The 'Let them starve' Bill

According to the BBC's article "US lawmakers vote to cut food stamp benefits from 2014", US lawmakers have just recently passed a bill that would trim the fat on our current food stamp program, amounting to about 5% of the program being cut starting next year. This amounts to about $4 Billion per year. All of this after being told by the White House that the bill would be vetoed. Why is this worth reading? Because it is interesting to see exactly how far removed some of our leadership seems to be from the situation, and how that can effect decision making and policy. Now, it is real easy to look at the title of this article and think that US Lawmakers genuinely do not care about citizens in need of government assistance, but I assure you, this is not the case. The budget aims to save that 5% by allowing states to impose work requirements (for those who are capable of work, obviously) and test applicants for drug use. In addition to this, it would end benefits for able bodies adults without dependents who for some reason receive benefits indefinitely at present.

Pictured left to right: Gucci Sunglasses, food, gullible President 

The White House's response was to threaten to veto, stating that this broad stroke would affect an even broader demographic. with the Congressional Budget Office stating that if the bill were passed "up to 3.8 million people could lose their benefits next year". But is this really such a bad thing? According to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), "the food program bill has tripled since 2004 and cost about $78 Billion last year". So, in essence we are trying to drop that down to $74 Billion in spending, and as a direct result everyone is going to starve? I call shenanigans. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, one of the driving forces in this push for food stamp budget cuts has said it was "wrong for working, middle-class people to pay" for the abuse of the program. After reading exactly how the budget aims to save this 5%, it seems to me that the only people who need to worry are those that are currently abusing the program.