Here are your death panels

Let's remember that much of our budget shortfall--as with the state budgets--is self-imposed by people who believe in the magic of tax cuts. But here is a situation where that self-imposed budget shortfall and the accompanying "we can't fund everything" will lead to actual people dying. USAID administrator Rajiv Shah testified that this budget will result in the deaths of at least 70,000 children around the world.

Right on cue, the Republican said:

While I understand the value of many of these important programs, the funding request for next year is -- is truly unrealistic in today's budget environment," she said. "We simply cannot fund everything that has been funded in the past. And we certainly cannot continue to fund programs that are duplicative and wasteful."

She went on to say that she would support programs that have national security implications, not realizing that global poverty actually contributes to threats against us--something the military understands. But not the Republican party.

And regardless of whether it ultimately threatens us, it is a direct threat to those 70,000 kids. So, while this same congress will cut funding for Planned Parenthood in the name of life, they will cut funding for poor, non-white, non-American children around the world, and will undoubtedly brag to their constituents that they cut some "redundant" or "wasteful" program.

They will probably have a town meeting that includes a prayer and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. I am beginning to think that Samuel Johnson, were he with us today, would add "Christian" to the quote about patriots and scoundrels.