This story may be seen as a continuation from
Trapper John's post "GOP to working Americans: Drop Dead".
Today, front page, the Detroit Free Press/Detroit News' front page declared "Working poor suffer under Bush tax cuts."
http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2004/taxes/index.htm
More...
A six-month Detroit News investigation showed that as a result of the withering government assistance, working poor and destitute Americans are increasingly likely to be placed on waiting lists for help, receive reduced services, or be denied service entirely.
The News, after interviewing scores of people across the United States and examining thousands of pages of federal and state financial records, determined the loss of services cost many poor Americans more money than they saved from the tax cuts.
In many cases, the poorest lost services and got no tax cut at all.
I hope you take the time to read the 3 links from this main article.
Child Care - Pinch blocks rise from poverty
I don’t think you understand what it is like when you have to make a choice between working to feed your child and paying for day care,” Burgess said. “Nobody should have to live like this. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
Hunger - Meals on wheels pares back from hot food to frozen
In Detroit, shut-in seniors on the waiting list for federally subsidized hot meals face a harsh reality: They won’t get help unless someone currently in the program drops out or dies.
Utility help - Poor juggle bills as heat aid dries up
In George W. Bush's America, these people will not be helped.In George W. Bush's America, these people do not deserve to be helped. Compassionate conservatives tell me these people are lazy, and it is their own fault. Compassionate conservatives tell me that it is not government's job to help people out. Redistribution of wealth is class warfare, and although it is fine that half of our taxes will fund a war that kills the working poor in Iraq, we are not obligated to help these people out. Conservatives on my company's message board are proud to spout out "give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he will eat for life" when discussing welfare related programs.
We are witnessing the hijacking of religion in this country, where Christians are being told to vote for the candidate that will outlaw abortions and gay marriage, but will do nothing to help the less fortunate. We might be the only country on this planet where the poor are seen as the enemies, and we take joy in beating up on the poor when we can. Although Jesus's biggest message may have been loving your neighbor and helping the poor, abortion and gay marriage are now the biggest threats to our society. White, upper class America - please take your tax cut and give yourself a pat on the back. You've done good for yourselves, and it won't be your kids who have to pay for those tax cuts. White, middle class America - give yourself a pat on the back too. Although things aren't as good as they were for you four years ago, you got that $300 rebate check and you'll be damned if two men can get married or if a poor woman can get a legal abortion. Besides, those poor people don't live in your neighboorhoods, so out of sight out of mind, right? The only time you have to have contact with them is when you drive your SUV up to the drive through.
The working poor are the forgotten Americans.