Missouri Republican State Majority Whip, Cynthia Davis
From the department of “no comment” — and the great State of Missouri, land of the neo-Nazi adopt-a-highway program — proudly comes Republican State Majority Whip Cynthia Davis.
While 16% of Missouri’s children live in poverty, Ms. Davis went on record yesterday decrying the state’s $20 million Summer Food Service Program for poor children as nothing more than a covert (and implicitly disgusting) “expansion of a public program.”
Ms. Davis’s words are too priceless to paraphrase, so I reproduce below, for your edification, some choice quotes from her commentary, unedited. (You can read the whole thing here.)
“During hard times, many families find it even more important to pull together. Families may economize by choosing to not waste hard earned dollars on potato chips, ice cream, or Twinkies. Perhaps some families will buy more beans and chicken and less sweets.”
“If parents are laid off, that doesn’t mean they stop feeding their children, at least not any of the parents I know. Laid off parents could adapt by preparing more home cooked meals rather than going out to eat.”
“This program could have an unintended consequence of diminishing parental involvement. Why have meals at home with your loved ones if you can go to the government soup kitchen and get one for free? This could have the effect of breaking apart more families.”
“Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. That is what they did when Louisiana had a hurricane.”
“When churches offer a meal, they can serve the individual with a sense of love and caring for those less fortunate. Government cannot match that. Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another.”
“…who created a new rule that says government must make up for any lack at home? The problem of childhood obesity has been cited as one of the most rapidly growing health problems in America. People who are struggling with lack of food usually do not have an obesity problem.”
“Anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: If you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break.“
The NBC/Amy Poehler comedy “Parks & Recreation,” the character of the mayor is a guy who has only one belief: that “government” is horrible, that “government” must be destroyed, that “government” is first and always the enemy of “the people.” Naturally, that’s why he ran for office. It’s supposed to be a parody! But state and municipal governments across the country are infested with these public service-loathing nutbags.
And our newly-empowered Democrats run scared in the face of this nonsense. It’s becoming harder every day not to agree with Bill Maher’s recent rant:
Please let the at least mildly disturbed Rep. Davis know how you feel about her lunch program-hating comments, email her here.
Inspirations and Aspirations 