Top 10 Worst Things about the Republicans’ Immoral Budget
The Republican budget would:
1. Destroy 700,000 jobs, according to an independent economic analysis.
2. Zero out federal funding for National Public Radio and public television.
3. Cut $1.3 billion from community health centers—which will deprive more than 3 million low-income people of health care over the next few months.4. Cut nearly a billion dollars in food and health care assistance to pregnant women, new moms, and children.
5. Kick more than 200,000 children out of pre-school by cutting funds for Head Start.
6. Force states to fire 65,000 teachers and aides, dramatically increasing class sizes, thanks to education cuts.
7. Cut some or all financial aid for 9.4 million low- and middle-income college students.
8. Slash $1.6 billion from the National Institutes of Health, a cut that experts say would “send shockwaves” through cancer research, likely result in cuts to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research, and cause job losses.
9. End the only federal family planning program, including cutting all federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood to support cancer screenings and other women’s health care.
10. Send 10,000 low-income veterans into homelessness by cutting in half the number of veterans who get housing vouchers this year.
We’ve got to get the word out about this awful budget—right away. Please, share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, or by forwarding this email, today.
Sources:
1. “GOP spending plan would cost 700,000 jobs, new report says,” The Washington Post, February 28, 2011
2. “GOP budget would cut funding for public broadcasting,” The Washington Independent, February 14, 2011
3. “NACHC Statement in Response to the Budget from the House Appropriations Committee,” National Association of Community Health Centers website, accessed March 4, 2011
4.”Bye Bye, Big Bird. Hello, E. Coli.,” The New Republic, February 12, 2011
House Republican Spending Cuts Target Programs For Children And Pregnant Women
5. “Obama and the GOP’s Spending Cuts: Where’s the Outrage?” Mother Jones, February 18, 2011
6. Ibid.
7. “Deficit Reduction on the Backs of the Most Vulnerable,” Center for American Progress, March 2011 (PDF)
8. “The GOP Budget and Cancer—Why New Research Is at Risk,” Politics Daily, February 27, 2011
“Republican Budget Cuts at Heart of Medical Research: Albert Hunt,” Bloomberg, February 20, 2011
“Durbin: Cuts to NIH put research jobs at risk,” Business Week, February 28, 2011
9. “GOP Spending Plan: X-ing Out Title X Family Planning Funds,” Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2011
10. “House GOP Spending Cuts Would Prevent 10,000 Low-Income Veterans From Receiving Housing Assistance,” Think Progress, March 1, 2011
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Says a lot about the Republican vision of “the greatest nation in the world”, doesn’t it. Would all those super-patriots with their flag lapel pins be willing to dig down a bit for the common good? Uh … no.
Since none of these cuts makes any sense, and they don’t serve to reduce the deficit in any meaningful way, it does make one wonder what the point is. And with no point being obvious, I can’t help but think something more sinister is afoot.
I only had time to read the first linked article. Economist Mark Zandi says cutting $61 billion this year will cost 700,000 jobs, which makes into the lede. But read the article and he also says that we will need to cut “$400 billion per year through the rest of the decade” after the recovery has solidified. So I’d happily give the Dems their $61B today if they can identify the $400b per year that they will cut in the future.
With all due respect Ian… the national debt is currently $14,196,296,272,234 and growing approximately $4,110,000,000 per day cuts MUST be made.
That translates to $128,156 debt owed by each taxpayer. That is ALOT of money.
If it is not paid it will be passed onto the mo’opuna. There is no way to get around this. Only through this and do not like the spin. The debt in numbers speaks volumes.
Yes, but government programs are inherently immoral, right? Isn’t that their MO? Better put those hungry babies feet to the fire so they can become productive citizens.
Cuts need to be made, but tax cuts to the uppermost classes also need to be repealed. Everyone has to sacrifice and contribute to the cause.
What happened to all the Republican noise about the need to create jobs? Much of this list leads to job loss. And if you dig deeper into some of the bills, they increase government micromanagement into how people conduct their lives. So much for “smaller government”.
What I find most disturbing is how the right wing needs to distort and fabricate information to build support. All this BS about Pres. Obama’s life history, socialism and more is just beyond credibility to anyone who bothers to do a minimum of reasonable research on the web. Yet millions swallow it whole.
Ignorance still flourishes in the 21st Century.
Makes one lose faith in the concept that this nation is collectively intelligent enough to get by in a rapidly changing world.
Mahalo Ian for posting my comment but please respond and tell us how you propose to cut the national debt.
As of today while I am posting this comment it is now $14,198,445,149,861.
It is still growing and will be passed onto the mo’opuna.
Hi Dean.
Instead of increasing more taxes and not cutting spending, the United Way may be able to make up for the shortfall.
Where are your suggestions?
All I see is the typical rhetoric and insults with no real solutions blaming “the Others” when BOTH Democrats and Republicans created this all-time high national debt of $14,198,445,149,861.
It will be BOTH who will have to resolve this.
When, Republicans, first address the hugh war funding, pentagon funding, foreign aide to Israel, Egypt and other human rights violation countries, and the continued hundreds of US military operations in other countries, then I they will earn some respect. Up to now they appear to be a bunch of ignorant imbeciles along with many Democrats. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul appear to be the only decent human beings in Congress who care about the people.
Don’t worry. China will keep buying T-bills forever. Buy yourself a new violin on credit and enjoy the fire.
The assumption that employing people through tax dollars whether directly as public employees or through grants administered by NGOs or stimulus-style funds used to employ private sector companies is the equivalent of burning up the dollars simply does not make sense.
Employed people pay taxes, they purchase goods & services from businesses which hire other workers who also pay taxes and purchase goods & services, they pay their bills on time, and they may even consider buying a house or taking a vacation.
Raising taxes also works to stimulate the economy. For example, the “barrel” tax costs each of us about 25 cents a day and funds critically important programs such as renewable energy & sustainable agricultural activities. That funding resource then frees up general tax revenues to provide educational or human services.
Increasing fees for registering vehicles helps repair roadways while raising sewer fees helps cover the costs of environmental safety issues.
Raising income taxes so that the wealthy pay more of their fair share for community services also makes sense.
As for cutting expenditures, I can only think of two areas where we need to look at: Our prison/legal systems and getting off fossil fuels & nuclear energy.
Although I am not that happy about SOME of our military endeavors, we do need to address national security issues realistically. I’ve worked directly with many young men and women on active duty over the past decade and they are not our enemies. They work hard and they protect us from harm.
Furthermore, Israel is not our enemy. Without their presence in the Middle East, that entire region would be scorched earth and both Europe & the United States/Canada would be on the rocks. Mostly likely theSoviet Union would still be around probably fighting with China over table scraps had Israel been destroyed forty years ago.
Hand-outs make up a third of all wages
http://www.cnbc.com/id/41969508
“Government payouts—including Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance—make up more than a third of total wages and salaries of the U.S. population, a record figure that will only increase if action isn’t taken before the majority of Baby Boomers enter retirement.”
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link found on Drudge Report (yes, those guys)