Coming Home
The war in Iraq came to an official close yesterday... just in time for Christmas. An odd coincidence, isn't it? In the wake of this needless production of cannon fodder for an entirely unnecessary war, America smugly finds a way to reaffirm its faith in its religious beliefs, support its calcified politics and cheer on the people who lead us oblivious to their human responsibilities.
As the soldiers come home on crutches, splints and in caskets, august members of the House of Representatives demonstrated their concern for their fellow citizens last week by proposing a cutback in unemployment benefits and the institution of drug testing of the unemployed as part of a deal to preserve the payroll tax cut.
You have to hand it to the GOP mandarins -- when it comes to disdain for the "common man" they are in a league of their own. Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions has been pushing a new amendment that would make it more difficult for people to receive food stamps by restricting eligibility requirements and eliminating a planned $9 billion funding increase for the program that feeds millions of needy Americans. Sessions termed the program "out of control." His ideological equivalent, former Senator Rick Santorum, has proposed cutting food stamps because, as he said, "the obesity problem in America makes the program unnecessary." Now pinning his hopes for a presidential nomination on a good showing in the Iowa caucus, this self-proclaimed defender of Christian values apparently believes that hungry people in America are simply eating too much.
As the country sleepwalks into a new election year, the question must be asked: what will it take to wake up? Peace on Earth and goodwill for all.
As the soldiers come home on crutches, splints and in caskets, august members of the House of Representatives demonstrated their concern for their fellow citizens last week by proposing a cutback in unemployment benefits and the institution of drug testing of the unemployed as part of a deal to preserve the payroll tax cut.
You have to hand it to the GOP mandarins -- when it comes to disdain for the "common man" they are in a league of their own. Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions has been pushing a new amendment that would make it more difficult for people to receive food stamps by restricting eligibility requirements and eliminating a planned $9 billion funding increase for the program that feeds millions of needy Americans. Sessions termed the program "out of control." His ideological equivalent, former Senator Rick Santorum, has proposed cutting food stamps because, as he said, "the obesity problem in America makes the program unnecessary." Now pinning his hopes for a presidential nomination on a good showing in the Iowa caucus, this self-proclaimed defender of Christian values apparently believes that hungry people in America are simply eating too much.
As the country sleepwalks into a new election year, the question must be asked: what will it take to wake up? Peace on Earth and goodwill for all.
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