The war on the poor [two years, 4 months later]

by Jim Wallis

[Revisiting Jim Wallis's article, "The war on the poor," over two years later (it was published in SoJoMail newsletter in May, 2003) I am struck by how prophetic it was and how strongly his analysis applies to the present situation. Perhaps the tragedy of New Orleans has made us better able to see the truth in Wallis's argument. Whatever the reason, it now seems abundantly clear that little has changed and that we are still facing the same sordid excess of tax rebates for the rich and cuts in services for the poor. Actually, it has only gotten much worse because of the recent natural disasters and the never-ending cost of the war in Iraq. Back then, Wallis was talking about $80 billion for the war (a first installment he called it, and boy, was he ever right about that!) Now we are looking at five times that, and that estimate may well prove to be low because there is no really firm date for withdrawal of the troops. Not one that the likes of me and you are privy to, at any rate. Read Wallis's article and weep -- or better yet, get angry! I think it's way past time to demand changes, folks. -- Rick Mitchell, Editor]

May 7, 2003

It is now clear that the ongoing costs of the war with Iraq and the Bush administration's tax cuts for the wealthy are leading to a crisis for America's poorest children. Indeed, America's poor were the first casualties of this war, as U.S. domestic needs were literally pushed off the political agenda.

Last month, Congress approved nearly $80 billion requested by the administration as the first payment for the war with Iraq. Then they agreed to a budget resolution containing billions of dollars in new tax cuts and increased spending for the military, while resources for important domestic programs fell below the amount needed even to maintain current services in a deteriorating situation for the poor.

The consequences of these actions are becoming a silent war, felt most severely in the poorest parts of the United States, where low-income families are desperately clutching onto the bottom rungs of the failing economy. Virtually every state in America is suffering terrible budget deficits. But the budget offers no relief for states, and no solutions to the deficits except further cuts to critically needed domestic poverty programs, child health care, and education. Consider some recent news stories telling of the administration's plans:

* Cuts in Medicaid benefits mean that millions of low-income Americans will see reductions or lose health insurance entirely.

* Vouchers that assist nearly 2 million families to pay rent will be replaced by block grants run by the states, with no accountability for funding decisions.

* In the last two years, nearly half the states have cut child care funding.

* In one of the most incredible announcements, the Internal Revenue Service is planning to ask more than four million people who use the Earned Income Tax Credit for stringent proof of eligibility (added to forms that are already 54 pages long), a chilling measure that will directly affect working poor families and undercut perhaps the most effective bipartisan program for poverty reduction.

The truth is that hungry people will go without food stamps, poor children will go without health care, elderly will go without medicine, and school children will go without textbooks, so that the taxes of the wealthiest Americans can be further reduced.

Even the president's faith-based initiative is now being sacrificed at the altar of tax cuts. The Senate finally passed the CARE Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote, including restoring more than $1 billion dollars to the Social Services Block Grant, funds that would assist state and local social service providers. Astonishingly, the same day the White House announced it would oppose that funding. Once again, the budget priorities of the administration do not match its rhetorical promise of a faith-based initiative to reduce poverty.

The faith-based initiative, which many of us have supported, is in danger of becoming a hollow program that merely provides equal access for religious groups to the crumbs falling from the federal table. Yet, the drastic state budget cuts will be acutely felt by faith-based service providers who will bear the brunt of increased poverty in their communities. I've been talking to many people who run these programs and who have been supportive of the faith-based initiative. Frankly, they are angry and feel betrayed.

The administration's priorities are a disaster for the poor, a windfall for the wealthiest, and thus directly conflict with biblical priorities. Budgets are moral documents. They reveal the priorities of a family, church, city, or nation.

So let me say as clearly as I possibly can - the federal budget now being proposed is unbiblical. We must clearly and prophetically respond. Now, more than any time during the past 20 years, we need a faith-based initiative against political priorities that neglect poor people.

Next week, we will send an action alert to reverse the decisions to police the poor more than the rich, and to cripple one of the most effective low-income programs we have ever had, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

And I strongly invite you to join Call to Renewal in Washington, D.C., on June 9-11, 2003, for our annual national mobilization, this year named ÏPentecost 2003: Pray and Act to Put America's Poor on the National Agenda. Pentecost has become a time for Call to Renewal to bring churches and faith-based organizations together in the nation's capital to address the needs of low-income people in this country. Now is a critical time for Christians to change the national conscience by reminding society of God's priorities.

Please prayerfully consider joining us in Washington, D.C., June 9-11, 2003. Your presence is very important, for the nation and for you, and I pray that you will join us.

[Jim Wallis is editor and founder of the liberal evangelical magazine Sojourners, the author of The Soul of Politics, and the head of "Call to Renewal," a faith-based anti-poverty organization. Sojourners publishes SoJoMail newsletter,from which the above article is taken.]