‘Poor shaming’ is a Republican thing

A Gazette reader’s letter asks the question of Gov. Reynolds: “Why do you accept literally billions from the Feds but reject millions that would go directly to families?” Gov. Reynolds rejects the millions that would help families because there is a deep-seated belief among some Republicans that if you’re poor, it’s your fault. It’s called poor shaming. If a poor person can go to the store, choose the items they wish to buy, and pay for them with a card, they will appear to be just like everyone else. But if you have to drive to another location and accept a pre-packed box of foodstuffs which may or may not be appropriate for your family, you’ll somehow figure out how to get out of poverty, or just give up on getting state assistance. Poor shaming among Republicans is not new — it goes back to the days of Ronald Reagan and his “welfare queens.”

This same Republican attitude is behind their treatment of immigrants. Eighty-four percent of the people who moved to Iowa in 2024 were immigrants. It is a safe guess that a majority of them came from Central America. They take jobs that many native Iowans do not want, like cleaning out dairy barns or meatpacking facilities or other tasks that are hard physical work and pay a paltry wage. A low minimum wage is another form of poor shaming. It’s a Republican thing.

Tom Persoon

Coralville