Saturday May 30, 2009, 12:39 am
A new report released last week by Feeding America claims that one in six young children (those who are five-years-old and younger) in 26 U.S. states face a constant threat of food insecurity. That adds up to 3.5 million young children in this country who do not have adequate access to healthy food.

The statistics in the report—Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2005 – 2007—were compiled using data collected by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).

Perhaps an even more disturbing statistic is that the rate of food insecurity in young children is 33 percent higher than the rate experienced by U.S. adults, where only one in eight live at risk of hunger. I personally find it deeply troubling that there are so many hungry children in this country who don’t have the ability to provide for themselves.

The rate of hunger in all children (those 18-years-old and younger) has also drastically increased in recent years when compared to USDA data compiled between 2003 and 2005.

Although USDA ERS releases a report each year detailing food insecurity across the nation, this Feeding America report is the first ever to look at child hunger on a state-by-state basis. The organization hired John Cook, PhD from the Boston Medical Center to conduct the state based analysis.

Here are some interesting and disturbing trends from the state-by-state report:

-In terms of young children, Louisiana has the highest rate (24.2) of food insecurity in the country followed by North Carolina (24.1), Ohio (23.8), Kentucky (23.3), Texas (23.3), New Mexico (23.3), Kansas (20.9), South Carolina (20.7), Tennessee (20.4), Idaho (20.2), and Arkansas (20).

-For all children, Texas leads the nation (22.1) in rate of food insecurity followed by Mississippi (21.5), the District of Columbia (21.4), Tennessee (20.5), Arizona (20.2), South Carolina (20.2), Louisiana (20) and Missouri (20).

-Doing a quick regional analysis myself, it seems as though New England does the best job of ensuring its children have access to healthy food. All of the states in the region have rates of food insecurity under 20 percent with only Maine and Vermont having rates higher than 15 percent.

Besides the fact that it is every persons basic human right to have access to healthy food, there are many long-term health consequences to food insecurity, especially in the early years of life. As the report's lead researcher notes:

The first three years of life are the most critical period of brain growth and development. Child hunger causes physical and mental impairment that may never be reversed. Child hunger also creates tremendous costs that are completely unavoidable. There is no better investment in a prosperous future than investing in ending childhood hunger.

I've talked in the past about the need to expand the federal WIC program and other food assistance programs to meet the growing need of the country's hungry families. This report shows that these actions are needed now, not years down the road. As the country continues to feel the pains of our worst recession since the Great Depression, the number of hungry children is likely to continue to grow in the months and years ahead.

Now that the tragedy of childhood hunger has been documented in each state throughout the nation, there is no time to waste. While donating time, funding and food to hunger relief organizations is a fantastic short-term way to solve this problem, we need federal and state policies in place that will provide an adequate safety net to all of the nation's children.

Until I read this I did not realise that America is a third world problem...Perhaps, if a little more money was spent internally rather than funding pointlessly destructive wars, and being seen as a do-gooder providing taxpayer dollars for overseas aid, these kids would be ok?

Saturday May 30, 2009, 12:41 am
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME?

Saturday May 30, 2009, 12:58 am
Thank you David.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 5:22 am
I often think the so-called "conspiracy theories", such as "de-population", are not so far out when I encounter such statistics. It certainly does appear that most wealthy and powerful parties of the world, at the very least, do not care if entire populations die from starvation, toxins, or war. They will have their way, and the rest of the world will pay.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 6:05 am
There is NO excuse for this..feed our children Mr. President AND CONGRESS Critters!...shame..noted

Saturday May 30, 2009, 7:08 am
Yes I Knew about this I used to be one of them longtime ago-I have fed half the neighborhoods kids because who knows where there parents were - That is why half the world here calls me momma or Auntie Faye -many of the folks are on food stamps ,single moms who work part time and the government thinks that one grown up and one child needs only about 120.00 a month to feed em -if they get public assistance for their rent they do not have enough left over after paying utilities to buy food-are there abusers of the program well yes there are but I will tell u that even those that abuse the program are still poor.See them all the time. Many of these people have physiological issues were severely abused as children themselves or are the children of neglect and now they have children and the cycle continues. The government thinks that they can just throw some money at them give them some token stamps to feed them once in awhile ,send them to job training programs and all is well-That's a crock because many of them need serious healing and many could use long term counseling and I am not talking about drugs-In some cases people are already on antidepressants and these have made them worse.Thanx David for this it's a story that needs to be told and Jaylena Congress Critters is funny and a good name 4 them

Saturday May 30, 2009, 10:28 am
Malnutrition is a direct cause of low IQ and the last thing the Elites want is an intelligent populace.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 11:42 am
Am not surprised , David . Did you know that the same problem exists here in Canada as well? The current government is not interested in helping lower income families to have a decent life. There are far too many homeless, children included and young families needing to go to local food banks because of poverty. It is criminal that in this so called first world country that poverty and ignorance exists at all. Here in British Columbia, where I live, we have the largest percentage of missing children, in all of Canada. A sad fact but true. Peace in our Quest for Truth

Saturday May 30, 2009, 11:59 am
David, this takes me back to the sixties when I was a student of politics at Glasgow University where I learned that poor Americans in California were reduced to eating dogs to survive. Nothing has changed. Godstrewth, I give money not only to the starving in Africa but to the hungry in the USA. Is it not shameful that the USA is one of the richest societies in the world yet people go hungry there? Maybe, most people there do not know the truth about this. I hope there will be more awareness soon.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 12:18 pm
Hopefully this will fly below the mainstream news Eleanor, and bring a little thought for the guy, living in a cardboard box. on a street near you?

Tha US government is far too busy funding wars at the expense of free healthcare and homes for the homeless...

Maybe, one day, the nightmare will end?

Saturday May 30, 2009, 1:06 pm

Thank-you noted will pass on

Saturday May 30, 2009, 1:22 pm
The money used for space exploration , etc . shoiuld living on earth !!! be used for hungry children and their parents

Saturday May 30, 2009, 2:10 pm
Thank you David.

