The budget cuts that will leave nothing behind

[Hannah Bell]

STATE BUDGET cuts across the U.S. are wiping out entire networks of social service providers--and worse is to come, according to studies of the states' fiscal crises.

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) in Washington, the states face a combined $260 billion budget deficit in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, setting the stage for the most savage cuts in social programs in decades.

Some typical examples: the cutoff of some 10,000 poor families in Arizona from temporary cash assistance due to shorter time limits; the elimination of 2,350 people in Washington state from a program that provides medical care for those unable to work; the elimination in California of all funding for the state's domestic violence shelter program, as well as maternal, adolescent health programs; and, in California again, the cutoff of almost all funding for services for people with HIV and AIDS.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/09/03/cuts-that-leave-nothing-behind

[Mnemosyne]

1. KnR... n/t

[unhappycamper]

2. Did you ever wonder why this is happening?

The military budget has been around one trillion dollars a year.

Some of the highlights:

$355 million dollar F-22 fighters
$243 million dollar F-35 wannabes
$100 million dollar MV-22 tiltroter aircraft
$40 billion dollar new Ford-class aircraft carrier
$5 billion dollar Zumwalt-class destroyers
$1.4 billion dollar LPDs
$600 million dollar (average cost) LCS ships
USAF uses 4.2 billion gallons of avgas a year
$1 million dollar soldiers in Afghanistan
$280 million dollars a day in the sandbox
$1 million dollar MRAPs


It all adds up.

[WinkyDink]

3. No. Always knew.

[Bragi]

7. Because Americans are the most docile people on earth?

At least Greeks have the decency to burn a few police cars when you screw around with their benefits.

In America, you can ship out peoples' jobs, foreclose on their homes, steal their savings, slash their pensions, and cut their benefits, and what do people do in response?

They go home, sit by themselves and blame themselves for not being smarter, more hard-working, etc.

[truedelphi]

9. You got it, and your sig line is

Righteous.

[onethatcares]

4. the Shock Doctrine in real life

read it.

[WinkyDink]

5. I honestly do not know how the rich can walk around with their throats intact.

[madrchsod]

6. i noticed the article mentioned illinois....

my wife works for a private-state funded facility that takes care of special needs people. the state owes the company around a million so everything is being cut back on those who have virtually nothing. the three yr union contract is coming up and it`s a given there will be no pay raises for at least two years and maybe in the third year of the contract.my wife decided she will push for better working conditions and work rules.no raises is going to be a really tough sell to the membership.

[Catshrink]

8. I read somewhere that the goal, really - to get rid of union contracts and pensions.

If states declare bankruptcy, they will be able to get rid of state employee contract obligations like pensions and renegotiate salaries. This will affect teachers, firefighters, police officers, and all other unionized workers.

[Odin2005]

10. This is why Tom Emmer CANNOT be allowed to become MN governor.

if he wins Minnesota is FUCKED!