I generally dislike entering a cat fight (letter “Democrats need poor to be poor,” by Tom Green) where the debate is which political party will best assist the poor. I work with those who are poor, most often the poor who are homeless. Occasionally, I directly hear their frustration about all politicians. The letter-writer wrote: “The poor … understand that the Republicans want a better life for all Americans and want them to get off welfare and food stamps and gain self-respect by earning a living by actually working. They also understand that by doing that they can aspire to a better lifestyle than living on welfare, and that they can pass that opportunity onto their children.” I will pause before I address the prejudice and ignorance in this comment to say, yes, most can agree with this. The “pause” is that what constitutes welfare must be addressed, to note that the mortgage interest tax deduction for homeowners, which likely Mr. Green takes and which I also take, is the largest welfare at work in the USA today. It is direct aid for homeowners and exceeds direct aid to the poor.
More to the point, I would like Mr. Green or anyone to direct me to legislation passed by the majority House of Representatives party that assists the poor to do what the author describes as a worthy goal. Or for that matter, direct me to legislation passed by the Washington state Senate. These are two bodies controlled by Republicans. I’d even appreciate legislation proposed by Republicans to better the lives of the poor that did not pass. Show it to me. Show it to all Americans. I don’t think it exists. Instead we see cuts to anything that would help the poor, even to obtain jobs, and more of what we see is legislation that provides or proposes additional tax breaks for the wealthiest.
We in America have never had as wide a gap between the wealthiest and the poorest in our history. So, show me what Republicans, and even what Democrats, are doing to narrow this gap. Indeed, the poor are as frustrated as I am with most politicians. But let’s be honest. What Republicans say they want, if accurately stated by Mr. Green, and what they do, are worlds apart. The conclusion he makes that either party wants the poor to stay poor is not even worth comment.
The Rev. Bill Kirlin-Hackett
Director, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness
Lynnwood
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