BRATTLEBORO-By 1960, much of the social welfare services offered in the U.S. was provided by religious charities (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Mt. Sinai, etc.) and labor unions. These groups were tapped out and the demand was high.
They joined forces to demand legislative action that led to the Great Society legislation, which began addressing health and human service needs across the nation.
Over time, the GOP has tangled these services in red tape and reduced funding so that they do not work very well. In addition, these meddling actions have ended up forcing the closure of the religious-based charitable services.
Now, with broken systems, they blame the Democrats and “libs.” They also beat the drum that charities can handle the needs that are being abandoned in the neoliberal capitalist system that is being foisted on the U.S. by the Trumpists.
In 1960, when the religious charities were at their strongest, they could not meet the needs of our society — a society that was far more egalitarian and economically less extreme. Today, there is no way that these charities can fill in for the losses that the Trumpists are creating.
As Brattleboro seeks to rein in its budget by abandoning social services, the same old line is being voiced: “Let the churches handle the problem.” It will not work.
So this is a clarion call to all religious folks and other progressives to organize resistance and demand real change to develop an effective social safety net for all people. The Brattleboro municipal leadership is on notice that there will be resistance.
Ralph Howe
Brattleboro
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