Some need help; all need hope

A line from a poem attributed to Fanny Howe: "The self has replaced the soul with the fist of survival". That rings so true. Good and decent people are saying, "I will share with others only when I am sure I have enough for myself." And now we have a new tax plan that may remove the motivation for some to give to charities. What are those in need to do? What would you do if your family were in desperate need?

It seems as though we as a proud country have taken the wrong road too often and have failed to correct. Our federal legislature has not functioned properly for years. The executive branch is now dangerously dysfunctional. And the judiciary is being seeded with agenda-driven people who will have an impact on our laws for generations to come.

International corporate activity has taken on a life of its own as the Supreme Court has deemed them to be "persons." Directors sing a song of responsibility to stockholders while paying unconscionable amounts to C-level managers who have no long-term focus other than profit maximization. The trickle-down theory is not working. It seems to me that if we want to remain a democracy, we should look to the potential of becoming a social democracy. Remove the stigma from talking about "social" programs. Some legitimately need help. And all need hope for the future. Who can provide that help and, more importantly, from where does the hope come for those who simply have been born into less fortunate circumstances? If you had no hope what would you do?

Richard May

Palatine