Wednesday food service at the Lee County Enrichment Center,
Wednesday's Meals on Wheels delivery, and the center's ramp-building projects
will cease on May 15, 2013. Why? The sequester, of course. How much money are we talking about
here? A measly $12,000. (see second link below)
Why, oh why, must deserving
Americans have their federal aid cut when we send billions of dollars to nearly
every country on the planet, including the ones who don't like us (see first link below), while places
like the Enrichment Center have to cut services due to a lack of just $12,000?
The short answer is because the sequester was
written that way on purpose. The idea
was to make the sequester so distasteful to both Republicans and Democrats that
one side would blink and give in.
Neither side did. So we Americans
are stuck with the required sequester cuts to our social programs and military
(the 'babies' of the two parties). Other
cuts have been made, too, but cuts to these 'babies' were supposed to make
someone say 'Uncle'.
Enrichment Center Director Debbie
Davidson is helping those affected by the cuts to contact Renee Ellmers, Kay Hagan
and Richard Burr, the three congressmen for Lee County. Good idea, but I hope those aren't just calls
to request more money since that will likely lead to more taxes down the road. Instead Ellmers, Hagan and Burr need to be
reminded that when budget cuts are made (and face it, they must be made), the cuts should be made in foreign aid, not in
programs that take care of Americans who are truly in need. We all need to call our congressmen about
this actually.
Director Davidson also says that the state provided 'a
little extra funding' and that 'private donors have also stepped up' to support
some other Enrichment Center events in danger of cancellation. Fantastic!
(Seriously fantastic! I am not
being sarcastic here.) The Enrichment
Center, and other entities like it, should
be supported by state and local governments, businesses, and private citizens
and organizations. Right now would be a
good time for businesses, private citizens and organizations to support the
Enrichment Center. They only need
$12,000.
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