A Cause Worth Supporting?

I was thinking what Sean had to say about the focus of this block, about the fact that it was not intended to be a scandal sheet. There are far too many scuzzy politicians, we know this, and it just so happens that many of them happen to be Republican right now. Though I am the bleeding heart liberal of the group I fully recognize and admit that the Dems are not immune to the "absolute power corrupts absolutely" thing. Heck, just look at the early 90's after Clinton was elected. Because of the shady dealings of the Dems the Republicans were able to sweet into victory; Adam has noted that the honestly and integrity that he saw (yes, that HE saw) have a lot to do with his joining the the GOP.

Anyhow, as I was saying, Sean's words made me think about what I could spotlight that was positive. Then, on MTV of all places, I saw a brief news clip about John Edwards and what he's been doing with his "time off":

Capital Times - "The country is hungry for a big issue - a cause, a calling - it can get involved in, Edwards told about 500 people Wednesday afternoon at the Wisconsin Union Theater. "If you don't believe me, look at the reaction to Hurricane Katrina," he said.

The government reacted slowly, while the people themselves took action, volunteering and donating money to help victims, Edwards said.

"Americans are looking for something moral and just. Something other than this mess in Iraq we are engaged in," he said to overwhelming applause.

"They need a champion. That champion is you," Edwards said, noting that college students have spurred major change in the past, from civil rights to the Vietnam anti-war movement to helping topple the apartheid system in South Africa.

Could this still be politics? Of course, but I think he's making a good point that the youth of America has had a lot to do with bringing about real change, so why not turn the focus onto something that seems to have slipped between the cracks as of late: poverty in America. Empowering people to effect change like this sounds like a good thing to me.

We are the world's richest and most powerful country, yet why do we have so many homeless. Yes, there are some people that have done this to themselves and may even deserve what happens to them, but with so many studies suggesting that a disproportionate number of homeless are mentally ill and/or drug dependent it makes me think about what could be done to help.

I don't know if I am really offering any answers here, but rather opening up the floor for discussion.

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