COMMENTARY | Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's comment that he was not concerned about the very poor is not surprising. Republicans are not concerned. After all, essentially, Republicans' believe that unless you're rich you're worthless.
What is surprising and disappointing is that Americans are split on their concern for the very poor. But, today, they also carry a heavy load. Their overriding concern is for their own here and now.
Nonetheless, facts simply cannot be denied:
Statistical data reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), indicates the most recent poverty level for the United States stands at 24.4 percent. We rank 31st out of the 34 member OECD countries from which they collect data.
Even more disappointing is that, according to the OECD, the U.S. ranks 20.6 percent of children who live in poor homes.
Republicans and Americans are shortsighted. Our future belongs to all of our young people. Not just rich kids. Our young people are the ones who will contribute to making this world a better place. But because of poverty, about one out of six will not be capable of contributing.
GPS's Fareed Zakaria reports that children in poverty "will be more likely to drop out of high school, be unemployed, use drugs, have children out of wedlock and get ill.
"Children in extreme poverty do badly even when they are smart.
"On indicator after indicator, the U.S. compares badly with other rich nations on not only how impoverished it is but on the facilities and opportunities it is giving the poor."
Except for Ron Paul, who takes the position that "it isn't authorized in the Constitution for us to run a welfare state," Republicans believe the poor simply need to work harder to improve their lives.
On the other hand, in 2008, President Obama made the campaign commitment to cut poverty in half in ten years.
It's a growing problem that needs to be addressed. Year after year, Americans are becoming more dependent on government subsidies such as Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance, food stamps, and school lunches.
The United States cannot depend on the Republican Party to acknowledge the issue of poverty. In consideration of their position on these programs, Republicans will only make things worse.
It's one of the most important issues our country faces; it's one of the salient issues that separate President Obama and Republican candidates for president.
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