Because of the current recession and job losses, more people are going hungry now that at any time since the statistic has been recorded. Unfortunately, most likely these numbers will be even worse next year as the full effects of the recession come to fruition. As always with hunger children were some of the hardest hit.
Some of the best news that could come out today has the Baucus junk compromise on healthcare stalling in the "Gang of Six". This bill is also getting nervous glares from governors in both parties as it will force their already cash-strapped states to foot huge amounts of the costs of any healthcare reform through Medicaid. As predicted, Republicans on the panel and Republicans in general are going to oppose any kind of reform to the system.
Conservatives and Republican politicians would have us believe that the problem of 47 million Americans unisured is not a problem at all. They argue that those without health insurance are illegal immigrants, the very young who do not want insurance, or quite simply the very lazy who refuse to get off their duffs to get a job and buy their own insurance. While there are undoubtedly some who fall within those categories, the wide majority do not fit the Repubican scenario.
There has been much arguing and gnashing of teeth in the Healthcare argument. Much was made of the CBO assessment that many uninsured would be left out in the final tally of options being considered. One option that makes much sense in insuring the working poor however, deserves careful consideration. The expansion of Medicaid could fill this coverage vacuum.
