Public Spending Cuts, Private Charities and the 'Truly Needy'

When George H.W. Bush was President during tough economic times, he said public money for what Ronald Reagan had called the "safety net" could be replaced, in part, by a "new activism" from "a thousand points of light, community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good." Now those stars may be losing their sparkle. Washington is looking for cuts in programs serving millions of Americans who are poor, sick and hungry. Private nonprofits and charities won't be able to make up the difference. We look at the prospects for people in need.