”Poverty breeds despair and suppressive/restrictive government stirs anarchy!”.. John Johnson II 11/27/24
By John Johnson II
America, a nation with a history of racism, is home to a staggering number of people living below the poverty level. The discriminatory tactics and policies of this country are more overt and deliberate towards Black people and others of color. However, the incoming government’s Project 2025 will target poor white people harshly as well. This stark reality raises a crucial question: why does the government perpetuate the injustice of poverty’s vicious white lie? It’s time to inspire change, debunk this vicious lie, and expose the immorality of Project 2025.
Amazingly, the 2024 Presidential election has brought forth a climate of retribution towards a segment of white Americans, reminiscent of the Jim Crow era endured by Black people. Remember, a segment of white America remained silent as the KKK lynched and hanged Black people.
Will Republican Congresspersons and the Supreme Court remain silent as the 47th President seeks vengeance toward white political opponents, dismantles the cornerstones of Democracy, forces more people to live below the poverty level because of tariffs, and breaks away from NATO? All Republican Congresspersons couldn’t have flunked World History? Or did they? A Cabinet filled with “Yes Sirs,” constitutes an existential threat.
Statistics that calculate poverty levels appear frequently as percentages. For example, the 2020 Census data reported poverty level for whites is 9%, Black people 19.5%, Hispanics 17%, and Native Americans 25.4%. This manner of reporting poverty levels as percentages deceptively fails to indicate the actual number of people living below the poverty level.
While the 9% of whites living in poverty is the smallest number, it fails to reveal the actual number of white people living below poverty. Recent census data indicate that 235 million white people live in America. Consequently, 9% of 235 million shows that approximately 22 million white people live below the poverty level.
Since Black people’s total population is only 47 million, their poverty level of 19.5% means that only 9.4 million are living below the poverty level. Isn’t it obvious why poverty levels are always reported as percentages? If it isn’t clear, it’s because poverty’s vicious white lie has been fed by our government to white America for decades. At this moment, the government funds approximately 100 social programs. And not one of these programs was established primarily for Black people and others of color.
Even though more white people participate in entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), they applaud the Republican-controlled government when it unveils plans to slash funding. Their racism, ignorance, and poverty’s vicious white lie cause them to turn a “blind eye” to reality.
If Congress allows implementation of Project 2025, the likelihood of America remaining the world’s most respected and powerful Democracy is dismal. The question remains, ‘Will President-elect Trump tackle issues such as stagnant wages, climate control, inflation, and the nation’s overwhelming debt?’ Additionally, will he use his enhanced powers to eliminate poverty and ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Project 2025 serve humanity rather than enslaving or destroying it?
Democrats can only hope that the policies from Project 2025 cause a voter backlash in 2028. However, hope coupled with blame won’t reverse the states that have turned red or are slowly turning red. Unless voters realize that they were deceived and experience rising inflation, increasing fuel prices, and escalating threats from foreign adversaries, they’ll remain content living in a Democracy with reduced freedoms and a system lacking checks and balances.
Now, Project 2025 is America’s new Jim Crow laws for regulating progressives, labor unions, climate change believers, immigrants, pro-abortionists, and the LGBTQ community. Also, it isn’t a minstrel show. Its characters haven’t painted their faces and there won’t be any dancing or singing. They’ll be taking names and clearing the White House of everything but the plumbing. Still, winning an election shouldn’t include the enshrinement of Christianity within our government.
Who’s to blame if our children don’t know the difference between a fact and a lie and adults don’t care nor want to know the differences? Marvin Gaye, a brilliant singer in his song entitled, “Save The Children,” sings, “I just want to ask a question: Who really cares to save a world in despair?”
We must all ask the question, “Who really cares to end poverty, challenge Project 2025, and save our Democracy?
YOU BE THE JUDGE
