Americans like to think that they look after their own, especially in times of hardship. And for the Great Depression and the Great Society eras, the collective memory is one of solidarity and compassion for the less fortunate. This title challenges this story by examining opinion polls and letters to presidents from average citizens. "Who Cares? makes a contribution by providing a concise history of the interplay between the development of antipoverty policy initiatives and public opinion since the New Deal and by demonstrating consistent themes in attitudes toward the welfare state."---Tracy Roof, Perspectives on Politics