A map of schools constructed in the U.S. by the WPA - image gjenvick.com
In a recent episode of MSNBC’s ”Morning Joe” program, Chris Matthews, an MSNBC personality, got into a bit of a dust-up with the RNC Chair, Reince Priebus – about all things, a work requirement for welfare recipients. Matthews called even considering such a requirement “racist”. The text from Real Clear Politics: (link to video) ”Hardball’s Chris Matthews gets into a testy exchange with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus about the GOP’s welfare ad and Mitt Romney’s birther comments. (Morning Joe)
"You can play your games and giggle about it but the fact is your side playing that card. When you start talking about work requirements, you know what game you’re playing and everybody knows what game you’re playing. It's a race card and if your name’s Romney yeah you were well born -- you went to prep school, yeah, brag about it," Chris Matthews said on "Morning Joe."
Apparently, Matthews is a quart short on history when it comes to blind partisanship. The concept of a work requirement for those able bodied individuals who required assistance in hard economic times, was the brainchild of one Franklin Delano Roosevelt - A Democrat who led the nation for three terms (before suggesting that a term limit of 8 years be imposed on the Executive Branch), and is a darling of most Progressives. FDR implemented the WPA, a work for assistance program during the “Great Depression”. “While FDR believed in the elementary principles of justice and fairness, he also expressed disdain for doling out welfare to otherwise able workers. So, in return for monetary aid, WPA workers built highways, schools, hospitals, airports and playgrounds. They restored theaters--such as the Dock Street Theater in Charleston, S.C.--and built the ski lodge at Oregon's Mt. Hood. The WPA also put actors, writers and other creative arts professionals back to work by sponsoring federally funded plays, art projects, such as murals on public buildings, and literary publications. FDR safeguarded private enterprise from competition with WPA projects by including a provision in the act that placed wage and price controls on federally funded products or services.” (History.com)
Apparently, during an election cycle, it is “convenient” to forget that bit of historical evidence that contradicts racism is at play. Furthermore, it uncovers the racists notion that Matthews holds, suggesting that those who oppose welfare without a work requirement must be referring to African American’s. The fact is that all ethnic groups as well as your “white-Caucasians” are on some sort of government assistance. In fact, half of the nation is currently receiving some sort of benefit. To suggest that when someone refers to welfare that they are being racists is beyond ignorance – it is the partisanship of the “talking head” attempting to distort history, and at the same time, make points for their “team”. In Matthews’s case, it is throwing one of the Democrat Party’s hero’s under the bus, while at the same time, being a racist himself for connecting the dots of welfare equals racism.
One would hazard to guess that if one on government assistance, were anything like those individuals of the 1930’s who were part of the WPA program, they would welcome the opportunity to have a place to go, something to build, and be compensated – by having a job. Apparently, building roads and bridges, or constructing parks and recreations areas, is something that is so beneath the “elite” Matthews, who must also consider, (if one were to reach inane conclusions out of thin air, similar to Mr. Matthews) that all blue-collar workers are beneath him, and should, in all likelihood be supported by the “State”.
It is those Progressives who are so blind to reality, and have a mouthpiece that reaches millions daily, that are extremists, no more or less on the left or the right. Perhaps, in Mr. Matthews case, those proponents of work for welfare, might want to include the position of “talking head” – perhaps offering those an opportunity to sit next to Mr. Matthews and get paid to pontificate - garbage. One wonders how the "prima donna" would react to that suggestion, especially if the individual did not hold a four-year degree (the litmus test of Progressives as to who may or may not be “Middle Class”).
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