IA, Storm Lake Times

http://www.stormlake.com/editorial.htm

Hungry among us

Every October our hearts swell with Iowa pride as distinguished people from around the globe gather at the state capitol to award the World Food Prize, endowed by the John Ruan family. The prize is organized to put a light on hunger and people who do extraordinary things to combat it. This year, the laureates were retired Senators Bob Dole, R-Kansas, and George McGovern, D-South Dakota, for their tireless lobbying on behalf of providing every child in the world a lunch delivered through school. Dole and McGovern worked together for many years in Congress on behalf of the food stamp programs, emergency food relief and rural development programs.

During the program Dole recognized his “good friend” in the audience, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. It recalled a time for us when farm state senators realized their calling, in part, was to help feed the world rather than to attack each other across the aisle. We wonder if the food stamp program that Dole helped to write with the likes of Hubert Humphrey could pass muster today. Recent votes against the expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program would suggest that bipartisanship is, for now, a chapter in history.

It is fitting that the World Food Prize originates in Des Moines, the capital of one of the greatest breadbaskets on the planet. Ours is a state that takes agriculture, food and hunger seriously.

So it is doubly ironic that demand is soaring right here in Storm Lake from poor people for food. A recent run on the food pantry at Upper Des Moines Opportunity left the shelves bare. Emergency donations led by Buena Vista University students and others saved the day. We do not doubt that there will be more emergencies soon.

In Iowa, at least 13% of our children live in poverty. That count does not include the many children of immigrants who are not surveyed. In Storm Lake, food stamps cannot fully cover the cost of feeding a family; many immigrants are not eligible for government welfare.

So we attempt to feed the Somalis, the Bangladeshis, the Iraqis and the Sudanese. That is all good. But what of those in our midst? Because they come from Mexico are they any less our brother, in need of assistance? Because they are children who are here by no choice of their own, does our obligation not extend to them?

If the churches were fully engaged the pantries never would run bare. If the state were on the case we would not see the grinding poverty of southern Iowa. If the county were fully engaged all poor children, and not just some, would be eligible for funds set aside in trust for their medical emergencies. If all of us were engaged, there would be no hunger in Buena Vista County.

We should be embarrassed that we need a food pantry and ashamed that it routinely goes wanting.

The poor will always be among us, the Good Book says. How we treat them says a lot about how we have evolved as a society. In Iowa, we have an especially long way to go considering our bounty. At least the World Food Prize is a start. In previous years the laureates were recognized for their work in exotic places far away. The award to Dole and McGovern reminds us that poverty, and charity, begin at home.

Another hired hand

Anyone who thinks that we can’t save money at our state universities to help cash-strapped students should take note that last week University of Iowa President Sally Mason announced plans to hire a chief of staff — a new position — for $140,000 per year. Maybe our memory is a bit romanticized, but former UI President Sandy Boyd ran the place pretty well all by himself. And the university had higher standing in the state and nation in those golden days.

Mason also has at her disposal an executive vice president and provost, a senior vice president and treasurer, and vice presidents for medical affairs, external affairs, research, student services and legal affairs — not to mention all the deans, associate deans, department chairman and center directors.

Too many chiefs, too little accountability, too much cost, too little thought about the students and the burden they bear for all this bureaucracy.