South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has likened those who participate in governmental welfare programs to to stray animals, stating that the reason you stop feeding animals is because "they breed."
"You are facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply," Bauer added, according to a report in the Greenville News. "They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior."
Bauer did not respond to a request to comment, but has defended the remarks by saying the comparison was taken out of context.
I don't believe it matters what "context" he intended for these remarks. Not only does likening the poor to animals denigrate the starving poor in our society, but what about the starving animals?
Please join with me and send a letter telling him he should be ashamed of his conduct.
We thee undersigned,
Believe that the statements in your speech likening the poor to stray animals were completely unacceptable. Even though the poor often experience benefit cuts, and eliminations; they're still considered human beings who should be treated with dignity.
These populations experience enough difficult challenges and discrimination in our society, and they should be assisted, not denigrated by our law makers, politicians, or anyone in public office. Changing social welfare policies is one thing, but insinuating government and state benefits as "inhuman" is an umbrage to social justice.
We are informing you that we believe you should be ashamed of yourself for issuing these statements.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
