'Hungry and homeless don't vote'

" ... for 21 consecutive years, the U.S. mayors' conference takes place in December and they evaluate hunger and homelessness in the United States. Much to my surprise, I assume, they have uncovered yet another upward trend in homelessness and hunger.

At their press conference, spokesmen indicated that:

"During the last year, members of households with children made up 23 percent of persons using emergency shelter and transitional housing programs in survey cities, while single individuals made up 76 percent. Only 1 percent of persons in these programs were unaccompanied youth.

"Although 87 percent of our nation's wealth is generated in our nation's cities, hunger and homelessness persists in most of our country's cities and urban centers," said Conference President Trenton, N.J. Mayor Douglas Palmer.

Interestingly enough this announcement came the very same week that the United Nations is sounding a bell, globally. Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said there is a "very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food," as prices soar and supplies dwindle.

"World wheat stores declined 11 percent this year, to the lowest level since 1980. That corresponds to 12 weeks of the world's total consumption--much less than the average of 18 weeks consumption in storage during the period 2000-2005. There are only 8 weeks of corn left, down from 11 weeks in the earlier period. ... "

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