Critics condemn ‘cruelty’ of state opting out of federal problem to feed children from low-income families during summer break

Mississippi is withdrawing from a federal program to feed children during their summer break from school, the governor there announced, characterizing the decision as a way to reject “attempts to expand the welfare state”.

Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, declined to participate in the federal program that would give electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to low-income families to supplement food costs when academic classes are out of session, Mississippi Today reported.

“The cruelty of being the poorest state in America and choosing – choosing – to turn down federal aid for poor children to eat,” Hannah-Jones said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Mississippi gave millions of dollars of welfare funds to former NFL quarterback Brett Favre to build a volleyball facility for his daughter’s school, but they won’t take federal funds to feed hungry children. Because helping poor kids is the kind of welfare that Republicans hate,” Boykin said on X.

  • snooggums
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    366 months ago

    I don’t understand how poor people buy into their bullshit. Like, I understand it when explained, I just don’t get how people don’t see right through it.

    • @[email protected]
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      6 months ago

      For some people it’s because it’s garbage in and garbage out. I have relatives that consume only conservative news and claim they don’t believe in facts.

      • magnetosphere
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        6 months ago

        Sometimes I wonder if their subtle misuse of language is intentional, or a subconscious indication of how they view the world.

        Facts are not like religion, which depends entirely on belief. Facts are true whether you “believe in” them or not. You can refuse to accept facts, but they still exist.

    • @CosmicTurtle
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      186 months ago

      “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

    • Blaster M
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      66 months ago

      They have Fox News on the TV 24/7, that’s how.

    • @afraid_of_zombies
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      26 months ago

      I imagine it is our never ending ability to rationalize the situation we are in.