New Poll Shows Americans Like Eating, Republicans Do Not

Don't you just hate how some Americans are, like,sohigh-maintenance and needy and addicted to indulgences like eating? Well, if you do, you're in the minority and probably a Republican and/or member of Congress, according to a new poll from HuffPost/YouGov:

According to the new survey, the 40 percent of Americans who want the food stamps budget decreased were outnumbered by the combined 48 percent who said spending on food stamps should either be increased (24 percent) or kept the same (24 percent). [...]

Republicans in the poll were the most likely to say they thought spending on each program should be decreased. Forty-four percent of Republicans said they wanted to decrease spending on farm subsidies (30 percent want them increased or kept the same), while 73 percent said spending for food stamps should be cut (21 percent would increase it or keep it the same).

Well, isn't that nice? Sorry, low-income Americans who like to eat, but ever since Republicans bankrupted America by warring all over the planet and giving tax cuts to the rich and letting corporations do whatever the hell they please, we don't have any more monies for your petty little luxuries like food. That is why Congress wants those greedy bastards getting a maximum of $200 a month to cut back and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Or eat their bootstraps. Whatever.

The 47 million current SNAP beneficiaries represent about 15 percent of the population. Congress has said that's too high a share. Farm legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Senate Agriculture Committee would save $4 billion over 10 years. Legislation passed by the Republican-controlled House Agriculture Committee would save $20 billion, or roughly 3 percent of the program's cost. Nearly 2 million fewer Americans would receive benefits.

Nothing says God Bless America like trying to balance the budget on the backs of people who live at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. Sorry, you millions of Americans who rely on government assistance to feed yourselves and your families, but in tough economic times, some of us have to sacrifice so others of us can continue taking deductions on their private jets . That's just how it works.

Ah, austerity. It's what's for dinner.

[ HuffPo ]