Ron Paul: Heating subsidies are bad policy

[NNN0LHI]

Pretty easy to say that when you are warm, I bet?

We had our natural gas turned off when it was still cold before and I was laid off.

Don

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-thousands-lose-home-heating-assistance-gop-contenders-have-mixed-reviews-for-the-program/2012/01/08/gIQAael9iP_story.html

<snip>Texas Rep. Ron Paul wants to do away with the federal program altogether. He says federal subsidies are bad economic and moral policy, because they shift money from one group of people to another.

[frazzled]

1. But Bob Somerby calls us "haters" if we disagree with RP

Go figure.

[ProSense]

2. Vast

denial.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002138632

Let it sink!

[ProSense]

3. "He says

federal subsidies are bad economic and moral policy, because they shift money from one group of people to another."

Typical Republican

[joshcryer]

20. Note Romney's snivvling "leave it to the states" response. Most states already...

...have LIHEAP programs.

[arcane1]

4. Coming from someone whose salary is tax-payer funded

Nice try, Ron! Why is it that "morality" always means "money"?

[Honeycombe8]

5. Why do people get heating subsidies but not a/c subsidies?

Just wondering. Obviously, I live in a place that is searingly hot and not very cold, so heating subsidies are not necessary and we don't get them. But a/c is necessary here (seriously...people die from the heat every year), but there are no subsidies for that, that I know of.

[DJ13]

6. Because AC doesnt run on heating oil?

I do agree, I live where it can get near 110 some days in the summer, and an electricity subsidy would be most welcome.

[Marnie]

9. People don't freeze to death from heat.

You do have a point but -20, which is 118 degrees below body temperature has an impact that even 120 doesn't, at only 22 degrees above body temperature.

I've been in temperatures from Texas to NE Maine from -36 to 117. Cold will kill you first, and fast, and heating oil, for older homes, is running about a $600 month these days, or more. And that's the cost of keeping in door temps in the 40's.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. But people do die from heat stroke during hot spells

so the parallel does make sense. The cost of cooling in heat belt areas can easily reach similar levels to that of heating in cold areas.

Subsidies for cooling would mitigate the heat stroke risks for low-income seniors and those with compromised health.

[Honeycombe8]

14. It doesn't take much for the elderly or weak to die from heat.

It happens every year, even in temps that are less than 100 degrees. Sometimes churches will pass out free fans, but there's no subsidy for a/c. Those people don't have a/c because they can't afford (1) the bills, and/or (2) the a/c unit.

I hear you when you say you've experienced our extreme heat. But passing through is not quite the same as living in it day after day. If you don't have a/c, you don't get a chance to cool off and get your body temp down. My groceries will melt in my car on the 10 minute drive home from the grocery store.

My a/c bills for a small house, kept at between 80 and 85 degrees can run several hundred dollars, for just me and some pets. My unit is old, though, and my house not well insulated.

But $600 is a lot more than $300, so maybe that's why there's a subsidy for that and not for a/c.

[joshcryer]

18. I'm not sure where this is from, LIHEAP covers both heating and cooling.

And I'm 95% sure they're talking about LIHEAP here (my confidence went up a bit due to finding some more articles on New England Heating Assistance Programs, which come from LIHEAP).

[NNN0LHI]

11. I would be all for such a program

Had our electricity cut off too once.

Don

[joshcryer]

16. They don't mention the 'program' in the article but 90% it's LIHEAP.

These people have no souls.

[joshcryer]

15. LIHEAP covers both heating and cooling.

[sunwyn]

7. We haven't been able to afford propane so far this year.

Thank goodness it's been a mild winter and we have a fireplace. I really wish these asshat's had to live like the majority of us.

[Kalidurga]

8. Seniors turning to icicles is a much better idea...

than taking a quarter from a rich person and giving them money for heating.

I agree there should be some subsidies for A/C as well. I lived in Tennesee for two years the first year I was there the temps got over 100 degrees for several days and my electric bill shot up to a couple hundred dollars a month that I couldn't really afford, but I sure couldn't handle the heat either.

[spartan61]

10. Heating subsidies are bad policy

But subsidies for the oil companies are good policies????? Unbelievable!!!

[joshcryer]

17. The cons don't believe that tax cuts and deregulation are subsidies.

Though of course, they are, that's their view. Tax cuts and deregulation = good business.

[MiniMe]

13. He is against ALL subsidies, not just heating subsidies.

[joshcryer]

19. Found a more indepth article about New England heating assistance (Obama cut LIHEAP for 2012):

http://www.newenglandpost.com/2011/11/04/in-depth-federal-home-heating-assistance-england-costs-benefits-happen-funding-future/

[gtar100]

21. The nicest thing you can say about Ron Paul is that he's a really nice, well-articulated asshole.

He cares about your and my freedom. And he's willing to set everyone free to a dog-eat-dog world.

All these free-market believers are so quick to attack social programs that help people directly and say very little on the tremendous amount of money spent on corporate welfare. If they really believed in a free market, they would go after that first. But they don't. And that's what makes people like Ron Paul such hypocritical assholes. They would rather have people die on the streets than cut oil subsidies.