Ah, yes, in the mid-70s I took my children on a tour of that area, then up the flooded Miss. They were shocked (I don’t think it drove anything home to them for their adult life though - sigh). Late last fall, the state’s elder abuse unit put out a call for “warm” clothing and/or bedding for the elderly, so I literally cleared out every possible item I did not need, ending up with 8 large cartons of blankets, quilts, warm clothing, etc. The case worker who came to pick it up was most appreciative - much more than most places I’ve donated to in the past - and told me a great deal about the plight of women and men “over 60 today.” Frankly, our country must first do something very open and direct about child and elder abuse. In the 70, I initiated a needs study in Texas that founded the first domestic violence program, which spun off many more in the state, but first toured about 11 established “shelters” around the US. Therefore, our first one was a foster family program for abandoned women with children (because no one wanted to even use the term “abused” - so I got around it with “abandoned”. The other states’ programs were mired in law suits by, of all things, grandparents who were demanding to see their sheltered grandchildren in protection with their non-abusive parent. Few people seem to want to admit to this cancer in our society even today, and it’s high time something was done to stop it. I for one am sick and tired of it, and I’m angry that it is permitted to continue. Even at the Texas State Schools (ref: “Forgotten Lives” - U -Tube). Every time I see Paulson escaping with our funds, changing his obvious lack of direction, I’m livid that our nation has permitted this nut, and congress to sou nd off for months yet do nothing but stir the pool of money, as if we didn’t see it’s seepage. Abuse! Lack of health coverage is a form of abuse. Long lines in ERs is abusive, lack of Pre-K-12 education standards in the US is abuse. Permitting adult children to ignore their parents is abuse. Where, pray tel, are the churches - those bastions of morality that refuse to not only speak out on but act upon those in front of their eyes in their own neighborhoods but are permitting by IRS to remain tax-exempt (please - our nation needs those funds!)? The USA’s continued adherence to the “Farm Bill” (vs. Food Bill” and permitting corporate farms (ADM, etc) to rake off our tax dollars, yet not provide tax dollars to the growers of our actual food (vegetables/fruits) instead of wheat, cotton, and corn!!!) is abusive. I could go on and on. President-elect Obama stated that American citizens acted upon Democracy in this election - choosing to act - yes, we did, and we must not stop because there were far too many Christians who have stated they did not vote because “it was in the bag - he’s the anti-Christ”. Those are abusive people. Before this nation spends one red cent on the decades of abuse wrought on us by the automotive and banking/finance industry (et al), they must turn around, and bail out Americans, in their homes, in the hospitals, in the nursing homes that continue to create swill-conditions against our sisters and brothers in them, and plunk down a few ten millions to prosecute abusers in every form their take, including Corporate America, and parents, yes, parents. And, provide Americans with decent food! Ah, Dr. Maslow warned us - the basic necessities of life - the need is right here, at home. Why do we refuse to see it?