I Might Have Been Wrong

When I wrote my January 22, 2010, article entitled "There is no 'war on terror,'" I believed that no one could or would argue that declaring a "war on poverty" meant that the government could then shoot poor people in the streets or imprison them on the accusation of being poor without a trial.

I might have been wrong.

Speaking about poor people and welfare, Andre Bauer, Republican Lt. Governor of South Carolina and candidate for governor of that state, said on Thursday, January 21, 2010, that his grandmother had informed him he should " ... quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed! You're facilitating that problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that."

Apparently, Lt. Governor Bauer believes that the solution to poverty is to starve the poor people until their reproductive organs cease to function.

One may argue that I am taking his comments "out of context" or that "he didn't really mean that." I disagree. I think the comments are in precisely accurate context and that, yes, that really is what he believes, even if it isn't exactly what he said.

The notion that the idea of feeding stray animals and therefore allowing them to breed more stray animals would come to his mind when thinking about poor people fully reveals the context and opens a wide window to know how he feels about poor people. Other human beings. Not to mention hungry and homeless dogs.

According to his web site, "André is a member of Union Methodist Church." Well. I see.

Now, according to the Today's New International Version of the Holy Bible, Jesus of Nazareth told a rich young man, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

I guess Jesus hadn't had the benefit of knowing Lt. Governor Bauer's grandmother. Apparently, she would have set the young preacher straight on what a mistake it was to give to the poor. Thank goodness she was around to help out little Andre.