"I don't know a more irreligious attitude, one more utterly bankrupt of any human content, than one which permits children to be destroyed."-- Daniel Berrigan

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

2010 Pentagon Spending Request
May 08 2009

On March 2, 2009, the Obama Administration released the initial details of its proposed Fiscal Year 2010 budget for the federal government. As part of this budget, the Administration is seeking $533.8 billion in funding for the Department of Defense, not including funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan or the nuclear weapons related activities of the Department of Energy. Adjusted for inflation, the $534 billion request is $9 billion, or 1.7 percent, more than Congress approved for the Defense Department for FY 2009.
Read More...
#
The War in Iraq Costs
$673,021,554,727
See the cost in your community
#
The Cost Of War In Afghanistan
April 25 2009
Seven years ago, the “global war on terror” began in Afghanistan as a military response to the September 11 attacks. In March 2003, the United States also invaded Iraq. Today, US forces are deeply mired in both countries with some 200,000 US troops in the region, of which 137,000 are in Iraq and about 40,000 in Afghanistan, with the Obama Administration requesting an additional 21,000 troops.

#Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go? - Tax Day 2009

With this publication, taxpayers can take stock of how the federal government spent each 2008 income tax dollar: 37.3 cents went towards military-related spending (military and military-related debt), while environment, energy and science-related spending split 2.8 cents. Income tax dollar spending is available for all states as well as over 200 cities and towns.

Choose the state, city or county from the pull down list below to get a PDF report.

==========
Occupation 101 US Aid to Israel -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyVy5XHjuGI&feature=related

=============

Saturday May 30, 2009, 3:56 pm
This is an eye opening report! Most people have no idea of this problem. as they go about their own every day activities. Our State politicians feet should be held to the fire! A they are our elected representatives they should (and I am sure that they are) be aware of this problem and it should be demanded by the public that they address this. It seems they can come up with money for their pet projects so I put it to them, "let's hear from you and what is to be done?".

Saturday May 30, 2009, 4:23 pm
This should not be happening here or anywhere. I am totally disgusted by it. Thanks for this article David.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 4:35 pm
Hi David, heard a programme this morning on National Radio here that said 50,000 children are homeless in NY Ciry alone and 500,000 US wide. Shame on the administrations who spend billions on foreign wars while this state of affairs exists within their own country.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 5:25 pm
Beyond belief.......even though I have visited the US on a number of occasions, I had no idea.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 6:28 pm
Great comments, but this is nothing new, and can be checked through the Centers on Poverty in the US. Many of these children have been dumped just like pets that become a problem - be very clear these children on living on the streets alone. This is America and not only do we have 40 million people that are lucky to have 3 to 4 meals a week, at least 200,000 veterans living on the streets we have children sleeping under bridges and trying to survive. Get beyond the politics of left and right and think in terms of compassion, do we have any? This is something to be shamed of and to demand serious action - not speeches - but direct and immediate action.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 7:48 pm
The children should NOT be suffering from hunger in ths U.S.
Tx David

Saturday May 30, 2009, 8:29 pm
I wish every American could read this..., noted and thank you.

Saturday May 30, 2009, 8:40 pm
Thanks David!

With the public exposure tent cities, banks' demolishing foreclosed properties, and so many unemployed ineligible for social security, high health costs, etc. this report does not surprise me, it saddens me. Why do so many peole in the USA live in poverty, when they live in the richest nation on our planet?

Saturday May 30, 2009, 9:50 pm
So Michelle Obama shouldn't just GROW organic fruit & vegies in her much-publicized garden..., she should SEND the produce to the hungry, too:

she should be making up food packages to get out to every hungry child in the USA (obviously with help: a way to provide work for some of the unemployed, too!) and set an example for other Americans to follow! If the original garden isn't big enough to provide fresh produce for all the hungry kids, then they have to find out about leasing land or using other US govt land to produce food.

There has got to be a way of putting an end to this!

Saturday May 30, 2009, 9:52 pm
Dar...I wish everyone on our tiny planet would read this with a little compassion for their neighbour...If it doesn't apply to ME, why care at all...'It' will go away?...

This is by no means restricted to America...It is a worldwide phenomonen...I stumbled on this item while stumbling around the internet...Read it, was sickened to realise that things were as bad as this...and posted it...I guess you won't ever see this on faux news...but here it is...

If you feel strongly enough about it (and how could you not?) please circulate as widely as possible...Is it possible that reading this may inspire someone with a dollar to spare to give that dollar to someone who has nothing?...

You can do something about it!...Generally speaking the eletist govermental officials will simply continue astral travelling in the name of greed...A long way from planet earth :-)

It's up to you...Awareness is a major contributor to understanding just where we are at, and how to make the planet a better place for all 'the real' people who share it with us?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 12:07 am
I agree wholeheartedly David, which is why I'm also an advocate for Children's Defense Fund! However it would be real nice if those who continuously 'threaten' to kill as many Americans as they can, and who say they hate America, would learn to live in peace rather than hatred so that President Obama CAN concentrate on spending money on his own country's citizens. As our President, Obama must first concentrate on keeping all Americans safe from harm...

Sunday May 31, 2009, 1:12 am
If president Obama does not stop pouring untold trillions of dollars into the mindless slaughter and destruction of others...America will never be safe or indeed fed!...Every bomb dropped, and every family destroyed, recruits more hatred filled terrorists loathing America...If that is not obvious to you...Long live the brain-dead!

Sunday May 31, 2009, 1:32 am
STOP THE WAR, FEED THE KIDS!...KISS...(Keep it simple, stupid)

Sunday May 31, 2009, 1:41 am
For David's submitted news and comments:

You CAN currently send MANY starS to David EVEN THOUGH you have done so within the last week.

