May 6, 2008

Or Pour Gasoline on the Fire-- It's Up to Congress to Choose

This from the Washington Post:
A Slap at Schoolchildren -- by George McGovern and Bob Dole

How can the world's hungriest schoolchildren be denied meals while the farm bill being debated in a House-Senate conference provides millions in subsidies for wealthy farmers? That's what Congress proposes. In all fairness, it should not become law.

We are puzzled that Congress wants to increase overall farm bill spending by billions of dollars yet reduce by more than 90 percent the mandatory funding to feed hungry children. The program at issue saves lives and has a proven ability to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness in poor countries.

Click here for the complete text.
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A reminder of days gone by:
When 'compromise' wasn't a dirty word.
When 'bi-partisan' meant actually working together to get things done. Sometimes good things.

Living, as I did then, 3 blocks from the Kansas border, I was very aware of Bob Dole.
He wasn't my flavor-of-the-month -- I wouldn't have voted for him. But everyone agreed -- he could work a deal.
Unlike the tantrum-throwers we have today who take food away from our most vulnerable in the name of 'family values.'

6 comments:

jmsjoin said...

They don't really care about or want to help average Americans and the poor. I have done a few stories on this corporate welfare program. It helps wealthy farmers and owners politicians included. The family and poor farms are screwed unless Willie nelson helps them.

two crows said...

hi, AAP--
every day I read and hear about food riots around the world. and THIS is how Congress responds.

The Future Was Yesterday said...

"It's up to Congress to choose."
The kids are screwed!

jmsjoin said...

I just heard the UN say they could enter Myanmar by force for Humanitarian reasons. China says no. Here we go! Bush already used that excuse t5o attack Iraq so he could go after Iran

two crows said...

hi, AAC--
'here we go' indeed.
for a couple of years, now, I've been sitting on tenter hooks waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Bush/Cheney may use this as their excuse to declare martial law and "delay" the vote in Nov.
then, God help us all.

two crows said...

hi, Future--
right you are.
and, if Bob Dole is alarmed, we all should be. you won't find a bigger bastion of big-business-conservatism _anywhere_.