It sickens me that an elected official of the United States government could be as cruel...and as heartless...as Congressman Kevin Cramer.The House of Representatives - on Thursday, December 12th, 2013 - passed a bi-partisan budget plan, which goes to the Senate this week. But a new five-year Farm Bill...has once again been left out in the cold until 2014...after Congress returns from their Christmas and New Year's vacation. The Republican "Scrooges" would only pass a one-month extension of the current law...which Senate Democrats oppose...because it could reduce pressure and, therefore, would distract from the completion of a new bill.
Reportedly...Members of the Republican led House and the Democratic majority of the Senate agree on some issues of the Farm Bill...but remain far apart on the food stamp program. Senate Democrats would trim roughly four-and-a-half billion dollars - primarily by making administrative changes - while Republicans want to slash about 40 billion dollars from the bill.
Congress has had plenty of time all year to agree on a new Farm Bill... which should have been passed in September. And that's when - on September 21st, 2013 - North Dakota Republican Congressman Kevin Cramer posted a shocking and disturbing comment on his Facebook page...whereby he basically stated that American armed forces veterans...the elderly...and children...should be removed from receiving food assistance.
Cramer quoted the New Testament of The Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - with the words..."If anyone is not willing to work...let him not eat."
The video of Cramer's disgusting and despicable remark was replayed on cable news channels...over and over and over again last week...because of the Republicans demands that food stamps be drastically cut...and thus...millions of Americans would realize substantial reductions in their monthly SNAP benefits.
SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - offers food stamps to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families. Reportedly...one-sixth of the U.S. population...or about 50 million Americans... are struggling to feed themselves. That being said...Republicans are wanting to take an axe to the amount of food stamps to be given to those who need them.
How does anyone with an ounce of decency in their veins...suggest that food be taken from the mouths...of hungry little kids...poor, sick or disabled people...and military heroes who served our country on the battlefield?
It's sad to think...that the people of North Dakota...would elect someone as unfeeling...and inhumane...as Kevin Cramer. After all...there are a tremendous number of North Dakotans who benefit from SNAP. More than 27,700 families in "The Peace Garden State" depend on food assistance everyday. Will they vote for Cramer again? I certainly hope not. North Dakota deserves better.
Congressman Cramer's comment infers that everyone who receives SNAP assistance...is lazy. Once again...remember the words he wrote on Facebook. "If anyone is not willing to work...let him not eat." Cramer wants us to believe that everyone who isn't working...is not willing to work. That, of course, is a false assumption. Congressman Cramer also seems to forget... that a great amount of Americans who receive food stamps...have jobs - many who work full-time - and some who hold more than one position of employment.
But Cramer obviously believes that military veterans who can't find jobs or who are disabled...the children of those servicemen and women...the elderly of our nation...and the poor, sick and indigent...should starve.
The Bible - both the Old and New Testaments - make it known that helping poor people and others in need...is honorable and noble. There are numerous passages in The Bible...where God says we are supposed to be compassionate and charitable to the disadvantaged and underprivileged...and that we are to give...to those less fortunate.
Leviticus 23:22 of the Old Testament reads: "When you reap the harvest of your land...do not reap to the very edges of your field...or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God."
In Matthew 19:21 of the New Testament...the following is written: "Jesus answered...If you want to be perfect...go...sell your possessions...and give to the poor...and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Deuteronomy 15:7 of the Old Testament states: "If there is a poor man among your brothers...in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you...do not be hardhearted...or tightfisted...toward your poor brother."
Matthew 25:35 of the New Testament proclaims: "For I was hungry...and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty...and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger...and you invited me in."
In Luke 14:13 of the New Testament...are the words: "But when you give a banquet...invite the poor...the crippled...the lame...the blind."
And in Deuteronomy 15:11 of the Old Testament...God's message is clear. "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore...I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers...and toward the poor and needy in your land."
As for Congressman Cramer - or any other Republican who may agree with him - how dare they claim...to have "family values"...as Republicans always tout. It amazes me...and nauseates me...that there are so many uncaring and insensitive individuals in our country...who lack empathy for others. Maybe if they themselves go hungry for awhile...they wouldn't be so harsh and unkind.
So while Republican Congressmen are sitting by the warm fireplaces in their big, beautiful homes this holiday season...as they open up their expensive presents...from under their lavishly decorated Christmas trees...and are drinking lots and lots of eggnog while eating all their favorite foods - with second and third helpings - I hope someone will remind them...of the food stamp recipients...who don't know how they will pay for their next meal...and the homeless...who don't know where that next meal will come.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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