Nearly Half of U.S. Lives in Household Receiving Government Benefit

#1
R

Redstater

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#1
Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4% lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008. WSJ 10/5/11

34.2% - Means tested programs - Medicaid, food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare.

14.5% Households with someone receiving Medicare

16% Households with someone receiving Social Security WSJ 10/5/11

Obviously, some households have inhabitants receiving multiple benefits - Medicare and SS.

When you combine these stats with the fact that 47% of households will pay no federal income tax, this why the budget problem as relates to entitlements is near intractable and why Obama has a chance for reelection.
 
#3
#3
34.2% - Means tested programs - Medicaid, food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare.
Click to expand...

This is the troublesome stat. Wonder what % of these same households have mobile phones, HDTV's, cable, etc. You know... the real necessities of life.
 
#4
#4
OrangeEmpire said:
Good news for democrats, very encouraging numbers!
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Self-reliance
Pride
Self-respect
Work ethic
Independence
Freedom
Liberty

Does anyone remember what these words mean? They have been meaningless in my lifetime.:cray:
 
#5
#5
I have been thru hard times and have been able to use these "benefits". I refuse to take them. I AM A MAN. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and makesomething happen for yourself and family. What is wrong with these people. It is sad to see peoplethat have no drive andno ambition fortheir own wellfare it makes me sick. \rant
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#6
#6
One of my daughters was laid off for several months. She refused to apply for unemployment compensation and worked several waitressing jobs until another opportunity came along. While waitressing, she completed her degree. Fortunately a better opportunity than her original job came along. Turns out there's a high correlation between getting a job and having a degree. That, and being willing to work hard and showing up on time.
 
#7
#7
if you receive govt assistance then you can't buy cigs, beer, liquor or lottery. that would change the system.
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#8
#8
Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter

Just the way the Govt. wants them, dependent on the Govt.
Sad, just sad.
 
#9
#9
RespectTradition said:
Self-reliance
Pride
Self-respect
Work ethic
Independence
Freedom
Liberty

Does anyone remember what these words mean? They have been meaningless in my lifetime.:cray:
Click to expand...

No they haven't.

They mean something to this day.

You need to pay your fair share.
 
#10
#10
dang it's going to be weird being a minority

RespectTradition said:
Self-reliance
Pride
Self-respect
Work ethic
Independence
Freedom
Liberty

Does anyone remember what these words mean? They have been meaningless in my lifetime.:cray:
Click to expand...

they just mean something different- you're a sucker
 
#11
#11
Redstater said:
One of my daughters was laid off for several months. She refused to apply for unemployment compensation and worked several waitressing jobs until another opportunity came along. While waitressing, she completed her degree. Fortunately a better opportunity than her original job came along. Turns out there's a high correlation between getting a job and having a degree. That, and being willing to work hard and showing up on time.
Click to expand...

Interesting. So having a job helps you get better jobs. Not being facetious, but that actually makes sense. Subliminally, I suppose I knew that but it really isn't something I spent time thinking about. But I could see myself being an employer deciding between 2 equally qualified candidates. One candidate has been sitting at home drawing unemployment since losing their job while the other immediately went out and found any job available to stay productive. It is very hard to argue against hiring the one that showed the initiative to at least wash dishes or work in a restaurant until something better came along vs someone who just waited for good fortune to fall from the sky.

Those are the kinds of employees you want.
 
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#13
#13
Redstater said:
Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4% lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008. WSJ 10/5/11

34.2% - Means tested programs - Medicaid, food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare.

14.5% Households with someone receiving Medicare

16% Households with someone receiving Social Security WSJ 10/5/11

Obviously, some households have inhabitants receiving multiple benefits - Medicare and SS.

When you combine these stats with the fact that 47% of households will pay no federal income tax, this why the budget problem as relates to entitlements is near intractable and why Obama has a chance for reelection.
Click to expand...

This just means that the socialists have us on our way to economic prosperity.

Increase the amount of poor in the name of "fairness". :thumbsup:
 
#14
#14
With all due respect, to lump SS and Medicare in with the other welfare programs is totally wrong. Many retired people spent most of their working lives paying into SS and Medicare. It's not a government handout and those receiving it, earned it.
 
#15
#15
BelAirVol said:
With all due respect, to lump SS and Medicare in with the other welfare programs is totally wrong. Many retired people spent most of their working lives paying into SS and Medicare. It's not a government handout and those receiving it, earned it.
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When comparing social programs that are failures, I don't think it is unfair to lump all of them together.
 
#16
#16
this is clearly a racist thread. i'm sure a majority of those receiving aid are minorities and illegals.
 
#17
#17
theFallGuy said:
When comparing social programs that are failures, I don't think it is unfair to lump all of them together.
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The thread wasn't about comparing social programs that are failures. It was about the proportion of households receiving some kind of government benefit. Then it turned into a spewing of machismo on not taking benefits when unemployed. I am only saying you shouldn't compare those receiving SS and Medicare with those on welfare, food stamps and unemployment. It wouldn't be an appropriate comparison.

Can't believe YOU ever questioned my comprehension skills :birgits_giggle:
 
#18
#18
BelAirVol said:
The thread wasn't about comparing social programs that are failures. It was about the proportion of households receiving some kind of government benefit. Then it turned into a spewing of machismo on not taking benefits when unemployed. I am only saying you shouldn't compare those receiving SS and Medicare with those on welfare, food stamps and unemployment. It wouldn't be an appropriate comparison.

Can't believe YOU ever questioned my comprehension skills :birgits_giggle:
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My mistake, I didn't read the original post all the way through.
 
#21
#21
BelAirVol said:
With all due respect, to lump SS and Medicare in with the other welfare programs is totally wrong. Many retired people spent most of their working lives paying into SS and Medicare. It's not a government handout and those receiving it, earned it.
Click to expand...

K
 
#22
#22
golfballs03 said:
this is clearly a racist thread. i'm sure a majority of those receiving aid are minorities and illegals.
Click to expand...

That's the trouble with presenting stats these days. The mere fact that you present stats is prima facie evidence that you, in fact, are a racist. The more accepted evidence is how you "feel" about a topic, as in, "I just feel blah blah blah". And the more you "just feel", it proves that you "care".

And when it comes down to it, isn't "caring" what it's all about"?(See Bill Clinton - "I feel your pain").
 
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#23
#23
BelAirVol said:
With all due respect, to lump SS and Medicare in with the other welfare programs is totally wrong. Many retired people spent most of their working lives paying into SS and Medicare. It's not a government handout and those receiving it, earned it.
Click to expand...

No one who lives a normal life span is getting back what they paid in. They are getting back far more. If you get more back than you paid in and there was no growth (which there isn't here since current revenues are used for current outlays), then you didn't earn squat. If you put your money in an investment vehicle then you earned what you get back. This is just wealth transfer. It is a government handout.
 
#24
#24
RespectTradition said:
No one who lives a normal life span is getting back what they paid in. They are getting back far more. If you get more back than you paid in and there was no growth (which there isn't here since current revenues are used for current outlays), then you didn't earn squat. If you put your money in an investment vehicle then you earned what you get back. This is just wealth transfer. It is a government handout.
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I guarantee I won't.

Still doesn't matter. Medicare and SS are not welfare programs. One pays into the system.


What are you defining as "earned"?
 
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