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In reply to the discussion: So my Republican Dad says, "Half the country is on some government entitlement program...." [View all]2on2u
(1,843 posts)33. Send him these ten statistics.... and maybe the link if you think it could open his eyes.
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-working-poor
#1 In 2009, total wages, median wages, and average wages all declined in the United States.
#2 Since the year 2000, we have lost 10% of our middle class jobs. In the year 2000 there were about 72 million middle class jobs in the United States but today there are only about 65 million middle class jobs. Meanwhile, our population is getting larger.
#3 As 2007 began, only 26 million Americans were on food stamps, but now 42 million Americans are on food stamps and that number keeps rising every single month.
#4 Since 2001, over 42,000 U.S. factories have closed down for good.
#5 One out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one anti-poverty program run by the federal government.
#6 Half of all American workers now earn $505 or less per week.
#7 The number of Americans working part-time jobs "for economic reasons" is now the highest it has been in at least five decades.
#8 Ten years ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. In 2010, the United States has fallen to seventh.
#9 In 1976, the top 1 percent of earners in the United States took in 8.9 percent of all income. By 2007, that number had risen to 23.5 percent.
#10 According to one recent study, approximately 21 percent of all children in the United States are living below the poverty line in 2010.
#1 In 2009, total wages, median wages, and average wages all declined in the United States.
#2 Since the year 2000, we have lost 10% of our middle class jobs. In the year 2000 there were about 72 million middle class jobs in the United States but today there are only about 65 million middle class jobs. Meanwhile, our population is getting larger.
#3 As 2007 began, only 26 million Americans were on food stamps, but now 42 million Americans are on food stamps and that number keeps rising every single month.
#4 Since 2001, over 42,000 U.S. factories have closed down for good.
#5 One out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one anti-poverty program run by the federal government.
#6 Half of all American workers now earn $505 or less per week.
#7 The number of Americans working part-time jobs "for economic reasons" is now the highest it has been in at least five decades.
#8 Ten years ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. In 2010, the United States has fallen to seventh.
#9 In 1976, the top 1 percent of earners in the United States took in 8.9 percent of all income. By 2007, that number had risen to 23.5 percent.
#10 According to one recent study, approximately 21 percent of all children in the United States are living below the poverty line in 2010.
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So my Republican Dad says, "Half the country is on some government entitlement program...." [View all]
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
OP
Is your Dad fortunate enough to be in the top 1% or even in the top 10%? If not,
coalition_unwilling
Jul 2012
#38
"What's left are mostly people who do get something for nothing, something that most don't get."
newthinking
Jul 2012
#57
Very good question... I'm sure they have studied how the brain processes messaging..
nenagh
Jul 2012
#16
Pride and selfishness, evil ways of thinking, lack of empathy, sociopathic tendancies
newthinking
Jul 2012
#29
critical thought (regardless of the political spectrum to which it's applied) is utterly discouraged
stockholmer
Jul 2012
#61
He's retired, but worked all his adult life for an oil-service company. Owned by Halliburton.
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#82
My Republican dad believes the bullshit claim that half the country doesn't pay their taxes.........
AverageJoe90
Jul 2012
#21
You have to give the Republican spin doctors their props. They've pulled off an incredible feat of
TrollBuster9090
Jul 2012
#24
You think your dad is bad? Did you see the CNN interview with those two men from the mid-west?
nanabugg
Jul 2012
#25
Send him these ten statistics.... and maybe the link if you think it could open his eyes.
2on2u
Jul 2012
#33
They're called "entitlement programs" because the people are entitled to the benefits.
Igel
Jul 2012
#48
Also remind him everyone has known the baby boomers were going to be retiring
Spitfire of ATJ
Jul 2012
#42
Nobody that's NOT a tool would spout that line without being prodded by RW pundits on Fox et al
Populist_Prole
Jul 2012
#53
And don't forget all the WOUNDED SOLDIERS of the BUSH WARS who all have it SO EASY NOW! (sarcasm)
vkkv
Jul 2012
#69
My brother, who I'm close to, is also far right wing. Even tho he was a union man!
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#83
That's an excellent post. I think I'll borrow that quote, if you don't mind. nt
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#84