In 1985 affluent America, poverty is the greatest child killer. More American children die each year from poverty than from traffic fatalities and suicide combined. Twice as many children die from poverty than from cancer and heart disease combined. Yet, for the fifth consecutive year, in the face of the highest child poverty rate in 18 years, our national leaders have targeted poor children and families again for billions in new budget cuts. They seem to forget that poor children did not cause or choose their poverty. Nor can poor children escape poverty with governmental policies that snatch income, food and health care from the poor in order for defense increases and tax breaks for the wealthy.