This is less a blog entry than it is an intro to a story by Talking Points Memo regarding ACA and work requirements:
talkingpointsmemo.com/…
Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan all have pending waivers that would exclude majority White, rural areas with high unemployment from having work requirements. However, those African Americans and other minorities who are under/unemployed will need to show work requirements.
Not only does this show that so called ‘conservative’ voters don’t have a problem with government programs such as SNAP, Medicaid and ACA, it also shows that that GOP controlled governments in those states are just racist.
This was, nor was it ever about economic anxiety; this was about snatching away any access to social safety help AWAY from minorities while preserving that same access to poor, unskilled Whites, the type of people who:
“They’re overwhelmingly rural people. In the counties they come from, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-grade educations are kind of the norm. They don’t speak English; obviously that’s a big thing. ...”*
Now, such waivers can be in violation of Civil Rights Act of 1964. We shall see if there are any lawsuits that come out of this.
Lastly, as this is primary day in some states here, this will point out certain differences between those who say they are progressive but do not confront racism and those who DO.
Read the article, and work on keeping work requirements AWAY from Medicaid in YOUR state.
*John Kelly, with one slight change.