The Deadliest Dog Fights Are in Washington, DC

We all love dogs. But Atlanta Falcon Quarterback Michael Vick is the recipient of a bloated share of pundit indignation and is wolfing down more than the fifteen minutes of media infamy that he deserves.

Who let the most heartless dogs out?

Which dogs should we growl most about?

Against the rich farmer pit bulls commanding the floor of the House of Representatives decency dictates that we should all shout out.

In Washington there is a Blue Dog Coalition whose powerful intimidation repeatedly wins in a ring surrounded by crooked referee accomplices and equally guilty knowledgeable spectators. The long running lopsided contest has been and remains a lineup of Dogs against the poorest children in America. We should contact Appropriations Chairman Senator Byrd who in tears raged against Michael Vick for his treatment of dogs. Beg the powerful Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee that he not cry only for the four-legged beasts. Beg Senator Byrd to cease his presiding over increases in subsidies for rich farmers while encouraging cuts in aid to families with dependent children.

We should also beg that pundits and commentators please be equal opportunity critics and split their indignation between Michael Vick and the Blue Dog ringmasters: Representative Colin Peterson and forty growling henchmen. The Blue Dog Coalition deserves more than the annual fifteen minutes of exposure of their swindling. This exceptionally well-organized House Caucus mounts a murderous attack on the federal treasury every year. In addition to the enormous crop subsidy there is usually a demand for a few billion extra dollars for drought relief; or for flood relief; or for spinach contamination compensation; or for extended loans; etc. Each subsidy recipient is allowed up to $360,000 dollars per year.

Masters of stealth, the Blue Dogs are as cunning as they are savage. They combine a steady drumbeat against higher taxes and government waste with their loud bugle call to rich farmers to come to get the green gravy. Their clients who enjoy the mega-buck free lunches constitute less than two per cent of the population. To make the treasury safer for the farmers, the favorite sacrificing victims of the Blue Dogs are the welfare mothers who have no claws and no fangs and can't fight back. In the ring for this cynical sport the greatest flow of blood is from the nation's children in need of federal assistance.

Farm industry spokespersons insist that they deserve socialist protections because their products are vitally needed for national security. But the military records for all of our major wars show that in defense of liberty the poor have died in far great proportions than the middle class or the rich. Among the sons of the welfare mothers who are being demonized are the heroes of our next "greatest generation." But the Dogs in the ring press on with their slaughter. Washington is crammed full of regular spectators of this legal show of devouring Dogs.

At some time during this session there will be a reauthorization of the "personal responsibilities" welfare reform legislation. Despite the fact that the Bureau of the Census has documented substantial increases in poverty since the legislation was enacted, the Blue Dog Coalition spin machine has achieved a blanket appraisal declaring the law against welfare mothers a success. While a farm subsidy couple may each receive up to $360,000 dollars for a total of $720,000 dollars, it should be noted that in most states a family of four on welfare receives less than $8,000 dollars per year. While there is no limitation on the number of years the farm subsidy couple may continue enjoying their $720,000 dollar benefit, welfare families are limited to five years of federal assistance.

The Blue Dogs deserve more than fifteen minutes of infamy. Parents should explain the evils of wasteful farm subsidies to their children and not let them learn about it in the streets. On the other hand, all citizens should learn and remember the name of Representative Ron Kind. Because he dared on the floor of the House to seize the meat in the jaws of the killers and morally wrestle with their hypocrisy, Ron Kind from Wisconsin farm country deserves far more than fifteen minutes of fame. Kind and his holy pilgrims were abandoned by the Democratic leadership and left to be massacred by a vote of 325--110. But keep the faith and know that the possibilities of Easter come in the appropriations process every year.

The most deadly dogfights are not occurring in Michael Vick's alleged dog-fighting rings. In Washington we charge that there is gross swindling and misuse of taxpayer dollars and monumental welfare farm subsidy fraud. For the Blue Dog Coalition perpetrators, what is your verdict - guilty or not guilty?