Sunday, February 06, 2005

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Tax cuts for the rich, no heat for the poor

Bits and pieces of the proposed Bush budget are coming out. Of course we have our permanent tax cuts. No sacrifice required from the wealthiest among us, it seems. But the poor oh yes, they will pay for this war, and the tax cuts, because someone must pay.
From the AP
According to figures obtained by the AP, Bush would slice a $600 million grant program for local police agencies to $60 million next year. Grants to local firefighters, for which Congress provided $715 million this year, would fall to $500 million.
The $2.2 billion program that provides low-income people - in large part the elderly - with home-heating aid would be cut to $2 billion. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the reduction would be "wrong-headed an inappropriate," especially with this season's jump in oil prices.


There are more cuts of course but these two are outrageous because they hurt the poor the most.

The poor are most likely to be the victims of crime statistically, cuts in aid to law enforcement hurt them as much as local police and sheriff's departments. Fewer officers on the streets means the more likely someone is to be seriously injured or die in the commission of a violent crime, because response time is raised. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence, where seconds can count. In addition, who is more likely to be working as a clerk in a 7-11? A wealthy suburbanite or a welfare to work mother doing her best to support her family. She is more likely to be the victim of a robbery that could become deadly, and need the police to respond quickly.

The problems cuts in home heating aid are pretty obvious. In the northern states it gets very cold, and to cut aid to the poor so they may have heat is reprehensible.

Tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of the poorest among us, what are we coming to. I am disgusted, truly disgusted.