Working poor suffer under Bush tax cuts (4 stories)

[Bozita]

Detroit News, frontpage headline, above the fold.

Absolutely devastating picture of life in Bush's new America from one of America's most right-wing newspapers.

http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2004/taxes/index.htm

Working poor suffer under Bush tax cuts
DETROIT -- The Bush administration and Congress have scaled back programs that aid the poor to help pay for $600 billion in tax breaks that went primarily to those who earn more than $288,800 a year. 09/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0409/26/a01-284666.htm

Child Care
Pinch blocks rise from poverty
MOBILE, Ala. -- National Guard reservist Kimberly Shaw was called up for combat duty in February 2003 as the U.S. military prepared to invade Iraq. 09/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0409/26/a01-284676.htm

Hunger
Meals on Wheels pares back from hot food to frozen
DETROIT -- In Detroit, shut-in seniors on the waiting list for federally subsidized hot meals face a harsh reality: They won't get help unless someone currently in the program drops out or dies. 09/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0409/26/a15-284398.htm

Utility Help
Poor juggle bills as heat aid dries up
DETROIT -- There are more than 16,000 low-income Detroiters currently without electricity because they couldn't pay their bills. 09/26/04
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0409/26/a15-284397.htm

more, lots more ...

[NMDemDist2]

1. yeah but we're winning the War on Terra!!! /sarcasm n/t

[The Zanti Regent]

12. MY aunt says the churches will take care of the poor!

I keep asking here why her beloved Paul Crouch is sitting on a bunch of money. OOPS, forgot, he paid off his male lover with how much, 400,000+??????

[classof56]

15. I think your aunt's going to find if the churches take care of the poor

They're going to want something in return...like attend every service, join the church, have your kids in Sunday School, youth programs, etc. I've seen reports on the "faith-based" social services offered by some churches, and those involved in the program somehow get pretty ticked when the "takers" don't show up in whatever church is doing the "giving". As for Paul Crouch...well, I doubt he EVER helps people who are truly in need. In my opinion, he's scum and God really oughta do something about him. I know, I'm not supposed to judge, but there are times!

DEFEAT BUSH!!

[cap]

26. my church take care of the poor... LOL

we get it together once a month to give a meal to some shut-in seniors. Occasionally toss some old clothes in and a few coins here and there in an occasional offering.

We cant even take care of the poor in our parish!

[classof56]

2. I think the Bush crowd believes "If you're poor it's your own fault"

And it's not the government's role to take care of people who aren't rich. That's the republican stance, as I recall, going back to the Reagan administration. Wonder what the response will be when they've snatched Social Security and Medicare from the middle class retirees, and public/private pension funds dry up as well. Oh...I guess those "faith-based initiative" programs will kick in, right? I'm sure that'll make believers out of all of us, right?

Geez...BUSH MUST GO!

Thanks for these links, BTW. I've bookmarked your post so I can share it with people who persist in the notion that our "man of faith" prez is on our side!

[AP]

4. ...and if you're rich it's because you did it yourself, and the gov't has

place trying to create a decent infrastructure with a good safety net which allows people who want to work to succeed, and those who try and fail to at least live with dignity and happiness during their one short time on the planet.

[Warpy]

9. His professor at Harvard said his analysis of poverty consisted

of saying "They are just lazy."

This from a wastrel who chewed tobacco in class, didn't do any of the assigned work, and simply expected to inherit his degree along with everything else in his life.

[camero]

21. One small inaccuracy

The repubs have been against a social safety net ever since Roosevelt started those programs. If it wasn't for liberals, we would still have to have a jar beside us to piss in while we work and humans would still be found in the meat grinders in factories.

[classof56]

27. Good grief!

I know you're right, but heavens, what an awful picture you just put in my mind! Think I'll go watch the movie about the revenge of the middle-aged woman or something like that. Maybe it will cheer me up briefly, as I contemplate where we might end up if Bush wins.

A final Sunday night message:

DEFEAT BUSH!!

