So, this is Christmas...

[WilliamPitt]

Kids write Santa this year for basic needs instead of toys
By Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY

Santa Claus and his elves are seeing more heartbreaking letters this year as children cite their parents' economic troubles in their wish lists.

U.S. Postal Service workers who handle letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole say more letters ask for basics — coats, socks and shoes — rather than Barbie dolls, video games and computers.

At New York City's main post office, Head Elf Pete Fontana and 22 staff elves will sort 2 million letters in Operation Santa, which connects needy children with "Secret Santas" who answer their wishes.

Fontana, a customer relations coordinator for the Postal Service, has been head elf for 15 years.

"The need is greater this year than I've ever seen it," he says. "One little girl didn't want anything for herself. She wanted a winter coat for her mother."

The rest: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-12-15-1Asantaletters15_ST_N.htm

[kentuck]

1. Very sad.

Heartbreaking.

[ZombieHorde]

2. As long as we have lots of money for war, some children can do without.

sarcasm

[NightWatcher]

3. From today's hungry and forgotten children I will raise my armies to overthrow the corporatocracy.

Ok maybe I won't (I'd like to though), but just as we are raising generations of terrorists in Af/Pak and Iraq when we destroy a village, I hope we are forming a generation that will rise up to not trust (and fight against) this corrupt system that fired their parents, took their homes, and treated them like shit.

Maybe THIS generation won't grow up and out of it to be satisfied with shiny distractions. Maybe they'll fight

[Divernan]

4. One Mother sent in her elctricity cut-off notice.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I had a student a couple years ago who asked for electricity for Christmas

[flvegan]

6. ...and bin Laden laughs on.

Or at least his successor does.

[Raster]

9. And the American Military Industrial Complex joins them in hearty guffaws.

One man's terror is another man's villa in St. Tropez.

[hfojvt]

7. sing along

with the Kinks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjaPXihbORk

[somone]

8. While the rich get their best Christmas present in years