Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, spoke with Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly at a September 16 interfaith vigil on Capitol Hill on "Fighting Poverty with Faith: A Week of Action." Organized by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Catholic Charities USA, it is an effort to mobilize members of national faith-based organizations in more than 80 cities to raise questions with political candidates about what they will do in their first 100 days in office to address poverty. Rabbi Gutow talks about the poor, the middle class, the current economy, and what he hopes the next president will do.
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You are the first person I have heard talk about the poor in this election commentary. I fear that many more people will fall into this "dark hole" if McCain is elected because everytime he talks about cutting waste in gov., he really means cutting entitlement programs, food stamps. Republicans never cut anything for the middle class or the wealthy, they just create more poverty in America. Veterans are living on the streets, the mentally ill are on the street, and sadly too many children are living on the street or out of a car. What a travesty.
When I see these huge arenas filled with these faith-based groups, I often wonder why all or most of the people seem to be anglo-saxon, rather than having a broad base of ethnicity. I think considering the fact that these huge religious organizations like Focus on the Family, etc. take in HUGE amounts of money, they should be required to contribute to homeless shelters, food banks, etc. in order to keep their tax free status,
I am concerned as well. Concerned that "Concerned" thinks faith-based groups don't contribute to charities such as homeless shelters, food banks, etc. Concerned, you are sadly ignorant of faith-based groups - especially when you think they are all white people - because this is where a majority of the money and volunteers come from for these places.
Lillian, you are right to be sad that children are living on the streets and we should do our best to get them in shelter. However, children are a very small percentage of the homeless; most are adults who CHOOSE not to hold permanent jobs because they do not like structure and/or control over what they do and how they live(including those vets who have hundreds of programs and shelters just for them). Those that WANT to get a job and return to a 'normal' life, do so by finding a shelter and getting help. You are sadly mistaken that the government can do anything to help. It is those faith-based groups that Concerned is maligning that take on this challenge.
Lillian, Republicans are just like Democrats, people that create jobs and work jobs to make money to pay taxes and give to charity. Just like you, I hope. (No, I am not a Republican.) Poverty has been around much longer than Republicans have. Poverty is bipartisan - it doesn't care what your politics are. Poverty is also relative. What is considered poor in America is upper middle class in Nigeria. What is considered poor in 2008 was living in luxury in 1808 - indoor plumbing, clean drinking water, bathing, toothbrushes... But I digress. What you really mean to say is that there need to be more opportunities for the poor to improve their plight. And who can do that? Not the government. The government can't even run itself efficiently and have a balanced budget. It is the middle class and wealthy that create those opportunities by providing jobs through businesses and by giving money to charities that assist the poor. That's you, Lillian, and I, who need to do more. Don't depend on government because you will always be let down eventually (and you will pay five times more than you should).
If a Veteran is living on the streets, its not because he is a Veteran, disabled Vets get more than you can imagine...faith based organizations give to the needy without being required to.
The needy will always be with us. Do what you can to help, not only with your money but with your time. Don't blame it on the government or a political party...
I agree wholeheartedly with the above.
Viola Van Gilder, Seattle, WA
There are more people on soup lines than ever. I get letters from various charities stating that their pantry is running out of food. When the homeless people started appearing, shelters were built. Jobs and apartments that were available before are no longer available to this population.
Prices are up and continue to go up causing the dollar to strink. Of course, there are a few people doing well. Unfortunately, the majority is feeling the crunch.
Most of this is caused by greed and bad mangement in government as well as in the private sector. Many people saw what was happening and just decided to look the other way.
Home owners with adjustable rate mortgages did not just begin to lose their homes. This has been going on for some time. Many people began paying a mortgage of $1200 a month. That monthly mortgage doubled and tripled. Salaries haven't doubled and triple. Some people with conventional mortgages had to choose between paying their mortgage or repairing their car. With the price of everything going up, they cannot meet their financial obligations if an emergency comes up.
With the high rents and mortgages families and friends are doubling up in apartments as well as private houses creating unsafe and sanitary conditions.
Many people cannot make ends meet or there holding their heads just above water. Yet, they do not qualify for food stamps, medicaid, subsidized housing or any other aid. For example, my father retired on $25K p/a. His expenses went up. He did not qualify for any aid or subsidies.
$25 p/a does not go very far today. When he became ill, his expenses increased and he did not qualify for a home health aide, meals on wheels, etc.
I don't believe McCain can solve any of these problems. The agenda goes on and on. I believe Obama will at least take some action to resolve these issues that are facing the majority of Americans and not just ignore them or put a bandaid on them.
