I don’t gamble. No, I don’t think it’s immoral ( or illegal or it makes you fat). I worked for a living, and I just don’t think it’s a part of the casino’s business plan that you should win. There are lots of ways to throw away money. I just don’t believe I need to do it.
In general, people who spend money expect something in return. Which brings me to the subject of this blog. Specifically, one of the most unnecessary large expenditures in our society – campaign finances. According to at least one source, $2.74 billion was spent by the major parties on the election of 2020. That’s a lot of favors in return – ya think? (Incidentally, the Harris-Walz folks recently raised $540 million. In about 2 weeks. About a half billion!).
This obscene amount has, in all probability, been enhanced in recent election cycles by our [Ex]treme Court as a result of their bizarre ruling that corporations are people, too (pardon me for oversimplifying). All I know is 2.74 billion is not available to feed starving kids as a result.
Do these “attack ads” convince anyone but the converted? Living in Virginia, we are spared much of this vitriol, since the state is not considered a “battleground”. However, Flo and I get an average of 100-150 emails daily from Democrats asking for money (strangely, we don’t get any from Republicans, can’t imagine why not). No, we have never sent any money to any of them.
Let me propose a thought experiment (that’s something where you know it can never happen, but you can dream). Let’s imagine we reprogram, say, a half billion to feed starving children. Do we need that much? I am reminded by a retort given by Harry Hopkins early in the Franklin Roosevelt presidency during a hearing on depression relief, “but Congressman, people eat every day”. So do kids. Feeding them adequately is, actually, an investment. It’s hard for kids to learn if they’re starving.
What little I can afford, I generally send to outfits which feed the hungry. Charities such as Food for the Poor, Covenant House, So Others Might Eat, Feed the Children. Please do not regard this as a request to support any of them. Yes, there are lots and lots of scams out there. Although it’s not all inclusive or foolproof, we have found Charity Navigator to be a useful means of evaluating outfits asking for money.
As I write this, I see on the news that Sudan is facing famine, due to a rivalry of rich people wanting their way, or some such hocum. The latest example of using food as a weapon on God’s children who happen to be poor. How do these perps sleep at night? Meanwhile, in prosperous nations, we are throwing money around to attack others. There has to be a better way.
Rogernarc 