GOP with the Help of Cheney are the Grinch for the Poor



The Christian conservatives did it again with the passage of the 2006 budget:

Cut 255,000 low income families from food stamps.

Cut basic aid for food to the poor by $700 million

Made changes in Medicaid that will allow states to impose substantial co-pays and fees on the poorest people for their health care.

Cut Billions from child support.

Two weeks earlier this same group cut taxes $90 Billion for the wealthiest Americans.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

6,845 views 23 replies
Reply #1 Top
You know, this budget cut allows people to keep their tax rebates. You crowed and crowed about how Bush lowered taxes and can't pay for his government expenditures. You even coined "charge and spend Republicans". But when they make a budget cut, you cry foul?

The money has got to come from somewhere.

It reminds me of response to the original Bush tax cuts as quoted in one of Ann Coulter's books: someone said "My God! If lower their taxes, how will they live?"
They will spend the money they would have been paying into social programs!

And before you crow again about how they could be spending the Iraq money on the budget and the poor, just remember that we made this mess in Iraq and by God, we're gonna stay and clean it up. We owe that to the Iraqi whom we have recently liberated.

And before you crow AGAIN about me swearing never to answer your articles, you're just too compellingly dense to resist. As I said in that farewell post, I just love hitting my head against the brick wall.
Reply #2 Top
NONE of the people impacted by these budget cuts PAY TAXES. Their income is BELOW the point where they pay income tax. Anyone that supports cuts like these have lost ALL sense of fairness. To have cut taxes again for people swimming in money and cutting food for the poor including children shows where their heart is in this world.

Their Bible must have as VERY different Gospel them the one I read!
The net impact of $40 Billion from these spending cuts and the $90 Billion of new tax cuts is to put us another $50 Billion in debt. How did that help protect the benefits for the poor?
Reply #3 Top
No "we" did not make the mess in Iraq. That was BUSH! You are correct the money must come from some place. That is the point of this Blog. The GOP conservatives take it from the poor and give it to the Rich. You will love my new book, George W. Bush, Robin Hood for the Rich
Reply #4 Top
Cut 255,000 low income families from food stamps.


I have never liked the idea of people getting foodstamps when they can work for the money. So in this case, unless they are handicaped, I personally don't care if you lose your foodstamps. Poor people are poor cause they want to be, that's just my belief.

Cut basic aid for food to the poor by $700 million


Isn't that the same as above? Same answer then.

Made changes in Medicaid that will allow states to impose substantial co-pays and fees on the poorest people for their health care.


Like I said before, if you can work, you shouldn't have to be depending on the Govt to pay for you way. So it doesn't bother me.

Cut Billions from child support.


So what, parents will still have to pay so I don't see anything wrong here.

Two weeks earlier this same group cut taxes $90 Billion for the wealthiest Americans.


Maybe they are trying to tell us something. We should all stive to become rich. J/K. Honestly here I have to agree, rich people should pay just as much as poor people. But I still believe that poor people are poor by choice and no one will be able to change my mind about that (I mean in the US not everywhere in the world).

No "we" did not make the mess in Iraq.


Yes we did, we as Americans are responsible for Bush's actions. We elected him. Even if you didn't vote for him you agreed, when you voted, to let him be President if he one.

You will love my new book, George W. Bush, Robin Hood for the Rich


Couldn't expect anything less from you Col, a childish idea to change a childs story into a political book. Funny how Bush being a bad person is a good thing for you since you have already made a book about him and now you talk of another. I guess not everything Bush does is bad isn't it Col? He is helping you make money.
Reply #5 Top
Your rational is just what the conservatives use to justify their action. People are poor because it is their fault. That is true for some but not for many others. Those that are beyond their working years, disabled and millions that are employed in jobs that do not pay a wage that allow these workers to live on the money they earn. Your rational does not explain why we should be cutting taxes for people who do not need a thing while cutting help to people who have very little or nothing.

You also do not explain why we should have cut taxes (federal revenue) by more then two times the amount we cut spending regardless where the cuts were made. That just makes the annual deficit greater.

