Last Thursday, the SC House of Representatives did something so wrong that words cannot convey how I feel about it:
The South Carolina House voted Thursday to cut all HIV/AIDS funding from the budget, a funding issue that could affect thousands of South Carolinians.
The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force reports there are more than 14,000 people living in the state who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS. About 3,000 people rely on government funds for medications.
. . . Dr. Bambi Gaddist of the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force says when state funding began in 2006, more than 600 people were on a waiting list for medicine. Four of those people died.
Currently South Carolina ranks 8th in newly diagnosed HIV cases and that is up from last year when it ranked number nine. And new infections are hitting young black and bisexual gay men at an ugly rate.
But none of these things seem to be a matter of concern to the South Carolina Legislature.
Apparently it's not enough for South Carolina to be nationally embarrassed by our "Argentinian trailwalking" Governor, our Lt. Governor who doesn't know the difference between stray animals and poor folks and our national Congressman who mistakes the President's speech with Showtime At The Apollo.
We are now entering territory where thing aren't funny anymore. I sincerely doubt that The Daily Show can find anything funny about this dereliction of duty by South Carolina's government to its constituents.
Let's be honest here. The elimination of HIV funding is the culmination of piss poor management by South Carolina's governing body. And worse, it shows where the state's priorities are. It's an ugly indictment on the hypocrisy of the supposed Bible belt region.
It is written that Jesus healed the sick, but I guess things have changed to the point that those who claim to be his followers have no problems with ignoring the sick.
Big hat tip to Rod 2.0 Beta.
1 comment:
South Carolina must be in Glenn Beck's pocket. No more social justice in that state!
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