Ed,
Perhaps I do want to treat the symptom before looking for a cure for the disease. If someone is hungry I want to see them fed. If someone has no shelter and is cold I want to see them warm and protected from the elements. If they have no safe drinking water I want that rectified as soon as possible. These are all symptoms of huge underlying problems that I wish see somehow resolved, but if the symptom is not treated first then what is left? If government indifference or political graft at any level restrict helping people who are in dire need then I feel that heads should roll. I don't really care if that person is red, white, black, yellow, or any shade in between. The greater problem is that the resources of this country, and in fact this world, are such that nobody should go to bed hungry! If 90% of the worlds wealth is held by 10% of its population I would love to see that disease cured, but the reality calls treating symptoms as best we can!