Weather, as well as agriculture, health programs, remain necessary
The earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan Friday had overwhelming repercussions. When such a catastrophe occurs, thousands of people are struck with fear of losing their homes, their familiar lives and the ones they love — and for many, these fears become reality. I feel as though I’m beating a dead horse by reiterating the horrors of natural disasters, as I would assume most would be sympathetic, but I am grieved to discover that apparently not everyone cares as much about protecting human life as others.
I say this because of the proposed spending budget proposed by the Republican Party to Congress, which is now undergoing debate. According to the Huffington Post, “Tucked into the House Republican continuing resolution are provisions cutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the National Weather Service.” If passed, you can kiss goodbye much of what makes us feel safe from these violent natural debacles. After all, if funds for the NOAA are cut, several programs that would work in a response to natural disasters would suffer, and these are functions that help keep everyone safe here in America and abroad.
But as Bill Maher put it, “In [the Republicans’] defense ... tsunamis are just a theory.”
I have for the past few weeks been writing about and commenting on the GOP budget cuts because the more I research, the more I am startled by their sheer idiocy. Why would funding ever be cut for such necessary weather programs that warn individuals and give opportunity for safety? It shows nothing but severe disregard for others and aspects of daily life we have become accustomed to. What’s next? Cutting funding for food?
In fact, according to The Hill, “The GOP budget cuts $358 million in funding for agriculture programs, including $133 million in cuts to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and a $115 million cut to the Agriculture Research Service.” On top of these propositions, according to Fox News, “the cuts go after common conservative targets, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Amtrak, but also cover everything from law enforcement to NASA.” And if these cuts are not enough, The Wall Street Journal tells us Republicans are also aiming to cut $16 billion from EPA, $2 billion from job training programs and $96 million from substance abuse and mental health services, along with several others. The cuts are enough to make anyone with compassion for the human race cringe.
If the GOP’s grand idea is to cut taxes and cut spending to save us, keep in mind that the trademark initiatives of former Republican presidents, such as the Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush tax cuts, have all been unfunded deficit-heighteners, while those signature plans of the Democratic party, such as “Obamacare,” have been deficit-reducers. I wish more Americans could see the flood of this poor budget judgment.