Oklahoma GOP: No food stamps = "Don't feed the animals"

[TheUnknown]

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/07/14/3680185/food-stamp-oklahoma-gop/

In a Facebook post published Monday night, the Oklahoma GOP suggested that the millions of Americans receiving food stamps this year should not be enrolled in the program because “the animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.”

And here's their "apology":

Early on Tuesday afternoon, the Oklahoma Republican Party deleted the Facebook post and offered an apology "to those who were offended" and "for any misconceptions that were created."

"This post was supposed to be an analogy that compared two situations illustrating the cycle of government dependency in America, not humans as animals," wrote Randy Brogdon, the state GOP chairman. "However I do think that it’s important to have conversations about government welfare programs since our dependency on government is at its highest level ever. Quoting President Reagan, 'We should measure welfare’s success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added.'"

[Ultimate Paragon]

I wonder how long it'll take before somebody suggests using a neutron bomb.

[mellenORL]

If you qualify for any amount in the food subsidy program, you're basically a half inch away from the abyss. I wish the general public would learn to just leave it the fuck alone. Or admit they think it's more practical to just shoot accident victims like horses rather than call an ambulance.

[Id82]

Quoting President Reagan, 'We should measure welfare’s success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added.'"

Fucking idiots, most people don't want to be on welfare. I don't see the GOP (the biggest opponent of welfare) trying to make things better for the less fortunate.
They think a solution is to just flat out get rid of it. Like that's going to fix the problem.
"Hey we know you're living on the streets because we took away your government assistance, but hey all you have to do is pick yourself up by your bootstraps and get a job now. Yeah we know the jobs your qualified for don't pay that much and you were probably making more money on welfare because those jobs don't want to pay a living wage. But if you work hard then one day you can be a millionaire like me!
"What my millions? Oh no I was giving 8 million by my father to start a business. What, me pay more in taxes? Don't be silly.

[Ironchew]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

[Ultimate Paragon]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

Racism is far worse in Europe than in America.  Your argument doesn't hold water.

[Ironchew]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

Racism is far worse in Europe than in America.  Your argument doesn't hold water.

It's difficult to dismiss an effect that's been so thoroughly studied. For example, the primary finding of the 2001study "Why Doesn’t the United States Have a European-Style Welfare State?":

European governments redistribute income among their citizens on
a much larger scale than does the U.S. government. European social pro-
grams are more generous and reach a larger share of citizens. European tax
systems are more progressive. European regulations designed to protect
the poor are more intrusive.

...

Within the United States, race is the single most important
predictor of support for welfare. America’s troubled race relations are
clearly a major reason for the absence of an American welfare state.

Nice try though, UP. You're going to have to back up your statements here.

[Ultimate Paragon]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

Racism is far worse in Europe than in America.  Your argument doesn't hold water.

It's difficult to dismiss an effect that's been so thoroughly studied. For example, the primary finding of the 2001study "Why Doesn’t the United States Have a European-Style Welfare State?":

European governments redistribute income among their citizens on
a much larger scale than does the U.S. government. European social pro-
grams are more generous and reach a larger share of citizens. European tax
systems are more progressive. European regulations designed to protect
the poor are more intrusive.

...

Within the United States, race is the single most important
predictor of support for welfare. America’s troubled race relations are
clearly a major reason for the absence of an American welfare state.

Nice try though, UP. You're going to have to back up your statements here.

Alright:

http://www.realclearworld.com/blog/2013/08/racism_is_far_worse_in_europe.html

http://www.realclearworld.com/blog/2013/03/bedlam_boiling_in_budapest_1.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2010/10/18/whos-racist-now-europes-increasing-intolerance/

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2008/01/america-least-racist-country-in-world.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/05/europe%E2%80%99s-biggest-societal-problem

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/13/black-people-unemployed-britain-us

[ironbite]

That's....not even remotely debunking Chew's points.

[Art Vandelay]

Not to mention, you can't refute an actual academic study with newspaper articles and blog posts. I'm honestly quite surprised and a little depressed that this needs to be said.

[Ultimate Paragon]

That's....not even remotely debunking Chew's points.

He claims that the lack of an American welfare state is because of racism.  I claim that Europe is more racist than America, so his argument is invalid.  He backs up his claims, I back up mine.  What's wrong with that?

Not to mention, you can't refute an actual academic study with newspaper articles and blog posts. I'm honestly quite surprised and a little depressed that this needs to be said.

What do you suggest I use, then?

[ironbite]

You're not this stupid.

Ironbite-you're just not.

[Art Vandelay]

Not to mention, you can't refute an actual academic study with newspaper articles and blog posts. I'm honestly quite surprised and a little depressed that this needs to be said.

What do you suggest I use, then?

...Take a wild fucking guess, genius.

[Barbarella]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

Racism is far worse in Europe than in America.  Your argument doesn't hold water.

It's difficult to dismiss an effect that's been so thoroughly studied. For example, the primary finding of the 2001study "Why Doesn’t the United States Have a European-Style Welfare State?":

European governments redistribute income among their citizens on
a much larger scale than does the U.S. government. European social pro-
grams are more generous and reach a larger share of citizens. European tax
systems are more progressive. European regulations designed to protect
the poor are more intrusive.

...

Within the United States, race is the single most important
predictor of support for welfare. America’s troubled race relations are
clearly a major reason for the absence of an American welfare state.

Nice try though, UP. You're going to have to back up your statements here.

Alright:

http://www.realclearworld.com/blog/2013/08/racism_is_far_worse_in_europe.html

http://www.realclearworld.com/blog/2013/03/bedlam_boiling_in_budapest_1.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2010/10/18/whos-racist-now-europes-increasing-intolerance/

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2008/01/america-least-racist-country-in-world.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/05/europe%E2%80%99s-biggest-societal-problem

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/13/black-people-unemployed-britain-us

For the first time, I'm actually agreeing with Ironchew. Sorry, Paragon.

I'd also imagine the European bigotry involves mostly Eastern Europe.

Not to mention, you can't refute an actual academic study with newspaper articles and blog posts. I'm honestly quite surprised and a little depressed that this needs to be said.

What do you suggest I use, then?

...Take a wild fucking guess, genius.

Ask the Europeans on this board, right? If that's the case, that's a great idea. For once, I'm agreeing with you, too.

I like U.P., usually, and he's usually there to stand up for me when the rest of you get too hard on me and I'd hate to not be able to do the same for him at this moment.....however even he says stuff that makes me go "HUH?", sometimes.

To Ultimate Paragon, I'm so sorry.

[Lt. Fred]

The big impediment to the implementation of an American equivalent of the European welfare states is and always has been the white supremacists saying, "Well we can't be helping those people."

It's depressing that a majority of the country listens to them.

Derp

Yeah, son. Racism is way worse in Denmark than South Carolina.