With the economy struggling as it has been for a long while now, people who have less unfortunately become the ones that suffer the most.

While large corporations sit with their fingers crossed in hope that the government will bail them out of their financial misfortunes (or financial incompetence, depending on how you want to look at it), there is no such light at the end of the tunnel for middle or lower class citizens. We’ll just have to wait and hope things get better. And what does ‘get better’ mean? Simply that the rich people will have to start making their money again.

Last week, Congress failed to pass a bailout bill that would have loaned $14 billion to Chrysler and General Motors. But President George Bush, between dodging the size 10s that were thrown at him during a stop in Iraq, promised the automakers that short-term help is in the works and could come soon.

“An abrupt bankruptcy for autos could be devastating for the economy,” Bush said.

But what’s also devastating to the economy – and a result of the economy, demonstrating why economic problems are so difficult to solve – is the number of normal (as in not running a major corporation) Americans that struggle each day.

An example is the lack of donations to Maplesville’s Toys for Kids program, which will likely have to reject help for some families for the first time in three years.

“We are trying to do everything we can to fit everybody in, but with the amount of money we have received this year, it is going to be hard to accomplish,” Town Clerk Sheila Haigler told The Clanton Advertiser.

Seventy-nine families signed up to receive help, and it’s good to see that many other families are still doing well enough that they can donate to a worthy cause. But the shortage means many families that have contributed in the past are not able this year – and also that people that could use some help with something as simple as Christmas presents won’t get that help.

So, as is the case too often in our society, the have nots suffer while the haves get the special treatment.