by Shirley Scurlock

Created on: November 25, 2008

The proof of American candidates inability to connect with voters became evident this year. In years past, the majority of voters have been white, middle class, fairly well to do folks. This year, the poor have come out to vote. Those with no health insurance, no job, no schooling and no hope finally voted. The evidence of our governments negligence of the voter is the the homeless in every city in the USA. Welfare lines grow while benefits shrink.

Our elected officials have voted themselves a raise every year, and then have cut child welfare funding. Apparently, we could not afford their raises, and child welfare, so the children took second place.

While our leaders sit in luxury - there are homeless men and women on the streets. Many of them with children. While they raise that pen to sign our budget - children are starving in the USA. Many of those who are in homes have no heat, or perhaps facing foreclosure. Utility costs have skyrocketed, which is difficult for the rich - but impossible for the poor. Many of them say, "get a job, and work your way out." They answer, we have no money for gas to go to work. We have no food, for strength to work, and lastly, we have no education, it is beyond our reach! Our jobs were taken by illegal aliens, or our plants have moved overseas. The rich must get richer. They need workers, who will work for less, while the cost of living rises!

The well to do eat the very best. They wear the very best. Yet - they can vote away the very life's substance of poor children. The impoverished can't buy shampoo, perfume and new outfits to wear. They can't have their hair done to impress some perspective employer! The poor go to second hand stores, to buy clothes worn by others! The poor go to food banks for thanksgiving dinner. The poor go to secret Santa for a gift to give their children on Christmas. Many of the poor have no hope of Christmas at all.

If I'm right, on January 1st 2009 - the US Senate and Congress will again vote themselves a raise. Ignoring the needs of the people, they will once again do as they please. They will have summits and conferences to discuss the needs of the people and the current economic crisis. The thing that amazes us is - our politicians never knew the economic crisis the poor have faced for years.Lack is no stranger to the poor and very few of those running for office can connect with that! They promised hope and change, and now the poor have voted. They voted for change. A change in the struggle they have faced for years. A change in the accessibility of hope!

Now - the rich cry about Wall Street and their investments. They are concerned now, because they have lost their nest egg or their multimillion dollar savings account. The poor have cried for a long time. They only wanted food, shelter, shampoo, toilet paper, and may other things the rich take for granted. While the rich line up for bailouts - the poor wonders whats the difference? They have plenty and ask for more. The poor have nothing and ask for something, and it takes endless rhetoric for just the basic human needs. We are American Refugees with no help, no hope, no rescue - standing in an endless line- in a heartless society waiting for a crumb from the American dream. Those men and women in the Senate, Congress and the white house will never connect with that!

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