DAYTONA BEACH -- Politicians like Ron DeSantis and John Boehner are so full of themselves and their self-rightous ideology when it comes to Republican rhetoric about why Food Stamp subsidies need to be cut. This is what House Speaker Boehner told The New York Times in a story published today regarding GOP-sponsored legislation narrowly passed with the threat of a presidential veto that would cut a whopping $5 billion in food stamp subsidies: “This bill makes getting Americans back to work a priority again for our nation’s welfare programs."
DeSantis, the freshman Congressman from St. Augustine, whose district includes greater Daytona Beach, wrote on his Facebook page: "I didn’t come to Washington to support big, bloated bills. Top-to-bottom reform of both the food stamp and agriculture programs is sorely needed. Otherwise, the loser will continue to be those men and women who consistently get forgotten in these debates: the American taxpayer."
I believe that I am conservative when it comes to politics, but not hunger. America's struggling Middle Class has come to depend on the Food Stamp program to help feed their families while trying to keep the lights from being shut off and having enough gas to get to work, if they are fortunate to have a job.
Congressman DeSantis, I am a product of food stamps. I was the second oldest of seven children to parents who were unskilled factory workers. I know what it's like to be made fun of having received free hot lunches as the only kid in my class with a red lunch token while the rest had green lunch tokens. Green meant their parents paid. My parents worked, too. I was the first to graduate college with a four-year degree and at the top of my class. My three sisters followed me through college with degrees as well. And my brothers all went to work even before graduating high school.
Congressman DeSantis, I am a product of food stamps. I was the second oldest of seven children to parents who were unskilled factory workers. I know what it's like to be made fun of having received free hot lunches as the only kid in my class with a red lunch token while the rest had green lunch tokens. Green meant their parents paid. My parents worked, too. I was the first to graduate college with a four-year degree and at the top of my class. My three sisters followed me through college with degrees as well. And my brothers all went to work even before graduating high school.
With the economic situation being what it is, I could qualify for Food Stamps right now, but I get by. But there are millions of Americans who will go hungry, needlessly for your rhetoric. You say the cuts in food stamps need to be made "otherwise, the loser will continue to be those men and women who consistently get forgotten in these debates: the American taxpayer?" Are you blind Congressman DeSantis?
Many of these people you are referring to -- the so-called American taxpayers -- are themselves recipients. They include the senior citizens on fixed incomes (many with just social security), veterans who can't find jobs and single mothers working just to put what little food they can afford on their own on the table for their children.
You want to bash the president over Obamacare, be my guest. I support you on that end. But with the Food Stamp program, there is too much pandering to the Tea Party.
Mid-term elections are next year, and you need to re-think your rhetoric or you, too, Mr. DeSantis, may find yourself looking for a new job. You certainly are not above reproach.
Here is the link to The New York Times article on food stamps: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/us/politics/house-passes-bill-cutting-40-billion-from-food-stamps.html?_r=0