Poverty In America

I read an article just recently and was totally blown away by the statistics that were provided. In lieu of the new stimulus package that has just passed, I pray that as a nation our leaders step back for a moment and take a long, hard look at what is going on in the communities of the very people who elected them into office before sending hundreds of thousands of dollars oversees again.

I'm all about being compassionate, a good UN neighbor, doing unto others yada, yada, yada. But, tell me if I'm wrong here ... why are we overlooking our own kind? More than thirteen million children live in poverty, 3 million of whom go to bed hungry every night. Fifteen million more of them need a mentor to prevent them from dropping out of school or, even worse. Not to mention our elderly with nearly 5 million sacrificing food to pay bills according to AARP.

Our charities are overwhelmed and volunteers help but, they certainly can't create miracles. Has any one at the federal level even considered the below poverty state our Native Americans are still forced to live under across this great nation of ours. In North Dakota, the number of children living in poverty is about 19,000, and about half of those children are living in extreme poverty on reservations. Extreme poverty is defined by a family of four living on $10,000 a year, or less. We took so much away from them but, were never big enough to admit the wrong that was done and make it right.

Why do we keep sending billions to other countries when our own nation is in such dire need? Can someone enlighten me please? As women we are a nation within ourselves. If every aunt, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and niece copied these words as a letter to their U.S. representatives we might just be able to keep some of those much needed dollars here where they belong.