This week I heard the astounding fact that 48% of our children are in poverty. I don’t know where to verify the exact number but when we see how many adults are slipping into poverty daily it sounds right. Think of this- that is almost half of the children in this country.
The other news this week is that the members of Congress are again playing “chicken” with everyone’s taxes. The fight is semantics and yet again who can be the “winner”. There are 10 days before everyone’s payroll taxes will increase if nothing is done. Like many voting Americans, my disgust reins. The media has “done the math” and reports with no tax cut there will be an average of $1000 less in take home pay for each working American. That’s a big difference for many – it includes lot of basics (clothing), heating and light, food, or even housing for families and therefore the children. What if choices need to be made between medication and food?
Going a step further- being hungry, not having coats, going to bed when the sun goes down because there is no electricity also means it makes it to be a scholar. Some of the things affected include making it more difficult for children to read, study, do homework to prepare for a rigorous day in school or have a chance to write or play a game (not a video) with a friend. Instead it means going to bed early to stay warm or forget the hunger. In some cities there is not even electricity for the street lights- unfortunately that makes the neighborhood less safe. Yet we expect students (children) to focus, to learn, practice and in the next few years have an even more challenging set of requirements to complete in school. Are we missing connections here?
How many of our soldiers are under the age of 25? How many are coming back and finding their families struggling or in poverty and no sight of jobs? Are we taking care of our own?
And Congress is quibbling over a jobs bill and whether to renew a tax reduction! How many members of Congress grew up in a homeless shelter or moved often to stay ahead of creditors, or lived in a car at times, or found themselves hungry and no nutritious food or in some form of poverty? Are many of our Congressional members truly aware of the current situations of the people that put them in office?
In contrast how much money has been spent on the 2012 campaign for President and Congress? Did the public really need all that has gone on in the name of the 2012 campaigns during 2011? Again how much has been spent on all sides in contrast to what is spent to help children? Only a few states got $ money for education and people think that is ok? What about the other states?
This week is Hanukah as well as Christmas and those with a little extra of their own are giving what they can to help a family member or neighbor or child. A special thanks to public education teachers who spend part of their own salary to make sure there are pencils, notebooks, enough books, and all the basics for every child in his/her classroom. Thanks to those teachers, their families, and others in the local communities that are finding ways to make sure the children in classrooms have clothing, food, heat, early medical care or anything else needed so that the children are able to feel comfortable and able to think about learning. This is so the child isn’t hungry or cold or ill or worried about the family- all of this interferes with learning. (Yes, even younger children worry.) A very special thank you to all the Secret Santas that are showing up around the country. These people are helping others in many ways without expecting publicity. These giving people recognize that the children are our future problem solvers and logical thinkers as well as our leaders. These givers are well aware of the fact that children (and adults) aren’t asking for the frivolous but for things like food, clothing, shelter, warmth, early intervention for good health, and the means to support those basic needs. Why don’t our politicians recognize this?
So again I ask how much campaign money is being spent and could campaigns be more fiscally responsible? I also ask: when will the voice of reason once again prevail?
