‘e2’80’a6and then I work my way down in the stack to the Saturday paper, and find: ‘e2’80’9cHouse panel votes to chop food stamps.’e2’80’9d
It seems that our Ag department, dominated of course by Bush Republicans, and in a move originally suggested by the White House, are trying to help chop $50 billion out of the government, because after all, Republicans believe in Small Government and it just doesn’e2’80’99t look good to have a bigger budget and larger deficit than the Democrats built.
So let’e2’80’99s chop food stamps.
Twelve percent of US households depend on food stamps. I was a recipient myself for a short time back in the Seventies, and very glad to have them I was. Most of the 300,000 people who will have them taken away under this plan are probably as glad as I was’e2’80’94even though no doubt they would have spent an equally short time taking advantage of them, before going on to earn enough to pay the system back many times over. Certainly the 40,000 children who won’e2’80’99t be getting free breakfast at school under this Republican vision of economic responsibility are going to feel the pinch; I dare say their teachers and fellow students will notice the lack of calories in their fellows as well.
It begins to feel as if we a country just hate everyone who isn’e2’80’99t white and rich, and preferably male. Girls can’e2’80’99t have vaccines for a deadly cancer because it might make them think they can have sex without being punished. Poor people have to have their faces ground into the fact that they can’e2’80’99t afford to feed their children, because they shouldn’e2’80’99t have had children anyway if they couldn’e2’80’99t afford them. And since they mustn’e2’80’99t have an abortion because it’e2’80’99s murder, and they can’e2’80’99t get free condoms because that, too, might encourage use of the genitalia, maybe they should just die before they cause the government any more problems.
A people are judged by how they treat the least powerful among them.
We are so in trouble.
**
And in response to your comments, yes I realize that not all Republicans are in Bush’e2’80’99s pocket, and in fact I probably have a number of areas in which I am closer to the Republican doctrine than that of the Dems, but the entire system has become so utterly polarized that it is nearly impossible to straddle any line and remain honest. I respect John McCain for trying to do so, but would like him more if he just threw it in and declared himself a Democrat.
Sorry about the ranting, those of you who aren’e2’80’99t interested in things political. I do have things to say about the events I’e2’80’99ve done this past week, particularly the library conversation with Michael Chabon, but I will leave that for the weekend, when my mind is settled. I’e2’80’99ll just try not to read any papers in the meantime’e2’80’a6.
wimindance says
November 4, 2005 at 8:32 pmRant all you want. I’m just glad there are voices out there matching mine. Thanks.
caroline says
November 4, 2005 at 8:32 pmLaurie, please, please, please don’t ever apologize for being political, certainly not on your own blog. Despite all republican attempts to kill it, there still is free speech in this country. If someone doesn’t like what they read here, they can simply move right along.
Thanks for raising a positive voice for us all.
Caroline Gaudy
Anonymous says
November 5, 2005 at 12:56 amGIVE ‘EM HELL! Laurie! I am so happy to know I am not the only person left who thinks this way. To add to your angst–Texas is set to throw Katrina victims out of what little housing they have(mostly 3rd-4th class hotels). From Mississippi coast to Texas, many people feel forgotten and abandoned. They are getting some help from churches and good people, but little from government funds. We should be shamed. Most of the coast looks like the mulch in your yard–it was someone’s home. And today, a friend called to say she found 14 (Yes, fourteen) water moccasin snakes in her house as she was cleaning out the sludge in New Orleans.
Anonymous says
November 5, 2005 at 2:32 amAMEN, and say it again. Say it loud and say it often. Perhaps one day we the voters will vote the B—–ds out!
Pen says
November 5, 2005 at 8:55 amAbsolutely, Laurie. They are trying to claw back money because of the vast amounts being spent on former, current and future wars and, as usual, it’s at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. I hope that many who may have voted the Bush regime back in office will manage to see the error of their ways and vote differently in the future.
Anonymous says
November 5, 2005 at 1:22 pmYes, I find it astonishing that a government can spend over $200 billion (so far) on a less-than-well-advised war and yet take food out of their own citizens’ mouths.
That half a billion cut to food stamps is barely a drop in the bucket, money-wise, but it affects 12% of the population. It doesn’t even pay for a week of the war (leaving aside the the human cost). I’d be tempted to believe (bitterly) it’s all a conspiracy to recruit more cannon fodder. At least you get fed in the Army.
nationalpriorities.org has got some interesting comparative statistics. Their bias is obvious, but it’s food for thought.
Trix
britlife says
November 5, 2005 at 2:54 pmPlease don’t feel you need to apologise for discussing politics. When society feels they can’t vocalise their opposition to governmental decisions there is a far more serious issue than politeness at stake.
Your intelligent and sensible yet passionate voice should most certainly be heard.
CaptMair says
November 5, 2005 at 5:16 pmAgain, well said Laurie. This Food Stamp issue is just one more on a long list of outrages from the gang in Washington. And while I’m concerned about the people who will be hungry as a result, I am more concerned about the recent request from out Vice President that Congress exempt the CIA from our laws against torture! Oh America, when will you awaken from your coma?
Anonymous says
November 7, 2005 at 3:43 amYes and yes again, thank you so for giving and keeping such a vital forum for us.
Not only are we daily encouraged in all we dearly love and share here, literature in all it’s glory, but we are regularily treated to the real life times and feelings that raise such angst in us.
Bless you for caring and do rant on!
M.Diane
Anonymous says
November 7, 2005 at 3:59 pmI don’e2’80’99t know why anyone should be issued food stamps. Studies that were done over thirty years ago showed that people who received cash in place of their food stamps spent the money about the same. The fact that the government doesn’e2’80’99t trust poor people to buy food for themselves and their children with its money pretty much proves what we, as a nation, believe about people. Where in your world did it ever not feel like as a country we hate people who are not rich, white, and male? The United States was founded by rich, white men. Its laws drafted to protect and interpreted by rich, white men. Over the last 230 years, these guys have conceded that women and non-whites are actually human beings. This concession has come grudgingly and never without the threat of violence against rich, white men by women and non-whites.
WDI says
November 7, 2005 at 7:36 pmLaurie et al., please do keep voicing your opinions. Me, every time I look at a paper, I just shake my head and think “If this were the Clinton administration, we’d have special prosecutors and impeachments.” I truly don’t understand why people are so complacent.
Oh — did you see that the Senate voted to approve drilling in the ANWR? And let’s not even talk about the future of Roe . . .