On Welfare, Overweight and Daring to Eat Fudge Rounds

I’m doubling down on Oliver Anthony’s Right Wing Anthem

Let’s dispense with the idea Oliver Anthony did not know what he was writing when he blamed poor people eating Fudge Rounds on welfare for high taxes, or that he did not mean it as harshly as his lyrics indicate. I plan to outline why I believe this.

In 1972 Welfare activist, Johnnie Tillmon wrote an article for Ms. Magazine titled, “Welfare is a woman’s Issue.” The opening paragraph of her article clearly explains why Oliver Anthony knew what he was writing, why he was writing it and who he was writing to.

“I’m a woman. I’m a Black woman. I’m a poor woman. I’m a fat woman. I’m a middle-aged woman. And I’m on welfare. In this country, if you’re any one of those things you count less as a human being. If you’re all those things, you don’t count at all. Except as a statistic.”

-Johnnie Tillmon Welfare is a Woman’s Issue (Spring 1972 Ms. Magazine)

There it is, spelled out for you, during a time that was less than a decade after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A time when women’s rights, black American rights, and welfare were still controversial to white America. I continue to be surprised at some black Americans or other people of color on social media applauding or being indifferent to this song listened to by millions of Trump voter types.

I do not understand all the excuses being made for this man’s song. He has stated on social media his lyrics are not political, however, he sat down, pondered what he was going to write, and then wrote the fucking political lyrics. How much bullshit do you have to believe to think he was clueless about the content of his song? Another quote from Johnnie Tillmon:

“I am 45 years old. I have raised six children. There are millions of statistics like me. Some on welfare. Some not. And some, really poor, who don’t even know they’re entitled to welfare. Not all of them are Black. Not at all. In fact, the majority — about two-thirds — of all the poor families in the country are white. Welfare’s like a traffic accident. It can happen to anybody, but especially it happens to women.

-Johnny Tillmon Welfare is a Woman’s Issue (Spring 1972 Ms. Magazine)

This faulty thinking about poor people is one of the foundations of modern Right Wing political ideology in America, whether it be the Republican Party, Tea Party, or the cult of Trump. It is the idea that poor people are poor because they are lazy, have bad habits, and are taking advantage of working people by getting welfare. It shifts the blame away from the law of the jungle Capitalism and plays on human prejudice to divide the working groups who would otherwise be political allies.

I have said before and I will continue to say, when you see someone railing on poor people, woke culture, or vulnerable groups demanding their fair share, you can rest assured they lean Right Wing regardless of whatever bullshit they spew to Joe Rogan. One of the harsh realities of America, is white Americans are continually looking for a powerful white savior. White Americans during modern times have always longed for a strong man that will get all those Communist, Socialist, liberals, and lazy people on welfare.

This is why Hitler had huge support in the United States prior to World War two. It is why many of them embraced Trump in 2016, and it is what is driving the popularity of this redneck song. Welfare is not about poor people taking advantage, it is about literal survival in a Capitalist system that kicks you when you are down. Another quote from Jonnie Tillmon:

“And that’s why welfare is a women’s issue. For a lot of middle-class women in this country, Women’s Liberation is a matter of concern. For women on welfare, it’s a matter of survival. Survival. That’s why we had to go on welfare. And that’s why we can’t get off welfare now. Not us women. Not until we do something about liberating poor women in this country.”

-Johnny Tillmon Welfare is a Woman’s Issue (Spring 1972 Ms. Magazine)

The other thing overlooked about welfare is it was never created to truly help people. It was another tool of Capitalist America to pretend Capitalist cared, so they could avoid having to face real justice for vulnerable groups by providing safer working conditions, free healthcare, or a livable wage. Many Capitalist give to charity, but few real Capitalist support National Healthcare, Universal Basic Income, or raising the minimum wage.

As Dr. Cornell West once stated:

“Let’s not confuse charity with justice”

-Dr. Cornell West

When Johnnie Tillmon was fighting for welfare reform for women and working class Americans, she clearly understood that welfare did keep her and others from dying, but in doing so, it was also used to gain more control over their lives. Their private lifestyles were scrutinized with the idea if we are giving you something for free, we have the right to know how you are spending our help and to tell you how to live. It was those types who pushed the idea that Oliver Anthony writes about in his song Rich Men North of Richmond.

Many alive today have not been taught about the man in the house rule of old school welfare. This rule stated a child who otherwise qualified for welfare benefits was denied those benefits if the child’s mother was living with, or having relations with, any single or married able-bodied male. During those times before it was overturned, case workers could look in women’s bedroom closets and other invasive methods to determine if a man had been in the house.

“Welfare is the most prejudiced institution in this country, even more than marriage, which it tries to imitate. Let me explain that a little. Ninety-nine percent of welfare families are headed by women. There is no man around. In half the states, there can’t be men around because A.F.D.C. (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) says if there is an “able-bodied” man around, then you can’t be on welfare. If the kids are going to eat, and the man can’t get a job, then he’s got to go.

Welfare is like a super-sexist marriage. You trade in a man for the man. But you can’t divorce him if he treats you bad. He can divorce you, of course, cut you off anytime he wants. But in that case, he keeps the kids, not you. The man runs everything.”

-Johnnie Tillmon Welfare is a Woman’s Issue (Spring 1972 Ms. Magazine)

This fabricated white working class hero, Oliver Anthony is no different than other conservative types who came before him. He can point the Republican debate as who he was writing about all he wants, but his song still stirs up the white Republican base. White Supremacy is not just making racist comments, or flying Confederate flags. White Supremacy is also repeating, pushing for, playing to, or defending white supremacist ideals. One of those white supremacist ideals is the image spelled out in Oliver Anthony’s lyrics:

“Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothin’ to eat / And the obese milkin’ welfare.

Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds / Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds”

-Oliver Anthony Rich Men North of Richmond lyrics

So there you have it, more of the same from the rural South being celebrated by Right Wingers, and used by Capitalist to say we told you so about overweight and poor people. I am all for Oliver Anthony being able to express himself in song, just as I will express myself by saying fuck his shitty redneck tune, and fuck those who lash out at poor people and overweight people on welfare.

If you made it this far in my article, do yourself a favor and do some personal study on the welfare activist Johnny Tillmon along with The Aid to Needy Children, Mothers Anonymous, and the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO). She was an American black woman who truly was a working class hero, and she stood strong at a time when it could cost her.