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Features » February 9, 2004

False Crusader

By Jim Wallis

In his State of the Union speech, President Bush told U.S. troops: “America is proud of you. And my administration, and this Congress will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror.”

Several minutes later, he noted: “It’s also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the compassion of America’s religious institutions. Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country—mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely.” But he did not follow with: “And my administration, and this Congress, will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on poverty.”

The fact is that while religious charities are indeed playing a vital role, President Bush’s policies are throwing people into the river much faster than we can pull them out. The effects of recession, war and tax cuts mean that 35 million Americans are living below the poverty line—3 million more than when he took office. More than 12 million people have difficulty securing enough food, and 44 million lack health insurance. “Jobs are on the rise,” he claimed. But an increase of 1,000 new jobs in December is not helping the 8.4 million people who are officially unemployed, or the 1.5 million who would like to work but have given up looking.

All across this country, hungry people are going without food stamps, poor children are going without healthcare, our elderly are going without medicine and school children are going without textbooks. Paying for war by cutting spending for the poor while giving tax cuts to the rich is morally unconscionable. The administration’s priorities are a disaster for the poor and a windfall for the wealthiest. What we need is a faith-based initiative against political priorities that neglect people in poverty.
Jim Wallis is the executive director of Sojourners and Convener of Call to Renewal. For more on Sojourners and Call to Renewal go to www.sojo.net and calltorenewal.org.

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  • Reader Comments

    Great article.

    Out here in California, some counties have such a large working homeless population that we wonder if we’re living in the End of Times - The fabled silicon Valley has a situation where about 30% of the people who are homeless have full-time jobs.

    How can we pay for hospitals in Iraq when our own elderly can’t get care? Did you know that Iraqis pay only 10 cents a gallon for gas??!!!! Why the hell doesn’t our government subsidize the gas for us with our own tax money??!!!! And that’s why 1 out of 3 of our hard-earned dollars goes straight to the federal government.

    Where are all the real conservatives. Your fake President is selling our children down river to all the Ken Lays of his inner circle, and you’re helping him do it with your blind allegiance to principles that he only pretends to care about.

    Thanks to ITT for continued quality journalism.

    Posted by Ed Mellon on Feb 9, 2004 at 6:57 PM

    35 million Americans are living below the poverty line / 12 million people have difficulty securing enough food / 44 million lack health insurance / 8.4 million people are officially unemployed. ------ now read that over and over again till you actually really understand what capitalism does to your (and most other) country (countries). Then spread the word and hope other people do to. 

    Posted by zen on Feb 10, 2004 at 12:39 AM

    READ that again, these are millions of american people we’re talking about.

    Posted by zen on Feb 10, 2004 at 12:41 AM

    NOW multiply that a dozen times and think globally. 

    Posted by zen on Feb 10, 2004 at 12:43 AM

    Still wondering why people burn your flag all over the world?????????? then read and think again.

    Posted by zen on Feb 10, 2004 at 12:47 AM

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Appeared in the March 1, 2004 Issue
Also by Jim Wallis
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    “Under the way theyíre kind of writing it right now out of… morePosted on October 6, 2003
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