Growing hunger in America called "a catastrophe"

Hunger in America
A commentary by Mike Marcellino

"USDA: Number of Americans going hungry increases" the headline read.

Another neglected headline. That thought compelled me to bring attention to this story by Associated Press writer Henry M. Jackson.

WASHINGTON – More than one in seven American households struggled to put enough food on the table in 2008, the highest rate since the Agriculture Department began tracking food security levels in 1995.

That's about 49 million people, or 14.6 percent of U.S. households. The numbers are a significant increase from 2007, when 11.1 percent of U.S. households suffered from what USDA classifies as "food insecurity" — not having enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Researchers blamed the increase in hunger on a lack of money and other resources.

Later in the article, an expert expresses his shock at the plight of too many of America's children.

"What should really shock us is that almost one in four children in our country lives on the brink of hunger," said David Beckmann, the President of Bread of the World, an advocacy organization.

How long are we going to neglect our children while waging wars in the Middle East when we can't even identify how we can win or what our objective is?  If we can't set a good example at home, how can we continue to try to shape the rest of the world in our image?

This is not just a government problem; this is a problem that all Americans should start solving.

In addition, three of four of 17 to 25 year olds do not meet standards for military service due to obesity, other health matters, drugs and alcohol problems, criminal records or the lack of high school diplomas.

We can't sit by and expect the government to do something about this; our government should have addressed this long ago.

Ask yourself - "What is our nation's future?"

When will we realize that in a democracy "we" are the government.  Looking for political scapegoats in red or blue alone won't do it.  It is time for Americans to start looking beyond themselves, be unselfish, roll up their sleeves and save their country.

The solutions to America's problems begin at home.

Link to the entire article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091116/ap_on_bi_ge/us_hunger_report;_ylt=AmqNWHK3W9KbIFroCjEd5Les0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTMyZzFtaDljBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMTE2L3VzX2h1bmdlcl9yZXBvcnQEY3BvcwM2BHBvcwMzBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDdXNkYW51bWJlcm9m

 Copyright Mike Marcellino 2009