Republicans in Congress cut home heating assistance funding to poor Americans by around $200 million. Democrats were seeking $5 billion. Republicans approved $2 billion.
Home heating costs are up around 40 percent to 70 percent over last year depending on the type of heating used.
Oil companies have huge excess profits that could be taxed to fund the program. Republicans in Congress have effectively blocked any attempt to tax these excess oil industry profits to help poor Americans from freezing to death.
Poor citizens do not give huge campaign contributions to Republican politicians like oil industry executives and oil industry political action committees. The poor tend to vote more Democratic than Republican over economic issues. Freezing to death voters who might support opposing political parties might be good politics but is both un-American and un-Christian. The Republicans in Congress should be kinder to their less fortunate American citizens and try to follow the Christian admonishment to help the poor.
The Republican "War on the Poor" approach to government is disgusting when contrasted with their strong push for tax cuts for the very wealthiest of the wealthy. They find huge amounts of money to fund tax breaks for giant corporations and no-bid contracts awarded to politically connected companies.
The Republican Party has been relying on Christian voters to stay in power while not following core Christian teaching about the treatment of the poor. It is Christmas but the Republicans in Congress seemed not to have read the Biblical tale of the Virgin Mary told in Luke 1:56. Here are some important passages:
"1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Republican efforts to cut the huge budget deficits created by their tax policies, the unjustified Iraq War and the growing national security state created after 9-11 should not be at the cost of the lives or health of poor Americans. All citizens should contact their representative in Congress and demand help for the poor from our federal government this Christmas. We should ask ourselves "what would Jesus do." This Christian believes that Christ would help feed, cloth and keep warm the poor.
Written by Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.democratictalkradio.com ). Mail: P.O. Box 283, Earleville, Maryland 21919. Email: midsouthcm@aol.com .
Feel free to publish at no charge without prior permission.
