A recent letter writer asked what poverty is. The technical definition is deficiency. Inadequacy. Pauper. The condition of being poor. But poverty is so much more. It is ugly. It is pain. It is misery. Loss of hope. Decaying of the spirit. A social disease. Shame and disgrace. It is something in America that cannot be excused or justified.
The writer described the “many benefits” the poor receive. There are not that many. They are difficult to qualify for. They afford only the bare essentials. They do nothing to eradicate the social menace of poverty. The pain is still there. The misery remains. Hope is still missing. And the spirit is still dying.
The writer stated that everyone needs to sacrifice. Not just the wealthy.
The poor sacrifice everyday. That’s the problem. The wealthy just continue to get richer, while the poor continue to get poorer.
He spoke of “fair taxes.” What are fair taxes? Everyone paying the same amount of tax is not fair. Some have greater wealth than others. There will never be a fair tax code. Corporate greed will make sure of that.
