The big headline on the March 5 Durant Daily Democrat read, “Legislators take aim at needy Oklahomans.” The article begins by saying that Republican legislators are (1) looking for ways to tighten the state’s budget belt and (2) score points with an increasingly conservative electorate. To accomplish these two objectives, they have decided to cut the help we have been giving to the needy - the hungry, the ragged, the sick and the homeless.

There is another interesting piece of reading on this subject, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31 through 46. Here we are told that when the Son of Man comes in his glory, all people shall appear before him. He will say to some, “I was hungry and you fed me; thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came unto me.” And he invited them into heaven.

There follows a much sadder passage where he confronts those who did not help him (that is, his needy brothers) in their time of need.

Surely we can find some way to raise money other than taking food out of the mouths of the hungry. One idea that comes to mind is asking more from the millionaires and billionaires.

Kate Ball

Durant