Republican Food Fight Against the Needy Must End

Republican members of Congress have forced nearly 50 million American men, women, and children into near-starvation by cutting food stamps allowances for those in need to about $1.40 per meal. Consider for the moment what you could afford to buy for $1.40. One dozen eggs at about $1.40/dz. would provide breakfast for about one week, without bread or milk. You still need 21 more meals including lunches and dinners and have $37.80 left for those meals. That amount could provide and soup, beans, and possibly bread or crackers if you spend frugally.Fifty two weeks a year you and other family members in your household would be eligible for $1,495.20 each in food stamps. If you were a member of Congress that is the amount of money you would receive for less than three days of work (assuming 52 weeks per year of actual work). Typically members of Congress spend fewer than 100 days annually working in Washington and receive bountiful allowances for travel when travelling for "official business". Obviously Congressional Republicans and Democrats can feast abundantly daily spending a small part of their $175,000, minimum, annual pay. In addition food and living expenses perks fatten their gastronomical desire so that they do not have to hesitate to satisfy appetites with haute cuisine whenever they decide. Spending $50 for dinner is low ball when in Washington such a meal can easily exceed $100 even without booze. Despite their plush pay from taxpayers, that exceeds or is about equal to the top 5% income level, the Congressional Republicans believe that $1.40 per meal is more than adequate for nearly 50 million Americans who earn less than about $9/hr., per family member (including adults and dependent children). Furthermore, Congress establishes their pay, without consulting their voters who are responsible for hiring them as Members of Congress. When was the last time you told your boss what to pay you? Would that ploy have resulted in a pay raise? Members of Congress do not ask anyone and they are not bashful about maxing out per limits of the Constitution. Since 2003 the typical Congressional members pay has increased by over $20,000 annually. This pay increase exceeds the annual individual income of approximately 100,000,000 Americans (about 30% of our population). After absorbing the reality above do you approve the Republican plan to cut food stamp allowances for needy Americans? If you do then support Republicans who will abuse your frugality and continue to try to cut food allowance for needy Americans. If you are like me and reject the Republican's assault on needy Americans than for candidates who believe that the minimum wage must be increased to over $12/hr., and then food stamp eligibility can be adjusted accordingly dependent upon food prices that provide adequate nutrition. Otherwise food stamp allowances must be increased, not reduced or eliminated as Republican desire. The Republican food fight against needy Americans must end, and all Americans must have adequate nutrition regardless of income, and if necessary with federal and/or state income supplements.

Republican's Take Food Away from Needy

Today approximately 47 million American men, women, and children will have less nutrition to sustain themselves because Congressional Republicans refuse to create a budget for our nation. Consequently, the sequester that was intended to be temporary kicks in and reduces the food stamp allowance for families below the poverty line by 5 billion dollars beginning today. If you are living in Wisconsin , for example, nearly 900,000 Wisconsinites, 15% of the total population will will have less food including 379,000 children and 164,000 seniors who are unable to afford sufficient food. Meanwhile Republican Governor Walker and House of Representative's Chairman of the Budget Committee joyously pat themselves on the back for saving tax dollars while people struggle to get by. Walker refuses Medicaid and Wisconsin Congressman Ryan, the former Republican VP candidate, share joyous accolades from most Republicans for their frugality, while nearly one million Wisconsin citizens become victims of their Scrooge indifference and greed. You can refer to this interactive link to determine the impact in the state where you reside. The damage to our needy Americans is atrocious and shocking. Ever since the Great Depression of the 1930's our nation has acted to help the needy and Democrats under Presidents' Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson (all Democrats) worked with reasonable Congressional Republicans to provide needed social benefits for all Americans. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, unemployment insurance, and food stamp programs (SNAP) were enacted by Congress under Democratic Presidents who were supported by Congressional Republicans who understood the need and never used obstruction or the filibuster to stop all legislation that many Congressional Republicans opposed. Despite their personal opposition if the nation benefited they would vote in favor. Today's Republicans are opposed to all legislation that President Obama and Congressional Democrats support to help Americans help themselves. The Republicans constantly obstruct federal funding for any infrastructure expenses to construct needed water treatment facilities, sewerage treatment, highway construction, bridge maintenance, school upgrading, environmental clean up of polluted areas, or conversion to clean and energy efficient power generating facilities form very polluting coal-burning energy generation. As our nations population increases from the current 315 million to about 450 million during the next 40 years the Republican obstructionism if permitted to continue will lead to an economic decline worse than the Great Depression. Decent paying jobs will decline precipitously and infrastructure neglect will create unlivable conditions throughout our nation. Meanwhile Congressional Republicans defy reality and clamor for more obstruction. They care not about the poor in our nation and follow their deep money pocket supporters such as the Koch brothers and other billionaires who seek total dominance over our nation through manipulations by sending $$$$$$$ to Republican obstructionists in Congress. The present food stamp Republican take-away from Americans below poverty income levels is the latest example of their indifference toward needy Americans who are caught in a web of poverty largely because Republicans refuse to increase the minimum wage, oppose affordable health care, prevent new decent paying jobs by refusing to fund spending on needed infrastructure, and instead continue to favor spending more on military force than spent by alk other nations in the world combined. We are a nation composed mainly of individuals who care about our neighbors and lend a helping hand as needed. The Congressional Republicans are the antithesis and they advocate " taking away" from those in need. The time is now to refute all Congressional Republicans and send them home where they cannot hurt Americans by their continuous obstruction.

