driving to the poor house?

[Carrol Cox]

"Poorhouse" does not mean "welfare office." Historically it was a quite
literal designation in early 20th century u.s. (probably going back to
the 19th c.) -- it was a literal *house* maintained by the county government
to commit paupers to. I'm not sure when the literal institution disappeared,
but at least in the late 1930s to which my memory stretches when people
spoke of fearing to go to the poor house they were being quite literal.

The statement Kelly quotes probably goes back to mid-century at least. I
doubt that its origins can be discovered.

Carrol

kelley wrote:


> Hi:  A colleague of mine was wondering about the origin of a statement he
> thinks he recalls someone making.  It's something like this:  "The United
> States will be the first country where people will drive to the poorhouse
> (welfare office?)".  He's not sure of the precise quotation, but that's the
> general idea.
>
> Does anyone recognize this or have any idea who said it?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Peter Meiksins
>
> Peter Meiksins
> Department of Sociology
> Cleveland State University
> Cleveland OH 44115
>
> 216-687-4518
> FAX:  216-687-9314
> EMAIL:  P.Meiksins at popmail.csuohio.edu