For almost thirty years children have been this nation's principal underclass. Shame on the land of opportunity. Over twenty percent, almost a quarter of our kids live in this land of plenty, the land of thriving business and industry, the land of booming stock markets, the land of consumer confidence, the land of plenty and promise, over twenty per cent of our kids live in poverty. And we wonder about Littleton and Oregon and Kentucky. Many of the complex answers sought to those tragedies lies in the attitude of this nation that is ready to throw away one out of every five of our children.
Poverty breeds desperation and stress and frustration and anger.
Many of our kids who are abused in homes are abused because of conditions rooted in poverty. Oh, abuse occurs in more affluent surroundings but poverty is a prime breeder of abuse. Capital gains legislation does not help kids in poverty. Nothing wrong with capital gains legislation but ladies and gentlemen of the Congress and the legislatures, keep your eye on the kids. Perhaps the greatest prevention for many conditions assailing children comes from a strong school program.