:)

***************************************************************************************************************************

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:04 am
David: please do NOT call me stupid b/c I am far from stupid or ignorant. But next time I will keep my comments on here "simple" so that all can understand my exact point. Concerning the U.S.'s security and safety of their citizens: The point is that when one is threatened in this age of nuclear proliferation, no one cannot simply "turn the other cheek" (as we would all love to do to obtain peac!) but instead we must defend ourselves against a threat as you would do in your own personal life. And please do not tell me you would just "turn the other cheek" when someone threatens your very life.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:04 am
"As our President, Obama must first concentrate on keeping all Americans safe from harm... "

Are American children not a part of "All Americans", and is Hunger not "harm"?

Hunger is painful physically, mentally and emotionally. On a regular basis Hunger causes medical issues, like anemia, it can make a child very vulnerable to diseases, it can cause death. Hunger means hopelessness, fear, despair. It can make a child steal, resort to prostitution, be sent to prison, be destroyed forever.

Allowing children to be hungry is a form of child abuse, it is definitely putting them in harm's way! It should be the priority.

I'd like to add that it is not only the role of a governement to protect all the children in the country, it is also the role of all the citizens. So especially when the government is a failure in that area, the citizens, the communities need to get together and help and take care of all the children in need around them. For the sake of the children and because they also represent the future of a country.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:27 am
Brigitte T., do you seriously think President Obama is NOT going to provide for and protect all the children of America and this world?!? Come on now... Obama is not Bush.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:31 am
Btw Brigitte, President Obama does fund the Children's Defense Fund which is a non-profit organization that helps American children and families living on the streets or who are poor. He is also very familiar with Ms. Marian Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund. Do a search of this wonderful non-profit before you go only further with knocking the Obama administration's attempts to help all Americans.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:47 am
Are you becoming tired of your mindless rhetoric yet Rosanne?...I am...Not feeding your own kids, but blasting kids off the planet in a country thousands of miles away is cool?...

In defence of American citizens?...Get real!...How many terrorists does it take to shut down the United States of America, with the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons on the planet?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:20 am

The US spends a lot of $$ subsidizing the Israeli military state. Cutting military aid to Israel would free I don't know how many millions or trillions to feed hungry US kids, while at the same time sending Israel a clear & pertinent message that their foot-dragging on peace and the 2-state solution is no longer acceptable! US taxpayers' money has been spent on war planes, arms, weapons, tractors, etc all used to wage war on Palestinian civilians instead of making peace with their leaders. Israel created their own 'boogey man' -Hamas! (they were instrumental in making the rise of Hamas possible) - so as to make difficulties for Fatah & the Palestinian Authority, instead of making peace with them; throwing a monkey wrench into the Palestinians' works was part of an Israeli plan to give Fatah a serious rival to contend with while at the same time allowing Israel to avoid any serious peace talks since they could claim to have an enemy of such monstruous proportions that no peace negotiations could possibly be made with them. The US should divest from Israel to show that these shenanigans won't work anymore! And that we need the money for a higher purpose!

Another source of $$ to feed hungry US kids could be a super-tax on all the Bushco defense contractors who made a pile of loot in the great Iraqi profiteering venture, ripping off both the Iraqi people and the US taxpayer.

Companies like KBR, formerly a Cheney Halliburton subsidiary, are also responsible for the deaths of American soldiers, because the electrical wiring they were hired to install on US bases was so shoddy and substandard that young US servicemen were electrocuted taking a shower ! KBR claims in all their advertisements to be great, big-hearted patriotsbig-hearted patriots, so let's hold them to their word and tell them to put the money where their advertising mouth is!

It's interesting to note where US kids go hungry in the greatest no's! Texas is N° 1 ! Just think of those filthy rich Bushes, and GW, the super-rich super-christian: How can such prominent christians allow kids to go hungry in their own state?

Though for a Christian, GW certainly had his values screwed up: having Texas execute more prisoners than any other state, as governor, and then, as president, sending US troops to their deaths in Iraq, when it was clear beyond any doubt whatsoever that Iraq posed absolutely no threat to the US, short- middle- or long-term, and had nothing whatsoever to do with Al-Qaida! And destroying hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives, not merely through death, but by trauma, being turned into refugees,losing their loved ones and their homes, as well as causing the destruction of their society & infrastructures!

Why doesn't some clever economist or a team of them work out what exactly how much Bush's Iraq adventure cost? and then during war crimes trial of GW, Cheney, Rumfeld, Rice, the various torture-memo authors, et al, they can be sentenced to retributions and have to pay it all back?

Even in installments would be OK! The money would then go into a 'George Bush-"Leave No Child Hungry" Food Fund' and he could finally have something to point to in pride!

And why not have all the stratospherically wealthy who got big tax breaks from Bush now have to pay it back in the form of a new food tax for hungry US children?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:38 am
"Mindless rhetoric"??? Now you are becoming very MEAN SPIRITED David B. and sounding like you are living on a fairy tale planet. AS AN ACTIVIST I know exactly what I am talking about. Also your comment "How many terrorists does it take to shut down the United States of America" sounds to me like you are either threatening me or WANT THE TERRORISTS TO DESTROY AMERICA. Which is it Mr. Buchanan from Australia (a country my late father loved for some strange reason)?!?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:42 am
Australia... hmmm, to me it's just a country I know nothing about despite my late dad's love for it, nor have I ever heard of any Australians being in solidarity with the U.S. Although Canada and many other countries are.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:47 am
Alba Nuova, how do you know that what you are reading is NOT propaganda against Americans?!? Do not believe everything you read on the Internet.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:49 am
Rosanne, when did *I* say "Obama"?

I only quoted something you said with his name in, because it sounded odd. Maybe I misunderstood, but you sounded like the war on terrorism should be his priority, before anything else, before hunger in his own country. You also said he needs to protect ALL Americans against harm (I agree with this, of course). So I pointed out that according to this American CHILDREN are concerned and since Hunger is harmful, they need to be the priority too.

