The Welfare Myth

[ez bake]

I think far too many people are believing some of the hype about welfare (both how bad it is and where it is). While I don't deny its a problem, I seriously think some of you believe like 80% of NY, CA, MA, and IL are on welfare. Lets have a thread of actual facts on welfare - whose getting the most by state (so we can compare by party-lean/vote).

For reference, here is a map of red/blue states (We can get more complicated than this to include swing-states, where they stand when you bring in Congress, etc...):

Here is more info on the details of red/blue states: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states




Here's a good article on states by taxes paid, vs Federal money received (and tagged by republican/democrat voting):
http://geniusofinsanityworld.blogspot.com/2011/01/republican-welfare-states-gop-states.html

Republican Welfare States: GOP States Pay Less Taxes but Get Most in Federal Spending; Opposite True for Democratic States.
Those states who pay the least in taxes, get the most--and they tend to vote Republican. Those who pay the most in taxes and get the least back tend to vote Democratic. So, says the Tax Foundation (a conservative leaning group) in an article by Andrew Chamberlain

Here's another good article by percentage (this is again, from Maine's page about how bad they are doing in all categories as a state).

http://www.themainewire.com/2012/10/fix-system-report-maine-national-leader-welfare-dependency/

 

[VIKING]

Wow, thanks for the stats. Now I can go get in my deer stand this afternoon and won't have all this to worry about.

 

[Blinocac200sx]

My feeling is, I don't care about politics or efficacy of the program, or money spent, or any of that. Government welfare of any kind is morally wrong and needs to stop.

 

[dennishoddy]

Was this info put out by the DNC?

 

[uncle money bags]

Government administered welfare is nothing more than a tool to create dependency. It's all about bribing us with our own money. Sure, you can say it wasnt always the case and I might even believe that my self, but the system has been perverted by politicians.

 

[ez bake]

Let me re-state "how bad it is". I'm not advocating that Welfare is good by any means. I'm stating that the problem of large-percentages of people being on welfare is not as bad a problem as its being made out to be. It's also not isolated to those states we love to bash (or even that it's somehow worse in those states than red states as a whole).

It's just funny to me that a lot of folks on here are talking about how all these welfare recipients are voting for Obama, when several of the red-states have more of a percentage of welfare recipients than blue states.

But don't let me F@#$ this whole thread up with facts...

 

[TwoForFlinching]

My feeling is, I don't care about politics or efficacy of the program, or money spent, or any of that. Government welfare of any kind is morally wrong and needs to stop.

That's a terrible way to look at it. People need help, help them. Punish those who take advantage. The biggest problem with welfare is the legislation loopholes and general qualifications for assistance.

 

[LightningCrash]

That's a terrible way to look at it. People need help, help them. Punish those who take advantage. The biggest problem with welfare is the legislation loopholes and general qualifications for assistance.

So if people need help, we should use the thread of force to collect money from the Haves and distribute it to the Have-nots?

 

[Mad Professor]

Those stats do not reflect those that have an income and are not paying taxes on it. I don't care what you call it, tax credits or whatever, it is welfare.

I know the 47% numbers that pay no taxes may be inflated, but even 25% is too many.

 

[surjimmy]

I think Welfare is great for people who really needs it. The problem is, the way Welfare is set up there is no incentive to get off of it. In fact in alot of cases, they get more on Welfare then going to work. When I was in the Marines in SC, a woman with 17, that's right 17 illegitimate kids. She sued the state to build her a house, and since she was on Welfare and receiving a check for each of her kids. She won, the state had to build her a home to house her 17 kids. Oh by the way she planed on have more. True Story folks.