This shows how racist and classist ideologies work together. Black and other people of color continue to be used as a symbol of impoverishment and all of its wretchedness: lazy, selfish, crude, ignorant, animalistic and so forth. Ben Adler writes that: "Veteran South Carolina politicos readily agree, off the record of course, that Gingrich is intentionally tapping into this long vein of racial animosity. In the years since the Civil Rights Act, white South Carolinians may have largely ceased pining for the days of segregated water fountains. And anyway no politician can call for returning to them. But they often resent African-Americans and social welfare programs that they view through a racial lens."
Ultimately, this excuse is used by the plutocrats and their political surrogates to divide those who live in poverty along racial lines. The plutocrats perpetuate the myth that being poor and accepting food stamps or other forms of welfare is something that African-Americans do, because they are lazy and don't want to work. The plutocrats use this in the same way that Jay Gould did, manipulating the larger portion of the poor [whites], to hate and mistrust the rest of the poor [African-Americans and Latinos], sometimes to the point of murder and race riots.
The system of inequality prevents the poorest Americans--regardless of race--from uniting to demand their common claims to dignity and a realistic opportunity to rise above their current position in society. Quoting Professor Nall again:
"By identifying poverty with people of color, the powerful manipulate those poor whites who are either outright racists or who unconsciously fear identification with the stereotyped character of non-whites. Though aimed at people of color, the thinking that suggests the poor lack respectable work ethic and virtuous moral character becomes a conceptual lever that functions to induce shame that makes the poor easier to manipulate. (This manipulative ideological control is what the Italian Marxist social philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, meant by the term 'social hegemony.') This is why dominant culture works so hard to identify scapegoats (black people, undocumented workers, feminists, LGBTQ folks) to channel anger and self-hatred."
Professor Nall takes on an even bigger lie of the plutocrats about the poor:
"4. The Poor Refuse to Work: A cornerstone in plutocratic mythology is that the poor just won't take responsibility for their lives and get to work! This belief is logically implied in Romney's now infamous remarks about the Obama-47 percent. In addition to inaccurately representing the political-orientation and make-up of those who pay no income taxes, Romney chastised poor welfare beneficiaries (many of whom turn out to be Republicans!) for refusing to take responsibility, but instead demanding government solve all of their problems and provide for their every need. (Factually speaking, Romney's comments are a specious conflation of Democrats, low to no-income earners who pay no income taxes, and welfare recipients. While these groups coincide at times, many do not fit so neatly into such groupings. For instance many conservatives pay no income taxes, receive welfare and do not vote for Obama. As Mark Karlin noted, in 2008 a quarter of low-income earners voted for the Republican ticket: 25-percent of those earning under $15,000, and 37-percent of those earning between $15,000-30,000. Add to this that many older Americans who are reliant on government programs support the Romney and previous Republican tickets. Karlin points to an article by CNN contending that fewer than 7% of the 47% not paying income taxes are working age and poor. Most of those not paying income taxes are seniors, on-duty military, and others who pay 7.6% to cover Social Security and Medicare. Mark Karlin, Truthout, September 19, 2012. "Five Lies in Romney's War on the '47 Percent.'")
'I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives,' said Romney.
Such thinking speaks to a woeful ignorance about the fact many recipients of government assistance such as food aid are children, elderly, and/or disabled. According to the Department of Agriculture, 'In fiscal year 2010, 76 percent of all SNAP [Food Stamps--RJG] households included a child, an elderly person, or a disabled [non-elderly] person. These households received 84 percent of all SNAP benefits.' ( USDA, op cit. , p. 16)"
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