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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSouthern County That Vote 82% GOP Have 50% Population on SNAP. New GOP Senators Vow To Abolish SNAP.
Newly elected GOP Senators have vowed to abolish the Food Stamp Program altogether. I wonder how many GOP voters are on that program?
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)For some reason white southerners are holding on to the myth that they work and pay taxes so black people in cities can get welfare without working.
Politicians do absolutely nothing to address that myth. Instead they dismantle the programs that - as you point out - are actually doing more to benefit for the white South.
No one is explaining that basically the only "subsidized" welfare is for disabled people - like SSI. Otherwise, counties fall all over themselves to make sure they are *not* giving out free money and they are *not* making it possible to "live on welfare". In Oakland, for example, General Assistance welfare is a $336/m LOAN that you can get 3 months/year if you meet stringent qualifications (0 assets or money in the bank) and you have to deal with crazy bureaucracy just for that. Now that's a formula for placing extreme stress on the poorest of the poor and driving them into homelessness - it is not giving them a "free lunch".
As for the Federal SSI/SSDI programs for the disabled - I would think that's spread out pretty evenly across the country and not concentrated in urban areas. Same with SNAP.
So, yep, white rural South is shooting themselves in the foot over a myth, and it's happening because politicians wanted to exploit the symbol of the Welfare Queen for their own purposes. Our elected "representatives" are responsible for this lie. They are to blame.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)daredtowork
(3,732 posts)Well, it will be a cold day in hell before any of our elected officials tell that story.
kickysnana
(3,908 posts)"Why do the American Federal, State and Local Governments make it impossible for old, disabled or poor people to exist without lying, cheating or stealing? That is insane, cruel and immoral."
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)Because prison labor is cheap labor.
The chief objection to prison reform here was that California would lose that source of cheap/free labor. Prisoners have lost their lives fighting California forest fires.
Think slavery is gone? Think again. It's what we are doing with our "disposable poor" behind the scenes.
NewDeal_Dem
(1,049 posts)daredtowork
(3,732 posts)Check this link out:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/17/3592964/how-californias-program-to-have-inmates-fight-wildfires-could-be-keeping-people-behind-bars/
(Credit: KamaAina)
What I know is the poverty/welfare side of things where people are all but herded into prison in Oakland.
And people are scratching their heads over the protests?
Long past due.
If anything, Oakland's have yet to truly erupt because the black community here is still expressing a good deal of fear about what might happen to them if they even exercise their civic right to protest. The lid on the anger has been clamped down by hard by police repression: when it does finally blow, it will blow explosively. Right now we've mainly got "civic duty" marches and various artistic "fuck the police" gestures. It's going to take more of an uprising to bring about actual social change.
d_b
(7,463 posts)on point
(2,506 posts)That's right, the red states that insist everyone stand on their own are net takers from the federal budget (taking from fed more than they pay in taxes), while the blue states are net givers (pay more in taxes than they get from the fed)
jwirr
(39,215 posts)lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)And it will work, because it has worked in the past.
You just can't fix this kind of stupid.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)TheMastersNemesis
(10,602 posts)former9thward
(32,077 posts)Th newly elected GOP senators have not vowed to abolish anything. That story was from an onion website. Which you did not deem to link to.
starroute
(12,977 posts)A recent article in The Hill on the House Republican SNAP (food stamp) bill that faces a floor vote this week (GOP to push bill restoring work requirements for food stamps, Sept. 12) is riddled with serious errors. All of them help to portray the House GOP proposal positively which may not be surprising, since the article quotes only House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and a Cantor aide.
The problem starts in the very first sentence: House GOP leaders plan to call up a bill next week that would reauthorize the federal food stamp program and restore a requirement that able-bodied people must work or be looking for work in order to receive food stamps (emphasis added). In fact, under the provision, adults aged 18-50 who arent raising minor children will be cut off SNAP after three months if they arent working at least 20 hours a week or participating in a work or training program even if they live in areas with very high unemployment where jobs are scarce. Looking for work will not count. If youre looking for work but cant find it, and you cant find a place in a work or training program something only a few states make available to all of these individuals you will lose SNAP after three months.
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_news_panelists_debate_should_we_cut_crack_down_or_abolish_food_stamps_11032013
On Fox News' Cost of Freedom business block yesterday, freedom from hunger seemed to be one cost thats too high for these fat cats. Ignoring how 87% of households receiving SNAP benefits (commonly referred to as food stamps) have elderly, children or disabled members, the fair and balanced opinions ranged from suggesting theres a major problem with fraud to calls for abolishing the program altogether. Just in time for the 5% food stamp cut that hit last week and looking ahead to GOP desires for $39 billion more (as opposed to Democratic desires to cut only $4 billion).
former9thward
(32,077 posts)Which is was. It was a story from a satire website. That is what my post was about. Nothing else.
TheMastersNemesis
(10,602 posts)Given the full power and the presidency the GOP would abolish about every domestic program they can or at least cripple it. If one goes back to FDR's speech about them. Nothing has changed for them. They are against government that helps average citizens and for government that enriches the rich and business.
BronxBoy
(2,286 posts)former9thward
(32,077 posts)The Daily Leak is a satirical, parody website. Look at some of the side stories. Bieber and Selina Gomez deported? Bush captured, awaiting trial at the Hague? Do you believe those stories too???
