Put American Interests First

To the Editor: 
The very words “homeless” and “homeless vet” should be repugnant to anyone living in America. The words are an abomination to the very principles upon which our nation was founded. 
The reality that these words represent is a reproach upon every man and woman in modern society. No one carries a greater responsibility for this atrocity than our elected officials, regardless of party affiliation.
Each and every year, our elected representatives in Washington vote to send hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ dollars to a social cancer that we call foreign aid. Many times, this money goes to nations that are, in principle, our enemies.
Each and every year, hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children, all American citizens, go to bed hungry, sleep wherever the weather permits, or live in makeshift-tent cities like those of the Great Depression. Far too often, these are veterans of our armed services.
This begs the question: what is wrong with this picture?
We welcome with open arms illegal aliens and call them “undocumented immigrants,” or “dreamers.” They are illegal aliens, plain and simple, nothing more.  
Simply by virtue of the fact that they are here illegally, they are criminals. Call it anything you like, the truth is the truth, all the while men and women who dutifully served our nation are cast aside and treated like they are the dregs of humanity, a social disease.
The reality is that politicians have no interest in helping our homeless because they have nothing to offer our politicians. Wake up, America!
Washington is for sale to the highest bidder. Democrat, Republican, independent, it doesn’t matter. If they are sending billions anywhere, they are getting something in return; meanwhile American citizens are homeless, hungry, and destitute.
When no American man, woman, or child is homeless or hungry, then worry about other nations. When no American citizen is jobless, then negotiate foreign trade agreements.
If you want America to “be great again,” get rid of those in Washington and elect some men and women who have not sold their integrity and their vote, and who have American interests first on the list of priorities.
The very fact that one American is homeless should cause every one of us to hang our heads in shame. Many of these people are innocent bystanders and collateral damage of the policies our elected officials pass each year.
No American, especially an American veteran, should be homeless. No American child should be hungry or cold, while we send billions to other countries, regardless of the person.
I was appalled to read a recent article about county residents who were opposing a homeless shelter. These people would rather the homeless live under the Wildwood Boardwalk, in a tent city behind Walmart, or in abandoned buildings.
Remember, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”
I once had needed to spend three months of my life in an abandoned travel trailer in a gravel pit. It taught me that being homeless does not mean that you are a lowlife.
These people are our fellow Americans, our family, if you will. We should have compassion for them, not look down our noses at them. They deserve better than they get from most of their fellow Americans, especially the ones in Washington.