I'm curious, Lillian how can you read the mind and heart of John McCain and then decide that his intention to cut waste out of government is a personal and premeditated effort on his part to create more poverty. Can you back up your judgements with fact and not just your own opinion?
It never ceases to amaze me that people speak with such generalizations and lack of common sense. I am a devout conservative and very proud of it. I have worked my whole life since I was 14 and have earned everything I Have. Bought my own fist car, worked my way through college while raising a family. I don't want to here crap about under privilaged poor folks. The liberals keep giving them handouts so they don't have to get a job. I get tired of the cop out excuses and lack of resposibilities for yourself.
Our city is full of people, legal and illegal that know how to "work the system" and get MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT! It is hard to even find unskilled meanial laborers to work for above minimum wage, because they will"lose their benefits" Go figure. If you want to hire someone,the government imposes rules to protect the employee; what about the employer, who protects us? People complain about the wealthy not paying their share of taxes, but they are in the HIGHEST tax bracket. They get taxed the most. I am a small business owner, we pay federal income tax, federal umemployment tax. People don't realize we MATCH the social security tax and medicare tax taken from employee's checks. We pay state umemployment tax. We pay Franchise tax [the right to do business in our state,(nothing to do with owning a franchise)] We are paying 6 different taxes,and that's not enough? We have all our expenses: office,utilities, payroll, three different types of "governmental required" insurances,not to mention, we are the ones taking all the risk. Hellooo we need to make SOME profit, or what's the point of owning a business. We must NOT SOCIALISE OUR GOVERNMENT! KEEP FREE ENTERPRISE ALIVE!There are employment opportunities out there, there are shelters,in our city, that will help people get on their feet. People have to be willing to start at the bottom and work thier way up. U.S.A., the "Land of Opportunity"
She rocks!
Speaking as a black male, ghetto raised, only son, retired veteran, builder, artist who has worked hard all of his impoverished life, I have found following to be true:
1) the vast majority of those who succeed in escaping poverty (achieving self sufficiency)have had some form of "support system" - Not welfare, but conditions, environments or people, that encourage them to excel, learn, and create good decision making skills.
2. Generations of inequality and greed have erased the personal example, and nourishing communities, i.e. the dynamics that provided inspirational guidance, reward or promotion based on merit/ proven ability.
Instead we the poor (the so-called lazy) are targets for condescension and abuse - deliberately denied advancement through covert emphasis of our faults, overt abuse and plagerism of our talents, treated inhumanely, overworked without fair compensation (or representation), to such an extent that we either give up, rebel, or self destruct from depression, despair and stress.
3. We have become aware of that system of oppression both from watching our forefathers and mothers suffer, as well as being subjected to it ourselves.
4. In other words we have awakened to the value of our own worth as human beings. But those who control the system, or have managed to benifit from it disguise it by referring to us as "lazy."
5. when in 'fact,' when given a pintence of equal opportunity, statistical studies and business models site us to be the typical "high achievers."
6. Call this an excuse if you must, but after experiencing two mini strokes as a result of this oppression, I will not allow myself to die from it. That's suicide. I would rather run a business, a hussle, be a criminal, homeless, or all of the above.
7. Translated - Arrogance and the "love" of money = The violations of human and civil rights for money and power, meaning corporate control of the government, is the same gluttonous system that is now destroying America and has historically destroyed most great civilizations.
8. But if you the son's and daughters of those in power will join and make them accountable (uneasy at home)we may yet save ourselves from this obvious impending doom.
Steward.... Sometimes I think the "stereotyping" of people will never end, despite the fact that you and others have accomplished much in your lifetime. Prejudice will never die until people stop passing it on to their children. No child is born being prejudiced; it is taught to them.
Sadly, we still live in a country where black Americans are considered second class citizens by "some", even though you fight for your country the same as anybody else. You deserve dignity and I definitely agree that most anyone can excel if they are given the opportunity to learn and encouraged by someone who "believes in them". Look at the extradinary accomplishments of Barack Obama...and yet, some people will not vote for him simply because of racial prejudice. I am SO hoping he breaks that barrier because it will send such a message to the youth of this country.
BTW, I am a white female, retired after working hard for some 50 years. I grew up with very little, but I am very thankful to at least have enough retirement to pay bills and sometimes I even have an extra $10 or $20 to give to local homeless shelters, or other organizations who help those less fortunate than me. I've yet to meet anyone who lives well on public assistance and I commend those who struggle everyday for a better life.