Demonizing The Poor, Sanctifying The Wealthy:

PART 1: Demonizing The Poor

“…Whenever society passes laws to pick on or target the weak or the vulnerable, it is targeting the wrong people. They aren't the ones destroying this country, not even close. They're just easy targets. They have no voice. Sure, certain organizations do a great job of trying to advocate for them but it doesn't even put a dent in the overall problem. They are still scapegoated and blamed for most of society's problems. After all, "They're just lazy freeloaders who refuse to work!"
It's easy for conservatives and right-wing "Christians" to sideline, marginalize, scapegoat and demonize the vulnerable (poor, gay, sick, immigrant, etc.) because the vulnerable don't have paid lobbies, legal representation, political representation, or spokespeople. They can't defend and position themselves like the super rich.”         Charles Toy: The Christian Left

“Poverty looks pretty great if you're not living in it. The government gives you free money to spend on steak and lobster, on tattoos and spa days, on — why not? — cruise vacations and psychic visits...
Enough serious-minded people seem to think this is what the poor actually buy with their meager aid that we've now seen a raft of bills and proposed state laws to nudge them away from so much excess. Missouri wants to curtail what the poor eat with their food stamps (evidence of the problem from one state legislator: "I have seen people purchasing filet mignons"). Kansas wants to block welfare recipients from spending government money at strip clubs … …There's virtually no evidence that the poor actually spend their money this way… …And contrary to the logic of drug-testing laws, the poor are no more likely to use drugs than the population at large…  (but,) …We rarely make similar demands of other recipients of government aid. We don't drug-test farmers who receive agriculture subsidies… We don't require Pell Grant recipients to prove that they're pursuing a degree that will get them a real job one day… We don't require wealthy families who cash in on the home mortgage interest deduction to prove that they don't use their homes as brothels… The strings that we attach to government aid are attached uniquely for the poor.”  By Emily Badger: Washington Post

LINDSTROM, Minn. — Ki Gulbranson owns a logo apparel shop, deals in jewelry on the side and referees youth soccer games. He makes about $39,000 a year and wants you to know that he does not need any help from the federal government…  …Yet this year, as in each of the past three years, Mr. Gulbranson, 57, is counting on a payment of several thousand dollars from the federal government, a subsidy for working families called the earned-income tax credit. He has signed up his three school-age children to eat free breakfast and lunch at federal expense. And Medicare paid for his mother, 88, to have hip surgery twice…”        By BINYAMIN APPELBAUM and ROBERT GEBELOFF: New York Times

PART 2: Sanctifying The Wealthy                 Coming Soon

compiled by GlennDL