îl?l ^înrthtnb ffibseruer
Page A4
March 21. 2007
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
O pinion
Back to the Issues that Matter
Appeal for children’s health
by Ji ix ; e G reg
M athis
M aking sure the healthcare
needs of our nation's children are
met, regardless of their fam ily'sin-
come, should he a top priority.
As such, many of the country’s
governors are raising their collec­
tive voices and standing up to the
White House, demanding that the
national Children's Health Insur­
ance Program not only maintains
its current funding, but receives
additional monies.
The coalition is made up of both
Democrats and Republicans, the
type of nonpartisan demonstration
that is needed to help redirect the
country's priorities back to the is­
sues that matter.
During a White House m eet­
ing, w hile President Bush was
discussing the war, the gover­
nors asked him to provide addi­
tional federal d o llars for the
C hildren’s Health Insurance Pro­
gram, which provides health in­
surance for children from unin­
sured working families.
Initially, the states were encour­
aged by the administration to ex­
pand their programs to include par­
ents and even some childless adults.
Having done so, many governors
now say they aren’t receiving the
support they need to keep the pro­
grams running.
F o u rteen sta te s, in clu d in g
Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Mis­
sissippi and W isconsin will run
out of the federal money allotted
taken a critical first step in helping
for the program by September. and expect more than a $ 13 bi Ilion insurance program.
When presented with this infor­ shortage from 2008 to 2012. The
Data shows that the concentra­ to move this country's attention
mation, a W hite House staffer money that was wasted in Iraq tion of wealth among the richest back towards the needs of the av­
told the states they should have could cover the majority o f this Americans has grown significantly erage American. By putting aside
managed the money better. Inter­ deficit.
over the last several years. The their partisan differences, they’ve
esting, especially coming from an
If the U.S. were to redirect the growth is directly related to several shown that the health and well­
adm inistration that has misman­ funds spent on the war in Iraq tax incentives the current adminis­ being of America's children is more
aged and wasted $10 billion in into the healthcare program , we tration has provided the wealthy. important that political affiliation.
Iraq. This does not include spend­ could ensure the country’s chil­
By helping the rich grow richer. Let’s hope more policymakers fol­
ing on the Iraq War, which has dren had access to quality medi­ Bush has, in effect, stalled the low suit. And let’s hope the White
exceeded the $500 billion mark.
cal care, w henever they needed growth of many of the country’s House pays attention.
Judge Greg Mathis is national
The federal governm ent cur­ it. The funds that would be gen­ much needed social programs. The
vice
president o f Rainbow RUSH
rently spends $5 billion a year on erated if the governm ent repealed millions the wealthy get to save
the C hildren’s Health Insurance the tax incentives for the wealthy under these cuts could be put to and a national board member o f
the Southern Christian Leadership
Program. States are facing a total could also serve as an additional better use.
shortfall of $700 million this year revenue source for funding the
The nation’s governors have Conference.
XKTS ! W E 'R E LOSING THiS W A R I
Giving Back
THE R A TS ARE
in good times and in bad
Feeling good about doing good
is something longtime philanthro­
pists know first hand. For those
of you who give for the first
time, your contribution or “in­
by J oyce F vrman
vestment" will indeed have a
Now is a perfect
positive impact.
time to look beyond
The effects of giving are pro­
ourselves and recog­
found
and immeasurable: discov­
nize the needs of the less fortunate
ering
a
sense of well-being, inspir­
and share our good fortune with
them. Even during the best of times ing family members and friends,
and through the recent generosity becoming more know ledgeable
of holiday giving, nonprofits con­ about a cause or a group, helping to
tinue to need our help— every day. create a better way of life for those
Charitable giving always seems in need and passing along your
most important in the hard times of philanthropic values to all you en­
recession, but so many needs in counter.
Your generosity also helpj your
O regon c o n tin u e d e sp ite the
swings in the economy. And when community thrive. If you care about
the economy is strong, we all have the quality of life of your commu­
the opportunity to give more and to nity and the legacy it will leave for
really make a difference in the com­ generations tocome. giving back is
munity issue we care about the the first step toward helping to se­
cure a healthy future for our chil­
most.
Ask yourself what truly inter­ dren and grandchildren.
Giving back meaningfully, and
ests you and satisfies your spirit.
Do your passions lie in education, often, doesn’t need to be a chal­
youth mentoring, health care, arts lenge. Spend some time reflecting,
in the schools, the environment, and then resolve to express your­
college scholarships, volunteer self by giving back in 2007.
