a message of hope directly to families struggling to find shelter and food -- with specific policy proposals to reduce poverty -- will remind tens of millions of our brothers and sisters that they haven't been abandoned or left behind.

Sadly, during this election season, some are seeking to demonize those who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs, their homes, and even the ability to put food on the table. Churches and other faith-based organizations are overwhelmed trying to address this crisis as certain members of Congress call for even more reductions in public assistance programs during a time of prolonged economic crisis.

The National Council of Churches and the Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, among many others, have supported the Half In Ten Campaign to advance policy proposals to reduce poverty during these challenging times. Charity is not enough.

I urge you to use this State of the Union Address to speak of hope and change to the millions of Americans -- most of whom are children -- who live in poverty today. We need your voice in this important moment and the full powers of the presidency working for prosperity for all.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. Chuck Currie

 

Follow Rev. Chuck Currie on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RevChuckCurrie

Comments

[sdknyc]

09:56 AM on 01/24/2012

Huffington Post has degenerated into bickering of the nastiest sort. Here a clergyman makes a simple plea for the president to provide a message of hope to those suffering through difficult economic times. From an analytical perspective, I see some merit in both sides. Yes, it is probably true that the worse cases of hunger and malnutrition have been eliminated, in part due to assistance programs and in part due to increased incomes, trade, and agricultural productivity growth. Food Stamps (SNAP) nonetheless helps low-income families pay bills by freeing up money that would otherwise be spent on food. Do critics of the increases in SNAP caseloads (tens of millions) during the recession really believe that the labor force all at once came down with a case of the "lazies" in 2008-2010? The unemployment insurance system, the SNAP program, and the Earned Income Tax Credit all acted as automatic stabilizers that injected money into the economy as the economy soured. The recession would have been far more severe without them. On the other hand, we should not extend unemployment benefits indefinitely as they can slow workers' return to the labor force as recovery improves job opportunities. It is difficult to know exactly where to draw that line, but it will be time to end extensions soon. I respect those who take different approaches to solving these problems but let us not deny that millions of people would appreciate a message of hope.

[rsttho557949]

02:10 PM on 01/22/2012

Another cry for government to help the poor. When Re these social gospellwrs going to realize that personal change and not social change is the remedy for mankind. These Fabian Society pleas just fall on deaf ears. Taking personal responsibility is the first step to improving the position of mankind. Rather than wanting society to always pickup the tab, a father and a pastor should tell a young person that this isca cold and cruel world and the best way to survive in it will be
1. Have faith and reliance in God
2. Educate your mind to it's highest abilities
3. Stay on good terms with your parents
4. Make yourself marketable ( able to earn an honest income)
5. Don't enter into brining children into tins world or getting married to early in life
6. Avoid the lure and snare of credit
7. Marry your best friend.

[blue53]

10:03 AM on 01/22/2012

Rev.--haven't you heard--the poor, children, elderly and women are the cause of all the problems in this country. They are all the "entitled"--sucking at the teat of government and the President's plan is to keep them that way so that they will vote Democratic. This is the GOP meme. The last 40 years of income re-distrubution upwards is suposedly an illusion--the groups listed above took it all--not the banks,not the corporations, not the warmongers, not the special interests groups.

You know what they say runs down-hill, well, that's what the GOP is telling us to do-- look down--the people below you are the problem-pay no attention to the bailouts, corporate subsidies, tax breaks and tax loopholes.

[luapmi2]

04:07 AM on 01/22/2012

Pastor, where can I mail you a clue. If you haven't learned by now let me tell you: Obama is all talk and nothing but talk.

[timesjoke]

09:08 PM on 01/21/2012

Well, Obama has made a lot of promises that sounded good to a lot of people and got him a lot of votes to become President, but the reality is he just said what all Politicians say, enough to get them elected.

What we needed from day 1 from Obama was jobs, jobs will do more to end poverty than anything else but he wasted time. With jobs people can afford things like medical care and rise up out of poverty, his healthcare bill did not even lower a single cost, but it did let young adults who lost the jobs go back to the parents insurance policies, almost like Obama knew they would be needing it with him in charge.

Anyway, yes, we are in a big mess and the couple weak attempts Obama has made with jobs bills have been an insult and pure garbage. If Obama spent even 5% of the energy on jobs as he did on passing that 2 year healthcare mess we would be seeing real improvements by now.

By the way, don't blame Republicans, the last two years of Bush's Presidency had Democrats in charge of Congress and the purse strings and when Obama took office they had a super majority, that is 4 straight years they were able to control and adjust this economy, Obama did not inherit a problem, him and his fellow Democrats were in the middle of the problem long before he won the election.

[sweetlilthing]

07:29 PM on 01/21/2012

There's no way we can continue to help the poor when one in 2 of us ARE the poor now. We can't continue to help everyone when our wages are at 1970 levels. Not while we are paying more for all utilities (my electric was just de- regulated) , food, pension, and benefits. Forget college grants and our college grads came home for us to support. They can't pay their loans or purchase insurance because they can't get jobs. Our 401K's have devalued so much we can forget about retirement. ALL this and we have to pay down the debt. YOU DON"T THINK THE RICH WILL PAY ENOUGH TAXES TO DO IT? Obama's been our only voice but has hit a brick wall time and time again. Plead with the Congress to drop their power struggle and help us help the poor.

[sweetlilthing]

07:08 PM on 01/21/2012

Every time the Prez gets the chance he talks and fights for the poor. Perhaps you should direct your comments to Congress.

[humanbeing-rick]

02:51 PM on 01/21/2012

Amen. Thank you, Rev. Currie! It is unconscionable for America to allow poverty and starvation within it's own borders, for it's own citizens. America should stand up for it's own!
"Sadly, during this election season, some are seeking to demonize those who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs, their homes, and even the ability to put food on the table." - so true!

[dadoorsron]

12:20 PM on 01/21/2012

If every church sold its land and buildings the profit from that would easily reduce the homeless issue in this country. Poverty on the other hand is linked to education. Instead of State run colleges increasing tution to allow for a higher payroll these state colleges should be mandated to enroll 500-1000 new adult students that fall into the poverty levels. This will allow people to make chooses that will better help their family. However, It's up to those who that need help to seek it out.

[sweetlilthing]

07:13 PM on 01/21/2012

The church is in an uproar about losing Federal money for Catholic Adoption services. Looked at how Religious education has gone up. How about the treasures in the Vatican that would end world hunger? Big talk as long as someone else is paying.

[dadoorsron]

12:58 AM on 01/22/2012

The reason why private schools have seen an increase in enrollment is due to the fact that many large city public schools are horrible. These schools are charging as much as some colleges. Which studies show that just because you pay a considerable amount for the education it does not mean your child is getting a better education. Since the school is private science and mythology class (religion class) will not be accurate and one would be a waste of time.

[P3]

10:38 AM on 01/21/2012

a lot of words without wisdom

without solid gov regulations and oversight, we have gotten a Coal Mine disaster; fault found an Offshore Oil disaster; fault found, and a Japanese Nuclear disaster; fault found

what will the cost be to resolve those disasters? figure it out and come back
how do you figure the cost of human deaths?

As President, the executive leads, and Congress legislates, what happened to the Presidents Jobs Bill? If the executive said "half in ten", show me the legislation to get there

[timesjoke]

08:56 PM on 01/21/2012

Big government mandares and departments were involved and we still got disasters, so what is the point? The main reason the oil disaster was as big was because they were forced to do deep water drilling.....because......of........Government regulations.

[humanbeing-rick]

02:52 PM on 01/21/2012

Truly Orwellian logic