[JPace]

3. Awol doesn't care....

he knows zero about working or being poor.
"let them eat cake"

[fortyfeetunder]

23. yeah, the last person who (allegedly) said "let them eat cake"

got beheaded, LOL...

[unfrigginreal]

5. Only 3 Senators voted against the latest Tax Increase on the

working poor. Yesterday marks the first time, since Bush started his war against the poor, that I heard a commentator call it for what it is, a Tax Increase. Al Hunt on capital gang.

[natrat]

6. dont they

want to weed poor people out of the poulation.?

[aquart]

7. No. They want to force them into the army.

The rest can die, though.

[Mikimouse]

8. Excellent stuff...thanks for posting this...my students will be getting

a look at this material this week, to further their education about Social Darwinism and Stratification. Kudos to you for the find.:toast:

[NWHarkness]

10. I was amazed to see that this morning!

The News is usually very slanted in their coverage.

[louis-t]

17. Yes, they are

and I was pleasantly surprised to read it this morning. It's a week-long series, by the way.

[catmandu57]

11. This why I just can't understand a working person supporting

the repig agenda. Our town is far from wealthy, mostly working to middle class with a smattering of low low upper class well hidden, but they're here.
Yesterday, driving around town, there were b/c* signs everywhere, even my neighbor the town cop has one in his yard.
The only explanation I can come up with is religion, these are the born agains supporting their boy, because the repig agenda sure doesn't support the working person.

[meow2u3]

16. I can--it's called SPITE!!!

Too many poor rethugs are so infantile they expect the entire country to stoop to their level. In other words, they know Bush and the rethugs are dangerous, and they support them because they're wrong.
It's a perverse, immature way of making themselves feel a little bigger and more powerful.

I think immature spite voters shouldn't be allowed at the polls.

[rfkrocks]

13. a strong kick here

what a disgrace-this is why we are Democrats-the rethug agenda is destroying our country-wake-up america-time is running out-thank you kindlr these posts:kick:

[bread_and_roses]

14. Kicking for the info and ammunition

in these articles. Lots here to take to a poor neighborhood when registering voters. Emphasize that the tax cuts for the rich mean no HEAP and no Child Care money.

edited to add that I hope someone will post this in General Discussion as well as here.

[llmart]

18. I saw this headline as I passed a newsbox this AM....

I thought, "Hmm...Highly unusual for the rightwing rag the Detroit News usually is." I wonder if they'll still endorse the idiot? I've come to believe that our society has slipped so deep into a self-absorbed society, that the majority do not care about the poor. There is extreme (and obscene) wealth in this area.

[bleedingheart]

19. But DO THEY VOTE?

cuz from my experience I find a number of the working poor do not vote.

[camero]

22. Doesn't matter whether they vote or not

They still deserve to live with dignity. Though I see what you're saying. That's why I think election days should be national holidays with time off work.

[American liberal]

20. kick...this should stay "above the fold"

[NVMojo]

24. remember those manufacturing job?

Just a few months ago, the Bush administration tried to pass off fast food jobs as manufacturing jobs. Those jobs don't pay a parent enough too pay for childcare ...and eat and put a roof over their heads. But what does Bushass care?

[bogey18]

25. Neocon philosophy regarding social responsibility for

most vulnerable members of society summed up:

"Fuck the poor."

[Skittles]

28. compassionate conservatism at work

absolutely sickening

[milburn]

29. True for my family

We are struggling here in California. My father is working two jobs and now my mom has got to go to work. I miss her and its sad because years back we had a good family and then this bush is in charge. I hate it. I want to see my family do good again. I went to school in California and I donnt think I can get a good job becuse of bush. I like Kerry because he is honest and not a too faced person.

[American liberal]

30. welcome to DU, milburn

I hope it gets better for you and your family when we elect Kerry in November. Are you in high school?

[Bozita]

31. Monday's 2nd part of 3 -- 5 new stories -- link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x867251

It's well worth the time.

[DeepModem Mom]

32. Thanks for this post, Bozita ---