(no subject)
May. 17th, 2005 07:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neadodsWhen I first heard this theory, I thought it was right up there with tinfoil hats, Bigfoot, and "the Government put a radio chip in my brain." The theory: That government approval of faith-based charities wasn't just a breach of church and state, but the first step in the elmination of state support programs entirely as part of the push to recreate the US as a theocracy.
Now, I have no doubts about the theocracy part of that - the calls to return the US to its supposedly Christian roots have been pretty obvious. But surely the Dominionist theocrats wouldn't openly try to dismantle the post-Depression social safety net in favor of church-run groups, would it? Abortion, gay civil rights, science in the schools - all this is fought at the local level. It would be just too obvious, not to mention unConstitutional, to dismantle things on a federal level. Nah, that had to be a totally wild theory.
Then I read the front page of this morning's Washington Post:
Bush has pushed for increased funding for religion-based groups while proposing deep cuts for many traditional anti-poverty programs. The result is that many small church- and community-based social service programs are slowly assuming the lead role in the war on poverty once held by long-established community development organizations. It continues, Bush's 2006 budget proposed slashing public housing subsidies, food stamps, energy assistance, community development, social services and community services block grants -- programs that for decades have constituted the federal anti-poverty fight... At the same time, Bush's budget proposal for next year contemplates adding $385 million in new religion-based programs to this year's eventual total. The federal government awarded more than $2 billion in such grants in 2004 -- nearly double the amount awarded in 2003... While the anti-poverty groups are confronted with an uncertain future, church-based organizations that often provide similar services but often have less experience are flourishing.
Check your blood pressure before reading the paragraphs defending why the church groups should be permitted to discriminate by religion.
Now, I have no doubts about the theocracy part of that - the calls to return the US to its supposedly Christian roots have been pretty obvious. But surely the Dominionist theocrats wouldn't openly try to dismantle the post-Depression social safety net in favor of church-run groups, would it? Abortion, gay civil rights, science in the schools - all this is fought at the local level. It would be just too obvious, not to mention unConstitutional, to dismantle things on a federal level. Nah, that had to be a totally wild theory.
Then I read the front page of this morning's Washington Post:
Bush has pushed for increased funding for religion-based groups while proposing deep cuts for many traditional anti-poverty programs. The result is that many small church- and community-based social service programs are slowly assuming the lead role in the war on poverty once held by long-established community development organizations. It continues, Bush's 2006 budget proposed slashing public housing subsidies, food stamps, energy assistance, community development, social services and community services block grants -- programs that for decades have constituted the federal anti-poverty fight... At the same time, Bush's budget proposal for next year contemplates adding $385 million in new religion-based programs to this year's eventual total. The federal government awarded more than $2 billion in such grants in 2004 -- nearly double the amount awarded in 2003... While the anti-poverty groups are confronted with an uncertain future, church-based organizations that often provide similar services but often have less experience are flourishing.
Check your blood pressure before reading the paragraphs defending why the church groups should be permitted to discriminate by religion.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 01:02 pm (UTC)If you need more evidence, go check out http://www.theocracywatch.org. This site has been documenting the Religious Right's encroachment of the Republicans and thus of the entire government, and everything they link to is real.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 01:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 04:05 pm (UTC)Interesting that the question came from Centralia MO. That's only about 12 miles from me. It's a tiny town of less than 4,000 people.
Sandy
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 05:16 pm (UTC)The other half of the faith-based aid --- since the lion's share is going to go to Christian charities simply because there are more Christians in the country than other faiths --- is that the primary focus of helping people is going to include telling them that their real reward will be in Heaven and that any tribulations they face in life are simply God's way of testing them. It's a mindset I saw a lot back in the days when I was Christian and it bugged me back then too. If I'm destitute, telling me things will get better after I die is all well and good, but job training would be perhaps be more effective in making me no longer poor.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 06:03 pm (UTC)must go to public purposes and can't be used to promote
ideology," he wrote, "the fringe groups lose interest."
Say WHAT??? What is this whole "faith-based" bullshit about, if it's not public money being used to promote Christian ideology? Oh, but that's different...
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 05:01 pm (UTC)Considering the way the poor are being treated, my bet is that the first goal is to shut down sectarian relief, and the second is to let the overburdened religious relief shut down from exhaustion.
Actual help for the poor isn't the point, I'm betting.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-17 04:57 pm (UTC)