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Showing Original Post only (View all)Krugman: GOP Literally Taking Food from Mouths of Hungry Children. Time to Get Really, Really Angry. [View all]
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/31/opinion/from-the-mouths-of-babes.html?smid=tw-NytimesKrugman&seid=auto&_r=0OP-ED COLUMNIST
From the Mouths of Babes
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: May 30, 2013
- snip -
First, as millions of workers lost their jobs through no fault of their own, many families turned to food stamps to help them get by
and while food aid is no substitute for a good job, it did significantly mitigate their misery. Food stamps were especially helpful to children who would otherwise be living in extreme poverty, defined as an income less than half the official poverty line.
But theres more. Why is our economy depressed? Because many players in the economy slashed spending at the same time, while relatively few players were willing to spend more. And because the economy is not like an individual household your spending is my income, my spending is your income the result was a general fall in incomes and plunge in employment. We desperately needed (and still need) public policies to promote higher spending on a temporary basis and the expansion of food stamps, which helps families living on the edge and let them spend more on other necessities, is just such a policy.
Indeed, estimates from the consulting firm Moodys Analytics suggest that each dollar spent on food stamps in a depressed economy raises G.D.P. by about $1.70 which means, by the way, that much of the money laid out to help families in need actually comes right back to the government in the form of higher revenue.
Wait, were not done yet. Food stamps greatly reduce food insecurity among low-income children, which, in turn, greatly enhances their chances of doing well in school and growing up to be successful, productive adults. So food stamps are in a very real sense an investment in the nations future an investment that in the long run almost surely reduces the budget deficit, because tomorrows adults will also be tomorrows taxpayers.
So what do Republicans want to do with this paragon of programs? First, shrink it; then, effectively kill it.
- snip -
But I wonder whether even Republicans really believe that story or at least are confident enough in their diagnosis to justify policies that more or less literally take food from the mouths of hungry children. As I said, there are times when cynicism just doesnt cut it; this is a time to get really, really angry.
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Krugman: GOP Literally Taking Food from Mouths of Hungry Children. Time to Get Really, Really Angry. [View all]
Hissyspit
May 2013
OP
Oh..I think DUer's are constantly angry at the GOP. They give us fresh "Pissed-off" ammunition..
BlueJazz
May 2013
#2
Great synopsis.The only thing that gives them the feeling that they are alive is cruelty & control.
hue
May 2013
#54
Why the poor of course (Republican Jesus, the other one would feed not starve people)
Dragonfli
May 2013
#9
Did anyone else notice the exceptional quality of most of the comments?
prole_for_peace
May 2013
#62
how can comey "believe in the right thing" and also support crooks like Romney?
grasswire
Jun 2013
#66