Who's Paying for the GOP Tax Cuts for the Mega-Rich?

As you are probably aware, since the Republican party has been in control of the Congress and the White House, poverty in the U.S. has climbed steadily. Some folks would suggest that putting off permanent tax cuts for Wall Street and the hyper-rich would be the best way to reduce the number of Americans living in poverty.

But under GOP leadership, the U.S. is cutting the number of poor Americans in a different way: U.S. Ranks Low on Newborn Survival

America may be the world's superpower, but its survival rate for newborn babies ranks near the bottom among developed nations.

Among 33 industrialized nations examined in a new report, the United States tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with a death rate of nearly 5 per 1,000 babies. Only Latvia had higher mortality figures, with 6 per 1,000, according to the report by the U.S.-based Save the Children.

"We are the wealthiest country in the world, but there are still pockets of our population who are not getting the health care they need," said Mary Beth Powers, a reproductive health adviser for Save the Children, which compiled the rankings based on health data from countries and agencies worldwide. ***

The lack of national health insurance and short maternity leaves in the U.S. can lead to poor health care before and during pregnancy, increasing risks for premature births and low birth weight, which are the leading causes of newborn death in industrialized countries.

But rest assured (and in peace) dead American babies: For a time the GOP really, really cared about you -- but then you were born.