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Dec. 8, 2004 More news about Iraq today. We are bombing Falluja in preparation of a ground invasion. This is an effort to stop the on-going insurgencies that have been getting in the way of our rebuilding Iraq and helping the Iraqi people get on with their lives post-Saddam. And that’s good, right? We want to give the Iraqis our version of freedom and economic stability, and, of course, democracy. Why can’t we just for once look to our own people, take care of our own people, first? Take a quick look at the U.S. Census Bureau site. You will find: The official poverty rate in 2003 was 12.5 percent, up from 12.1 percent in 2002. In 2003, 35.9 million people were in poverty, up 1.3 million from 2002. At the same time: SUV Registrations Up 55 Percent in Oklahoma. SUV Registrations Up 27 Percent in Idaho. SUV Registrations Up 37 Percent in Florida. SUV Registrations Up 46 Percent in South Carolina. SUV Registrations Up 72 Percent in New Jersey. Many people will look at these separate numbers and see no connection. I look at them and see a nation that simply doesn’t care, either because the majority can no longer think for themselves or simply choose not to. Let’s back up to the SUV numbers. Gasoline is priced the highest since it was invented. Yet, we squander our money on SUVs, vehicles with not exactly the highest MPG rating. The SUV you buy new today you will be lucky to be driving in five years. My goldfish has a higher life expectancy. 12.5 percent of us living in poverty. That’s not an insignificant number. Poverty is not defined, by the way, as an inability to purchase an SUV. 35.9 million Americans living in poverty. Iraq has a population of 24 million, as of July 2002. Less now, I’m sure, by a few. Will anyone argue to me that America is not the richest country on the face of the earth? Can anyone name to me one single country the U.S. doesn’t ship food to each and every year? Can anyone tell me why we care more for those in a country 99% of us have never and will never see, than we care for the one in forty of us living in poverty right here? Just curious. ------------ About the author Mark Davis: I am currently working on two books: one is a fantasy adventure, and the second is a humorous look at call centers in America. Email: teljaan@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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