

Ep 219: How Elites Concern Troll 'Waste' to Gut Social Welfare and Divide the Working Class
36 snips Apr 23, 2025
Beatrice Adler-Bolton, co-host of the Death Panel podcast and co-author of 'Health Communism', discusses the long-standing narrative of 'waste, fraud, and abuse' in government spending. She critiques how these terms, often racialized, have been weaponized to justify cuts to social welfare programs. The conversation exposes the hypocrisy in political rhetoric around social safety nets versus military spending and emphasizes the need for solidarity over individualism. Adler-Bolton argues for a reevaluation of the purpose of government, advocating for community support and collective action.
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Historical Roots of Waste Framing
- The "waste, fraud, and abuse" framing dates back centuries and is not neutral or post-ideological.
- It is used selectively to target racialized and gendered social programs while ignoring elite corruption.
Malthus on Poverty and Waste
- Thomas Malthus criticized government spending on the poor as futile and wasteful.
- He advocated abolishing poor laws to free labor markets and raise wages.
Waste Framing Undermines Reconstruction
- Waste, fraud, and abuse allegations historically served to undermine progressive governance like Reconstruction.
- Such claims often racialize recipients and scapegoat marginalized groups to defend elite interests.