More Foodstamp cutback wailing

[landofconfusion80]

Are Heartless People Simply Born That Way?

marmar (62,848 posts)







Are Heartless People Simply Born That Way?

from Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality:


Are Heartless People Simply Born That Way?
November 2, 2013


People who cut food stamps — and gut child labor laws — most all had empathy when they came into the world. So what squeezed the empathy out? Analysts are pointing to inequality.
 

By Sam Pizzigati


Scrooge has come early this year. We’re kicking our Tiny Tims. This holiday season, kids in America’s poorest families are going to have less to eat.
 
November 1 brought $5 billion in new cuts to the nation’s food stamp program, now officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
 
Poor families will lose on average 7 percent of their food aid, calculates the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A mother with two kids will lose $319 over the rest of the current federal fiscal year. The cuts could cost some families a week’s worth of meals a month, says the chief at America’s largest food bank.
 
More cuts are looming. A U.S. House of Representatives majority is demanding an additional $39 billion in “savings” over the next decade. Ohio and a host of other states, in the meantime, are moving to limit food stamp eligibility. ...................(more)
 
The complete piece is at: http://toomuchonline.org/are-heartless-people-simply-born-that-way/#sthash.s8VTsOT1.dpuf
 

Break out the Tiny Tim analogies! Tis the season, you understand!

Katashi_itto (3,081 posts)

1. We have glorified sociopaths. Instead of lining them up against walls we've elected them

Last edited Mon Nov 4, 2013, 08:37 AM USA/ET - Edit history (3)

to positions of power. Giving them the opportunity to murder or starve thousands. What does that really say about our society? Can a society become deranged?

Absolutely! Just not in the way that this primitive pictures. The primitive's final expression will be that of confusion when the Socialist Utopia comes to fruition.

CoffeeCat (19,558 posts)

6. I was raised by a Republican psychopath...







Last edited Mon Nov 4, 2013, 09:40 AM USA/ET - Edit history (2)

...and I know my experience is anecdotal, but I believe that many of our societal ills can be traced back to ho we treat children.
 
One in four girls is sexually abused before the age of 18; one in seven boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. Most people think that it is ok to hit children. Many children, who aren't sexually abused are neglected or emotionally abused, and statistics on this kind of abuse isn't documented because the numbers are so difficult to assess.
 
I think our society treats children like chattel. And it happens at all socioeconomic levels. I live in the suburbs, and there are lots of nice families, but there is also a great deal of dysfunction, alcoholism, parents who are unfit.
 
I was abused as a child and I can't tell you how many times I've shared my story--only to have the other person share their story right back. These are people with great jobs, living in the suburbs, with everything looking pretty on the outside.
 
My own experience with my psychopathic Republican father obviously colors my world view. We looked like the perfect family. We were ordered to be the perfect family. Inside, it was a house of horrors. But the lawn was manicured and we were all dressed in designer clothes and in the pews on Sunday, so according to my father, all was right with the world. He would make fun of the homeless, joke around and say, "Hey do you want to take a drive in my Porsche and laugh at how the other 90 percent lives?" He called people who weren't rich "down and outers". He once yelled at our state senator for forcing him to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, which cost him extra money. Never mind that he was a millionaire. Never mind that his wife was disabled. We were at an engagement party, and my father said, "Hey, I think I hear a homeless person scratching at the window. Why don't you go throw out a plate of food!" Oh the laughs that got from him! He knew I was sympathetic to the homeless and other causes, and he took plenty of opportunities to dig in the knife.

If anyone thinks this is rare, I'm sorry to tell you that it is not. All of his friends were like this. They all listened to Rush. They hated weakness and people who were poor--were dirtbags to them. They are also racist as hell. My father would become nervous around non-white people. In his 30 years with his business he hired one African American girl but told me that she didn't work out because "Well, you know why it didn't work out." They're also sexist and mysogynistic. Women and children are their property--objects to be controlled. Oh yeah, my father was also a pedophile.
 
And things are only getting worse. People are more pathological than they've ever been. As the previous posters noted, we glorify sociopathic and psychopathic behavior. These types of people, including my father and his friends, are all very successful, influential people. Their children are all horrendously messed up. I'm the only one in my family who got therapy. My siblings, who are in denial--live lives with eating disorders, alcoholism, suicide attempts, marrying violent abusers, etc. But my siblings all had kids...and the cycle continues. One dysfunctional parent can create dozens of hurting people. I think this is what has happened.
 
