Given how raucous the 2016 presidential campaign has been so far it’s easy to take one’s eye off the ball. But if you pay attention to what’s going on inside the nation’ capital, it’s arguably a lot more extreme than anything any of the candidates who aspire to govern here have proposed.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the House budget takes 62% of its cuts, “an unprecedented amount” from programs for low and moderate income families and individuals. SNAP (food stamps) would be cut by $125 billion between 2021 and 2016 ending food assistance for millions of low income families. It’s budget proposal inconsistent with the House leadership’s pledge to make poverty reduction a priority. And with the need for food assistance remaining at near record levels, it would make childhood hunger even worse, as well as its negative consequences for the health, education and economic competitiveness of our next generation.
Lest you think the extremists are principally those running for office, many of them are already in office. The damage their policies would do to the most vulnerable and voiceless is severe. They are an easy target because they are children, elderly, or too poor to make PAC contributions or hire lobbyists on their own behalf.
This gets insufficient attention in the mainstream media so easily distracted by candidates slinging mud, (not only at each other but at each other’s wives). That’s all the more reason why nonprofits, philanthropists and advocacy organizations who fight for those so unrepresented must make their voices heard in our national conversation about the future of the nation.
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