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)K&R
allinthegame
(132 posts)A fair amount of people on SNAP voted to do this to themselves.
Personal Responsibility.
babylonsister
(171,090 posts)a fair amount of people on SNAP I imagine don't vote. So how to get people to vote in their best interests? THAT is the question.
valerief
(53,235 posts)drugs in poor neighborhoods?
OldRedneck
(1,397 posts)Owsley County, KY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owsley_County,_Kentucky
-- 99.22% white
-- Median income for a household: $15,805
-- 45% of population below the poverty line
-- Various government benefits account for over 50% of the income in the county.
3497 registered voters in the county; 917 are Democrats; 67 are neither GOP or Democrat, leaving 2,513 Republicans.
2008: 75.9% voted for McCain-Palin.
2012: 81.88% voted for Romney.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-14/food-stamp-cut-backed-by-republicans-with-voters-on-rolls.html
Hal Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, represents the county and in winning his 16th term last year got 84 percent of its vote. His 5th congressional district in southeast Kentucky has the largest proportion of food stamp recipients among any held by a Republican, the data shows.
That didnt keep Rogers from voting for a farm bill in June that included cuts of about $2 billion annually from food stamps. That bill failed because it lacked the bipartisan support traditionally necessary for farm bills to pass.
Rogers also voted for a revised farm bill on July 11 that passed the House that was stripped of any funding for food stamps, . . .
The White Ghetto:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/367903/white-ghetto-kevin-d-williamson
The Poorest County in America Celebrates Prom:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/owsley-county-prom_n_1450163.html
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)And by "those people" they mean Blacks.
Go Vols
(5,902 posts)We have been stuck with GOP Senators for some time here.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)and probably will not even know that their SNAP benefits are on the line..
jwirr
(39,215 posts)babylonsister
(171,090 posts)Cha
(297,652 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)librechik
(30,676 posts)that took away their SNAP. My experience is that will be very difficult, since they have been taught to blame Obama and all other democrats as evil. and GOP as good Christians.
riversedge
(70,299 posts)I hear it everyday... people tuned into Limpballs, hannity or local hate radio.
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)I'm on Social Security, monthly income less than $1000.
But I'm not as bad off as families.
I wonder if people will rise up if they abolish food stamps.
meow2u3
(24,772 posts)How can you live on $.50 worth of food a day? These Republicans who look down their noses at us probably never missed a meal in their lives.
I think every Republican, even the billionaires, should be required to live on FIFTY CENTS worth of food a day as punishment for their contempt for the poor--and they're not allowed to cheat, which includes accepting meal invitations from friends. and then come back to us and tell us anyone can live on half a buck a day. Then I dare them to come back to us with their smug attitude towards SNAP.
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)malletgirl02
(1,523 posts)Given the 2014 election had the lowest turn out in 70 years, I don't think many of those SNAP voters actually voted.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)is that the rest of the country massively subsidizes them.
Unfortunately, there are no good alternatives.
Letting them turn to shit (even more than they already are) would just turn them into robbers and terrorists, making a nightmare for their civilized neighboring states.
Shoving them out of the United States would just, once again, turn them into robbers and terrorists, and we'd eventually have to invade and rebuild them anyway.
Maybe we need a new Reconstruction, where we get serious about turning these fucking right-wing degenerates into Americans?
kysrsoze
(6,023 posts)But honestly, f*ck the rest of them for their stupidity.
Prophet 451
(9,796 posts)The aim of the PtB is to get the populace so desperate that they'll work for pennies, or a meal, or a dosshouse bed for the night. That's why they cut welfare. They dehumanize those who need welfare both because they honestly think everyone incapable of finding a job is a useless eater who should die and so that the genpop will be brainwashed into hating those on welfare. That means less protests when they shrink welfare or abolish it entirely.
Thing is, the Democrats have moved so far to the right and become such wusses, that they keep backing off important shit. Like:
- "the US is the only country in the developed world without some form of universal healthcare. It's an incredible drag on business and taxpayers and we should just pick a random European system and steal it".
- "Government *should* redistribute wealth. That's part of the fucking government's job. To take money from the rich fucks with too much and give it to the poor bastards with none".
- "In the richest country on earth, it is a fucking disgrace that *anyone* goes hungry or doesn't have a roof over their heads".
- "We have given not enough time or power to people who make things and too fucking much to people who just make money".
- "It is the mark of a civilized fucking society to provide for the poor and sick. There is no such thing as a lazy moocher living in luxury on welfare and it's blatant class warfare, with a hint of racism, to say so".
- "Humiliating and demonizing the poor pleb on welfare does not make you tough, it does not make you a hard-choices realist and it shouldn't give you a fucking stiffie. It makes you a sadistic fuck, taking his sociopathy out on people who can't fight back. No-one likes a bully".
- "Being a mean, cruel, ignorant shitkicker is not a prerequisite in a political leader".
- "The Rapture is not a fucking exit strategy".
- "It is not socialism or communism to say these things and the fact that you think it is proves that the liberal media are a complete myth".
Vinca
(50,303 posts)The people they fear are on welfare and mooching off the taxpayers are the ones supporting their sorry behinds. It would be great if they'd find a news source other that Faux for their information. Maybe if their elected official causes the cupboard to go bare it'll wake them up.