Most of my adult life has been spent fighting poverty and homelessness. So you can imagine my dismay as over the past seven years we have watched poverty and hunger rates increase in the United States as the Bush Administration has pursued economic policies that benefit the wealthiest and most powerful Americans at the expense of “the least of these” in our society – the poor, the elderly, children.
Barack Obama understands these issues as well as anyone. As a community organizer in Chicago, as a member of the Illinois legislature and as a United States Senator, he has fought for policies that help lift people out of poverty.
Senator Obama said recently in Spartanburg:
"...at the dawn of the 21st century we also have a collective responsibility to recommit ourselves to the dream; to strengthen that safety net, put the rungs back on that ladder to the middle-class, and give every family the chance that so many of our parents and grandparents had. This responsibility is one that's been missing from Washington for far too long -- a responsibility I intend to take very seriously as President."
Addressing poverty is not a new issue for Senator Obama. He didn’t just discover this issue as he planned to run for president. Fighting poverty has been a lifelong commitment for Barack Obama and he has offered a detailed agenda to lift wages and build housing, to provide health care and to change the tax system, to increase educational opportunities, and to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
That’s the kind of leadership we need in America.
For more on poverty in America visit Poverty USA: The Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty.
- The Rev. Chuck Currie
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