Log In | Register
Come on, my fellow white folks, we have something to confess. No, nothing to do with age spots or those indoor-tanning creams we use to get us through the | winter without looking like the final stages of TB. Nor am I talking about the fact that we all go home and practice funky dance moves behind drawn shades. Out with it, friends, the biggest secret known to whites since the invention of powdered rouge: welfare is a white program.
Welfare: A White Secret
Seeded on Sat May 28, 2011 8:38 AM EDT
- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (10)
So our confession stands: white folks have been gobbling up the welfare budget while blaming someone else. But it's worse than that. If we look at Social Security, which is another form of welfare, although it is often mistaken for an individual insurance program, then whites are the ones who are crowding the trough. We receive almost twice as much per capita, for an aggregate advantage to our race of $10 billion a year -- much more than the $3.9 billion advantage African Americans gain from their disproportionate share of welfare. One sad reason: whites live an average of six years longer than African Americans, meaning that young black workers help subsidize a huge and growing "overclass" of white retirees.
- 11 votes
#1 - Sat May 28, 2011 8:40 AM EDTSo we white folks have a choice. We can keep pretending that welfare is a black program and a scheme for transferring our earnings to the pockets of shiftless, dark-skinned people. Or we can clear our throats, blush prettily and admit that we are hurting too -- for cash assistance when we're down and out, for health insurance, for college aid and all the rest.
- 9 votes
I think another factor that doesn't get discussed is the pervasiveness of poverty among African American communities. We often hear conservatives insist that the less fortunate should count on better off family and friends to help out when they face dire economic times. This was a widely touted argument against helping the many low income people affected by hurricane Katrina and now more recently after the devastating storms throughout the southern Mid-West. This comes from an overwhelmingly ethnocentric ruling class that assumes that poverty is a choice and that the less fortunate must certainly, like them, be related to someone with a surplus of funds who would be willing to personally help out. Due to the widespread effects of poverty among African American communities, many of them have no connections to anyone who could "help out". I think this is another piece of the puzzle that shows the whole picture of just how out of touch with the reality of America our political leaders have become.
- 4 votes
#2 - Sat May 28, 2011 12:14 PM EDTDue to the widespread effects of poverty among African American communities, many of them have no connections to anyone who could "help out". I think this is another piece of the puzzle that shows the whole picture of just how out of touch with the reality of America our political leaders have become.
Mr. Mann, thank you for saying this.
- 6 votes
Poverty doesn't ask for a skin shade. It is an affliction that hits everyone. When the rich try to make it a racial problem, they are playing a race card of the worst magnitude. They are doing a disservice to all the poor who need a hand from government and real work out there for them to move out of poverty. Whether you are white, brown, black, yellow, red, or any shade in between, you have a right to live a life of dignity. Our politicians have to begin to understand that.
- 3 votes
#3 - Sat May 28, 2011 8:00 PM EDTI believe they do understand what you're saying DocPhil but to get what they want they are willing to throw the baby out with the bath water.
- 1 vote
I hear the same old argument regarding Native-Americans. POVERTY crosses all color lines. How difficult is that to understand. Seems in D.C. it is difficult.
- 5 votes
#4 - Mon May 30, 2011 9:27 AM EDTPoverty does cross all cultures and always will no matter how they spin it.
- 4 votes
Great article.Thanks !!!! American Negroes was excluded from the New Deal, although they worked and paid taxes to a government that excluded and created laws to discriminate against them at the same time.
- 3 votes
#5 - Mon May 30, 2011 11:42 AM EDTI get angry with the people repeating myths. No matter how many times we provide the truth with back up from reliable sources, they continue with the lies. After someone bitching about the fakes I may announce that I am on SS Disability. Most people say they weren't talking about me yet I have to defend my situation. It is insulting.
Good find, PK.
- 3 votes
#6 - Mon May 30, 2011 3:39 PM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
