For years now, millions have been fleeing the war-stricken country of Syria to avoid terrorism and persecution. European borders are flooded with families trying to find a safe place to raise their children. They leave behind everything they know. They risk perilous seas and place their lives in the hands of human smugglers not knowing what they may face.  They are refugees in dire need of help.

The United States expects to accept 70,000 refugees in 2015 and at least 10,000 next year. Billions of dollars have been donated in order to help aid those displaced by war.

This leads me to wonder – what about those who need help in America? We freely open our borders to those around the world who seek refuge and to those who come to our country illegally but we have thousands, if not millions of homeless Americans who are starving on the streets.

We have military veterans who don’t know where they will sleep tonight or where their next meal will come from. Honorable servicemen are being court martialed and discharged from the military for taking a stand against evil villains who take advantage of the helpless.

It is important to help those who need it, but something is seriously wrong with our system. How about helping those on our soil first?

While our military has faced several possible budget shutdowns because a bunch of stiff suits would rather argue like a bunch of pre-menstrual schoolgirls than come to an agreement, we are spending billions of dollars to (secretly) fund war and terrorism.

We have disabled veterans who aren’t able to get the care they need. We have service men and women in VA hospitals across the country who are left alone to fend for themselves. We have senior citizens and single parents alike who aren’t able to get desperately needed medication because they can’t afford it. Thank you Obamacare.

Our government provides much to illegal immigrants – funding for their education, a place to stay and money to live on. They don’t need to work. We pay them for coming here while the low-income families are forced to work multiple jobs to provide for their families. Taxes are keeping the poor from ever being able to get their head above water.

If we cared for our own with even a fraction of the dignity shown to foreign countries, imagine how great our country could be again. Our economy is crap. What happened to “for the people, by the people?” We don’t take care of those who selflessly risked their lives to protect this nation. Instead, they get the boot. No job. No money. No medical care.

How can we not have jobs for our citizens but we can lead the world in humanitarian aid to others? How can we send our troops to fight on foreign soil but not be able to provide them with the tools they need? How can we fund terrorism but not be able to feed our homeless?

Changes need to be made. Our government officials have their priorities screwed up but it doesn’t affect their paycheck. “Change you can believe in” has proven to be nothing but a sick joke. Take care of our own before helping others in need and make this nation what she used to be. If we continue to forsake Americans, we may as well call it quits and seek a “better” life elsewhere.