<P> Others complained that far left elements played a major role, especially in the New York City unit . Representative J. Parnell Thomas of the House Committee on Un-American Activities claimed in 1938 that divisions of the WPA were a "hotbed of Communists" and "one more link in the vast and unparalleled New Deal propaganda network ." </P> <P> Much of the criticism of the distribution of projects and funding allotment is a result of the view that the decisions were politically motivated . The South, as the poorest region of the United States, received 75 percent less in federal relief and public works funds per capita than the West . Critics would point to the fact that Roosevelt's Democrats could be sure of voting support from the South, whereas the West was less of a sure thing; swing states took priority over the other states . </P> <P> There was a perception that WPA employees were not diligent workers, and that they had little incentive to give up their busy work in favor of productive jobs . Some employers said that the WPA instilled poor work habits and encouraged inefficiency . Some job applicants found that a WPA work history was viewed negatively by employers, who said they had formed poor work habits . </P> <P> A Senate committee reported that, "To some extent the complaint that WPA workers do poor work is not without foundation....Poor work habits and incorrect techniques are not remedied . Occasionally a supervisor or a foreman demands good work ." The WPA and its workers were ridiculed as being lazy . The organization's initials were said to stand for "We Poke Along" or "We Putter Along" or "We piddle around" or "Whistle, Piss and Argue ." These were sarcastic references to WPA projects that sometimes slowed down deliberately because foremen had an incentive to keep going, rather than finish a project . </P>

Why did the federal government create work programs during the depression