Campaign to ease human suffering
Do you know that 12.6 million children live in households that experience hunger? In 2007, an average of 26.5 million people used food stamps each month, and 37 percent of adults requesting this assistance were actually employed.
Did you know that in many households, senior citizens have to utilize a large percentage of their Social Security to pay health care costs, which leaves many former professionals at or just above the poverty level and unable to support themselves?
Did you know that John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton combined have raised $326,485,168 in campaign contributions to compete for the nomination?
It is almost inconceivable that we live in a country where these funds are utilized for campaigning in lieu of human suffering; feeding the hungry and providing health care for those that cannot afford it. I doubt any of them in either party have ever experienced hunger, the loss of pride an elderly person feels when they cannot afford to live without financial assistance due to the rising cost of health care, or the shame when providing the check out clerk food stamps to purchase basic needs.
My vote goes to the candidate who speaks for these people and puts their money where there rhetoric lies. It's unfortunate that I really haven't found one yet.
And to all those people giving them money? Why not give it directly to a charitable organization -- funds for human services have been seriously depleted under this current administration.
Maybe without these contributions they would be judged on their character more than their ability for fund raising and commercial "spots." I am tired of the daily updates on the media who has raised more money.
In 1961, John F. Kennedy stated "if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
It appears that we have gone off course in the last 47 years and have become an egocentric society.
Which candidate has the courage to speak from their heart on the issues that are fundamental to what should be our core values in a free society? I'm going to vote for that one.
Martha Newlin
Naperville