This Detroit News article, by Deb Price, is one of the most jaw-droppingly unfair pieces of journalism I’ve ever read. A total hit job, with almost no attempt at evenhandedness. The headline: “Federal cutbacks threaten poor.” The lede: “Congress’ plan to slash up to $50 billion from federal programs threatens tens of thousands of Michigan families who receive Medicaid, food stamps and help in collecting child support.” The article goes on to quote a bunch of folks who attack the budget proposal, and they say things like “without help, we’d be starving” and talk about people being “denied access to those life-sustaining services.”

What’s all the fuss about? As Price notes, deep in her piece, there is an effort underway to reduce the annual rate of growth in federal entitlements from 6.3 percent to 6.2 percent. And thus, journalistic hysteria.