My comments were general, not particularly about Obama. Mostly about Hunger, and what it means, it's not just an empty stomach for a few hours (sadly, a lot of people think it's just that).

My last point was that it is not just the government's responsiblity, it is also ours, as communities and as citizens. What's wrong with that?

Can we wonder, why isn't there a War Against Hunger? It's not like there aren't enough billions flying around, is there? oh but wait, these are only available for weapons... and weapons do not feed children.

Maybe you're looking for a fight but I'm not, even if you're putting words in my mouth. No I didn't say Obama is Bush. Only time can tell.

His government is still new and there wouldn't have been time to solve the problem of hunger nationwide even if it had been his priority, because it is complex, and because an excellent system would be needed so that the money doesn't fall into the wrong pockets.

It would take a long time till it reached the last hungry child. In the meanwhile so many children go hungry, stay hungry, so that's why it should have been made the priority from day 1.

Unfortunately feeding POOR children will never make corporations make billions... unlike war corporations.
So far the odds are against the children.

As for non profit organizations they do make a difference, and each life they save is precious, but if they were enough, there would be NO HUNGER in the USA. So they are not enough! In the meanwhile children and other helpless citizens go hungry, with all the consequences that follow. If you are content with that, what can I say....

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:08 am
When I read this story I was stunned children in Amerca starving for want of food.How can this be? why is it allowed to continue? America is the food basket of the world and yet cannot feed its children.This does not say much for the American Governments immage abroad this is somthing that needs to be put right at once.Why don't they feed their own poor before they donate millions of dollars of surplus food to foriegn countries who quite litteraly bite the hand that feeds them.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:18 am
Please take 2 minutes to watch this. It was posted last year but it is still true...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnq6cD5jk1Q

From the American Friends Service Committee’s Wage Peace Campaign

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

(It was part of the huge efforts to "DEFUND the Iraq War and RE-FUND human needs at home and in Iraq." Yet the Congress is still FUNDING and RE-FUNDING wars abroad.

Is there any hope..?)

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:22 am
Brigitte: I am not, I repeat, NOT looking to start a fight here or anywhere. It was David B. who called me "stupid," which I am far from that, nor am I ignorant of what my own country's government is doing. I am in fact fighting to stop the Big Corporations and other's (the rich) from their greed and uncaring b.s. I also fight every day to HELP the children, the hungry and the poor of not just America but the world. David B. also said he was tired of my "mindless rhetoric," which to me is mean-spirited and sounds to me as if he is attacking me, and the thing about "how many terrorists does it take to destroy America" sounds to me like he is anti-American; what bad thing did America's government ever do to his country, Australia that he is not even willing to give President Obama a friggin' chance?!? Another thing. Just because I may not agree with whatever he writes is no reason to name-call or attack someone's intelligence. I am a person, I am not my country's government. Remember that! I have arguments with my husband but when we see it is going nowhere and that we both have our own opinions we "agree to disagree" on issues concerning how our government is handling things here and in the rest of the world.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:45 am
Brigitte, as far as I am concerned the Iraq War should NEVER have happened and Bush was an embarrassment to me as a natural born American citizen -- the first and only time I was ever ashamed to be American, but President Obama has made me proud of the U.S. again and I say give him time to right the wrong Bush and his administration did. I am not sure myself while Congress continues to fund so-called wars abroad; I fought to stop Congress from spending on more wars. However, I think the RE-FUNDing they recently passed may have something to do with North Korea and Iran's new nuclear threats, for which I say every country (and person) has a right to defend itself/themself; it's called self-defense. I do agree with Martin Luther King Jr.'s statement, and I'm sure Obama does too, but our President has a lot on his plate right now so I'm willing to give him time to right the wrongs in America and this world; he has only been in office 5 months. But I do write letters to him when I do not agree with certain legislation, bills, laws, etc. that Congress passes/passed. In other words, as a citizen of a democratic country (as opposed to a communist country), I have the right to disagree with what my own country's president is doing if I feel it is not in our best interest. Whether President Obama listens and does do the right thing is something I cannot control.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:59 am
Oh yea Rosanne, I called you stupid?...Read it again with your glasses on...You are incorrect and way out of line...(and you know it...No more correspondence will be enterd into, you are an idiot!)

"To me he (me) is anti-American; what bad thing did America's government ever do to his country, Australia that he is not even willing to give President Obama a friggin' chance?!?

I think Obama is a great guy but he is not pulling his own strings...As far as what did the US government ever do to Australia?...They declared an illegal war on iraq and dragged Australia into it...Many Australian troops are still there, fighting with their American allies???

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:06 am
Brigitte, btw I think you misunderstood me when I mentioned President Obama and the Children's Defense Fund and you thinking that Obama is not making hunger one of his priorities; I know he is trying to end hunger here in America and other countries. But there is only so much he can do b/c it is Congress who has the power over the President. I do not feel there is even a war on terrorism, terrorists have been around a long, long time. But I do feel that everyone has the right to defend themselves against someone or people who want to kill or harm them in some way; every single country on this planet has a "right" to defend itself; yes even North Korea. Which is the reason I disagree with Obama's latest statements about North Korea's nuclear/missile tests. In any case, I am now getting pains in my chest and must calm down (David B.'s nasty remarks directed at me personally has me very upset and since my cardiologist told me I have a leaky valve in my heart I must be careful to not get angry or upset so that I do not end up having a heart attack). Also, I dislike when anyone calls me "stupid" or "brain-dead" or accuses me of "mindless rhetoric" when I only write or state my opinion whether its right, wrong or misinformed. If I am wrong or misinformed about an issue, I will admit it but do not call me "stupid," "brain-dead" or ignorant because that is bullying and cruel to attack a person for what their government does wrong.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:08 am
I AM AN IDIOT?!? You are now being ignored by me Mr. Buchanan. You are a bullying a**hole. Bye!

