
On January 20, 2017, the number of Americans living in poverty was nearly 44 million. There has been no update on those numbers since Trump began his illegitimate presidency.
From the ‘fake news’ to the interns in Washington, and everywhere in between, no one has discussed America’s greatest shame. Everyone is too busy discussing Trump’s most recent debacle; his most recent lies.
Here are the facts. America has the largest number of billionaires per capita in the world at 540. In addition, there are 10.8 million millionaires who enjoy the privileges of living in the United States. When the number of Americans living below the poverty line are added to low-income Americans, who are literally one paycheck away from becoming impoverished, the number reaches nearly 50 percent of all Americans.
Politicians tout the fact that ours is the richest nation in the world; and I have no doubt that this is a fact. However, the only number of Americans who truly enjoy the privilege of living in America are the top one-percent. Most Americans struggle every day to care for the needs and wants of their families.
No one in our government appears to be concerned about these facts. There is no shame related to the disparity between those living in luxury, and those struggling to survive. The only fact they share is that neither the poor nor the super-rich pay income tax.
Trump toadie, Nikki Haley, America’s representative to the United Nations, is ‘bitching’ about the members of the UN who are critical of these facts. A UN report claims that 40 million Americans live in poverty across America. 18.5 live in extreme poverty, and five million in conditions of absolute poverty. Philip Alston, the special rapporteur, called the United States the ‘most unequal nation in the developed world.’
He was critical of the lack of concern in the last year stating that this administration’s policies “seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege.”
Haley once again defended her fuhrer, proving that if you work for Donald Trump, you must renounce all morals and principles.
“I am deeply disappointed that the Special Rapporteur used his platform to make misleading and politically motivated statements about American domestic policy issues,” Haley wrote. “Regrettably, his report is an all too common example of the misplaced priorities [of the UN].”
She didn’t stop there. In true Trump tradition, she couldn’t resist telling a blatant lie. She claimed that Trump actually works in the White House when we all know that when he isn’t playing golf, he’s watching FOX Noise.
“It is patently ridiculous for the United Nations to examine poverty in America,” she continued. “In our country, the President, Members of Congress, Governors, Mayors, and City Council members actively engage on poverty issues everyday. Compare that to the many countries around the world, whose governments knowingly abuse human rights and cause pain and suffering.”
Haley, I have some advice for you as a 72-year-old man who is a patriot and who is aware of the truth, quit. Continuing to serve Trump proves that you are a traitor to the American people. Facts are facts and when you lie you make a fool of yourself.
Poverty is growing as Trump and his circle of sinners continue to reduce or repeal programs designed to help Americans who need them most. When will congress get off of their fat a**es and do something about the greatest problem facing one-half of all Americans?
Your vote in November will be the most important vote you will ever cast in your lifetime. As long as Republicans remain in power, America will continue to loose its way, and the quality of life for most of our nation’s people will continue to diminish. Save yourselves.
Op-ed by James Turnage
Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey
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