The Lost Tragedy

There have been many "lost" things in this world- the Lost Generation, the Lost Civilization, the lost cause (i.e.: trying to debate the constitutional ban gay marriage ban against a narrow-minded Dobsonite). But this latest report on The Lost Tragedy- the staggering level of poverty in the United States- is heartbreaking.

It's the side of America that nobody wants to see. And quite frankly, in the suburbs of Silicon Valley, a perspective that we cannot even imagine. As one of the dominant nations in the world, why would we even want to acknowledge the poorest among us? The least fortunate?

Poverty is a lost tragedy because we ARE one of the leading nations in this world. LBJ recognized this and declared War on Poverty. That man was responsible for the escalation of Vietnam, but I can overlook his foreign-policy flaws because of his remarkable commitment to a REAL national problem. Nixon was probably the most psychotic person in the Oval Office until 2001 but I absolutely love his domestic agenda.

I could learn to tolerate and maybe even forgive (a little) the current president for HIS flaws if he'll roll up his sleeves and get to work on this issue. But my contempt only grows every time he uses "tax cut" as if it's a cure-all for all economic ailments. But the Guardian Unlimited reports otherwise:

The latest figures mean that the number of poor Americans has grown every year under the Bush administration, despite an economy that has been growing robustly. They also provide some evidence of the lack of impact the much trumpeted tax cuts have had on the less well off.

Since President Bush won the 2000 election, the number of people living in poverty in the US has grown from 31.1 million - an additional 6 million people. The number without health insurance also rose again last year, from 45 million to 45.8 million.

The figures were published at the same time as a report from the leading labour federation found that increasing numbers of working Americans feel they are being left behind. Out of more than 800 workers, 70% said their standard of living was slipping.

So where is the compassionate conservative that triggered this massive neocon retaliation for the moderate Clinton years? I don't care how politically suicidal Clinton health care reform was. The fact that all Bush is doing with health care is increasing benefits for the old, who make up a significant voting bloc, is inexcusable. In fact, I find it utterly REPULSIVE. As many say, whatever they achieve won't matter if they can't raise their children properly. Well, even if we do establish the ideal conditions in Middle East, none of that matters if such INHUMANITY continues at home, completely ignored.

It's ludicrous that this administration can get AWAY with all that and more. From the New York Times:

But the biggest tax cuts went to high-income families already getting raises, Democrats said today. The report, they added, showed that the tax cuts had failed to stimulate the economy as the White House had promised.

"The growth in the economy is not going to families," Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, said. "It's in stark contrast to what happened during the Clinton Administration." ......

"It looks like the gains from the recovery haven't really filtered down," said Phillip L. Swagel, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. "The gains have gone to owners of capital and not to workers."

I'm starting to wonder who's at fault now. The deception coming from the top Executive officials in this country is appalling, but the ignorance or general passive attitude by the public is just as so. They have the RIGHT to demand more from their leaders. They have the right to an increase in minimum wage. They have the right to a government that will do all that it can when people are down to bring them back up again. The people deserve a government who cares about them, rather than one that feeds their tax dollars to pay oil companies and military contractors and leaves its people to fend for themselves.

When I vote in 2008 (which, due to the delay in applying for Permanent Resident status, is the first election in which I am eligible to vote), health care and social economy will be one of my top priorities. And right now, Senator John Edwards has won my heart (and probably my vote) where those issues are concerned.

Almost 46 million people are uninsured... Wow. I'm speechless.