LOL wrote: Its the 100 million or 1/3 of the population number that is troublesome. Either our economic model is failing badly, or our means testing is not well calibrated. The bottom 33% makes up to about $30K, not rich, but certainly not poverty either.
If the feds cant root out those who don't qualify for assistance, I doubt a church or private charity could do any better.
The numbers are inflated by counting all members of households where any resident collects from any of over 80 different programs. Got a veteran grandparent in a home with 5 other? Many programs for the elderly and veterans may qualify in these totals...if they're collecting from any of those, then all 6 in the household get counted. Good numero-political manipulation ...fires up the angry in the blood towards those damn poor do-nothings and mooches, eh?
Meanwhile, those feeding you this swill with one hand have their other hand in your wallet. You close your eyes, open your mouths, and empty your pockets.
plaidvillain wrote: The numbers are inflated by counting all members of households where any resident collects from any of over 80 different programs. Got a veteran grandparent in a home with 5 other? Many programs for the elderly and veterans may qualify in these totals...if they're collecting from any of those, then all 6 in the household get counted. Good numero-political manipulation ...fires up the angry in the blood towards those damn poor do-nothings and mooches, eh?
Meanwhile, those feeding you this swill with one hand have their other hand in your wallet. You close your eyes, open your mouths, and empty your pockets.
Got a link?
You know, you are kind of a hit-and-run poster. You don't post a lot (nothing wrong with that), but when you do you come up with stuff that I can't find support for.
If you read the article in the original post, you would of seen that most all of the 100 million mentioned were mainly on just two government programs; food stamps and Medicaid. The article says 46.4 million on food stamps and 54 million on Medicaid. The 100 million people mentioned does not include those on Social Security or Medicare (most people at least pay a part of those costs).
Here are other links to back up those two numbers.
plaidvillain wrote: The numbers are inflated by counting all members of households where any resident collects from any of over 80 different programs.....Meanwhile, those feeding you this swill with one hand have their other hand in your wallet.
The numbers were counted and provided by the US Census (The Gubment in other words).
That is actually funny in itself, the 80 different government programs hand out money, and then another government agency goes out and interviews people to ask them " are we giving you any money from the Federal Government" ? You would think the Government would already know those numbers. LOL
If you want to be, press one. If you want not to be, press 2
Republicans are red, democrats are blue, neither of them, gives a flip about you.
The numbers are based on census household figures...so if you take in a family member who's on Medicaid, food stamps...any of over 80 various programs...your entire household is included. I'm not saying there aren't lots of Americans who are connected to govt help...that's help from you and I and all of us...to the people who need our help. Sure, there's abuses and waste, but the overall good these programs far outweighs the expenses of ignoring the need. Some think hard nosed tough love will lift people up, so they rise above the need for our help. I disagree. All societies have folks who can't take care of all of their individual basic needs, for a multitude of reasons...and yes, some simply refuse to take care of themselves ...they abuse the system, but I do not believe that is the majority. Take away the support, maybe kick the butts of a few to get up...but much more likely you'd be hurting a lot of our good neighbors.
I don't see many people suggesting taking away all the support. Just asking the question why these numbers seem to keep rising and what to do about it. If this topic can't even be discussed and analyzed out of fear of being accused of lacking compassion or being selfish, then the welfare state will just keep growing until the system collapses, sorta like Europe.
If you want to be, press one. If you want not to be, press 2
Republicans are red, democrats are blue, neither of them, gives a flip about you.
