Ways to End Hunger Now

Thank you for your article (Aug. 11) on hunger conditions here in Orange County. There is no valid reason why hunger should exist here or elsewhere in the world--there is enough food. But one reason it does is because people are uninformed. Articles such as those written by Carla Rivera provide education and information so that someday we can end hunger. Beyond education, it is even more important that we ask why hunger exists, find the answers and then get our legislators and Congress to establish policies and enact laws which will provide the key answers. We must treat the causes as well as the symptoms, as was done in the 1970s when hunger in the United States was essentially ended.

One main cause of hunger in the United States now is low wages. Many people do not realize that national minimum wages were not allowed to rise all during the 1980s even though the cost of living rose about 70%. This was a deliberate policy of the Reagan Administration. In addition, Social Security taxes rose, and income tax policies were changed. As a result, low- and middle-income Americans have had to bear a larger share of the tax burden.

With the combination of fixed minimum wages, higher taxes on lower-income people, greatly increased housing costs and new jobs being mostly service types at minimum wage, it is no surprise that there are so many hungry and homeless.

Fortunately, many people are sympathetic to those in need and have given time and money to direct aid. However, it is critical now that local, state and federal governments establish policies regarding wage levels, employment, affordable housing and health care, which will--in a fair manner--help those on the lower rungs of the ladder help themselves, as they want to do.

JACK F. MILLER

Tustin