‘Let them eat cake’ trends in response to ‘meagre’ $600 Covid cheque

The phrase ‘let them eat cake’ is translated from a French expression meant to convey incomprehension of the stark realities of poverty

 Sen. Angus King (I-ME) sets up a sign  alongside a bipartisan group of Democrat and Republican members of Congress as they announce a proposal for a Covid-19 relief bill on Capitol Hill on December 01, 2020 in Washington, DC.  (Getty Images)

American Twitter users trended #LetThemEatCake as a chagrined response to the Covid stimulus package passed by the US Congress on Monday that will provide a $600 cheque to every US citizen who earned less than $75,000 in 2019. 

The two houses of Congress passed the legislation of second stimulus package of $900 billion in coronavirus relief, which is half the size of the original package provided in the CARES Act.

The legislation, part of a $1.4 trillion spending package, will provide a $600 cheque for every American earning less than $75,000 and $300 per week in unemployment benefit. The bill will now be sent to outgoing president Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The aid failed to meet the expectations of people who criticised it by trending the hashtags #LetThemEatCake and $600IsNotEnough. The phrase ‘let them eat cake’ is often attributed to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France. However, Dictionary.com weighed in on the trending hashtag to tweet that the phrase first appeared in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 'The Confessions' in 1782.  

"#LetThemEatCake is another way of saying those in power are insensitive to the realities of the unfortunate,” it said in a tweet.

People referred to the package as an “embarrassment” and berated both Republican and Democrat lawmakers with memes and jokes.

“This stimulus is a slap in the face to Americans who’ve had their livelihood forcibly taken away,” said a Twitter user and taunted speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders for their expensive lifestyle.  

The aid would include funding for businesses, schools, health care providers and renters. The stimulus bill was passed to alleviate the crisis and provide much-needed relief to Americans before the holidays and the New Year as the pandemic continues to set new grim records.

The package was passed after months of stalled negotiations as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds. Republicans asked to protect corporations from employees reporting unsafe pandemic conditions. 

With the onset of the pandemic in March, Congress passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act selling out $3 trillion to help for workers and loans and grants for businesses.