Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts: We must cut food stamps to save them

[Judi Lynn]

Source: McClatchy News

Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts: We must cut food stamps to save them



By Lindsay Wise | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Once hailed as the savior of food stamps, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts has introduced a bill to cut $36 billion from the federal aid program over 10 years.

Up for re-election in 2014, the Republican says he’s trying to offer an alternative to both a budget proposal on the right that would effectively dismantle the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and another on the left that offers no savings at all.

Roberts said in an interview that the program must reform now or face more drastic changes down the road. “We have a program that could self-implode if we’re not careful. I don’t want to see that happen,” he said.

But critics complain that Roberts’ legislation would reduce or eliminate benefits for millions of needy Americans at a time when many still struggle to make ends meet in a weakened economy.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/21/186607/kansas-sen-pat-roberts-we-must.html#storylink=cpy

[Warpy]

1. You first, Buster

Take a 30% pay cut, which will still leave you making twice the median household wage. We'll see how long you survive on less.

[hobbit709]

3. Better yet, put him on unemployment and food stamps and see how long he lasts.

[SoapBox]

4. Ditto to Warpy!

...lead by example, "Pat"!

[Historic NY]

2. More people going hungry is their solution....

the most vunerable of society the very young and the old...The GOP claims they're Pro-life, I guess starving and food deprived isn't a problem for them.

[DebJ]

29. What happens when you take away food and give people guns

and multiple round ammunition? Bolster that with cutting training programs so there is even less hope.
Insure that you must have less than $2000 in assets: ie, not allowed to have a working vehicle so that
you can actually work at a decent job. Add more people to the jail that is welfare: lock them in, and
throw away the key, and give them guns.

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. Is Bullshit Mountain the tallest mountain in the world yet?

These guys are in a real big hurry to get the damage done.

[uselessobot]

6. Looks like if the Pubs can’t kill the poor via the medical system they will try starvation

Fucking Rat Bastards

[lastlib]

7. What he was REALLY thinking:

"We have to save food stamps in order to destroy them."

Like they wanted to do with Social Security....and Medicare and Medicaid....and like they want to do with ObamaCare.....and everything else that actually benefits the middle and lower class of Americans.

Fuck these evil bastards!

[lib2DaBone]

8. Sooner or later....

The brain-dead American public is going to realize how bad they are getting screwed... and it won't be pretty....

[Brigid]

13. What do soulless morons like Roberts . . .

Imagine people will be thinking about while they are standing in line at the local food bank? Nope, it won't be pretty at all.

[Bandit]

28. How many of those people do you think vote?

The main problem IMO is that those that will be most effected by Republican goals do not bother to vote...They don't even bother to pay attention.... That is why Democrats have such a huge hurdle to overcome...

[Brigid]

33. I wasn't really thinking about voting.

I was thinking about angry, hungry people turning violent. Idiots like Roberts don't even consider that very real possibility.

[FiveGoodMen]

23. If we haven't figured it out by now we never will.

I don't think the human race has any future other than Orwell's description of a boot stamping on a human face forever.

[sikofit3]

27. I have to agree

It is a really sad realization but I think your right and everything is in place even if it does, the outrage will be put down fast, hard and swift and the rest will fall back in line, however, if enough people lose everything then I could see a real uprising but that would mean a lot of suffering up until that point and I am sure no one wants it to go there.

[olddots]

9. I'm running out of hate

look at that face -look at those eyes ----oooooo I found some more hate . Everybody watch American Winter on HBO or look for a showing near you this guy should be forced to watch it.

[jeffrey_pdx]

14. Everyone in the Senate and House should be forced to watch "American Winter"

No welfare queens, no leeches, just real people struggling to get by through the mess Wall Street led us into. In fact, I agree, everyone should watch it.

[Brigid]

15. Is it online?

[jeffrey_pdx]

17. I doubt it

I think they're going to start showing it in select theaters across the country, but if you don't live in or near a large city, I wouldn't count on it being anywhere near you. It just premiered on HBO on Tuesday. I have Comcast, and its available OnDemand for free if you already have HBO. I don't know about Hulu or any other sites though, or any other cable providers either.

[greymattermom]

10. farm bill?

Aren't food stamps somehow connected to support for farmers, as in Kansas farmers?

[atreides1]

11. Remember that photo

It's the perfect picture of "Good Xtian man"!

[Diclotican]

12. Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn

That nasty man, that evil man - but what to expect from a republican...

I bet he never have been hungry in all his life - and have never been in need of help from others... They tend to be the worst, the ones who have never experienced any needs in their life... And who belive others can do the same..

If anyone had been grown from the same tree, then maybe we would - but as we are not grown from the same tree - and have not given the same tools to fend for ourself - then some of us need help, that be on food stamps - shelter from the world at large...

Diclotican

[Judi Lynn]

22. Diclotican, Pat Roberts is as strange, unnatural as the other Republicans.

Common decency would prevent ordinary human beings from trying to persuade other people to act with hostility toward the poor, suffering, helpless people of the world.

