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Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
Mon Jul 15, 2013, 05:17 PM Jul 2013

Hunger Games, U.S.A. - Krugman

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/opinion/krugman-hunger-games-usa.html?ref=paulkrugman&_r=0

Paul Krugman

Something terrible has happened to the soul of the Republican Party. We’ve gone beyond bad economic doctrine. We’ve even gone beyond selfishness and special interests. At this point we’re talking about a state of mind that takes positive glee in inflicting further suffering on the already miserable.

The occasion for these observations is, as you may have guessed, the monstrous farm bill the House passed last week.

For decades, farm bills have had two major pieces. One piece offers subsidies to farmers; the other offers nutritional aid to Americans in distress, mainly in the form of food stamps (these days officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP).

Long ago, when subsidies helped many poor farmers, you could defend the whole package as a form of support for those in need. Over the years, however, the two pieces diverged. Farm subsidies became a fraud-ridden program that mainly benefits corporations and wealthy individuals. Meanwhile food stamps became a crucial part of the social safety net.

So House Republicans voted to maintain farm subsidies — at a higher level than either the Senate or the White House proposed — while completely eliminating food stamps from the bill.
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Hunger Games, U.S.A. - Krugman (Original Post) Bill USA Jul 2013 OP
Makes you wonder how Walmart employees are going to eat. Perhaps employee coupons. nt adirondacker Jul 2013 #1
Didn't you see that McDonald's published a 'suggested household budget' for their employees? Myrina Jul 2013 #3
Sixteen Tons; "I owe my soul to the company store" We've come a long way! adirondacker Jul 2013 #4
I saw it IrishAyes Jul 2013 #5
These people are pieces of shit. PopeOxycontinI Jul 2013 #2
yep. They are degenerates Doctor_J Jul 2013 #7
An incredible first paragraph.... Stuart G Jul 2013 #6

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
3. Didn't you see that McDonald's published a 'suggested household budget' for their employees?
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 12:51 PM
Jul 2013

I'm sure WalMart will do the same, soon.

adirondacker

(2,921 posts)
4. Sixteen Tons; "I owe my soul to the company store" We've come a long way!
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 03:05 PM
Jul 2013

Instead of black lung, its diabetes and a plethora of other health problems.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
5. I saw it
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 04:46 PM
Jul 2013

And the figures for heat and food each read zero! That's called beating the downtrodden to a pulp and then stomp 'em for bleeding. The thin and false veneer of civilization is fast disappearing from the corporate world. They think they already have us so beaten there's no need to pretend anymore, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Guess again.

PopeOxycontinI

(176 posts)
2. These people are pieces of shit.
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 11:38 AM
Jul 2013

Here we have the smoking gun for their hypocrisy...maintaining subsidies for the corporate/wealthy
while complaining about "big government". They apparently want to maintain that while letting
50 million Americans starve during an economy they themselves complain about to try to score political
points. They are hypocrites wrapped in a sycophantic asshole shell wrapped dipped in outrageous
hypocrite butter sauce. They are subhuman.

Stuart G

(38,449 posts)
6. An incredible first paragraph....
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 05:10 PM
Jul 2013

Last edited Tue Jul 16, 2013, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

"Something terrible has happened to the soul of the Republican Party. We’ve gone beyond bad economic doctrine. We’ve even gone beyond selfishness and special interests. At this point we’re talking about a state of mind that takes positive glee in inflicting further suffering on the already miserable. "


The occasion for these observations is, as you may have guessed, the monstrous farm bill the House passed last week.

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