Your idea that all poor people are poor because it is their fault was the opinion of GWB when he was in grad school. In the process of writing my kook, Four More For George W? I corresponded with the Economics Professor GWB had at Harvard. He told me that was the position of George and said he some of the most off the wall ideas he ever heard from his students. He also told me GWB was one of the worst students he ever had in his teaching career.

The energy bill passed by the GOP granted an additional $12 Billion in corporate tax cuts the very week they reported record profit of $33 billion in the last quarter. What possible justification could be given to give such an industry an added 12 Billion dollars? As I have documented many times, Bush and those that support him are in fact taking from the poor and the middle income workers and giving to the rich. What a sad group of both Americans and Christians! Bush and all the conservatives have a lot of guts calling them selves Christians!



Reply #6 Top
Their Bible must have as VERY different Gospel them the one I read!


As you liberals are fond of reminding us, we are NOT a theocracy. How can you want prayer out of schools on one hand and yet want government run charities based on biblical principles on the other? Contradiction, thy name is COL Gene!
Reply #7 Top
When did you EVER hear me say that? Charities are great but they do not come close to meeting the NEEDS of the poor in our country. Remember the speech Bush gave in New Orleans 10 days after Katrina? What happened to the President’s pledge to help the poor that Katrina unmasked? How can we spend almost $300 Billion in Iraq and cut food help to the poorest in America? Again, for a President and congressional leaders that tell us abort how they are Christian, how can they justify tax cuts to the wealthy and the oil companies and cut help to the poorest Americans. Please read the story about Lazarus and the Rich man ( St. Luke Ch 17 Verses 19 to 31) and tell me what the GOP conservatives are doing is in consort with what Christ taught.
Reply #9 Top
Please read the story about Lazarus and the Rich man ( St. Luke Ch 17 Verses 19 to 31) and tell me what the GOP conservatives are doing is in consort with what Christ taught.


Again, the Bible has no relevance in dictating US policy, sorry.

I am well aware of the verses you cite, COL, and they ARE a guideline for my PERSONAL life and decisions. But remember that "wall of separation" you guys keep reminding us of? Well, it applies to social programs as well.
Reply #10 Top
You keep telling yourself that. The actions of our government and how they meet the needs of our people are a measure of the kind of people we are in America. The actions of the President and Congress say the hell with everyone that is not rich. I believe God has been good to our country but if you believe he is pleased with what Bush and Congress did last night with the budget cuts to the poor you are mistaken. I hope you try your argument about the separation of church and state when your judgment is at hand.
Reply #11 Top
COL,

Have you given ALL you have to the poor? Somehow I guess not. If not, you have NO RIGHT casting judgement on me, or anyone else, for that matter. GOD knows the heart, NOT "Col" Abel Gene!

God destroyed Sodom for its excess and failing to strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Ezekial 16:49). But he would have spared it for TEN RIGHTEOUS MEN! This makes it clear that God holds the individual, NOT the government, responsible for caring for the poor. Your esoteric mix of Pat Robertson and Michael Moore is bizarre and inconsistent, to say the least. I hope you are availing yourself of the mental health programs to which you are entitled as a retired member of the armed forces.
Reply #12 Top
The actions of the President and Congress say the hell with everyone that is not rich.

No, their actions say get off your ass and do something with your life.
Reply #13 Top
You forgot to mention the cuts in financial aid for students. This is the most disgraceful cut of all. It targets people who are not asking for a handout but who are trying to help themselves.
Reply #14 Top
Those that are beyond their working years, disabled


I have never liked the idea of people getting foodstamps when they can work for the money. So in this case, unless they are handicaped, I personally don't care if you lose your foodstamps. Poor people are poor cause they want to be, that's just my belief.


That right there just goes to show that you only read and respond to what you want to. I clearly stated there handicap.

Like I said before, if you can work, you shouldn't have to be depending on the Govt to pay for you way.


And I basically ment older people here that can't work.

You ignorant excuse for American.
Reply #15 Top
Look at the FACTS. These are not tax CUTS, but rather, reductions in INCREASE. These facts are taken from left wing "spin" groups that have as much of an agenda as do Bush & Co.
Reply #16 Top
It's not cuts to financial aid for students. It's cuts for subsidies to the lenders who provide student loans.

From the New York Times:
Many banks will receive lower subsidies. And the Education Department will work with the Internal Revenue Service to ferret out students and parents who underreport incomes on financial aid applications.

