Today I want to talk about a shameful secret - how
we treat children in America. The United States has the highest
rate of children born into poverty, 1 in 6, of any industrialized
nation. Ten million children, that is 10 followed by 6 zeros,
1 child in 7, lacks health insurance1. For 100,000
of the children in foster care, going home to family of origin
is not possible, but only 20,000 were adopted in 19952.
Families with children comprise 38% of the homeless population3.
More than 3.1 million children were reported abused or neglected,
in 19954. Daily, in America, at least 3 children DIE
as a result of abuse, and most are under the age of 55.
You and I can stop this.
Children are the future, the collective potential
of the human race and the United States. A gift and sacred responsibility
worthy of the holiest of homilies. -If I believed in such things….but
perhaps you do.- Think on the walking wounded adults in this
country, the formerly abused children. What is it costing us as
a society to treat those incarcerated or institutionalized, or
those tortured souls in therapy (or not)? The "road rage",
the violence, gangs, drug & alcohol abuse, and increasing
medical costs owe part of their genesis to past child abuse.
Give your time to children's organizations. Tell
your political representatives, local to national, how important
children are. Befriend a troubled family, offer to baby-sit when
a child's caregivers need a break. REPORT child abuse! Fight for
affordable housing, health insurance, daycare, and a living minimum
wage. Ask your politician's to put more money into child abuse
prevention and enforcement. Become a Foster Parent.
Lower child protective services workers'
caseloads! Incarcerate sexual predators for life.
We can all make a difference.
CRISIS IN THE FEDERAL COURTS:
There are 81 total vacancies in the federal courts and 41 confirmations pending before the Senate. See the table below.
Both the President and the Senate have been ridiculously partisan, and now there is a severe shortage of judges. Dockets are backlogged and cases are substantially delayed. GET WITH IT, SENATORS HATCH & SPECTER! Courts are for the People, not politicians.
vacancies