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:11 am
AND I am now never responding to any of your idiotic articles. Does it make you feel like a man to call a woman names such as you have called me? go to hell

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:13 am
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee Rosanne, have a nice day!

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:19 am
Mr. David B.: Oh I will be back but never to answer your hatred! My husband warned me about websites like this and I was a fool for not listening to him. I care too much about my causes to NOT be back on Care2. And you are a moron who has no respect for anyone who does not agree with YOU. Btw, I did research on Australia and now know why you are the way you are -- England threw their prisoners on that land which became Australia. No wonder you dislike/hate America, we barely acknowledge Australia :) Don't have a nice life

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:22 am
If you build a labor movement and socialist movement, you can elect a democratic socialist party to power, and ensure human rights for all people in the USA.

Remember, adequate food, clean water, adequate housing, quality medical care, access to quality education, and truly representative government for all people, are human rights, according to the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. : )

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:28 am
Thanks for re-introducing a little sanity to this site Simon...And for all who follow, the topic is, How do we feed the kids who have nothing?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 5:44 am
Lord oh lord I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THE HUNGRY AND POOR CHILDREN IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NOT OWN RHETORIC.STOP FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REMEMBER UNITED WE STAND,DIVIDED WE FALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:17 am
Winefred M., you are absolutely right that UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FAIL, however, I was not the one who resorted to personally attacking someone who may be misinformed concerning what their country's government is or is not doing about its own children. When a person calls me an "idiot," "brain-dead," "mindless..." and other things I do not want to remember now, that is not only cyberbullying it is cruel and mean. I believe in honest debates but someone on here resorted to nasty name-calling. You may not agree with me but that is how I feel; I abhor being insulted in that manner where my intelligence is attacked. The person who did this to me can disappear off the face of this planet for all I care now. I reported him and am waiting to hear back from customer support.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:23 am
Winefred and Everyone, all I have to say is that personally attacking a woman's intelligence by calling her "stupid," "brain-dead," "mindless," etc. explains why that person is DIVORCED.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:56 am
I cannot speak for David, but I'd like respond to this comment you made: "the thing about "how many terrorists does it take to destroy America" sounds to me like he is anti-American".

I totally agree with David's views regarding how the USA chooses to spend unbelievable amounts of money in a way that causes pain and death abroad, as well as ecological and cultural destruction. Not only is it wrong to unnecessarily hurt other countries, but it also wrong to ignore that it backfires and hurts the American population. It is wrong to ignore that this is self destructive.

It is as if the USA were slowly committing suicide. Not only have these wars hurt many, many Americans (thousands and thousands of soldiers coming back dead, mutilated, handicapped, emotionally destroyed - grieving families - grieving children - with at the same time a financial toll on every community), but they are putting all the citizens in increasing danger by risking more retaliation with every shameful action the governments have taken: torture (encouraging it, then denying it, then admitting it, then trying to hide the evidence), US strikes against innocent civilians abroads, and the list could go on but that is another topic.

So to me, acknowledging all this is NOT being Anti-American. It is being against criminal US *agendas* and *actions*, not against Americans.

Saying NOTHING would be Anti-American.

Rosanne, if you have a friend and you see him/her being self destructive (purposefully or not), will you not speak up? will you not want to at least try to open his/her eyes? (Please understand that "you" is not personall, it could be "we"). If you say nothing, hoping it will go away, when you see it's getting worse, are you helping - or becoming part of the problem?

Before you get more upset at David because he seemed to lose his patience... or because he's posting from Australia, remember that everything he posts is in support of human rights, basic rights to life... because so many are deprived of these rights. This says a lot in his favour. From what I've seen he has contributed a lot to Care2 news, not to become popular or to be liked, but because his purpose is to raise awareness about the truth, the lies, the multiple problems going on, and they concern us all, directly or indirectly.

Anyway, to return to the children, it is wonderful that you are so committed to helping them.

As in most problems it is important to think about prevention too. To think of all the ways one can to prevent the *causes* of hunger and poverty. One must never forget that children are caught in the middle of all this, they do not have a say. They are totally helpless and it is not fair. More Americans need to understand that if the USA would concentrate more on its inner problems, instead of causing destruction in other countries, which eventually backfires in many way, the US population would be better off in every way. It would become a better place for all the children, not just for the privileged children.

PS: I 've only just noticed that there have been many new comments between your response to me and my comments here (written off line) but I'm posting what I've written.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 7:21 am
Sorry Brigitte you can stick up for him all you want with your words about whatever but there is NO EXCUSE for that person resorting to insulting me or my intelligence by calling me names such as "idiot," "stupid," "mindless," "brain-dead," and whatever else that person wrote. I do realize that he generates a lot of articles for Care2 so they will most likely not reply to my reporting him. But that is okay. All I care about is that I can live with myself that I stuck up to a man calling me names. That is ABUSE to me no matter who tries to stick up for him. It is called DOMESTIC ABUSE only aimed at a total stranger -- I DO NOT TOLERATE NAME CALLING INSULTS FROM MY HUSBAND AND WILL NOT TOLERATE IT FROM A STRANGER HALF WAY AROUND THE FRIGGIN' WORLD.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 7:31 am
Brigitte: even IF I had agreed with his views THAT IS NOT THE POINT of why I am sooo mad and upset. As I said, I do not tolerate that crap from my own husband and will not tolerate it from any man or woman.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:07 am
Oh, and this:

"It'll be a great day when education gets all the money it wants and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy bombers".

Author unknown, quoted in You Said a Mouthful edited by Ronald D. Fuchs

=
"Nations have recently been led to borrow billions for war; no nation has ever borrowed largely for education. Probably, no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both."

Abraham Flexner

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:08 am
Rosanne if you are not happy with someone comments, and find them inappropriate or offensive, you are free to report him/her to Care2 admins, which is what you did. But if you keep venting your anger with repeated personal posts about yourself, on this thread about hunger and children, I fail to see how it can help the cause of these children.

