‘Mutual aid’ is a radical ideal. Some live its communal spirit

Re:‘Mutual aid’ is a radical ideal. Some live its communal s... by input_sh on Saturday February 11, 2023 @01:02PM (#34754614)

For the more (most?) recent example, child tax credits reduced the number of US children living in poverty by 46%[0]. Late 2021, all 50 Senate Republicans + Joe Manchin opposed expanding it.

In other words, 51 people decided to put 3.7 million children back into poverty. In one month between Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 the percentage increased from 12.1% to 17%[1]. Each and every one of those 51 people had the power to singlehandedly keep 4.9% of all children out of poverty. None of them did.

Why? If you asked all 51 of them, the most common answer will most likely be a variation of "no handouts".

[0] https://archive.is/3vZnb (census.gov link, using archive.is because census.gov blocks connections outside of the US)

[1] https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/news-internal/monthly...

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Re:‘Mutual aid’ is a radical ideal. Some live its communal s... by aaronbrethorst on Saturday February 11, 2023 @01:10PM (#34754663)

In Manchin’s case, he thought parents would use the money to buy drugs.

In reality, “Studies have found…that parents have used the checks for essential items…like food, clothes and school-related expenses.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1286321

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Re:‘Mutual aid’ is a radical ideal. Some live its communal s... by lotsofpulp on Saturday February 11, 2023 @01:29PM (#34754858)

>In Manchin’s case, he thought parents would use the money to buy drugs.

I assume he thought that was the excuse most likely to benefit his political ambitions.

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