Truth and Fact Versus Opinion and Your Vote

This post is #1 on my "Reality" Blog. It is added to my other blog titles to discuss a common misunderstanding that beguiles most of us. Shakespeare made the meaning of "Reality" simple although for another purpose when Macbeth questioned "To Be or Not to Be?" in his masterful soliloquy. "Reality" the title of this blog refers to "what is or what is not", not to determine life or not. However, if we collectively and individually avoid acceptance of reality we are unwittingly assuring ourselves of confusion, misunderstandings, and continuous maladjustment to daily life. The question, "What Is?" pertain to Macbeth's question and broadly to "what is or is not truth/fact". Truth and fact eludes us much of the time as we unconsciously or deliberately substitute fiction and opinion for fact and truth. Such fanciful substitutions are acceptable for fairy tales and novels, but cause great harm when applied to serious matters that influence every-day life, human behavior, and governance. Matters of importance cannot be degraded with false and distorting declarations unless one does so to create propaganda instead of resolution. Beliefs cannot replace facts and truth. Nor can truths and facts be distorted to create anything other than opinions that are hollow and devoid of REALITY. Facts and truth are the sole foundation blocks of REALITY. Beliefs have their role, and very significant ones but only to guide what and how we apply truth and facts to guide or morality, purposes, and spiritual leanings. Religious beliefs are not in the realm of facts or truth since the existence of any symbol of a real God remains and will likely forever remain as unproven. Any religious symbol of God is belief based and cannot be treated as fact. Nonetheless spiritual and religious beliefs are often used to guide moral values that encourages empathy and coexistence, both essential for harmonious peaceful life. Despite the essential requirement to analyze and develop solutions to problems based upon facts and truths, modern life tends to favor opinion over truth and facts. Every form of communication from sources controlled by commercial interests is overflowing with opinion and seldom facts or truths. Opinion is plentiful and easily created, and we are bombarded with opinion every waking moment, particularly when the talking heads spew opinions disguised as facts and truth. It is very difficult to sift through all the opinions we are exposed to on TV, radio, news media, or by academia with opinions are often disguised as facts that make rational analyses and problem solving impossible. Unfortunately too many of us are prone to accept opinions as facts when words flow from the mouths of supposedly erudite individuals. Be skeptical and think, analyze, and apply rationality before you accept anything as fact or truth without questioning. This is difficult. It requires you to dig in and review information before accepting it as truthful or factual. Hold your conclusion until you do so long as a rational decision does not cause delay of something requiring immediate action Separation of facts/truth from opinion is particularly important where governance is determined by electing individuals to government office who can be trusted to do what we understand them to promise. Casual decision on who to vote for without understanding their guiding opinions will cause your vote to be meaningless. Too often we accept hollow words to be factual. Everyone must examine the deeds and beliefs of everyone running for elected office before voting. Flowery words laced with hidden opinions that bear no relationship effective governance will get you precisely the situation that afflicts our nation now. A significant number of Congressional Republicans have decided to prevent or delay all legislation proposed or favored by our President. If you are truthful with yourself and listened to myriad bigoted word out of the mouths of Republican members of Congress or silence of agreement you know that Republican obstructionism is based upon blatant bigotry that still prevails in our nation since the Civil War. Such bigotry is driven by ignorance and individual susceptibility to accept hateful opinion as fact. Future blogs under the title "Realty" will describe and discuss specific events and actions that reveal how lies and falsehoods, rather than truth and facts, are used to harm the majority of men, women, and children, citizens of our nation. I will present the lies and distortions and contrast them to facts and truth so that rational decisions are attainable before you vote. I will present facts as facts and truths as truths not as illusory opinions. However I will not hesitate to present my personal opinions and beliefs related to what I consider moral issues as relevant. Please share on Facebook and Twitter and email. Thanks Zalman P. Saperstein zeepsap@gmail.com aka: zeep