In January 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the need to combat fascism at home by proposing an Economic Bill of Rights, emphasizing that true freedom requires economic security. He warned that “necessitous men are not free men,” highlighting that hunger and poverty can lead to dictatorship. This idea resonated with future President Lyndon Johnson, who, in 1964, declared a “war on poverty” and introduced the Food Stamp Act, recognizing poverty as a significant threat to the nation.
Johnson faced opposition from Southern segregationists and right-wing Republicans, but many moderate Republicans, such as U.S. Rep. Alvin O’Konski, supported the initiative, understanding that feeding the needy transcended partisan lines. O’Konski prioritized helping those struggling over catering to the wealthy.
Currently, Rep. Tom Tiffany, representing the same Wisconsin area, voted to cut $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and $625 billion from Medicaid, aligning with billionaire donors. This move, criticized by U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, risks deepening economic inequality and moving the U.S. closer to the wealth-dominated oligarchy Roosevelt cautioned against, undermining freedom and equality.
