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71% of Americans say the US should spend more on "assistance to the poor". But if you use the word "welfare" that number drops to 30% (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world
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Words matter.

Always use simple direct language.

  • Help the poor
  • Healthcare for everyone
  • Good treatment at work.

Don't use complex words.

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[+] 43 points 1 year ago (6 children)
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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    To me the negative connotation of "welfare" is, Kafkaesque bureaucracy used to gate access. Actually being on it feels more like you are playing a fucked up game than receiving assistance.

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  • [+] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)
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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago*

    I got fired from a job, rather unjustly, and attempted to file for unemployment.

    It made no sense, I could not navigate my states website (which didn’t want to play well with Linux anyway), so I gave up. Which is the point.

    One time an employer fired me and refused to pay me after discovering I was trans, and it literally took 6 months to get that check. The system is designed to fuck people.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    So weird. As a Scandinavian, "welfare" to me means schools, healthcare, elderly care, sick pay, paid parental leave etc., paid for by the shared burden of taxes for the benefit of everyone.

    It is a word with entirely positive connotations for me.

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