Columnists

With the exception of Senator Elizabeth Warren, American politicians had a terrible year. President Obama’s approval ratings plummeted along with those of Congress. Indeed, the most popular “politician” in the United States was a non-American, the new head of the Catholic Church, 77-year-old Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis. -more-

Depression seems to be very common to older and middle aged men and is a cause of grouchy behavior. Apparently, many men who have become depressed when older refuse to seek or accept help for their condition. Also, many persons who are not seniors and who have some type of disorder, but who are nominally functional in life, do not always know whether or not to seek treatment for their problems. -more-

The U.S. should cut off aid to Uganda over its anti-gay crackdown. -more-

Every year Dispatches From The edge gives awards to news stories and newsmakers that fall under the category of “Are you serious?” Here are the awards for 2013: -more-

While the rest of the world debates America’s role in the Middle East or its use of drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the U.S. Congress is debating just how drastically it should cut food assistance to the 47 million Americans - one out of seven people - who suffer from “food insecurity,” the popular euphemism for those who go hungry.

The U.S. Government began giving food stamps to the poor during the Great Depression. Even when I was a student in the 1960’s, I received food stamps while unemployed during the summers. That concern for the hungry, however, has evaporated. The Republicans - dominated by Tea Party policies - are transforming the United States into a far less compassionate and more mean-spirited society.

The need is great. Since the Great Recession of 2008, the food stamp programme - now called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), has doubled from $38 billion in 2008 to $78 billion in the last year. During 2012, 65 million Americans used SNAP for at least one a month, which means that one out of every five Americans became part of the swelling rolls of “needy families,” most of whom are women and children. -more-

The media report elder abuse across the nation. California Bay Area newspapers headline “Pastor convicted of murdering elderly rancher;” “Dementia patients mistreated, suit says: Elder abuse, fraud alleged at rest home near Lake Merritt;” “Murder, elder abuse charges for 2 in death of their client;” “Oakland man to stand trial for beating elderly people;” “Early involvement critical to curbing elder scams;” “Elder Protection Court crucial to halting abuse;” “Elder abuse a hidden national epidemic;” “$500,000 bail remains for Foster City man accused of hitting father in head;” “Not guilty plea in attack on Holocaust survivor;” “Real estate broker pleads no contest to cheating seniors;” “Senior-abuse agencies short on funds;” “Elder facility accused of abuse.” And on and on. -more-

Since 2010, the United States has been negotiating a secret trade deal, the Trans Pacific Partnership. If approved by Congress, this pact between the U.S. and 11 or 12 of America’s Pacific Rim trade-partners would govern 40 percent of US imports and exports. So far, the negotiations are being conducted under tight security; for good reason, as there are big problems with TPP. -more-

When someone has a psychotic or manic episode, which usually includes behavior that seems "abnormal," others sometimes attach a negative moral judgment. Behavior of persons with mental illness doesn't always fit the social or business norm, and it causes people to be condemned as "inappropriate." And being on the receiving end of this perception can hurt. Being labeled as "antisocial" or as a "nuisance person" has a lot of shame attached--and this shame, as well as the negative perception, ought not to be so. -more-