Can money buy happiness?

I love when people say "Money can't buy happiness." I beg to differ. Money could buy me lots of things that make me happy. Fast cars, new shoes, gourmet meals, etc. Does this mean that I'm unhappy with my old car, old shoes and fast food? Not at all. But it seems to me that if used right, money certainly can buy happiness. The world is filled with hungry bellies, sickness, homelessness and fear. So can money not buy food, medical care, shelter and the comfort of knowing your loved ones are safe? It absolutely can, and I wish more people with the means to do this for others, would.
In these hard economic times, there are many folks out there just wondering where their next house payment or meal will come from. People who wonder if they will have a job next week, or next year. Good, hardworking men and women who have never asked for a handout and are merely trying to support their families. Would a check for a million dollars make their marriages last longer? Probably not. Would it make their kids stop fighting? Doubtful. Would it make their bosses treat them with more respect? I'm guessing no. But... would it help pay for little Sara's braces? Yes. Would it pay for groceries and bills? Absolutely. Would it reduce stress and worry and allow for a peaceful nights sleep? More than likely.
The idea that money can't buy happiness clearly came from someone who had it and was miserable. Somehow I have a feeling that the lack of meaningful relationships, compassion and appreciation for life had more to do with this persons unhappiness than the balance of their bank account. Money cannot make you happy if you are unhappy with yourself. Only you can do that. But for many people struggling to make ends meet, living on the streets, out of work, sick, uninsured and scared... money can very well be the difference between happiness and depression, or even life and death. I'm not saying that money fixes everything, because I don't believe that for a second, but money certainly can make things easier and life a lot brighter.
Everytime I see these politicians on TV talking about "creating jobs" and "boosting the economy" I cringe. I have been looking for full time work for over 2 years and the only ones I have found have been minimum wage positions. Here in Michigan, that is $7.40 an hour. If you work 40 hours a week, after taxes you are bringing home about $250. Let me do the math for you. That's about $1000 a month to pay for your home, your vehicle, food, energy bills, gas, insurance, and necessities. God forbid you need new tires or break your arm, because those things are not in the budget.
How is the average person supposed to survive on that amount of money? The answer is, you're not. I see these people on television wearing suits and watches that cost more than my car, spending millions on commercials and talking about how they are concerned with our well being. How they are out to "help the little guy". It's all B.S. You have owners of big companies driving $200,000 sports cars to their multi-million dollar homes and could care less that the average worker in their company can't even afford new shoes or medicine for their children. It makes me sick. We have sports stars and celebrities making millions, yet your average family can't even afford to go to the movies, a concert or a ball game. How does that make sense? What is wrong with the world when these things are acceptable? When did it become OK for children in our own country to go without food or medical care and live in cars?
The next time you want to say "Money can't buy happiness." go find the mother who's watching her child die because she can't afford the medicine she needs, or the father who's laying awake night after night wondering how he can pay for food for his family. Go to them, look them in the eye and tell them that money can't buy them a little happiness.