Throughout history, women have been acknowledged as the caretakers of the family and of society in general. They play a major role in moving the political atmosphere and shaping the United States.
Women are the backbone of community services, the healthcare field, health services needs and demands, economics, foster home care, major organizations and as volunteers. (Women) Instead of receiving support and appreciate for their efforts, it appears as if they have become the major focus of Republican budget cuts, along with the elderly, poor, disabled and mentally ill populations of the United States.
Unfortunately, it also appears as if major support or access systems for the low and middle-income populations are being removed or jeopardized due to the current proposed Republican budget cuts.Some of the programs influencing women and children in the nation are HUD, WIC, Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, National Drug Intelligence Center, Law Enforcement Wireless Communications, US Marshals Service, FBI, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Juvenile Justice, COPS, Legal Services Corporation, Food Safety and Inspection Services, Job Training Programs, Community Services Block Grant, CDC, Poison Control Centers, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Energy Information Administration, Energy Efficiency and Energy Reliability, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Economic Development Assistance, Minority Business Development Agency, Planned Parenthood, Head Start, Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies.
"Even if you put aside cuts in support for children, women are still more heavily hit," said Yvette Cooper, shadow minister for women and inequalities. "Women are more affected by the cuts in things like housing benefit, cuts in upratings to the additional pension, public sector pensions or attendance allowances, and they benefit less than men from the increases in the income tax allowances. Even putting children aside, they are hitting women hardest." (Guardian) In the October 21, 2010 issue of Guardian, Cooper also wrote an article stating that budget cuts in banks were hitting women and children more than anyone else.
Political predators
Predator animals take advantage of the weakest prey that is readily available, focusing on the young, the weak and the ill. Predators do not have to physically kill their prey, as long as the act of predation results in its death. Successful predation results in a gain of energy and power for the predator. (Predation)
The only way for weak prey to drive back their predator is through cooperative attacks – called "mobbing." When mobbing occurs, it usually is in response to a major threat toward the young. In the mobbing process, many things can become affected that pose no direct threat yet are necessary to achieve the predator's goal. Certain segments of society have become the largest predators toward animals and other humans, using society itself, cleverness, political agendas and weapons.
Add women to the list of children, senior citizens, ill, students, and disabled that will be affected by the budget, it looks as if the Republicans are targeting the weakest population of the United States – as a predator would go after weak prey. Yet there are no budget cuts affecting the politicians of the Federal government. In fact, the Pentagon budget is up from last year. In 2007, a 62% price increase was voted in by Alabama's politicians, while in 2008 a 3.9% pay raise was voted in for the Federal government of January 2009, Federal retirees were to get a bigger check and politicians were to receive an automatic pay raise every year afterward. (Pay raise for Feds)
According to the 2011 Wonk Room article "War on Babies," the present Republican budget cut "shows the folly of the GOP's approach to budgeting, which leaves huge parts of the federal budget immune to cuts (like the Pentagon), while taking an axe to non-defense discretionary spending."
The only way for weak prey to drive back their predator is through cooperative attacks – called "mobbing." When mobbing occurs, it usually is in response to a major threat toward the young. In the mobbing process, many things can become affected that pose no direct threat yet are necessary to achieve the predator's goal. Certain segments of society have become the largest predators toward animals and other humans, using society itself, cleverness, political agendas and weapons.
Add women to the list of children, senior citizens, ill, students, and disabled that will be affected by the budget, it looks as if the Republicans are targeting the weakest population of the United States – as a predator would go after weak prey. Yet there are no budget cuts affecting the politicians of the Federal government. In fact, the Pentagon budget is up from last year. In 2007, a 62% price increase was voted in by Alabama's politicians, while in 2008 a 3.9% pay raise was voted in for the Federal government of January 2009, Federal retirees were to get a bigger check and politicians were to receive an automatic pay raise every year afterward. (Pay raise for Feds)
According to the 2011 Wonk Room article "War on Babies," the present Republican budget cut "shows the folly of the GOP's approach to budgeting, which leaves huge parts of the federal budget immune to cuts (like the Pentagon), while taking an axe to non-defense discretionary spending."
Source: Credit: istockphoto/ Katja Bone
Services affected by Republican budget cuts
- Department of Health and Human Services - In 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services encompassed over one-fourth of the total federal budget, with over 400 different subsidy programs -- the majority involving women and children. Some of the programs listed in a Cato Institute article about the 2011 budget cuts are the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families at a cost of $17,754 million dollars; Children's Health Insurance Program at a cost of $8,903 million dollars; foster care grants $7,403 million dollars, Head Start at a cost of $7.235 million dollars; low income energy assistance at $4,993 million dollars; child support grants at a cost of $4,710 million dollars; childcare development grants at $3,394 million dollars; substance abuse at $3,349 million dollars; child care entitlements at the cost of $2,924 million dollars; Social Service grants at $2,118 million dollars; and the Administration on Aging at the cost of $1,600 million dollars.
