For a million children of the poor, Uncle Sam has decided: no more Mr. Nice Guy.

No longer will Uncle Sam play the supportive role of a kindly blood relative, who might groan now and then, but always digs into the pocket where he keeps his cash, and comes up with a handful for a kid in need.

But don't call him hardhearted, this flinty bureaucrat with his own government paycheck, his own grow-with-inflation pension, his health insurance, his guaranteed vacation and sick leave. Instead, call Uncle a fellow victim of the New Age term for what's ailing us now: "compassion fatigue."