They just don't grasp how transitory their own protection from life's hardship can actually be, how close they actually live to total devastation every day. They assume they are totally insulated, and that if they suddenly have trouble, they know enough other people with power who will run to their aid before they ever really suffer, themselves. It doesn't take much to turn a human life completely inside out.

They are proud, without reason, vain, full of hatred toward anyone different from themselves, and ALWAYS moved to feel scorn, contempt for everyone who doesn't agree with them. They imagine themselves as being "superior" to others. It's a delusion they all share, which seems astonishing to every one else.

It always takes the world far longer to put itself together after they have been in power than it took for them to destroy so much progress when they took control. They are quick to harm and injure others, and they never are involved with repairing the damage.
They are "hit and run" politicians.

[Diclotican]

32. Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn

I have known a few of them over the years - but they have never been in any form of real power, and I guess they just stumble true their life - and make a havoc....

He is not a good person, rather the opposite.. I just wonder, why this type of humans sometimes grow up - and start destroying everything in their path... Most of them end up in prison because they did not have the right connection, or they do not have the right "intelligence" to not be put in a prison..

But the few, who did know how to negotiate the dangerous rivers - end up like mr Roberts - in a seat of power, and who destroy everything and all, as long as they power do... To cut out poor people form food stamps, or welfare in the US, will be the same as killing them - or make them criminal because of hunger...

And they believe them self to be that - Superior over all others - even though they are not - not even in their dreams...

And they tend to be able to destroy so much progress who is made in the US... Before 2000 I was believing US was one of the most progressive nations in the world - even with some oddballs who act and talked in a way who just was "stupid" in my view - after the 8 year of mr Bush - and the current administration of mr Obama - I'm not so sure anymore - about the progressive part of the US.. And I do know mr Obama are doing their best to unravel some of the damage mr Bush did in 8 years.. And who republicans have continued to do to the country ever since... It is horrible to look at - from the outside - and even though we do have some "conservatives" in Norway too - who want to tear down what we have managed to build up - all in the name of "secure the economy for the future" they are a very small minority in this country - and I doubt they will be anymore near power after the elections - than before... I use the " to describe the "conservatives" as they are not really conservatives at all - they are far right on the political spectrum - bordering rasism and the rest.. Real conservatives in Norway are still supporting the idea of a a system where the rich and powerfull, protect the powerless - and where at least should be given a decent life..

Diclotican

[Judi Lynn]

34. Diclotican, you are kind to have shown us a vision of a real place

we can think about, a country where people are truly far freer than we are now.

Many of us grew up imagining our country was becoming more progressive, too, and witnessed our country's education system excelling, the illusion of racism nearing its final defeat, the end of capital punishment for a while, before the right started its program of taking control of our government.

It's so good to hear from you that your right-wing fascist element is not so powerful presently. We can ALL hope it won't ever change for your country. Just knowing it's possible gives us all a reason to hope we can someday make it happen here, too. We MUST have that hope!

[Diclotican]

35. Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn

Thank you for your words.. I dot pretend that Norway is a perfect country - or that we are all progressive - but I think we are at least we have been able to have a decent education - who make people think for them self.... And it maybe also help, the fact that Norway as of now - is a peacefully nation, who for the most part disregard the use of military force, over diplomatic solutions... Something I suspect greater powers could use also... And it maybe also help, that religion, is a matter of personal belief, not something you want to push down others throat as it is...

And we do not have capital punishment in our legal books anyway - the last one who was executed in Norway - in peacetime was a man who stole horses - in 1848, he was hanged in a place called Galgeberg, who then was out of Oslo city limits - today it is part of Oslo - but I guess not to many know where the gallows was standing - I know - as one of the first nations in Scandinavia we choose to end the use of execution - at part of enlightenment I guess The last one, who was executed in war time - was after 1945, where the last ones was executed in 1946 Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling is maybe one oft he best known people, who was executed after the war... But first after been in a trial where he had the possibility to explain himself...

Presently, the extreme right have no power in Norway - and compared to what is in US this days - even the more far right of the conservative movements have no real powers - as the more responsible parts of the conservative parties will have no part of them in governance - and for the most part - even Fremskrittspartiet - or the progress party if you want - have local and national politicians who hold the interest of Norway highest han their own small interest. For the most part our politicians is honest - and who maybe be far to the left, compared to what is the case in the US...

You are not alone - and will never be alone Judi Lynn - Even if the media in the US tell you that US is a conservative nation, and it looks like the extremists of the far right more or less have stolen all the power - you are not alone.. Most of us can not do anything to change things from where we are today - at least we can give you all the moral support we is able to give you - and also to show you, that other nations have a rather progressive agenda... Something that even the US can do - if they is able to turn the ship around.. You must remember - the extremist will ALWAYS take it to far - and it will always end in miserable failure when the people discover how horrible they have been treated.. I guess the nobles, in France right before 1779 also believed that the peasants would never try to revolt against them - and was partying right up the revolution - as others did in 1848, and later on in the 1917-1918 revolutions in most of Europa.... When the peasants get angry - no police power - and no army can hold them in shackles..

