The Heat Is On

In light of this summers extensive heat waves that have devastated so much of America's heartland one thing is perfectly clear food prices are expected to go through the roof. Whether it is corn, wheat, or soy the main sources of food that goes into just about everything that every American buys has been virtually wiped out because of natures reluctance to produce enough rainfall to keep our crops from withering when scorching heat is so prolonged. The biggest problem is the fact that when man relies on nature to support the growing of food sources only to have nature not even come close to producing the rainfall that is so necessary for healthy crop development there lies the disaster in the making.


The heat is really on Congress now to come up with approbations within the newest chapter in the Farm Bill now up for discussion. Already, they are poised to yet again slash and dice more of the earmarked allotment for food stamps just so they can say we are reducing the nations overall budget. This blatant disregard for the safety and health of our nation where monetary concerns play such a pivotal role in legislation while ignoring the plight of millions is just another example of how disconnected our elected officials really are. Some of the already 1 trillion budget that was supposed to go toward the Food Stamp program is being gutted just when the opposite has to happen. More not less funding has to go into the Food Stamp program. The other major concern is that so many Americas now have to rely on Food Stamp assistance just to help maintain a semblance of normality in their lives. Already so many millions live paycheck to paycheck and another million plus live with none at all makes the Food Stamp program literally a life line. With the disaster in our food supply as a result of this summers shortage of rain, oppressive heat, and the reluctance of governments to procure necessary steps to assist farmers in the irrigation of crops just makes for a real emergency for not only the people who rely on Food Stamp assistance but for every person in the United States.


With over 20% of Americans living below the poverty line and so many more are one paycheck away makes it imperative that Congress acts quickly with benevolence and compassion to all the multitudes who have fallen on very hard times. So far what is coming out of Washington is more bipartisan politics. This, rather than dealing with what will be a catastrophe of epic proportions regarding the health and safety of this nation if Congress fails to address the startling facts of what has happened this summer as well as the policies that currently only favor big business and not the American public.


Every 4 years Congress has tried to revamp the nation's nutrition and farm programs. So far the only revamp that has occurred within the past is that corporate farmers still manage to curtail the publics ability to be able to purchase the food that is most beneficial for ones health by inflating food costs. And, now with this summers drought the out look for food prices are projected to jump by over 4%. The timing couldn't be more crucial to the needs of practically everyone that Congress gets it right this time.


Within this farm bill are so many programs that impact the lives of practically every person in the country. What most of the Republican members of congress are trying to do really is unconscionable in the measures they are considering. A total disregard for the nations health when they go so far to eliminate virtually the whole school lunch program and drastically gut the food stamp allotments. A very sad excuse for what they perceive as a blotted government whose spending binges boarder on the assumption our government has become like a person who is addicted to gambling.The fact of the matter is Washington does not have a real spending problem. This nation has an income problem as well as a disjointed tax structure that makes it look like Washington has monumental spending urges. For over 30 years middle wage jobs by the millions has vanished right before our eyes just because of the policies of Congress has made it far too easy for corporate America to shift jobs overseas.



What is proposed in this farm bill is a spending cut in farm and nutrition programs by over 35 billion dollars. All this does is reduce this nations ability to retain health and vitality in order to compete in the growing global economy. We have to remember that a nations overall health, stability, and security lies in the health of it's population. When so much is cut from programs that by design only encourage a nation to retain it's health and vitality now the reverse will happen. More debt will arise, so much more needless suffering of a nations population will continue, and the future security will be compromised. All as a direct result of the way Congress continues to ignore the plight of it's own citizens.


What our congress is actually doing is gambling with this nations health by the way they continue to subsidize the corporate farmer and not providing the means to make it easier for millions of Americas to retain the nutrition that is vital for the health of this nation. Currently farmers who grow corn, wheat, soy, cotton and other crops receive annually over 6 billion in direct payments for a total of over 100 billions dollars. Now with this summers record shortage in harvestable crops the price one will pay for food will seriously impact the health of all. Compounding this scenario is the fact that further cutting of food stamp allotments and the practical elimination of the nations school lunch program will only exasperate a growing crisis.


The real kicker is that agricultural interests keep spending over $120 million to support legislatures and lobby for legislation on this years farm bill. A Republican led assault on the poor, the destitute and the less fortunate is becoming a fast reality. With so much at stake in securing this nations health, returning the nations prosperity, and securing this nations future are all cased aside with in this farm bill as it stand now. The food stamp program is now poised to be gutted by an additional 33 billion over the next ten years. It also makes drastic changes to the eligibility of applicants. meaning it is going to be so much more difficult just to be able to acquire the means to buy food. According to the Congressional Budget Office if this bill goes through as it stands more than three million Americans will loose their food stamp benefits and over 300,000 children would become ineligible for the free lunch program. In total over 300 farm programs all in place currently that impact the health and safety of millions will be eliminated.


The heat is really on Congress to get it right on passage of this years farm bill. But as it stands now millions of Americans will suffer the consequences of a Republican led assault on the very same programs that were set in place to produce the healthful benefits that enable our society to retain the health, the stability, and the vitality to secure this nations future. We can not allow Congress to reacess, under fund or out right eliminate those vital programs that now are becoming more imperative that they be apply funded to meet today's challenges. This, when we know that there is going to be price increases that will curtail millions of Americans ability to secure the nutrition that is so vital for all.