A very inconvenient truth: American racism and our Social Safety net programs
Let's put the facts on the table shall we. For decades now, the American public, both Republicans and some Democrats, have used our soical saftey net programs, UE insurance, welfare, food stamps, etc, to demagogue votes from "real working Americans". We made it difficult, if not impossible, for people to qualify and receive government assistance when they lost their job or were destitute. It was more important to protect the taxes of the "real working Americans" than it was to actually help people.
Well, now that we're all facing the economic abyss, some of us are experiencing what so many of our unfortunate fellow Americans have experienced for years. Difficult systems to navigate to request benefits, and once they do arrive, they're so small and stingy, no one can survive on them let alone support a family on them.
We always assumed that there would be enough work for everyone and those that did not work were just lazy. We weakened our government assistance programs to punish people of color. It was good politics. It won votes. But now, we're re-learning the lessons of past generations We had these programs in place for all of us who may need them one day. Well, that one day is today.