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

[katty]

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/10/05/nearly-half-of-households-receive-some-government-benefit/

By Sara Murray
Families were more dependent on government programs than ever last year.

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.

[dogman]

1. A benefit implies something given.

I really doubt these statistics would hold up if you removed entitlements which they would have you believe are benefits.

[Enrique]

2. as if that's some kind of scandal

they include Medicare.

In many countries, the figure would be 100% "receiving government benefit" because of national health insurance.

[kestrel91316]

3. No big surprise if they are including folks who get Social Security.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Here's the sad statistic in the article: 34.2% receiving assistance.

"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)."

So over one third of the country can't make it in today's economy.

[libinnyandia]

5. America in poverty

All we have to do is put the GOP back in power and all those lazy do-nothings will have to work and poverty will disappear. It's all Obama's fault. Too many people have a sense of entitlement. If God had meant for people to eat, He or She would have food grow on trees.And no one would ever get sick:o)