The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Jon Dorschner
May Day is celebrated around the world as the day of the worker. It is a day to commemorate the struggles of working people to win their rights and raise their standard of living. This year, May Day should also be a day when we pledge as a society to do whatever it takes to eliminate homelessness and dire poverty. Many of the homeless were themselves workers who, most often for reasons beyond their control, lost their homes and livelihoods and were forced to live on the streets.
During the great depression 25% of the American workforce lost their jobs and faced dire poverty. During this economic disaster, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke directly to the American people on a weekly basis. He expressed his concern, told Americans not to fear, and promised every resource of the government to provide relief. The homeless, who we now see on every street corner in Tucson, often exhibiting dire hunger, many of them handicapped, aged and infirm, need the same care and concern today.
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In contrast to FDR, our current President, Donald Trump, has never mentioned the homeless, expressed one iota of concern for them, or proposed any government program on their behalf. Instead, Trump has proposed a $1.4 trillion defense budget, the largest amount ever spent on the military, while claiming his administration has no resources to provide an effective social safety net for Americans. Trump has called for large across-the-board cuts to social programs to finance his tax cuts and military spending.
Trump’s economic policies have increased inflation, making it more and more difficult for Americans living on the margins to meet their basic needs. As inflation continues to climb, more Americans will lose their homes and jobs in the months ahead, and homelessness will continue to increase. Trump has proposed nothing to alleviate this suffering.
Trump is not the cause of homelessness in America. It was present before he assumed office, and has been increasing for a long time. Homelessness is a product of our social and economic systems. We have embraced a callous capitalism dedicated to profit and personal enrichment with no room for compassion.
Our economic system is based on profit made through the buying and selling of commodities with no limits. In our system, anything can be made into a commodity and morality plays to no role in what is marketed. For example, We have seen vast increases in gambling, pornography, and marijuana industries harmful to the population, allowing unscrupulous entrepreneurs to enrich themselves at the public’s expense.
The Republican Party has embraced tax cuts as a cure-all for economic problems, draining the government budget on cuts that benefit the wealthy and do nothing for the indigent, who have little or no money and do not pay taxes. The GOP has made it impossible to increase taxes, and we currently fund government programs through deficit spending.
We market disposable commodities to increase consumption. Our system has made human beings into disposable commodities, and we see the result when we pass the homeless every day.
This May Day, we need to dedicate ourselves to creating an American society and economy based on compassion and empathy. We need to emulate the FDR Administration and pledge that, as a government and society, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that every person living on the streets is cared for.
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Jon Dorschner is a retired Foreign Service Officer (American diplomat), who taught political science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the University of Arizona.