We glorify pathology, bullying and dysfunctional adult behavior today. Our politicians and most CEOs are corrupt. And they have power. This is a dog whistle to other abusers out there--that your warped mindset is ok. In fact, it's encouraged. We are a sick society. I've lived a tiny slice of it. I've been in the support groups for families like this. The damage is stunning. Children of attorneys, pastors, dentists, insurance salesmen, coaches...you name it. They were forced to remain silent and endure hell, but everything on the outside appeared just peachy. But, like me, they were too broken to play the game anymore. They end up being the family scapegoats because they just couldn't toe the line anymore.
 
Scapegoats are the most honest children in the family. While everyone else is pretending that all is well--they are the ones "acting out" or doing drugs/alcohol to numb the pain that no one else will even acknowledge. The family points the finger at them. The abusers happily blame them, in order to keep their secrets safe. So, people like us end up in support groups, rehab or therapy. And we find other scapegoats like ourselves and we learn that we aren't crazy or bad. We're sensitive, smart and strong for escaping the crazy world of abusive psychopaths.
 
I talk about this because I think more people need to talk about this. Because this is what is happening in our country. It's not rare. My exact situation may not be common, but abusive household led by these sick Republicans who believe that the poor are punchlines and that women are chattel--are not uncommon. It's epidemic. And people listening to Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh reinforce this pathology. Every day. They're bullies. They're mean. They disparage women. They support Republicans policies that punish the poor, the non-wealthy and the working poor.
 
Talk radio, in my opinion, has led to greater mental illness because it placates these psychopaths into thinking that their abuse and their cruelty is acceptable, even noble.
 
Please know that if you endured family members like this--you are not alone. Please also know that talk radio and political corruption and cruel political policies are NOT harmless. They hurt the victims of those policies, but they also create a general downward pressure on morality and our basic sense of decency.

A shiny new bouncy perhaps? Good thing there are those sinless Democrats out there that serve to balance out the Republicans, huh?

[Freeper]

I must have missed something, when have we tried to repeal child labor laws?

[Bad Dog]

If Coffee Crap can't turn that tale of woe into a SSI disability check this country should be disbanded. 

[obumazombie]

If Coffee Crap can't turn that tale of woe into a SSI disability check this country should be disbanded. 

Thar's gold in them thar shills !

[NHSparky]

I must have missed something, when have we tried to repeal child labor laws?

We haven't.  Matter of fact, we've made it virtually impossible for anyone under the age of 18 to obtain even minimal employment, which means when they hit the workforce between the ages of 18-22, they haven't the first clue what a work ethic is.

Doubt me?  When's the last time you saw a kid pushing a lawnmower through YOUR neighborhood?  When's the last time you saw a HS kid flipping burgers, running farm equipment, etc?

[hillneck]

This CoffeeCat primitive really needs to see her doctor about adjusting her meds.  They clearly are not working for her.

[jukin]

Poor families will lose on average 7 percent of their food aid, calculates the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A mother with two kids will lose $319 over the rest of the current federal fiscal year. The cuts could cost some families a week’s worth of meals a month

Math is just not hard for leftists, it is impossible.

7% of their food aid, not including the free school meals they already get. A week is 7 days and a month is average 30 days. Now the hard part for the stupid voters and journalists; 7/30=23% loss. So is it 7% or 23%? If it is 23% then Bravo!!!!!. If it is 7% better than no cut but still probably less than what King Barky increased them (IIRC approx 31%). So the taxpayer still takes a screwing and the freeloaders are ahead 22%.

I think it will all work out because Obama is increasing our chocolate ration from 30 grams to 25.

[dutch508]

I started reading coffeecats post and I had to go back up and check if it was the undergroundpanther posting...

[Ballygrl]

1st of all food stamps were supposed to be a supplement not a be all end all, also food banks share recipient info with other food banks, why? because of the abuse going on, people using some of their food stamps and selling the rest, then they go from food bank to food bank to food bank, not all of course, there are some nice decent people going through tough times, but there are quite a few abusing the generosity of others.

[Freeper]

We haven't.  Matter of fact, we've made it virtually impossible for anyone under the age of 18 to obtain even minimal employment, which means when they hit the workforce between the ages of 18-22, they haven't the first clue what a work ethic is.

