Kristof writes eloquently about how our current system breaks up families and, despite the absence of so-called “death panels” actually hastens or contributes to the deaths of as many as 18,000 people every year. To illustrate this, he writes about a loving couple who were forced to divorce in order to protect the wife’s retirement savings so that her ill husband could qualify for Medicaid. Their only other option would have been to spend down all their assets, leaving the wife penniless and caring for a husband with dementia.

That got me to thinking. Aren’t those sign-wielding, gun-toting, anti-government crackpots that have been braying and bullying their way through healthcare town halls the same folks pushing for an amendment to the Constitution defending marriage? Apparently, it’s more important to these people that gays be prevented from exercising a basic human right than it is to protect heterosexual couples from having to split up over medical bills. Like their stance on abortion, it’s a case of “do what we say is right, but once you do, you’re on your own.”

Once again, the far Right proves that the only thing it stands for is hypocrisy. Defense of marriage, my ass.

I would like to issue a public challenge to Ms. Davis to live on the equivalent of a food stamp budget for a month. Get back to me afterwards, Ms. Davis, and let me know if your attitudes have changed. If you would like to contact Ms. Davis you can do so at:

Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov
Phone: 573-751-9768
Post Office Mail: 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 112, Jefferson City, MO 65101

She’s apparently decided that attacking the highly successful summer nutrition program is a good idea. The program provides lunch for children during the summer who would normally receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year.

She actually asks the question, “Is school the only place a child can get a nutritious meal?” Apparently, Ms. Davis didn’t bother to check her statistics. If she had, she’d have found that 12.4 million children live with the daily risk of going hungry(2). So yes, Ms. Davis. Sometimes, it is.

The most laughable part of the press release is when Ms. Davis recommends teenagers address the problem of going hungry by getting a job at McDonalds where “they will feed you for free.” Um…yeah. Because with a youth unemployment rate of 14% (3) (in 2008…it’s probably even higher now) that is just going to be so easy. Not to mention she harps all through the newsletter on nutrition. McDonald’s, Ms. Davis? Seriously?

I am embarassed to live in a state where the residents elect such a rampantly uninformed, uncaring individual.

(1) St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association
(2) Share Our Strength, Facts on Childhood Hunger
(3) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Unemployment Among Youth, 2008