The budget does, however, peg the repayment APR at 6.8%, which is still an amazing deal compared to commercial rates.

As well, Congress is increasing the availability of non-repaid Pell Grant (same article):
Even as it makes those cuts, Congress is creating a new program for students from low-income families who are eligible for Pell grants. The amount of aid will not be based on financial need.

So it's not the end of the world for students. It's just a reshaping of the world.
Reply #17 Top
Honestly here I have to agree, rich people should pay just as much as poor people. But I still believe that poor people are poor by choice and no one will be able to change my mind about that (I mean in the US not everywhere in the world).


Your rational does not explain why we should be cutting taxes for people who do not need a thing while cutting help to people who have very little or nothing.


Once again, this shows how you only read what you want to read. I clearly stated in the top quote that I agreed with you on why give tax relief to the rich. But you are to caught up on bashing Bush that you can't even see when someone agrees with you. Dumb-ass, there is no other way to describe you. (I hate resorting to name calling)

Your idea that all poor people are poor because it is their fault was the opinion of GWB when he was in grad school.


I don't care about Bush's opinion, I care about mine and yes I do believe that they can do better. That pitiful excuse that they don't make enough to earn a living is bull, you know why? Cause I am one of them. I have been living paycheck by paycheck and not because of the Govt, but because I have not made a better effort to better myself. And I know I can do better, why don't I? Good question, I can't answer cause I don't know. Maybe it's in my genes not to try harder. But that's gonna change, my life will get better cause I am tired of living like this. I don't want the Govt to baby me, I want to know that everything I have I got it myself.
Reply #18 Top
Shaft the poor? Its the American way...


Interesting, I guess Africa doesn't count, or Iran, N.Korea, the old Iraq, etc. Hatred towards America blinds people of the problems in the rest of the world. I'm sure it's not that hard to tell people how to find the US since everyone has practice pointing at it all the time.
Reply #19 Top
I don't care about Bush's opinion, I care about mine and yes I do believe that they can do better. That pitiful excuse that they don't make enough to earn a living is bull, you know why? Cause I am one of them. I have been living paycheck by paycheck and not because of the Govt, but because I have not made a better effort to better myself. And I know I can do better, why don't I? Good question, I can't answer cause I don't know. Maybe it's in my genes not to try harder. But that's gonna change, my life will get better cause I am tired of living like this. I don't want the Govt to baby me, I want to know that everything I have I got it myself.


Bingo! My family makes less than HALF the median income nationwide, but we still have money to spare because we have the same mindset. My beef is, if I had been taught this mindset when I was 18 instead of the culture of victimhood that defined me until I turned 33, I could have made my life and that of my family MUCH better.

But, I'm grateful for the fact that our lessons have been hard learned. Those sorts of lessons tend to stick with you longer!
Reply #20 Top
"I guess Africa doesn't count,"

You're right, America fucks over the African poor with farm subsidies, thanks for reminding me!
Reply #21 Top
Shaft the poor? Its the American way...

You're right, America f**ks over the African poor with farm subsidies, thanks for reminding me!


Ha ha... you are so witty. So glad you decided to join our reasoned, well-thought-out debate. Pop in and out as much as you like - we love it when unregistered bozos chime in with their two cents' worth. Thanks for contributing.
Reply #22 Top
You will love my new book, George W. Bush, Robin Hood for the Rich

I see his ploy! He is vetting debate points for his new book! Do we get co-authorship credit, or at least a heartfelt "thank you" in the dedication?

I guess not everything Bush does is bad isn't it Col? He is helping you make money.

God bless America.
Reply #23 Top
What is wrong with this country is verbalized by many of the Bloggers that support the bankrupt policies of Bush and the conservatives who only care about the wealthy. I love the argument that says the poor just need to get some training and get a better paying job or start a business. That does not recognize that there will still be the same number of jobs that pay $6-8 dollars per hour. The only thing that will change is who has these low paying jobs not the number of people that have them. What about the needs for all the older people and disabled that can not work but must have a place to live, eat and receive health care. The current policy just says TOO Bad. We need to give the wealthy a tax cut so they can add a few more zeroes to their bank accounts.