The Welfare State

Nearly half of U.S. households are receiving government benefits:

Means-tested programs, designed to help the needy, accounted for the largest share of recipients last year. Some 34.2% of Americans lived in a household that received benefits such as food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare or Medicaid (the federal-state health care program for the poor). Another 14.5% lived in homes where someone was on Medicare (the health care program for the elderly). Nearly 16% lived in households receiving Social Security.

Comments (6)

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  1. Stephen C. says:

    This is when democracies become unstable.

  2. Buster says:

    When half the country is living off the other half we’re at a point of no return. Once given, it is virtually impossible to take away a benefit or an entitlement.

  3. Virginia says:

    Something tells me these aren’t voters. Does that tip the scale a little bit in our favor? Probably not, but it’s almost the weekend. We need to be optimistic about something…

  4. Linda Gorman says:

    Buster, there’s hope. Welfare reform was very successful.

  5. Stephen C. says:

    This is a sad commentary on what has happened in this country.

  6. The Native Indian says:

    Welfare is such an ugly word. Don’t you think?