- WIC Program, Maternal and Child Health Block Grants, Community Health Programs and the Poison Control Center -- A total of $758 million dollars is being cut from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children) that provides food assistance to low-income women and infants; $210 million from Maternal and Child Health Block Grants which will prevent low-income pregnant women, or mothers and children from receiving health care; and $27 million dollars cut from the Poison Control Center with half of the 2010 calls affecting children under six years of age. The second largest budget cut is $1.1 billion dollars for the community health centers, with one-third of its patients children and the remaining consisting of women.
- Public Broadcasting -- Public broadcasting funds may be cut by $430 million dollars if the Republicans have their way, with a cut of 75% of the money supporting public television and 25% supporting public radio. According to the national NPR, funding for public broadcasting goes directly to 1,300 radio and television stations across the United States – Sesame Street, Nova, PBS Newshour and Story Corps. The article continues with Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) saying, "The taxpayers just can't keep paying for everything." Yet he turns around and says that taxpayers would be better served if the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was forced to function entirely with private funds – still coming out of the pockets of taxpayers. Public broadcasting influences how children learn, provides supportive services for homeless and/or abused women and children. The National Public Radio is deeply unpopular with conservatives who are in office.
- Planned Parenthood – the $327 million dollar budget cuts on Planned Parenthood will result in several thousand unintended pregnancies in the state of Washington alone, adding $11 million new health care costs to the state's budget problems. “It is indeed unjust to hurt women and families with cuts to critical programs like family planning, maternity support services and childcare programs when they're already struggling to get through this recession,” said Jennifer Allen, Director of Public Policy, Planned Parenthood VOTES! Washington. (Planning Parenthood)
- HUD Housing – the budget cut of $530 million dollars for HUD housing at a time when they are already short $6 million dollars will increase poverty neighborhoods without access to quality schools for children – a primary concern for HUD. Its existing residents may or may not be protected with adequate housing. New residents will not have access to housing through discontinued or reduced funding of Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships, or Supportive Housing Programs for the Elderly and Disabled.
Budget cuts target local police and fire departments
A program that helps local police departments hire new officers and also the fire department is also part of a $1.8 billion dollar program cut. (Politicususa) Domestic abuse, sexual and physical abuse of children, and sex trafficking are at a national high. The cuts already are targeting the poor and middle class families, looking as if the Republicans are out to destroy women, children, the elderly and poor people without providing any recourse for assistance in any direction.
With women's programs bearing cuts up to 40%, 75% of the women are being forced to shoulder the burden from budget cuts. This is at a time when working women have lower paid jobs than men, if they can even find a job. Stress in the home will increase domestic violence, substance abuse, and lack of proper care for children, due to budget cuts affecting struggling women and their families.
With women's programs bearing cuts up to 40%, 75% of the women are being forced to shoulder the burden from budget cuts. This is at a time when working women have lower paid jobs than men, if they can even find a job. Stress in the home will increase domestic violence, substance abuse, and lack of proper care for children, due to budget cuts affecting struggling women and their families.
Wages and pensions of the US Federal Government
- Senate – the average salary of each of the 100 Senator is $174,000 annually and holds terms of six years. This is $17,400,000 in wages for one year – six years is $104,400,000 for the senators alone. The president pro tempore and two party leaders receive $193,400 annually – $4,381,200 for six years. In June of 2003, over 40 of the Senators at that time were millionaires, almost half of the Senators in office. As a federal employee, they pay 6.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. "The starting amount of a senator's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of their final salary." (Wiki) For a salary of $174,000, this means every retired senator can be paid $139,200 (if they receive 80%) -- a pension, health benefits and social security benefits. With 413 retired Members of Congress retired senators still alive, they receive full retirement and health benefits, having becoming fully vested after five years of service.
- House of Representatives -- each Representative makes $174,000 annually, the Speaker makes $223,500 with the party leaders earning $983,400. A cost of living is automatic every year with Congress setting the wages. Lifetime benefits are paid after five years, as in the Senate, with a pension, health benefits and social security benefits. With each representative holding a two-year office and 435 representatives in office, that would total $151,380,000 for a two year term for all reps – not including those who have retired and are getting paid pensions, their health insurance or their Social Security, the Speaker or the party leaders wages.
Conclusion
The immense responsibilities of women in the home have long been underestimated and unappreciated. Women who are struggling financially are now forced to choose between feeding their family or paying their bills. Jobs are lost, money is scarce and homes are being repossessed – but only in mainstream America – not in the political sector. Stress is high and mental conditions are developing. The majority of people who are in trouble rely on government programs as a primary source of assistance -- food through food stamps and vouchers, to pay utility bills and disconnect notices, mental health services, and dental and medical assistance for emergency situations.According to the Guttmacher Institute, for every dollar invested by the government, $4.39 will be saved by planning pregnancies, providing pregnancy care, health reform, offering state Medicaid, and providing other assistance to the needy. A serious distraction from a woman's household leadership role is made every time she struggles to put adequate food on the table, with the prices of food going up every month and income going down. Medicine and housing are now being added to her list of worries due to the budget cuts. Yet not to worry … the Republicans voted to keep the millions paid to NASCAR annually for costly scholarships to entice military recruits and the tens of millions of dollars paid out to Brazil cotton growers to "avoid" a trade war with the country.
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