Also with a second look you might realise that in your anger you've been resorting to comments which are actually meaner than calling someone's rethoric "mindless" or their response stupid.
Did you really mean it when you said "The person who did this to me can disappear off the face of this planet for all I care now." or "... explains why that person is DIVORCED. " ? That last one was very personal and cheap, because it's one thing to criticize an opinion on a forum, but another to attack a personal, human relationship, that you know nothing about.
So you accuse David of being mean, ok, but then you do the same thing to him. Did it make you feel better?
Apparently not...

I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do so it's just a suggestion, but if you feel so upset, why not use the energy to post information about ways to help children in the USA? share ideas on the topic? post links? Remember this is a public forum and the topic is about thousands of hungry children in the USA ....a country SO famous for the American Dream...

One last thing, you seem to be very sensitive to the topic of abuse. You reacted to David's words as if a bomb had exploded. How do you think women should react in other countries when they see their children, their families, their friends and their neighbours killed and maimed by US strikes, or by weapons funded by the USA (including by the tax payers)?

That is the worst kind of abuse, and that is the message David was trying to convey (I think, but if I'm wrong I'm sure I'll be corrected).

Those funds mean food taken out of the mouths of thousands of children in this USA, only to kill other children in other countries. Instead of feeding its own children, the USA is feeding violence abroad, and risking more and more retaliation.

That is all I have to say on this...

Sunday May 31, 2009, 11:12 am
here's a real solution. the government isn't going to solve this problem, so the next time you go shopping, look at your basket before you check out and put back the unnecessary items. donate the approximate savings to kids. cut out the liquor, cigarettes, candy, soda, magazines, etc. and put your money where your mouth is.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 12:49 pm
Rosanne your ignorance of your country's politics is astounding; Australia is one of the few countries which has been stupid enough to wholeheartedly support the US in their illegal and murderous rampages into Afghanistan and Iraq and you don't know this?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 1:23 pm
Thanks Tom, it's always good to hear from an intelligent K1W1...Being a K1W1 myself, intelligence in question:-)... Living in Oz is not such a bad thing...It's not a bad place...Unfortunately John Howard (The Oz PM at the time of 9/11 gave Bush a big kiss and committed Aussie troops to die in a US inspired illegal war...He is an idiot and has gone...(Well, almost! :-)

The majority of Australian citizens are not the least bit happy about this...Howard was elected out of power when his arrogance and stupidity overflowed...He really thought he was god, but apparently not :-)

How do we shut down war funding, and feed the kids?

Sunday May 31, 2009, 1:35 pm
Sorry John, I called you Tom Aagain...Losing the plot :-) (Not entirely I hope:-)

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:14 pm
Brigitte and David B.
You are both absolutely right and I sincerely apologize for my angry comments in response to David explaining to me the U.S.'s shame in not feeding its own hungry children. I do not expect anyone to forgive me for what I wrote, however, my only excuse for those mean remarks in response to David's is that I am running on practically no sleep while my husband is ill in the hospital just now which is stressful in and of itself. Although this is still no excuse for my angry behavior toward David. I am also very sorry about reporting you David B. but Care2's administration has not replied to me and I do not expect them to. I will probably not be back on Care2 anymore for I am ashamed of my anger and cruel personal attacks to you and will admit what I wrote was way out of line. But I would like you to know that I will miss coming on here, I cherished everyones friendship.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:21 pm
John R.
Just want you to know before I unsubscribe from Care2 that I am definitely not ignorant of my country's politics, far from it. My idiotic and mean comments to David B. was me venting my anger at my husband being in the hospital and me not being able to sleep while he's in there, but I do sincerely and deeply apologize to all for my poison words (words I did not really mean), and for venting anger at people who did not deserve it, for you have all been so kind and welcoming to me on here. I will miss you all.

Monday June 1, 2009, 2:00 am
Hi Rosanne,

I'm not sure why you feel the need to unsubscribe from Care2. It is a forum for human beings, not for robots:)
Perfection isn't expected from us (thank goodness) - well I hope it isn't :) - only to do the best we can, but at times it isn't possible for personal reasons. An outburst of anger is almost sure to happen at one time or another, due to the topics and the differences of opinions. Of course it's best to try and control or manage it, but as I said we aren't perfect, all we can do is learn from each experience. And it seems you've just told us that you have. Exiling oneself from Care2 doesn't have to be the only outcome, especially if you enjoy Care2. In any case, please don't worry and take care. I wish you and your husband the best.

Monday June 1, 2009, 3:39 am
Yeah Rosanne, I agree with Brigitte.

Monday June 1, 2009, 4:00 am
SO DO I!...Keep well Rosanne and all best wishes to you and your husband in the hope that he will get well soon...

Monday June 1, 2009, 5:29 am
Forgot to add that I personally feel that even 1 child being hungry in the U.S. is a total disgrace!! And our government should be ashamed of themselves.

Monday June 1, 2009, 5:34 am
Thank you all for somewhat understanding even though I know only those who walk in my shoes (so to speak) can fully understand what I'm going through just now. What I did not tell you yesterday was that my anger is more than just my hubby being in the hospital and practically no sleep, it's also b/c my internal injuries (which I've dealt with for over 15 yrs without going in for surgery) are now 100 times worse where I can barely walk and am in a lot of pain; going back & forth to visit hubby in the hospital did not help, nor did having no sleep. Now I have no choice but to consult with an orthopedic surgeon about having surgery to maybe ? relieve my pain and enable me walk upright once again. Even my own husband did not fully understand my pain for I was still trying my best to take care of him and our house without resorting to hiring help here. In any case, I am not unsubscribing from Care2 because I do love it here. You're right Brigitte about us being humans and not perfect (thank goodness is right), and I thank you so much for writing what you did, and all of you for asking me to not leave this wonderful site :) I appreciate your understanding more than you'll ever know. I feel horrible that I reported you David and wish I could take it back somehow. Care2's administration (or is it moderator?) still hasn't replied and I'm hoping now that they won't. But if they do, I'll tell them that David and I have worked out our differences :) As a matter of fact David, I requested you be added as my friend again because in my stupid anger I had deleted you. Hope you forgive me enough to be my friend again. I still feel awful for how I behaved and what I said...it was very childish of me and my stressful personal situation should not have been taken out on others. But as you said Brigitte we are human beings, not robots, who sometimes behave badly when bad things are happening to us. Also thanks for saying you hope my husband gets well. So do I!!!! I was finally able to get a decent nights sleep yesterday but I still need more lol... so I'm signing off for now but I'll be back on as soon as I can. Thanks again for understanding.

