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Why I'm Not Mustering Help for Haiti
Jan. 16th, 2010 10:29 amNo, I'm not getting riled up about the disaster in Haiti, nor am I doing anything to help the various aide efforts that are helping people there. Now I will tell you why.
There are hundreds of thousands of good, honest people right here in the USA who are cold, hungry, and have no home. If they had a job to go to, many would not be in this state, but thanks to corporations downsizing and outsourcing, a lot of jobs have been sent to other countries and aren't here for those who would work them. There are thousands more who require serious mental and physical help before they can cease being homeless, who don't get what they need because governor and legislators and senators don't think they are worth it.
There are thousands who are losing their homes because the banks won't work with them, and yet our government saw fit to bail out those same banks, while waving a hand at any ghost of enforcement. While Joe down the block is losing his home, Goldman Sachs is handing out record bonuses. That same government is going to pour millions of your tax dollars into helping folks half a world away - but they won't lift a finger to help YOU.
Yet millions more work jobs that don't pay a living wage but nobody is doing anything about that. Yet millions more are living on disability benefits that did not get increased this year, because the government didn't think we needed it - nevermind that COLAs never cover the TRUE cost of living increase each year. For us, personally, if it weren't for good friends, there are some months we WOULDN'T make it. We're lucky; most aren't.
Millions of dollars are going to go overseas to Haiti to help people who can't help themselves - and at the same time, we have three times as many people here desperate for help of any kind. It is altogether too easy to look at some other country and feel sympathy, and ignore the beggar that is starving on the same corner of the street you're standing on.
I am neither a Separatist, nor am I coldhearted to those suffering from disasters. It's too bad our government failed to follow through on all their promises to those in the southern states who are STILL suffering and losing thanks to the hurricanes, even after all this time. How about some celebrities having concerts for them, so they can get their homes back and their families back from the dozens of places they were shipped all over the country? How about some real money poured into making the levee system work instead of patching it here and there and praying another Katrina or Rita doesn't come along soon?
How about some celebrity benefits for the people losing their homes - or better yet, how about some legislative enforcement so that Wall Street stops playing Russian Roulette with our tax dollars and the banks are forced to work with homeowners, rather than kicking them to the curb?
How about some publicity benefits to force our government to mandate a living wage so that people aren't forced to live hand-to-mouth or work three jobs just to have a roof (usually rented) over their heads and food in their bellies?
How about some riots so we get a health care system comparable to that found in Canada, the UK, and France, rather than this trumped-up bullshit that is going to benefit the big insurance companies the most?
The United States is rapidly turning into a 3rd-World Dictatorship, with Wall Street calling the shots, while the majority of the population suffers more and more, unable to effect any change. Workplace shootings are becoming routine news as are family shootings/suicides. If you back someone into a corner they don't feel they can get out of, what do you expect?
Until the day the government and all the celebrities take a look within our own shores and start working for some real change, I will say I feel sorry for those in Haiti and other places suffering natural disasters - but I will not support efforts to bail them out. Not as long as there are people HERE that need the help even more. If I had the money to spare, I'd much rather donate it to an organization that is trying to help folks right here, right now.
There are hundreds of thousands of good, honest people right here in the USA who are cold, hungry, and have no home. If they had a job to go to, many would not be in this state, but thanks to corporations downsizing and outsourcing, a lot of jobs have been sent to other countries and aren't here for those who would work them. There are thousands more who require serious mental and physical help before they can cease being homeless, who don't get what they need because governor and legislators and senators don't think they are worth it.
There are thousands who are losing their homes because the banks won't work with them, and yet our government saw fit to bail out those same banks, while waving a hand at any ghost of enforcement. While Joe down the block is losing his home, Goldman Sachs is handing out record bonuses. That same government is going to pour millions of your tax dollars into helping folks half a world away - but they won't lift a finger to help YOU.
Yet millions more work jobs that don't pay a living wage but nobody is doing anything about that. Yet millions more are living on disability benefits that did not get increased this year, because the government didn't think we needed it - nevermind that COLAs never cover the TRUE cost of living increase each year. For us, personally, if it weren't for good friends, there are some months we WOULDN'T make it. We're lucky; most aren't.
Millions of dollars are going to go overseas to Haiti to help people who can't help themselves - and at the same time, we have three times as many people here desperate for help of any kind. It is altogether too easy to look at some other country and feel sympathy, and ignore the beggar that is starving on the same corner of the street you're standing on.
I am neither a Separatist, nor am I coldhearted to those suffering from disasters. It's too bad our government failed to follow through on all their promises to those in the southern states who are STILL suffering and losing thanks to the hurricanes, even after all this time. How about some celebrities having concerts for them, so they can get their homes back and their families back from the dozens of places they were shipped all over the country? How about some real money poured into making the levee system work instead of patching it here and there and praying another Katrina or Rita doesn't come along soon?
How about some celebrity benefits for the people losing their homes - or better yet, how about some legislative enforcement so that Wall Street stops playing Russian Roulette with our tax dollars and the banks are forced to work with homeowners, rather than kicking them to the curb?
How about some publicity benefits to force our government to mandate a living wage so that people aren't forced to live hand-to-mouth or work three jobs just to have a roof (usually rented) over their heads and food in their bellies?
How about some riots so we get a health care system comparable to that found in Canada, the UK, and France, rather than this trumped-up bullshit that is going to benefit the big insurance companies the most?
The United States is rapidly turning into a 3rd-World Dictatorship, with Wall Street calling the shots, while the majority of the population suffers more and more, unable to effect any change. Workplace shootings are becoming routine news as are family shootings/suicides. If you back someone into a corner they don't feel they can get out of, what do you expect?
Until the day the government and all the celebrities take a look within our own shores and start working for some real change, I will say I feel sorry for those in Haiti and other places suffering natural disasters - but I will not support efforts to bail them out. Not as long as there are people HERE that need the help even more. If I had the money to spare, I'd much rather donate it to an organization that is trying to help folks right here, right now.
