U.S. Census Bureau data from 2015 revealed that the population of the United States was about 320 million. Out of this number, 13.5 percent of Americans were living in poverty; 43.1 million men, women, and children. The estimate for 2017, is 14.3 percent; 45,760,000 Americans. Under Trump’s proposed budget, this number is likely to rise dramatically.

This is unforgivable. Income inequality continues to grow, and as it does the one-percent experiences an increase in its personal wealth, and the number of families living in poverty grows.

The United States of America has the most billionaires in the world by far, at 585; including your illegitimate president. There are 10.7 million, millionaires in a nation which has only 4.4 percent of the world’s population. It is estimated that 44 percent of all children in America are living in low-income families who struggle to live week to week.

These unacceptable figures prove that our nation has become a country of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ Ten percent of our nation’s people control 90 percent of the wealth.

Our government has moved to the extreme right; a group which opposes all social programs, and refuses to support an increase in the federal minimum wage. They support the one-percent and ignore tens of millions of Americans who are in danger of losing their homes, and suffer from hunger daily.

It’s time for a move to the left where all American have importance in our nation. Liberals care about other Americans. They support programs which would eliminate poverty through programs which would enable them to obtain better paying jobs and increase the quality of life for their families. We believe in ‘fair’ taxation.

Republicans love to talk about crime, but refuse to admit to the facts; poverty is the cause behind most statistics which report crime levels in our nation. The average income of all Americans incarcerated in our prisons, before they received their sentences was $19,185 per year. It is a sad fact that humans will do anything to support their families and themselves, including choosing a life of crime.

It is a fact that we are the richest country in the world, and that fact alone forbids a single person in this country from living at or under the poverty level. This is a national shame, and our own government is to blame. They allowed many jobs which paid well to move away from our shores. These jobs were primarily filled by lesser educated men and women. By refusing to raise the minimum wage, and protect the bloated profits of their owners, millions of Americans will remain in poverty. Very few Americans want to accept charity; but they are sometimes forced to take a helping hand. Our government refuses to offer them that hand.

This is America’s greatest shame; second is our illegitimate president.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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