Harlingen, Texas, July 28, 2011: While our Washington politicians prance
proudly around, bluster and blow hot air, the entire country suffers the
consequences of their narrow-minded ineptness. A president totally lost in a
maze of possible political fallout and a Congress where both sides the isle
seek their own advantage have managed to turn the entire nation into a
fiscal and mental basket case.
There are few locales in the country that have endured greater hardship than
the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. While most of the Lone Star State has
weathered the storm of recession and economic malaise quite well, the far
tip of this huge state still feels the sting of a failed stimulus package,
limited economic growth, job stagnation and due to its unflagging loyalty to
the Democrat Party in a Republican dominated state.little help from Austin
and the state legislature.
While the nation continues its months upon months of unemployment above 9% 
and Texas holds steady to an 8% unemployment figure, the Rio Grande Valley
moves slowly back and forth at 12% to almost 14% of its population waiting
patiently outside the offices of the state's Workforce Solutions Offices for
something positive to happen in the job market.
The reality of the situation is state and national governance does next to
nothing when it comes to easing the plight of disadvantaged people. If it
were not for the work of faith based organizations and understanding
business supporters the plight of the poor would be far worse than is
currently being reported. Of this population, none suffer more than the
little children.
Loves and Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley are a nationally recognized
shelter and feeding program under the umbrella of 30 churches. Just this
past month it has provided more than 11 thousand hot meals to the people in
a city of just over 60,000 people. Many of those seeking food were family
members unable to provide for themselves. Large numbers of children filled
the chairs of the dining room.
The Vera Naumann Family Emergency program had triple the usual requests for
food assistance during the month. There were 115 bags of food given to
needy families. They also managed to pay a number of utility bills and
rents.
In the shelter, 2155 bed nights have been provided to the homeless. These
populations have shifted from the usual sheltering of single men. They now
include significant numbers of women and children who come searching out a
warm place to rest their heads.
As the time rapidly approaches for schools to reopen for the fall semester,
we still have an army of government incompetents playing their one-upmanship
games in Washington and the people of America desperately seeking real
solutions to everyday concerns.
Companies such as Target Stores across the country are coming to the aid of
families in need. Target has worked with the Salvation Army to provide
hundreds of gift cards, which allow children to go shopping for much needed
school clothing and supplies. In Harlingen the Salvation Army selected the
children most in need of these gifts and escorted them to the store.
Eight-year-old Nicholas was one of those receiving a Target gift card. He
had to make his own selections, but had been well schooled by his mother.
Each item was carefully examined and every price was checked against several
similar items. At the end of his free shopping hour he had jeans, shirts,
socks, underwear and shoes. He did allow himself one special bit of
clothing, not specifically for school. It was a Super Mario Brothers
T-Shirt.
Nicholas will be well dressed for the start of school. But, for thousands
upon thousands of children just like this little boy, the luck of the draw
did not happen. They are not helped by government safety nets, they miss
out on the benevolence of commercial enterprises and they somehow do not
find their way into the comforting arms of faith-operated charities.
We, the voting public, are those who are primarily to blame for America
turning into a mismanaged mess. We listen to the forked tongues of
politicos with limited abilities and buy into their mountains of false
promises. We allow them to run a nation in ways none of us would accept in
our own households. We make everyone in America pay because we voted to
accept these poisonous platitudes. Along with that blame we must also share
the blame for these hurting children. In the words of the Pat Benatar song,
"Suffer the little children at the hands of evil men, No baby dolls, no
Teddy bears, no Lullabies for them."
Thomas D. Segel is a Texan, now of Harlingen in the deep south Rio Grande Valley. A twice-wounded former combat correspondent, he retired after 26 years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Segel holds eight personal decorations for valor and meritorious service. He also holds the Thomas Jefferson Award for Journalistic Excellence and was named Military Writer of the Year.
