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‘No One Died Of Hunger During The Great Depression’ Claims Fox Commentator

Proving once again that Fox News commentators aren’t qualified to speak in public, John Stossel makes some ridiculous and historically inaccurate comments on “Fox & Friends” May 30th.

Stirring the pot once again on the national debt, Stossel and ‘friends’ discuss different ways to bring it down. {more on that below}

...speaking of government benefits, Stossel employs two of Fox News’ favorite tactics in one thought–lies and the phrase “welfare state”:

“When people are needy, you want them helped. But think about the Depression. That was before there was any welfare state at all. How many people starved? No one.”

I’m sure I don’t have to point out the inaccuracy here. Of course, Stossel didn’t have a choice but to correct his ‘mistake’ later on his blog, where it was spun to minimize the obvious misinformation presented on the show. Stossel acknowledges that historians note there were deaths due to starvation numbering in the hundreds in New York City alone. http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/06/01/stossel-there-was-no-welfare-s
tate-during-the-great-depression-and-no-one-starved-video/]

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One suggestion? Get rid of the Department of Agriculture. His exact, exasperated, ‘jeez-people-why-didn’t-you-think-of-this-yourselves’ words?

“Agriculture? Farmers do that, you don’t need bureaucrats!”

Let’s take a look at what the U.S. Department of Agriculture really does. On the USDA website is readily available a list of all the programs under their care. Disaster assistance and insurance for farmers and ranchers are two of the programs offered. SNAP (also known colloquially as “food stamps”) and WIC (or Women, Infants, and Children) are another two very well-known programs upon which millions of Americans depend every day. Various environmental programs such as wildfire prevention are also controlled by the USDA. And of course, let us not forget food security. The USDA is tasked with ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply, arguably the one thing most vulnerable to terrorist attack.

Another suggested cut? The Commerce Department. What does Stossel have to say about this department?

“Commerce just happens.”

It just happens, people. Why bother with the Commerce Department? NOAA, for one. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, our national ‘weather people,’ are under the Department of Commerce. Since they are the ones who let people know when they may be facing severe, life-threatening weather, they are kind of important. The Census Bureau also happens to be under the Commerce Department, and since much of our federal budget is based on Census data, this is also pretty important. And what about that essential aspect of commerce–innovation? The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is under the direction of the Department of Commerce as well. http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/06/01/stossel-there-was-no-welfare-s
tate-during-the-great-depression-and-no-one-starved-video/#ixzz2UzioJ2Oa

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