Making the rounds today . . . an internet meme thanking Florida, Kentucky and Missouri for forcing food stamp recipients to get drug testing. It reads (in part) "It's okay to test people who work for their money, but not for those who don't?"
So let us talk about the 39 million people in this country who get food stamps but are not on TANF (cash benefits). You know WHY they are not getting cash benefits? Because they fall into one of three groups:
1. Low income seniors.
2. Children
3. Low wage employed.
Yep, these people largely are retired, or working for a living. And the largest employer of people who work for a living and get food stamps? That would be WalMart. Got to love those low, low prices.
Why do people buy into the stereotypes of the poor? Florida tried this, and found that less than 2% of the people they tested had drugs in their system. Several studies suggest that it is the lower middle class that have the most access to illicit drugs. And a federal study showed that the largest group of people using drugs--that would be the full time employed.
Why, why, WHY do we continue to demonize the poor? And why, when it happens does not one cry "class warfare"? Suggest the rich should pay more taxes and the conservatives cry class warfare. Suggest the poor pee in a cup to get $21 a week to buy groceries with, and it is just and fair.
Many of my Christian friends are, like me, living through Holy Week, and I just came from one of my two favorite services of the entire year: Easter Vigil. And we walk through the history of God and his people, from the beauty of the Creation Story, to the terror and ugliness of the Crucifiction.
As Christians we have no right to judge (though everyone, including me, does so all the time) But I would suggest that a Christian who is familiar with the Bible would know that God doesn't demand a drug test to offer food. Look at Jesus and the feeding of the 5000. He didn't listen to those who told him it was crazy to try to feed so many people--he just DID it.
And honestly, it isn't like Jesus was drastically changing what God had put before us from the start . . .
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”." Leviticus 23:22
"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deutoronomy 15:11
"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world." 1 Samuel 2:8
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” Psalm 12:5
More thoughts on this after Easter Dinner. Which, thankfully, I am not cooking.
No comments:
Post a Comment