1 out of 6 Americans depend on programs for poor

[Forkboy]

1 out of 6 Americans depend on programs for poor

By Stephen Ohlemacher

The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — The welfare state is bigger than ever despite a decade of policies designed to wean poor people from public aid.

The number of families receiving cash benefits from welfare has plummeted since the government imposed time limits on the payments a decade ago. But other programs for the poor, including Medicaid, food stamps and disability benefits, are bursting with new enrollees.

The result, according to an Associated Press analysis: Nearly one in six people rely on some form of public assistance, a larger share than at any time since the government started measuring two decades ago.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003589315_welfare26.html

[lligrd]

1. Ah Yes, The Ones They Love To Hate

Wonder how long before I become one of those?

[Forkboy]

3. I already am

Not a lot of fun.

[lligrd]

4. Sorry To Hear That Forkboy

But I hope you are staking out your real estate now cause I think a whole lot of us middlers will be coming to join you in the not to distant future if something isn't done quick. Then again, if we continue to ignore the climate change warning, it won't really matter, will it?

[Forkboy]

5. In a lot of ways I'm glad I've grown up in poverty

Obviously,as I said,it's not very fun,but it's completely shaped my outlook on life,and I think I'm a better person for it.

[lligrd]

6. No Doubt - The Poor Inherit The Earth

or whatever is left of it. Seriously, I have no doubt that struggles make us a better person thatn we otherwise would have been. And the current jackass-in-chief is proof.

[Forkboy]

7. Exactly...look at that entire family

:puke:

Even here on DU I think a lot of people have no clue what it's like to wonder each day if you're going to eat.We had a poll here years ago and the average income of DUers who responded was something like a 100K a year.Until you've lived it's hard to imagine.

And to be fair I try to keep that in mind about rich people.I have no idea what that's like,and I see a lot of wealthy kids that seemed pretty messed up and stressed too,so maybe that's not always a slice of heaven either :shrug:

It's the rich ones who don't give a shit about anything other than increasing their wealth at the expense of others that piss me off (i.e. The entire Republican Party).

[Cant trust em]

9. Let's get some empathy

Not like I'm Mr. Low-income Street guy (I grew up middle class), but I certainly have empathy for people who didn't get all the advantages that I did growing up. I'd love to think that there are no class boundaries in America, but that simply isn't the case.

[Craftsman]

8. I am too, I have to take a day of vacation if I or my children are sick

We had sick pay two mergers ago. I had 17 days saved up, but they disappeared after the merger

[Erika]

2. Walmart pays a minimal wage and expects the taxpayer

to pick up the costs of food and health care, while the Walton's are among the world's richest. Something a little wrong with this picture.

[loyalkydem]

10. Am I?

The only one who is sick of poverty in the US? I'm 1/2 blind and I live on social security disability. This is so degrading. It was awesome in the beginning, but now I'm of the mind set that I don't want to live on it for the rest of my life? is it wrong for me to want a better life for myself?

[undeterred]

12. No, its not right.

I am afraid of ending up on disability if I can't find a job and can't find a way to pay for COBRA. I have several chronic medical problems which are manageable- but without meds, I'm lost.

I don't blame you for wanting a better life. There should always be a goal to retrain someone for a career that they can handle with their disability. A friend of mine is on disability because of vertigo and she was retraining for office work, but the computer screens also made her dizzy and the jobs paid like $6.50 an hour. Less than what she got on disability. She didn't want her life to be even harder. I think our system is so screwy. We need to put people first. :hug:

[undeterred]

11. I'm single, made my first trip to a food pantry last week.

A lot of the stuff was day old. So its too old to be appetizing by the 2nd or 3rd day, even though I'm really hungry. My food stamp application was denied because I didn't get all the paperwork in on time and my "caseworker" never returned any of my phone calls. My unemployment compensation was reversed because of my vicious ex employer, so I have no income and am just hanging on by a thread. As a single childless person there is nothing else that I am eligible for. I desperately need a job soon.