Posted on 05/29/2002 7:14:45 PM PDT by Libloather
NC protesters say human service needs can't be ignored
By GARY D. ROBERTSON : Associated Press Writer
May 29, 2002 : 1:52 am ET
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Donna Dudley of Williamston says she can't afford to pay health care for her 16-year-old son with asthma.
Dudley and others speaking at a rally urging lawmakers to avoid deep cuts to social programs in next year's budget said the state can't afford to ignore the needs of working people during this fiscally challenging time.
"I'm fed up. I can't take no more," Dudley said at Tuesday's march and rally attended by 300 people outside the Legislative Building.
Carrying signs and chanting slogans, the rally participants from the North Carolina Alliance for Economic Justice marched on the opening day of this year's regular session of the General Assembly.
"We want the state to take care of its people," said Dr. Aaron Green, a Chapel Hill psychiatrist who toted an open umbrella overhead hung with signs such as "Cutting Social Services is Unpatriotic."
Many urged legislators to raise alcohol and tobacco taxes and reduce corporate tax breaks to keep essential services in place during the worst state fiscal crisis in decades.
"There's a better way to balance the budget -- not on the backs of poor people or the mentally ill," said Annie Dove, who works at the O'Berry Center, a state institution for the mentally retarded in Goldsboro.
Dove, a developmental technician, said increasing privatization of services at the center will probably lead to layoffs. Low-paid employees already are struggling to survive, she said.
Gov. Mike Easley's proposed budget released last week, which calls for net cuts of $440 million from state agency spending, provided no raises for most state employees.
"They're already working two or three jobs to make ends meet," she said.
Legislative budget-writers are looking at up to $2 billion in cuts to state agencies for the next fiscal year, with $450 million coming from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Chris Fitzsimon with the Common Sense Foundation said lawmakers will have to choose what kind of budget to provide the state.
"We've got to demand a budget for the people," Fitzsimon said to the crowd. Lawmakers "must choose home health care for the elderly in Edgecombe County or meals on wheels in Allegheny County ... or they can choose a $100 million tax break for banks in North Carolina."
Several activists said spending reductions will lead to higher costs in the long run. For example, a proposal being floated will eliminate the Sentencing Services Program, which recommends to a judge non-prison punishments for criminals.
Eliminating sentencing services as well as drug treatment courts in 10 counties -- a combined $7 million in savings -- would give judges little choice but to put more offenders in costly prisons, without treatment.
"The judge won't have options," said Lao Rubert, director of the Carolina Justice Policy Center. "Every time we spend a dollar on treatment, we save seven dollars somewhere else."
Sen. Bill Martin, the Senate's appropriations chairman for Human Resources, attended the rally and said it raise legitimate concerns. He said finding new revenue -- including possibly a lottery -- will have to be debated.
"I'm hoping that we will be able to find a way not to subject the services of the state to the magnitude of the cuts that are being talked about," Martin said.
Cutting off so-called free stuff isn't pretty...
Dare I surmise that asthma is Mother Nature's idea of population guidance and control?? Perhaps her son should go ahead and expire, pick up his Karma and try again......and not let his mamma bother decent folk.
Record surpluses and the government saved not a penny, and expanded everything they could throw a dollar at. Now the bill comes due, so they're raising cig taxes $.50 a pack and raising house transfer fees 150%.
At least in NC it seems they "blatantly discriminate" against the grasshoppers instead of the ants. Can't say the same for the land of Lincoln and its RINO governors.
Scary thought. Where do these people come from?
Good , we're fed up too, and can't give anymore
DITTO !!!
"If they're going to die, then they'd better do it, and decrease the surplus population."--Ebenezer Scrooge
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
I always did like this passage in "A Christmas Carol".
Der Elite Møøsenspåånkengruppen OberKømmååndø
Social services are patriotic? I see he's from Chapel Hill. I wonder if he attended our Berkley of the East with such creativity exihibited in his sign?
Good grief.
That's only unpatriotic if you live in a Communist country.
How about if we get rid of payroll taxes and give Dudley a 14% raise?
Maybe Ms. Dudley should have been at work earning a paycheck instead of protesting.
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