Poverty is the same whether in the US or other parts of the world. The reason it is so demoralizing is that it not only attacks the pocketbook but gets into the mind. There is a poverty mind-set in the US that leads into drugs, prostitution, mafia, gangs etc. It's a sense of hopelessness and no way out. Also, cynicism.

It has become clear that the present Administration has no intention of helping the poverty conditions here in the US. New Orleans was only one example. They get Blackwater mercenary soldiers to herd the poor people around like cattle.

The Adminstration dodged the bullet by schlepping the issue to Faith-Based Initiatives which do little to deal with the problem. Those groups are interesting more in saving souls than giving people tools to deal with the ravages of Capitalism.

Those "haves" and "have-mores" are not going to deal with poverty in the US. Are we going to hear the cries of "Egalite, Liberte and Fraternite" again?

Frank