Money does not eliminate poverty of spirit and mind. All the rock 'n roll in the world won't change the social, cultural, political, tribal, & other problems in Africa. Time after time, America has poured resources into regions blighted by internal warfare, famine, disease, ignorance, and evil. Again and again, our resources have been the foundation for more of the same, only bigger. In medical school I studied population explosions following famines in Africa, to which the well-intentioned westerners sent food. The result was that the African cultures did not change, the male's social standing was still based on how many children he could produce, the resources sent from abroad generated a new cycle of procreation, and the next famine affected a larger population, which had less capacity to deal with it than before. If money were the answer to poverty, America would have none, as our government has flooded the social services system with funding for decades. Unfortunately, the poor will be with us always, even to the end of the earth. Some people choose poverty because something else requires earnest, long-term, personal effort. Endless charity devolves into parasitism, and in our society, to entitlement-mentality. Compassion and love, as any good parent knows, is not a touchy-feely warm and fuzzy sensation, but hard, and often painful, decisions and actions that make people independent and self-sustaining. Rock on, all you feel-good concert attendees; rock yourselves to sleep from that conscience-cleansing effort you just expended to feel so superior. Now, how about doing the hard stuff.

Happy 4th of July everyone and please remember just what we are celebrating as our brave men and women in uniform are going into Harm's Way to protect what we hold dear.

See this draft essay I just posted over at Roger Simon's:

Link Here

AND MY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Of your choosing or none if that's your belief]