In a number of days, most working class families in Citrus County will start receiving direct payments of the Child Tax Credit, part of the American Recovery Act (ARA) that was passed without a single Republican vote. These payments over the next six months will help ensure children in our community not only have food on the table but necessary supplies for school this fall.
The teachers and first responders in our community will be receiving $1,000 bonuses funded through the ARA. Something Governor Desantis seeks to take credit for, in a blatant untruth. DeSantis can however take credit for ending vital additional unemployment assistance early – a lifeline to people in our community who still haven’t been able to find jobs.
The Republican Party has been selling the same pack of lies to working class white people for years. A lie that created the false narrative of the “Black welfare-queen” (over 70% of households receiving welfare are white households) that instead of uniting lower income workers further divided them.
Republicans, both at the state and national level have consistently voted to strip social welfare programs that help the working poor, regardless of race or ethnicity. The continued failure of our state to pass Medicaid expansion burdens our emergency rooms, charitable organizations and forces families to crowd source funding for vital medical care. Social Security and Medicare are also under attack by Republicans, yet seniors in record numbers vote for GOP candidates.
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
Voting against our self interests seems to have become as American as apple pie.
댓글