I know this is likely to turn political even though it is not really meant to be a political post. I do believe we as voters need to find some common ground on real issues we can actually solve in a bi-partisan way. The issue I see is one where I have donated time and money. It's a simple one and one I believe can be solved, and one where both sides could easily find common ground. Hunger. As I was walking down Smith Street yesterday in downtown Houston to pick up my lunch I see a very gaunt man near a bus stop start digging in the garbage. He pulls out a discarded piece of pizza and starts eating it. This absolutely hurt my soul. The man appeared to be homeless, obviously hungry, very dirty. I asked him to wait where he was, consider putting that pizza back where he found it, and I would return in a few minutes with lunch. I picked up my lunch and had them make a few sandwiches. Luckily the man was there when I returned. I just cannot wrap my head around how we let shit like this be a continuing problem in America. We waste so much money on so much shit it's incalculable. How is it we cannot find a way to fund shelters with some basic care and food. That's rhetorical, we don't need your snarky answers from the left about the military industrial complex, nor from the right about how we spend trillions on handouts already. I get it. Both of those things are true. We have to find a way to fix this. No one in this country should go hungry. Ever. I get some may be beyond help to some degree. My guess is this man probably had some form of mental issue that possibly doesn't allow him to function in a way where he can get help at some of the places it is offered.
What can we do? I know this isn't an issue that gets as much attention as it should because it's one where people can generally agree. If it isn't an issue that is going to divide us the news, nor politicians are going to put much effort into it. Anyone have any ideas? ANyone ever had much luck lobbying their representatives on this? what about at local levels? I feel like I can devote a bit more time and energy to this cause. Anyone with any insight into how to go about it, I'm all ears. I know this get more attention as we enter the holidays, and there will be some nice news stories about people at foodbank kitchens serving meals. I've done that. It's nice and all, but that is not getting it done. We need to think "bigger".