Overthrowing the Queen: Telling Stories of Welfare in America
Tom Mould, "Overthrowing the Queen: Telling Stories of Welfare in America"
English | ISBN: 0253048036 | 2020 | 384 pages | EPUB | 9 MB
English | ISBN: 0253048036 | 2020 | 384 pages | EPUB | 9 MB
In 1976, Ronald Reagan hit the campaign trail with an extraordinary account of a woman committing massive welfare fraud. The story caught fire and a devastating symbol of the misuse government programs was born: the Welfare Queen. Overthrowing the Queen examines these legends of fraud and abuse while bringing to light personal stories of hardship and hope told by cashiers, bus drivers, and business owners; politicians and aid providers; and, most important, aid recipients themselves. Together these stories reveal how the seemingly innocent act of storytelling can create not only powerful stereotypes that shape public policy, but also redemptive counter-narratives that offer hope of a more accurate, fair, and empathetic view of poverty in America today.