Editorial: "National Disgrace" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: "National Disgrace"

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in December of 2011 on a single night in January 636,017 people were homeless in the United States; of that total 67,495 were U.S. military veterans, about 14 percent of all homeless adults.

Let's state the obvious, one individual or family without a place to call home is too many but I want to focus for a moment on our military veterans.  One in seven who have served and likely fought to secure our nation and other nations freedoms are living on the streets or in shelters - one in seven.  In this great nation of ours these heroes who have willfully sacrificed family, life and limb deserve much better.

Unfortunately things could get worse. If Congress does not come to a deficit reduction agreement by the end of the year automatic cuts will be triggered in January to both non-war defense spending and domestic discretionary spending, including many human needs programs that provide greater opportunity to veterans.

Our hope is in this week following Veterans Day policy makers in Washington will do what is necessary to reduce spending to curtail mandatory and widespread cuts while keeping necessary post war programs in place for those that served in our military. America must continue to honor and protect those who defend us by providing the support and resources necessary to help them find stability and opportunity when they return.  It's the least we can do.

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