‘Compassion is a strength’

Editor:

I want to begin by acknowledging something we can all agree on, compassion is a strength. Caring about people who are suffering, whether they live down the street or across the globe, is part of what makes us human. Wanting peace and opportunity for others is not only noble, but also admirable.

At the same time, compassion must be rooted in responsibility.

Across our own country many of our fellow citizens are hurting. Even in a state often praised for its strong economy, the reality for many Coloradans is hard:

• Nearly 35% of Colorado households spend more than 30% of their income on housing, a level that economists consider a cost burden that makes it difficult to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, or savings.
• In many parts of the state, the shortage of affordable housing remains a serious challenge, contributing both to rising rents and to a homelessness crisis.
• Thousands of people in Colorado experience homelessness each year, tens of thousands have sought help with housing, and many go without a stable place to call home.
• Food insecurity touches more than one in eight Coloradans.
• Even families earning more than the official poverty level struggle: food insecurity is reported by many households earning low or modest wages, and nearly half of Coloradans worry about affording basic needs like food and housing.

These statistics translate into real people—mothers and fathers working multiple jobs, seniors on fixed incomes facing impossible choices, young people struggling to get their start, and neighbors who simply want opportunity and security.

There is a growing divide between what some might call the “haves” and the “have-nots” in this country. Those who are financially secure often support large-scale international spending with good intentions, believing we can and should help everywhere at once. But for those who are struggling to keep the lights on and food on the table in their own homes, it can feel like their needs are being overlooked.

This is not about being unkind to people in other countries. This is about recognizing that a nation, like a household, must be stable at home before it can responsibly support others. If a family is behind on rent, struggling to feed their children, or unable to pay medical bills, it would be considered irresponsible to send large sums of money elsewhere while ignoring the crisis inside their own walls.

The “have-nots” are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness and for a government that ensures its own citizens can thrive. They want a country where hard work leads to a stable home, where parents don’t have to choose between rent and medicine, and where economic opportunity is real, not just promised.

We should be able to hold two truths at once:

We can care about suffering around the world and insist that our government care for its own citizens first.

We can value generosity and demand accountability.

We can lead with compassion and still say that neglecting Americans in need is not acceptable.

A strong America, starting with a strong Colorado, is one that takes care of its own people. Because when our home is strong, we are better able to help others in meaningful, sustainable ways.

Tom Warren 

Gunnison County