Thomas Paine’s Corner: America’s Collective Delusion Must Endure:
Accomplishing a logic-defying feat, the wealthiest nation in the world has “attained� the highest rate of homelessness amongst developed countries. 3.5 million human beings experience homelessness each year in the United States. Almost a million are homeless every night (1).

In the most heavily militarized nation in the history of the human race, 30% of its homeless men are military veterans (2). What happened to “support the troops�? Obviously once military personnel return home, the slogan changes to “good riddance to bad rubbish�.

Ready for some “shock and awe� on the home front? According to the National Mental Health Association, “on any given night, 1.2 million children are homeless� in the United States.

And what is one to make of a self-proclaimed Christian nation (overflowing with material resources) that allows such travesties of economic justice to persist?

How can a Christian nation ignore the compassionate teachings of Jesus?

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’â€?

Yes, it is morally and ethically abhorrent that there are indigent, starving, and homeless human beings in a society of people awash in a sea of wealth.