All of a Sudden Conservatives Have Become Socialists!

We shouldn’t take refugees when we aren’t even taking care of our own homeless and poor, especially our veterans!” -Conservative Response to the Refugee Crisis

This is a common response to the refugee crisis I’m hearing from many conservatives/Republicans (who are more than likely also Christians).

Why is it when an international crisis hits (a crisis our gov’t created) all of a sudden conservatives want social programs that help our poor and homeless first? Who says these things aren’t already being done? Why is it either/or? Why can’t we do both? Who says we would be paying for it all? Refugees have families and centers to get help from? Should we not help not only the vet who is homeless, but also the refugee in whose country we created a monster we armed and in turn ran the people out with fear and violence?

I never hear much about the poor and homeless being helped by the gov’t from conservatives until something like this happens. Why? Most oppose gov’t intervening in those things and letting private citizens deal with it. It’s like all of a sudden conservatives have become socialists and support policies that promote social programs!

In fact, conservative policy makers across the nation have made or attempted to make homelessness a crime! They’ve placed spikes in common places the homeless sleep and make feeding them a crime. Washington conservative policy makers have also made cuts to programs that help these people. Many conservatives I know personally staunchly oppose any form of socialized care for American citizens from healthcare to welfare.

The inconsistency is utterly disgusting. And the excuse of “the refugees may kill us” doesn’t hold water in light of facts. Homeless people, even homeless vets, kill people and have mental health issues that cause them to be violent.

This all comes down to fear and unwillingness to accept responsibility, adhere to American values as I pointed out in yesterday’s post, and to do what is right, good, and humane.

Give me your tired, your poor, 
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: 
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” Emma Lazarus