Thursday, February 12, 2015

Staggering: 1 Out Of 3 Americans (109 Million!) On Welfare...

Staggering: 1 Out Of 3 Americans (109 Million!) On Welfare...

Staggering: 1 Out Of 3 Americans On Welfare
Image source: algemeiner
One out of every three Americans now receives some sort of government welfare, according to the US Census Bureau.
The Bureau released new data this month showing that 109.63 million Americans — or around 35 percent of the population – receive government-funded housing or insurance, or Supplemental Security Income. The data was from the fourth quarter of 2012, the most recent information available.
The number of full-time workers in the United States was 103.09 million, meaning that more Americans now receive benefits than work full time.
The number of Americans receiving government benefits exceeded the populations of Great Britain and the Ukraine combined, CNS News writer Terrence P. Jeffrey noted. The population of the United Kingdom was around 63.74 million and the population of the Ukraine was around 44.29 million, putting the combined population of those two nations at 108.03 million – fewer than receive welfare in the US.
Federal and state welfare spending is now 16 times greater than it was when President Lyndon B. Johnson launched his vaunted War on Poverty in the mid-1960s, Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation noted. Rector added that the federal government spent $916 billion on 80 different programs designed to help the poor in 2012.
For Those Who Desperately Want Out Of The Rat-Race But Need A Steady Stream Of Income
Johnson did not intend to make people dependent on the government, but that is exactly what has happened, Rector wrote.
“He explicitly sought to reduce the future need for welfare by making lower-income Americans productive and self-sufficient,” Rector wrote. “By this standard, the War on Poverty has been a catastrophic failure. After spending more than $20 trillion on Johnson’s war, many Americans are less capable of self-support than when the war began.”
The lack of progress in the War on Poverty, Rector wrote, is “due to the welfare system itself.”
“Welfare breaks down the habits and norms that lead to self-reliance, especially those of marriage and work,” Rector argued. “It thereby generates a pattern of increasing intergenerational dependence. The welfare state is self-perpetuating: By undermining productive social norms, welfare creates a need for even greater assistance in the future.
“The poverty rate is better understood as self-sufficiency rate. That is, we should measure how many Americans can take care of themselves and their families. Reforms should focus on changing the incentive structure of welfare programs — to point the way toward self-sufficiency.”
Statistics Tell The Story
Some frightening and eye-opening welfare and poverty statistics from the US Census Bureau have been compiled by a website called Statistics Brain. These disturbing statistics include:
  • 46.7 million Americans now receive food stamps.
  • There are now 39 states where welfare pays more than an $8-an-hour job.
  • There are six states where welfare pays more than a $12-an-hour job.
  • In eight states, welfare recipients receive more than the average salary of a US teacher.
  • 26.9 percent of those receiving food stamps have been on the program for more than two years.
  • 19.6 percent of the people receiving food stamps have been on the program for more than five years.
When President Obama was first elected in 2008, around 96 million Americans were receiving welfare, food stamps or unemployment benefits. By the time he was reelected in 2012, an additional 13.43 million Americans were receiving poverty benefits.
The statistics hardly paint the picture of a nation in an economic recovery. Instead, they show a growing level of poverty.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is a good article, as far as it goes but it leads one to believe that the system itself is flawed, that it shouldn't have been implemented. The reality is that Americans who live here have to QUALIFY for these benefits and unfortunately DO QUALIFY AS POOR, without which thousands if not millions of Americans would be homeless and malnourished if not starving. (Illegals don't have to qualify, they are given everything free) Yes, this is America. This is the socialist dream that O has brought to this country. How are you liking the CHANGE? Next time, think to ask, what kind of change. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH JOBS..DUH! Companies and store chains have closed all over the country. The article doesn't even mention UNEMPLOYMENT figures, that would probably match up if the correct statistics were published that include all of those that do not receive unemployment anymore and have given up looking for jobs that just aren't there to find.
I don't even want to mention the whole illegal alien issue because it is so immense, but I will. the fact that O wants our whole nation flooded with them, giving them money and benefits they have NO RIGHTS TO, it is TREASON against the American people, and added to the collapsing economy is why Americans need help.
This was the plan all along, a very long term plan to rape, pillage, steal from, poison the people from food, water and air to make them totally weak and sick,dependent on the government .for survival and "protection". SLAVES.
It should be noted that those that are now receiving their SOCIAL SECURITY as DEPOSITS into their accounts that they EARNED and "put away" for their retirement is now also called "A BENEFIT". A benefit is NOT earned, therefore they can now come along and CUT your Social Security "BENEFIT"...which is what they are proposing to do PRESENTLY. When the people do not stand up and say NO.....it is acquiescence ..a YES. My husband kept receiving all kinds of notices with his disability check from the Treasury stating "IT IS THE LAW, YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AUTO DEPOSIT OR DEBIT CARD" Really? Show me the law....We ignored them and they have changed their tactics every couple of months. They lie and threaten to get you to obey. Most people just comply and hand over their rights without even thinking like dutiful slaves. It is very sad.

Anonymous said...

Combining real unemployment figures > 25% & those on food stamps reveals the financial depression America is experiencing; soup lines replaced with food stamp cards "hides" reality amongst the people. True reform must soon manifest both here & abroad; 'tis coming in rather dramatic surprising manners, by Grace thru Faith - BEing & DOing in connection 2 Source of all blessings :)