Democracy doesn't mean humanity

Yesterday on the way home from work, I was listening to the radio and a commercial came on talking about poverty in the US (specifically Philly) and the crisis of families not having heat in the winter because they cannot afford it. It went on to talk about a program to obtain assistance that is now available because Citgo has donated XXX amount of fuel... and it was immediately after that the line "paid for by the Venezuelan people" came in a much quieter and lower intonation before the commercial finished and moved onto the next.

And while it brought a smile to my face at the obvious political punch it packs, it also makes me very sad to know that we face this poverty in our country, and that the people of Venezuela--by no means a wealthy population--are providing assistance because our leaders are too busy benefiting from their impoverished state of being. Venezuelan Presidente Chavez is by no means perfect, but he does make a good point here... the US, for all its touting, chest thumping and trash talking of other, perhaps Socialist leaning countries, isn't taking care of its own. After all, how many did we let die and suffer in New Orleans out of foolish pride at refusing the assistance of Cuba?