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<DIV><FONT size=2>Apparently most of the U.S. House and Senate Republicans
who vociferously trumpet that they are Christians haven't read
Matthew 25:31 et seq, or else they do not have the wit to understand that in
Jesus' view they are goats.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV id=branding><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/"><IMG id=NYTLogo
alt="New York Times"
src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/nytlogo110x16.gif"></A> </DIV>
<H2><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html"><IMG
alt="The Opinion Pages"
src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/opinion/sectionfront/opinion_logo_large.png"></A>
</H2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV class=timestamp>March 24, 2011</DIV>
<DIV class=kicker></DIV>
<H1><NYT_HEADLINE type=" " version="1.0">Let Them Eat
Cutbacks</NYT_HEADLINE></H1><NYT_BYLINE></NYT_BYLINE><NYT_TEXT>
<DIV id=articleBody><NYT_CORRECTION_TOP></NYT_CORRECTION_TOP>
<P>Food stamps are part of the social safety net, but they work more as the
ultimate ground-level crutch for Americans staggering against poverty. During
the recession, food stamps were an important factor in helping an estimated 4.5
million Americans stave off the official poverty (no more than $21,756 annually
for a family of four) that engulfed nearly 16 percent of the nation. The stamps
are win-win: $9 in fast economic stimulus for every $5 spent on food for a
hungry family. </P>
<P>Sad wonder, then, that cuts in food stamps are the latest proposal heading
for the House Republicans’ budgetary chopping block. An attempt to set them back
at the levels of 2007 — and cost a family of four $59 out of their $294 monthly
allotment — is part of welfare “reform” legislation being proposed by leaders of
the powerful Republican Study Committee. This group, embraced by two-thirds of
the House majority, is the conservative engine driving much of the
deficit-slashing mania to extremes. </P>
<P>Even last year, when the Democrats controlled the House, the political
vulnerability of food stamps was clear as sleazy budget deals were attempted to
tap the program to protect farm subsidies and other power blocks. Now the threat
is worse as Republicans wildly estimate that they could save $1.4 trillion
across a decade in cutting the full array of welfare programs — yet still help
down-and-out families. </P>
<P>Vicious politics is already in the mix, including a surly provision to deny
food stamps to any family that includes a worker on strike. </P>
<P>Surely hard times should find public servants protecting the neediest first,
not targeting them for crumbs from a program more vital to society than another
tired round of antiwelfare politicking. </P></DIV></NYT_TEXT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
size=2>___________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><?xml:namespace
prefix = st1 ns = "qv9" /><st1:bcv_smarttag w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 24pt">Matthew
25:31</SPAN></B></st1:bcv_smarttag><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> et seq<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Young's Literal Translation of the
Bible</I><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>[The Words of
Christ:]<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>31<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘And whenever the Son of Man may
come in his glory, and all the holy messengers with him, then he shall sit upon
a throne of his glory;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>32<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>and gathered together before him
shall be all the nations, and he shall separate them from one another, as the
shepherd doth separate the sheep from the goats,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>33<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>and he shall set the sheep indeed
on his right hand, and the goats on the left.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>34<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘Then shall the king say to those
on his right hand, Come ye, the blessed of my Father, inherit the reign that
hath been prepared for you from the foundation of the
world;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>35<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>for I did hunger, and ye gave me to
eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye received
me;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>36<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>naked, and ye put around me; I was
infirm, and ye looked after me; in prison I was, and ye came unto
me.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>37<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘Then shall the righteous answer
him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and we nourished? or
thirsting, and we gave to drink?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>38<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>and when did we see thee a
stranger, and we received? or naked, and we put
around?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>39<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>and when did we see thee infirm, or
in prison, and we came unto thee?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>40<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘And the king answering, shall say
to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did it to one of these my
brethren—the least—to me ye did it.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>41<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Then shall he say also to those on
the left hand, Go ye from me, the cursed, to the fire, the age-during, that hath
been prepared for the Devil and his messengers;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>42<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>for I did hunger, and ye gave me
not to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me not to
drink;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>43<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>a stranger I was, and ye did not
receive me; naked, and ye put not around me; infirm, and in prison, and ye did
not look after me.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>44<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘Then shall they answer, they also,
saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or
naked, or infirm, or in prison, and we did not minister to
thee?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>45<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>‘Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these, the least, ye
did it not to me.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT size=3>46<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">And these shall go
away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life
age-during.’</SPAN></B><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
size=2>___________________________________________________</FONT></DIV><FONT
size=2>
<DIV><BR>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>