A Shameful Truth

From Bill Moyers & Company:   "U. S. Honors Veterans with Stirring Speeches and Painful Austerity." 

http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/11/us-honors-veterans-with-some-painful-austerity/

 

I'm thinking of the cuts to SNAP (the food assistance/food stamps program) and how so many veterans will suffer because of those cuts.  Unconscionable.   Congressional right wingers (especially the hard-righties) do laud our service men and women and then slash programs that would help them as they help other people struggling in circumstances of poverty.   My father called that "Talking out of both sides of their mouth." They seem totally unashamed of their actions.  In fact, their contempt for the poor knows no bounds—let them eat cake, so to speak, our veterans included.  

A right-wing radio talker had this to say about SNAP recipients:  "These people depend on the government for their prosperity."  That's right—prosperity.   Yeah, "these people" are living high, wide and handsome, hoping one sweet potato will be enough for both children tonight and what's left of the peanut butter and bread will stretch until payday.  Most of "these people" do work for what passes for a living.  Many work for corporate entities that manage to contribute to Congressional campaigns even as they begrudge their workers even a piddling minimum wage.  Some of those workers are veterans of wars fought on behalf of this Country.  For all of us.  Many veterans are unable to work when they return home due to the wounds of war, wounds seen and unseen.

"These people depend on the government for their prosperity."  I wish that same prosperity to every person who cast a vote to cut food assistance for our veterans and other Americans living in poverty.