Democrats and the Welfare Queen myth - working class still buying it

I was checking out the weather situation on my local paper's bulletin board and came across this thread. These are working class voters, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, that I come across all the time in this area who vote Republican because they feel like Democrats are giving lazy people a free ride. They are wrong, of course. And to vote for Bush is completely against their self-interests, since he's destroying their hopes for jobs and a future and robbing them blind while looking after big business.

What do we do to counter this thinking?

http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/ultbb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=013734
(have to copy and paste the link to get the whole thing)

I'm voting democrat this year. That way, there should be hundreds of more government programs created to ensure Ms. Trusty's ability continue cranking out more kiddies.:eyes:

My wife and I both work at jobs that allow us meager means to live. I don't complain; I love my job and know that I won't get rich doing it.

When it came time for us to expand our family, our money situation figured prominently in that decision. Job security and a home large enough to spread out in were big factors...

"Hey, honey, lets take the babies and move to a liberal state where we can live on the Government ticket..."

Jesus wept.

Shuts them up every time.

The Republicans are giving lazy rich people a free ride with tax cuts that they put into their pockets, not into job creation. They'd be able to hire those lazy baby-making people at good salaries if they really did create jobs. Why is it okay for them to loot the national treasury, force the goverment to cut back on all services, and stick the next generation with the bill? It's not the super-poor who are dragging the middle class down--it's the super RICH!!!

rocknation

The media campaign of the Republicans to brainwash the masses has been extremely successful. Rush Limbaugh, big fat idiot that he is, has been very successful at accomplishing his goal of brainwashing the working class. Fox News finishes the job. Not owning the airwaves, I don't know what we can do to counter this. It seems like they will have to have their noses rubbed in it before they will open their eyes. Very depressing to see people like this throw their lives and their country away to make a few guys rich.

This issue has taken hold a little bit. It's a way bigger issue than the small percentage of welfare recipients who abuse the system.

I can't think of any voting demographic (outside of CEOs, lobbyists and congressional whores) that thinks corporate welfare is cool - you just have to educate them.

Even among the lowest economic strata of the affluent class, there is a high level of ignorance regarding the reality of those who do not have discretionary resources. Just as the poor frequently have rather far-fetched misconceptions about the lives of those who have office jobs and savings accounts, those who have those things have some nonfactual ideas about what "benefits" are available to the indigent, and who qualifies for them.

There is also a "pecking order" aspect at work here. Many of those people living from check to check despise those who do not even have that check. Because US culture dictates that a person's worth is determined by how much money he has, the indigent are the only people the check-to-checkers can feel superior to.

As increasing numbers of Americans drop into each category, it will be interesting to see how the pecking order changes.

Will the new poor feel superior to the old poor?

How much is general assistance these days? Could someone pay the rent AND eat on this sum? Could YOU live on this money?

How long are people allowed to be on welfare? There is a 5 year lifetime limit now, right? How many people on welfare have been "encouraged" (pushed) off welfare and into the job market?

What is the real proportion of whites vs. other ethnics on welfare (it surprises these people to learn that most people on welfare are white)?

How do they know people on welfare have kids just to collect more money? Any valid surveys to back this up? Credible news sources? Or is this just an urban legend? If you believe this do you also believe in alien abductions (on second thought, maybe you shouldn't say this...)?

Does this even pencil out as a viable economic strategy (does the extra money you make by having another child even come close to what it costs to raise this child)? Has anyone studied the birth rate of welfare recipients vs. others in similar demographics?

Lastly, why do people on welfare threaten you so much? What is it about someone making a few hundred a month on general assistance that threatens your way of life? Even if these people are freeloaders, don't you think there are many other people who unethically and illegally make much more AND have the power to really hurt you (see corporate welfare responses)? Shouldn't you focus your anger at freeloaders at the ones making off with lots of money and the ones who can put you out of a job, rather than the ones makin a few hundred a month off the County?

thar babymakers when we're funding way too many babykillers?

That should really f them up when they realize that the Repubs claim that we're funding huge families while encouraging them to kill their babies 10 minutes before their due date.

Ah, but they'll never recognize the conflicting propaganda.

Every time one of them calls in on a show,it's there for all to hear..

"democrats give MY money to lazy people"

"clinton decimated the military" (this one's a giveaway.. decimated is a word that some of the callers would NEVER use.. or even understand what it means)

"ambulance chasing trial lawyers...we need tort reform". (Apple torte is the only tort these folks would understand)

etc.. etc.. etc.. we have all heard the phrases.. They are taken straight from the hate radio/tv people.. Of course that's all they hear 24/7 on almost EVERY station.. and they have been fed this for over a generation..

The radio "host" today on c-span (rw) was a prime example.. Even in little New Hampshire, people ONLY hear one side.. To the gullible out there, they beleive that side because "the other side would speak up if it was not the truth".. They apparently do not know that all the microphones have been purchased by ONE side, and they do not want competition.. The stakes are too high.. Corporatists count on an uneducated, but highly emotional people who will go along with whatever they want.. What they want is total deregulation, and a population who will consistently vote against their own interests..

Where are their kids going to work after all the jobs have been shipped overseas?