Romney stated proudly, “First of all, I will eliminate all programs based on this test, if they don’t pass it – Is the program so critical it’s worth borrowing money from China to pay for it. And if not, I’ll get rid of it.” Public broadcasting doesn't pass his test. My problem with his 'test' is that the following do not pass:
National Endowment for the Arts: an independent agency that offers support and funding for projects that achieve artistic excellence
National Endowment for Humanities: an independent agency to support research, education, preservation, and public programs in humanities
Planned Parenthood: a non-profit organization providing reproductive health services and maternal and child health service, despite the 'abortion-monger' moniker offered by many of the far right recently
All of the cuts he plans will save about 2 billion dollars, with an Amtrak subsidy composing 1.42 billion of that 2 billion. When I compare that to the 5 trillion dollar tax cut he has been touting for 18 months before he shook the etch-a-sketch on debate night, the words "chump change" come to mind.
Why would a candidate who states he feels the pain of our unemployment and he understands, attack funding for the arts, humanities and culture, when, for many of us, that is the escape from our daily life that adds quality and allows us to transcend our menial grinds?
For some perspective, we can be cutting the following and adding back in:
150 million- amount we will send out in checks to already deceased retired federal workers, that's right-- checks to dead people.
17.8 million- amount we sent to China in aid last year-- what?? We are in debt with China for billions.
16-20 million to help students from INDONESIA get their degrees.
4.6 million -Fannie Mae is getting ready to ask for ANOTHER bailout. Before you cut my art programs, why am I paying other people's mortgages?
As you can see, there are some issues Mitt didn't attack in his hair gel-inspired rage. I think that is my real issue.
Bravo. Well said and I totally agree, although I, personally would add the subsidies to big oil to that list. That's a serious WTF for me. The arts and humanities are the things that make life worth living, imo. Funny how the right always goes after PBS first. It's been statistically shown that people who watch PBS become smarter and more educated. A stupid electorate is easier to control.
ReplyDeleteYes-- cut aid to Exxon Mobil!!!! What a WTF!!!!
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