Monday June 1, 2009, 6:07 am
You, and every one of us are unique Rosanne...We all have our twists and turns...That does not change the people we are,..."Originality is not caring what others think of you"...You obviously do, but DONT! :-)

Welcome home my new, old, friend! :-) XO

Monday June 1, 2009, 1:38 pm
A hunger to help

Museum of Indian Culture's food bank expands its call to help the area's impoverished American Indian families.
Monday, June 01, 2009
By TARA TANZOS
The Express-Times

Though the harsh nongrowing season months of winter are over, many families still find themselves in need of help when it comes to providing food for their households.

The Museum of Indian Culture in Salisbury Township is reaching out to the community for donations to its food bank. The donations are distributed around the tri-state area to American Indian families, museum officials explained. These families are federally recognized as impoverished and gain a great deal of help from the museum's efforts.

"Many do not realize that there are American Indian families right here on our own back doorstep that so desperately need our help," museum executive director Pat Rivera said.

A great amount of the American Indians aided by the museum's food bank call run-down trailers with little or no running water or heat "home." The first round of donations was taken to families just at the New York-Pennsylvania state lines in winter 2007, where staff received a tearful welcome.

"One 8-year-old boy was excited that he might be able to eat oatmeal for breakfast instead of a cracker," Rivera said.

The volunteer-based food bank was created after the museum was contacted privately in 2007 regarding food assistance for American Indian families, she explained. It has since become a continuous effort, raising more than $2,000 in food and monetary donations in less than two years.

"We just realized it was something we needed to keep doing, so as soon as we have enough food we just bring it up," Pat's husband, museum correspondence secretary Barry Rivera, said.

The food bank is accepting nonexpired canned goods, baking necessities and cleaning products.

Museum coordinators are, however, stressing the donation of protein items, including canned fish, canned meat and peanut butter. The food bank also accepts contributions in the form of Wal-Mart gift cards, because, Barry explained, "everyone's got a Wal-Mart near them somewhere."

Donations to the Museum of Indian Culture Food Bank can be made during the museum's regular operating hours or at any museum event.

One of the museum's upcoming events is Artifest, on June 27. Artifest is a cultural festival where collectors can showcase artifacts. With the help of Boy Scout Troop 31, there will be activities, including fire making, blacksmithing demonstrations and a tomahawking station.

In addition to Artifest, the Museum of Indian Culture hosts three yearly festivals. The 29th Spring Corn Festival was held recently and the Roasting Ears of Corn Festival will take place in August. When summer gives way to fall, a Time of Thanksgiving Festival will be held in mid-October.

All of the events include activities for children and entertainment, such as American Indian drumming and Aztec fire dancers, and aim to incorporate and educate the community into the American Indian culture.

"We like getting involved in the community because we have a lot of culture to bring and show," Barry Rivera said.

Reporter Tara Tanzos can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at ttanzos@express-times.com.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/living-0/124382911773660.xml&coll=3

Tuesday June 2, 2009, 2:58 am
Debating with Rosanne is bringing the level of discussion back to prehistoric times or at least junior high school (for the slow learners)! If I hadn't read that she has been suffering from a medical condition for over 15 yrs, I'd have thought we were dealing with an poorly informed and barely educated 15-yr-old! Yes, very childish!

Whatever Rosanne's real problems are, this is the second time she breaks into a discussion thread with unsubstantiated views, diverts the discussion from the original subject, refuses to take into consideration any of the well-founded arguments presented to her, and then pirouettes out of it with a strange and totally unsatisfying maneuver. Last time, it was that she is in fact a writer, and the whole thing was just part of an 'intellectual' exploration or inquiry, not what she really thought! Now, it's that she and her husband are ill.

I don't think it is worth the bother to debate with someone behaves in this manner, and who simply dismisses the hard facts provided for her as 'anti-American propaganda'!

Everything that you don't like finding out about is not anti-American propaganda. A little easy, no?

And, by the way, access to clean drinking water is not yet a fundamental human right, Simon, but there is a campaign to make it one, to add a 31st article to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Dec 10, 2008 : Universal Declaration of Human Rights' 60th Anniversary - Today, over a billion people lack access to clean & potable water; and, as a result, millions die each year - Take Action To Add Article 31: Access to Clean Water!

Tuesday June 2, 2009, 4:08 am
Thanks for thr link (and the info) Alba, aka J :-) Throws a whole new light on the subject xo

Saturday June 6, 2009, 2:16 am
1 in 5 U.S. Children Sinking into Poverty --- June 5, 2009

http://us.oneworld.net/article/364111-recession-impacting-child-well-being


sources: OneWorld US, Inter Press Service, Population Reference Bureau


OneWorld.net, Jun 5 (In Brief) -
A children's development foundation estimated Wednesday that U.S. children's quality of life will continueto decrease over the next year and a half due to the current financialcrisis, resulting in up to 21 percent of U.S. children living inpoverty.

1)One in Five U.S. Children Sinking into Poverty
from the Inter Press Service


2)OneWorld.net's editors also suggest:

"Economic Recession Further Threatens Uninsured U.S. Children"
from the Population Reference Bureau


Article 1)ECONOMY-US: One in Five Children Sinking Into Poverty
By Marina Litvinsky

WASHINGTON, Jun 3 (IPS) - U.S. children’s quality of life is expected to decline through 2010 due to the impacts of the financial crisis, said a new report by the Foundation for Child Development (FDC), released on Wednesday.

