A salary that bought you 5 gallons of gas/hr. five years ago, now would get you 2

[NNN0LHI]

Think about that.

http://blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=4910

Republicans, Take From The Poor To Feed The Rich

As the government bails out the largest insurance company in the world, American International Group (AIG) — more and more people are asking, "what about the least of these?"

While throwing an $85 billion lifeline to AIG to keep it afloat and prevent a meltdown of the global markets, unemployment in the U.S. now stands at 6.1%; 9.5 million people. Unemployment for Black males stands at over 10.6%, over 8% for Latinos. Nearly five million people lost their jobs in August. Over 45 million are still without health care, over 8% of who are children. Where is the lifeline for the least of these?

What are our nation's priorities, and when will the poor receive the same comprehensive lifeline as the rich and powerful? When will it end, and more importantly, how many more of these big corporations can the federal government become stakeholders in?

Over 300,000 or one in every 416 households received foreclosure notices in August, up 12% in one month. An estimated 2.8 million U.S. households will face foreclosure by the end of next year.

This year, the Federal Reserve bailed out Bear Sterns. The Treasury just absorbed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, adding another $5 trillion directly to U.S. debt, and putting at risk some $200 billion directly. Federal Reserve has promised to lend up to $85 billion to AIG. AIG is valued at $1 trillion. Taken into account this recent commitment will send the deficit over $500 billion this year.

Meanwhile over $10 billion a month is still being poured into the unjust and immoral war in Iraq.

A change in our nation's priorities is needed now. We cannot wait. Economic stability must be at the forefront of the candidates' agendas.


Rev. Jesse Jackson is founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and the nation’s foremost civil rights leader. The organization’s website is located at www.rainbowpush.org

[ThomWV]

1. Oil drops by 33%, gasoline at the pump drops by 6%. WTF?