Hunger games

At the non-profit thrift store where I work, we play a DVD of our yearly telethon (local, small scale, though it does worlds of good for many in poverty) and there's a segment on it where a young girl, probably twelve or thirteen years old, talks about what it's like to be hungry, what it's like to go to school hungry, and at the end she breaks down crying because she's so grateful for the help our organization provides. 

I note this not to give myself or the non-profit I work for a pat on the back--I note it because in the richest nation in the history of civilization I'm not really sure how American "exceptionalism" is reinforced by 20% of our children living in poverty, and by 50 million Americans not having enough money for food.

Between the Washington Navy Yard shootings, the debt ceiling showdown, the situation in Syria, and the fight over funding the government after September 30th, it will probably escape most Americans that the republicans in the House will be holding a vote tomorrow to cut food stamp benfits by $40 billion dollars, despite the numbers noted above, despite the lingering employment crisis, and leave 4 to 6 million Americans without any food assistance.  For all those who clamor there is no difference between Democrats and republicans, this is the point that blows your argument to shit:  for all the problems the Democrats may have, there will be zero--that's right, fucking zero--Democratic votes for this bill tomorrow.  I will be amazed if any republicans buck their party and do the right thing--if any do, it will be less than ten.

Republicans claim this needs to be done to stop all the fraud--despite the fact that a recent Department of Agriculture report which showed virtually zero problems with SNAP benefits (but $17 million worth in the republicans giveaway to the agriculture industry).  Dimwit Rand Paul says it's being done because food stamps are like slavery--fortunately for Mr. Paul's there are no living American slaves to school his dumb ass in how foods stamps are absolutely nothing like fucking slavery.  Republicans will vote for it despite the fact that of the 250 counties in America with the highest amount of food stamp recipients, 227 of them fall solely in one Congressional district, and of those 227, 160 are represented by republicans (thanks for the votes, suckers!).  Their followers are convinced these republicans are right because food stamp beneficiaries are scamming the system in downtown Detroit not knowing that over 50% of food stamp recipients live in the suburbs--they're basically their friends and neighbors.  And House republicans will vote for it despite the fact that the cuts will cost the American taxpayer more money than will be saved because of the increase in healthcare expenditures.

Republicans are quick to wear their Christianity on their sleeves when it suits their purposes--not so much when it doesn't.  To wit, Matthew 25:45:  "...Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

One can only surmise that republicans are more than happy--as they are for their fellow Americans--to let Jesus starve.

Peace,
emaycee