For a year now I've been campaigning to get President Obama to talk about poverty in his upcoming State of the Union address. As a candidate, Barack Obama made a commitment to offer up plans to reduce poverty by 50 percent over 10 years. But then he inherited an economic nightmare. Poverty rates skyrocketed along with unemployment and hunger.
The good news is that President Obama never gave up the fight and through the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act (health care reform) he kept millions more from falling into even deeper poverty. Even the tax compromise with the GOP that was reached before Christmas includes anti-poverty measures that will help lift more Americans out of poverty. President Obama has earned his stripes as an anti-poverty advocate time and time again.
Nonetheless, 43.6 million Americans lived in poverty last year. That is morally unacceptable. Congress -- insisting on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that in turn drive up the deficit -- is calling for reductions in anti-poverty programs to pay for those tax cuts for the wealthy. In all honesty, we can expect to see poverty grow and more people suffer in the long-term. This week the deep poverty in America drove religious leaders to write this message to President Obama:
We who lead the member communions of the National Council of Churches believe it is time for you to renew the pledge you made during the campaign to cut poverty in half in the next decade. We ask that you use the influence of your office to assure those living in poverty that this nation has not forgotten them.Mr. President, we urge you to renew this pledge like a clarion call in the 2011 State of the Union Message.
As you have noted, this is a very ambitious goal and there are far too many politicians in this nation who might not take the risk or pursuing it without the strong advocacy of the President. But as you renew this commitment, be assured that we stand with you and that you have the support and prayers of all 37 member communions of the National Council of Churches.
The New York Times also issued a call for the president to more forcefully address the issue of poverty:
With 14.5 million people still out of work, and more than 6 million of them jobless for more than six months, reducing federal help now will almost ensure more poverty later. That would impose an even higher cost on the economy and budget because ever poorer households cannot spend and consume.We know it goes against the prevailing rhetoric to argue that more and better government policies are still needed to repair the economy. It is also unpopular to argue that programs that have succeeded for decades in reducing poverty, like Social Security, need to be preserved even as they are retooled for the 21st century. To do otherwise is to deny the evidence.
President Obama must explain to the American people that the country needs to continue relief and recovery efforts, especially programs to create jobs. Without that, tens of millions of Americans stuck in poverty will have little hope of climbing out -- and many more could join their ranks.
I'm praying this week that President Obama uses the State of the Union to re-affirm his commitment to cut poverty in half with specific proposals. In doing so, he will offer hope to tens of millions of Americans who are struggling in unimaginable ways.
I'd bet that raising the issue of poverty in America is the last thing political professionals would advise any president. But I'm placing my hope in President Obama himself and the staff at the White House who I know from experience care deeply and passionately about this issue. Lifting up the needs of those living in poverty, particularly children, should be an issue beyond political considerations.
Visit the Half In Ten Campaign to learn more about the fight to reduce poverty.
Follow Rev. Chuck Currie on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RevChuckCurrie
Poverty in America | Change.org
15 Shocking Facts About Poverty In America
Understanding Poverty in America | The Heritage Foundation
ITEP reported in 2009 that the poorest 20 percent of Floridians paid an average of 13.5 percent of their income in Florida taxes, while the wealthiest 1 percent paid 2.1 percent of their income, on average.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20101114/ARTICLES/101119865?p=2&tc=pg
Even the latest "tax cut" actually increased taxes on the poor, but gave millionaires thousands in tax breaks:
Yet the plan would actually slightly increase taxes for the poorest Americans, economists say -- at a time when some leaders in Washington are trying to bring attention to the nation's widening income disparity. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20025087-503544.html
We now live in a caste society where the poor are expendable so the wealthy can buy more at Tiffany's. Sadly, legislation will not be proposed to level that will address that continuing disparity.
Simply, the rich get richer on the backs of the poor.
It's a winning issue to embrace these days and the Dem's need to get on track while taking Social Security OFF THE TABLE in the coming cut everybody frenzy the Republicans would like to unleash.
"It is hope that helps us keep the faith, despite the evidence, knowing that only in doing so has the evidence any chance of changing."
- The Rev. William Sloane Coffin
Rev. Chuck Currie
http://www.chuckcurrie.com
politicans set goals during every term few are even started.
this is a problem of consciousness an evolution of consciousness. ie or lack of.
americans are a very selfish society in spite of what they think about themselves.
look around at the poverty, the lack of medical care, wars for corp profits, the rich getting richer, prisons overflowing.
you should be asking yourself if we are the most christian industrialized nation why all the poverty, why the wars for corp profits, why a mentality of profits over the welfare of it citizens, why no national health care for all americans??????
ask yourself why religion and capitalism go hand in hand like ducks and water.
go deep here very deep to find the answer to that one question.
atheists are made not born. when you find that answer you will discover why jesus had the most problems with the religious folks of his time. history has changed little has it not.
News Flash! Instead of the Government Using tax dollars that will cost every American more in the long run. Why don't you and all the other Reverands use your TAX free income to help people in need. Churchs do very little to help impact the homeless and the hungry. Instead of building Million dollar churches on acres of land. Why not build Free Housing for the Homeless on that property! You can build100's of houses on the real estate holdings many churches have. That right there would cut the homeless population in half in some areas! Maybe then I wouldn't have a issue of a church not paying any property taxes or sales tax on things they buy for the church!
- Rev. Chuck Currie
http://www.chuckcurrie.com
It all comes down to money. How will the Local, State, and Federal Government pay to help people? It's time Government starts to tax all churches and then maybe we will see a church actually start helping people.
2. The best way to break the cycle of poverty is via education. But as long as Obama and his Democratic colleagues remain in the pocket of the AFT and NEA, who insist on maintaining a broken public school monopoly, nothing will change.
None-the-less, President Obama has worked diligently to address this issue for fathers and children of all races. To learn more visit:
http://www.fatherhood.gov/
- Rev. Chuck Currie
http://www.chuckcurrie.com
There are many ways to meet the problem -- religious as well as non-religious groups, government (which, after all,is supposed to act on behalf of the people for the people), businesses, and ordinary individuals.