Republicans
want to humiliate low-income households that qualify for aid to access the
Internet.
Being poor means a life of sacrifices, frustrations, and constant struggle. So what is it about Republican officeholders that causes them to go out of their way to make life even harder for low-income people?
GOP
governors, Congress critters, and other officials are making access to all
kinds of public assistance, especially food stamps,
as burdensome and humiliating as possible. The latest example comes from the
two Republican members of the Federal Communications Commission.
The
FCC intends to expand its Lifeline program, which makes broadband Internet
service more accessible to people facing economic hardship. That’s a good
thing, because universal access to the Web is essential to America’s
educational advancement and global competitiveness.
Besides, some 70 percent of teachers now assign homework requiring every student to do online searches. So our national interest and simple fairness say everyone should be able to connect.
Even
though the Republican saint Ronald
Reagan’s administration gave Lifeline its start in 1985, the
two FCC commissioners who are Republicans voted against bringing this sensible
idea into the Internet age.
Luckily,
they’re outnumbered on that five-member panel and were outvoted. But they
then demanded a requirement that low-income families must
publicly reveal that they are poor to qualify for this benefit.
The
FCC’s two Scrooges are subjecting these families to a daunting and humiliating
bureaucratic process, which will prevent many kids from getting the Internet
access that everyone needs for education success.
Come
on — the “subsidy” they’re wailing about is a mere $9.25 a month. Compare that
to the billions of
dollars of fraud in the Pentagon budget, which Republicans
approve without questioning.
What
sour, dark smudge on the souls of GOP officials leads them to demean people in
need, preventing them and our society from reaching our fullest potential? It’s
stupid — and shameful.
OtherWords
columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker.
He’s also editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown. OtherWords.org.