Stay safe Judi Lynn - you wil never be really alone - even if it looks dark - and it looks like the conservatives (or the far right as I wil put them as) have all the power - sooner or later - the day of reqonizing is there - and they wil pay the prize for what they did ... No one - even not the former President and Vice President wil one day - do the time... Hopefully before than we know..

Diclotican

[Judi Lynn]

37. I deeply appreciate your comments, Diclotican, and references to Norway's own growth.

It's wonderful you take the time to realize how many people there are in this country who absolutely disagree with the foreign policy, and the horrific pain and suffering caused because of hideous choices made by the people who were trusted to do the right things on our behalf.

Will remember your comments a very long time.

Thank you, so much.

[Diclotican]

38. Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn

In the roundup to the Iraq war - where the right wingers was very active even on Norwegian sites - and claiming their was the real americans, and the real ones who supported the President, was the ones who was right - DU was one of the few places you could go to get a perspective on things - to continue the debate about the necessarily of going to war - and if the then administration of mr Bush was sane or not... And the funny thing is -most of them just vaporized in the end - hiding in their own caves.. as the coward they really is..

DU have for me be a place where I could get a whole different perspective of americans - you are not that extreme as some of your right wingers want you to be - most of you are either middle of the road - or want changes to the system NOW... And most of you at least who I have getting to know a little, was right when you was against the war - and was against this horrible, horrible president who destroyed most of what US had of standing - in the 8 year he was in office... He singlehandedly made a mockery of the US, and the damage he did - will last for at least a generation..

Norway is just a little iceland - not even a blimp on the screen of most americans I guess. And I also believe that most of what made us "tick" is maybe not compatible with the US.. The US is WASTE compared to Norway.. But I do hope americans can discover that they can build a just society based on respect and in trust - and the ability to work together to a goal. I'm just a single man in Norway - but I think we have made it pretty good here - even though we might have a few glitches here and there who need to be fixed... (We have a lot of glitches but hey I think we have it under control, of sorts )

Thank you, that you will remember me even after along time - at least the comments - and I have just to repeat myself here. You are not alone - you might se just darkness now - but you have friends all over the world - America are not alone - your "power" is not broken yet.. Stay in there. It will be a better day - down the road - the crazies can not survive forever in power.. Sooner or later, americans will wake up - and understand what horrible crimes have been doing in their name - and react to it... As Churchill once is famous to be quoted - Americans tend to do the right thing - after trying the opposite for a while..

Diclotican

[magic59]

16. Only 36 billion dollars?

That's about one week spent on the Iraq war. Just shut down the Pentagon for a month.

[AsahinaKimi]

18. Another reason

To hate Republicans.

[reggaehead]

19. How come they never say

We have to cut defense spending to save it?

[blkmusclmachine]

21. Heard that the US gives Israel over $8.5 Million in US tax dollars EVERY DAY

for "Military Relief."

Start there first.

Yeah, thought so...

[Judi Lynn]

24. Oh, it could happen any time. Or possibly NOT.

Why quit when we are so impossibly more powerful than the entire rest of the world together? Gotta increase that advantage!

[rks306]

20. It's Time for the POOR

Facebook $400 million, GE $3 billion just to name some companies that got tax refunds. Just think how many food stamps that would buy. Possibly poor people could by healthier food if the greed would stop.

[Judi Lynn]

25. It's against the Republican religion, regardless of what their "Good Book" tells them. n/t

[Newest Reality]

26. He must be driven out of

office in order to retain his seat! That's what his constituents should tell him.

Are they looking to really destroy what is left? It seems that the last thing you want right now is adding more members to the vast amount of disaffected people with nothing left to lose.

Be it intentional or out of pure ignorance, starving people is not just about compassion and concern for their well being, it directly and indirectly impacts everyone else in the structure we call "society".

Perhaps dismantling applies to everything and everyone but the chosen few. Our best interests are no longer be served, for the most part.

Good luck with that.

[randome]

30. And yet he can't explain what's wrong with the program.

I wonder if the problem is...too many people need food stamps.

We should all email the bastard and ask him what he means by 'implode'.

[olegramps]

31. The GOP's reasoning on Food Stamps is the same as it's reasoning on immigration.

Why feed all those poor children who willl only grow up to vote for Democrats. The survivial of the party is dependent on how many of the 47% we can starve to death and deny health care.

[RKP5637]

36. When one is on the Cock Brothers payroll, this is what you get. When will

Kansas change the name of the state to the Cock Brothers ... and just get it over with ...

[tabasco]

39. What a good Christian man!

I'm sure he'll be at the right hand of Jesus in the Promised Land.

[markiv]

40. food stamps have always been ag price supports, first

not that there's anything wrong with that

but 'free cheese' was born out of an analysis of the cost of refirgerating milk stored in the form of cheese, that it would be cheaper to give it to the hungry, than withhold it in refrigeration

'free cheese', was about reducing the cost of the dairy subsidy

[Ken Burch]

41. "We found we had to STARVE the village in order to save it"?

And he probably thinks he makes up for it by being photographed handing out Christmas baskets.