According to the report, progress in U.S. children’s quality of life has fluctuated since 2002, and began a decline in 2008 as a result of the recession.

The Child Well-Being Index (CWI) is an annual evidence-based composite measure of trends over time in the quality of life for U.S. children from birth to age 18 conducted by Duke University’s Foundation for Child Development Child and Youth Well-Being Index Project. It tracks changes as compared to 1975 base year values.

This year, the Project also produced a Special Focus Report that offers projections of the impact the recession is likely to have on children’s well-being through 2010, based on analysis of past recessions.

"America is doing a really bad job relative to other countries," said Reihan Salam, a fellow at the New America Foundation, referring to the well-being of U.S. children.

According to the CWI, although the recession is predicted to end in 2010, the well-being of children is not expected to improve during that time period.

The percentage of children in poverty is expected to peak at 21 percent and more than eight million children, or 27 percent, are expected to have at least one parent working full-time year-round in 2010.

For all families, the median annual family income (in constant 2007 dollars) is expected to decline from 59,200 dollars in 2007, to about 55,700 dollars in 2010. For single female-headed households, median annual family income is expected to decline from 24,050 dollars to 23,000 dollars.

The most severe impact will be from single male-headed households, where median annual family income is expected to decline from 38,100 dollars to 33,300 dollars. This may be attributed to the higher job loss rate during recession among males, according to Kenneth C. Land, project coordinator for the CWI.

Low-income African American and Latino children are expected to be more affected by the economic downturn than their white counterparts.

While the overall impact of the recession on children’s well-being is expected to resemble similar impacts from recessions past, the current recession will produce several unique trends, according to the index.

While the residential mobility of children normally decreases during an economic recession, due to the severity of the housing crisis of the current recession, there will instead be an increase in the mobility of low-income families, who lose their housing and move or become homeless. Because of this, the peer and other neighbourhood social relationships of children will be negatively impacted.

Also, children’s obesity, which has been on the rise for several years, is expected to spike as the recession drives parents to rely on low-cost, often-unhealthy fast food.

Based on historic recessionary trends of budget cuts for policing and juvenile crime prevention, children’s safety and behaviour is expected to fare worse due to higher rates of violent crimes where youth are both victims and perpetrators.

While the suicide rate for children ages 10 to 19 is expected to increase, Land pointed out that this will be counterbalanced by an increase in participation in religious services and in the importance of religious beliefs, which has been characteristic of past recessions.

The CWI is based on a composite of 28 key indicators of well-being, such as the poverty rate, mortality rate, reading test scores, and rate of weekly religious attendance. These indicators are grouped into seven quality of life/well-being domains, which include economic well-being, health, safety, educational attainment, community connectedness, social relationships, and emotional/spiritual well-being.

The current report contains updates for almost all the indicators for 2006 and 2007, and three are available for 2008.

The year 1975 is given the value of 100 and subsequent years are assigned values according to changes in the key indicators. In 2007 the partially projected CWI was 103.17, improving from 102.20 in 2006. In 2008, the CWI is expected to decline to 103.07.

The health insurance indicator will be the least negatively affected by the recession. The total number of children with health insurance is expected to remain just under 90 percent in 2010, due to the provision of a public safety net, by government health insurance policies, for children who are likely to lose private coverage.

Some are hopeful that the new administration of President Barack Obama, who appears focused on children’s welfare and education, will reverse this decline.

"It is important to remember that for the first time in a long time we have a person who gets it," said Barbara Bowman, a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education, praising Obama for "(understanding) the importance of early childhood care and education."

However, she cautioned, "there is a continued reluctance to see young children as learners". This has resulted in the "education system thinking life begins at (age) nine," and a "reluctance to invest the kinds of resources we need in early childhood education and care."

The CWI predicts that the connection children have to their surrounding communities is likely to be negatively impacted by declines in pre-kindergarten (ages three to four years) participation.

"Children, today, in American society, are an endangered species," said Ruby Takanashi, president of the Foundation for Child Development. She added that less than 30 percent of U.S. families have children under the age of 18.

If the present recession pans out like the ones before it, there will be a delay in childbearing, causing an even greater decrease in children, according to Salam.

Monday June 15, 2009, 5:11 pm
The Forgotten Poor

People who were poor before this recession began - from workers in sweatshops to janitors and maids who work at hotels - have largely been forgotten during this economic downturn, writes Barbara Ehrenreich in a Times Op-Ed piece.

Unfortunately, this recession is making steady employment and decent
housing even harder for them to find, and the media is focusing on how
wealthier Americans are suffering.

Thursday June 25, 2009, 4:19 pm
If US children are suffering from hunger, this item may be added to the issue of possible causes, or at least why it isn't a burning issue with our elected officials -

From 'ThinkProgress,' (http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/21/cynthia-davis-hunger/) June 21st:


"Missouri lawmaker on child hunger: ‘Hunger can be a positive motivator.’

In her June newsletter, State Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-MO) provided several “commentaries” to a press release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on a summer food program. The program provides “food during the summer for thousands of low-income Missouri children who rely on the school cafeteria for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year.” Davis, who serves as the chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families, questioned whether the program is “warranted,” and extolled the hidden benefits of child hunger:

Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. [...] Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another. [...] Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: If you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break. [...] It really is all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts.

A report by Feeding America found that one in five Missouri children currently lives with hunger. Taking apart Davis’ other arguments, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial noted that most of the summer feeding program sites are actually hosted by churches and that the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fed 3.7 million meals at a total cost of less than $9.5 million last summer — “a pretty good use of federal money.” (HT: DailyKos diarist Dem Beans)"

Over 200 Comments

Thursday July 2, 2009, 10:03 am
WATCH: Colbert Tells Viewers To Deny Republican Rep. Cynthia Davis Food