Doubt me?  When's the last time you saw a kid pushing a lawnmower through YOUR neighborhood?  When's the last time you saw a HS kid flipping burgers, running farm equipment, etc?

No that can't be, the DUmmy said we were so it has to be true. They would never lie. Maybe he just misspoke.

[freedumb2003b]

1st of all food stamps were supposed to be a supplement not a be all end all, also food banks share recipient info with other food banks, why? because of the abuse going on, people using some of their food stamps and selling the rest, then they go from food bank to food bank to food bank, not all of course, there are some nice decent people going through tough times, but there are quite a few abusing the generosity of others.

Ya think?

[GOBUCKS]

We were at an engagement party, and my father said, "Hey, I think I hear a homeless person scratching at the window."

No way. A party drunk might say hobo, democrat, wino, deadbeat, or bum, but never the politically-correct tongue twister "homeless person".

This is just another DUmmy who  cannot write bouncy tales with believable dialogue.

[landofconfusion80]

No way. A party drunk might say hobo, democrat, wino, deadbeat, or bum, but never the politically-correct tongue twister "homeless person".

This is just another DUmmy who  cannot write bouncy tales with believable dialogue.

I wonder why she didn't let him/her/it into the party if she was so concerned?

[thundley4]

The only people that should have had their SNAP benefits cut are the lifetime abusers.  Those that have been on it temporarily following a job loss shouldn't suffer for the abuses on the system by the chronically lazy.

[GOBUCKS]

WishaDU!!!

[BlueStateSaint]

WishaDU!!!

He looks as if he's been feeding on Cheetos and soda.

[hillneck]

He looks as if he's been feeding on Cheetos and soda.

Yeah, probably not the best model to use for that ad.

[Maxiest]

Child labor??? Where the heck did that cone from?

[Ptarmigan]

I must have missed something, when have we tried to repeal child labor laws?

DUmmies do what they do best, make things up.

[GOBUCKS]

Child labor??? Where the heck did that cone from?

Repukes resisted the muslim's attempt to outlaw minors from doing chores on their family farm.

[jtyangel]

CCat cry me a damn river. My father voted for Kerry and is in a beloved union and was a total emotionally abusive asshole and we didn't have the benefits of daddy throwing us millions to ease that abusive pain--instead my ass was thrown out to the wolves after being very sheltered before i was even 18. Still, I move on and go on and don't color my world view because of my father's sins. I know many people have wonderful parents who love them dearly--I'm one of those parents now. I too am conservative and would do absolutely anything for my children(oh I my neighbors and their families too).

Apparently, evil daddy's millions couldn't buy you a good education that included the ability to think critically. That's what he should be most ashamed of is that he raised YOU!You may not see it, but all the hateful, spiteful shit you just accused him of, you are but you think you are different because your anger and hate are directed at someone other then what you think he disliked right?  Stupid and vapid and, yes, hypocritical! A pathetic waste of a person who can't get past her hatred for her daddy and the privileged existence he gave you.

GFY, you silver spooned, ungrateful bitch.

[jukin]

Child labor??? Where the heck did that cone from?

Except for voting purposes, children are now state classified 25 and under. Of course even those children are not able to find work much less do any labor.

[Rebel]

CCat cry me a damn river. My father voted for Kerry and is in a beloved union and was a total emotionally abusive asshole and we didn't have the benefits of daddy throwing us millions to ease that abusive pain--instead my ass was thrown out to the wolves after being very sheltered before i was even 18. Still, I move on and go on and don't color my world view because of my father's sins. I know many people have wonderful parents who love them dearly--I'm one of those parents now. I too am conservative and would do absolutely anything for my children(oh I my neighbors and their families too).

Apparently, evil daddy's millions couldn't buy you a good education that included the ability to think critically. That's what he should be most ashamed of is that he raised YOU!You may not see it, but all the hateful, spiteful shit you just accused him of, you are but you think you are different because your anger and hate are directed at someone other then what you think he disliked right?  Stupid and vapid and, yes, hypocritical! A pathetic waste of a person who can't get past her hatred for her daddy and the privileged existence he gave you.

GFY, you silver spooned, ungrateful bitch.

I love you. 

[BattleHymn]

WishaDU!!!

Is that a real ad?  Couldn't they have found a skinnier kid?   

[Chris_]

Is that a real ad?  Couldn't they have found a skinnier kid?   

His family is too poor to dress him for school.