Every single day of the year al­
work, home meals for the elderly,
lows each of us to embrace the
rural libraries, or the homeless?
A charitable organization such opportunity to give in ways that
as The Oregon Community Foun­ count.
Joyce Furman is a founding
dation is one of many excellent re­
sources that can help identify your member o f New Avenues fo r Youth
special interests and make it easier and is on the board o f the Oregon
Community Foundation.
for you to get involved.
2 "
By helping the rich grow richer, Bush has,
z// ef f ect> stalled the growth o f many o f the
country's much needed social programs.
LEAVING TH E
SINKING SM ÎP ...
Looking beyond
ourselves
¿ THE ARMY HOSPITAL
adm inistration's handling of the
Iraq war from the start. Their fail­
ure to support our troops and
I am appalled at the m istreat­ deal with the basics - equipm ent,
Editor’s note: U.S. Rep. Earl
ment
o f our active duty military training, adequate medical facili­
Blumenauer, D-Ore., issued the
and
veterans,
who have put their tie s , and tr e a tm e n t o f the
fo llo w in g sta tem en t in re ­
lives
on
the
line
for our country. w ounded - is yet anotherexam ple
sponse to reports o f poor con­
W
hat's
happened
at W alter of misplaced priorities and incom­
ditions and treatment at Walter
Reed
is
sym
ptom
atic
o
f the m is­ petent leadership.
Reed and other Veterans medi­
m
anagement
that
has
plagued
the
cal facilities:
Veterans Treated Badly
It also shows what happens
when the L eg islativ e B ranch
shirks its responsibility o f pro­
viding necessary oversight. The
new D em ocratic Congress is fi­
nally addressing not only the
treatm ent o f our m ilitary andvet-
erans, but the underlying prob­
lem o f a mishandled war.
Zb
r
kop
S E ^ A S O N S
íñewlt
MARKET
N O W D E L IV E R IN G
Y o u r f a v o r it e n e i g h b o r h o o d g r o c e r y s t o r e n o w d e l iv e r s
g r o c e r i e s r i g h t t o y o u r h o m e o r o f f ic e .
Anti-Troop: I Don’t Think So
At what point does common
sense prevail over a political
agenda? Republicans are calling a
proposed plan to protect the men
and women in our armed forces
anti-troop! I don't think so.
Supporting the troops means
protecting them from being sent
into the middle of a civil war inad­
equately equipped and under-pre­
pared.
We need legislation to ensure
adequate training, support, and
equipment for our troops—and re­
member. this simple requirement
would also make George Bush's
reckless escalation impossible.
Service members in Iraq and Af­
ghanistan have experienced short­
ages of force-protection equipment,
including up-armored vehicles,elec­
tronic counterm easure devices,
crew-served weapons and commu­
nications equipment.
The military has been borrowing
gear from units stationed in the
United States, reducing their abil­
ity to respond in case of other mili­
tary threats around the world.
The Arkansas National Guard's
39th Brigade Combat Team, sched­
uled to return to Iraq next year, is
6(X) rifles short for its 3,500soldiers.
Soldiers of the 1st Brigade. 3rd
Infantry Division had so little time
between deployments to Iraq they
had tocram more than a year's worth
of training into four months. Two
army brigades heading to Iraq due
to the escalation are skipping their
counterinsurgency training session
at the Army’s premier training range.
Our injured troops from Iraq and
Afghanistan also are not being ad­
equately treated:
Soldiers recovering at the Walter
Reed Army Medical Hospital, a mere
five miles from the White House,
were found living in rooms infested
with mold, soiled carpet and cock­
roaches.
More than 30 percent of all sol­
diers meet the criteria for a mental
disorders related toemotional prob­
lems from deployment stress. Mili­
tary health providers are straining
under the pressure and are unable
to meet the psychological health
needs of our soldiers and their fami­
lies.
David White
Northwest Portland
¡’subscribe ib r |)o r ft lattò (O bsrW fr
503-288-0033
w w w .n e w s e a s o n s m a r k e t .c o m
you click, we deliver, (or pull up for pick up)
Just MO |
per year*
I
I Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box .3137, Portland OR 97208
I N ame : _________ ______ _________________________
I P hone : __________________ ,______________________
I A ddress : _________ ___________________
I
1
I
I
I
I
_____________________________ I
0rfmfl//subscriptk»ns@portland(>lwerver.c«»m
(*m ust include ch e c k )I
— —————————————————J