The "Entitlement Society" myth: 91% of benefits go to elderly, disabled, or working..

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
The "Entitlement Society" myth: 91% of entitlement benefits go to elderly, disabled, or working households: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3677

Some conservative critics of federal social programs, including leading presidential candidates, are sounding an alarm that the United States is rapidly becoming an “entitlement society” in which social programs are undermining the work ethic and creating a large class of Americans who prefer to depend on government benefits rather than work. A new CBPP analysis of budget and Census data, however, shows that more than 90 percent of the benefit dollars that entitlement and other mandatory programs[1] spend go to assist people who are elderly, seriously disabled, or members of working households — not to able-bodied, working-age Americans who choose not to work. (See Figure 1.) This figure has changed little in the past few years.
In a December 2011 op-ed, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney warned ominously of the dangers that the nation faces from the encroachment of the “Entitlement Society,” predicting that in a few years, “we will have created a society that contains a sizable contingent of long-term jobless, dependent on government benefits for survival.” “Government dependency,” he wrote, “can only foster passivity and sloth.”[2] Similarly, former Senator Rick Santorum said that recent expansions in the “reach of government” and the spending behind them are “systematically destroying the work ethic.”[3]

The claim behind these critiques is clear: federal spending on entitlements and other mandatory programs through which individuals receive benefits is promoting laziness, creating a dependent class of Americans who are losing the desire to work and would rather collect government benefits than find a job.

Such beliefs are starkly at odds with the basic facts regarding social programs, the analysis finds. Federal budget and Census data show that, in 2010, 91 percentof the benefit dollars from entitlement and other mandatory programs went to the elderly (people 65 and over), the seriously disabled, and members of working households. People who are neither elderly nor disabled — and do not live in a working household — received only 9 percent of the benefits.

But, what about all those poor welfare moms spending all their time popping out welfare children?!?! With as much attention as conservatives give this group, you would think they would make up more than 9%.......
 

nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
15,669
8
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The fact that someone works does not mean they are not a leach on society. Take for example this woman profiled by NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/11/155103593/to-beat-odds-poor-single-moms-need-wide-safety-net

Take the case of 29-year-old Jennifer Stepp, who lives in Reading, Pa. Like 14 million other people in the U.S. who live in families headed by single mothers, she's poor. And she faces incredible odds.

Stepp has three children by three different fathers. The father of her eldest child, 10-year-old Isaiah, is serving 30 years in federal prison for armed robbery.

"He's met my son one time, when he was a baby. And he decided that he didn't want him," she says.

Stepp's middle child, 8-year-old Shyanne, usually sees her father every other weekend. But the father of her younger son is also in prison. Stepp says he's been behind bars for selling cocaine since she was pregnant. He has never met 1-year-old Makai.

But hey she has a job so that makes it okay :rolleyes:
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
106
The fact that someone works does not mean they are not a leach on society. Take for example this woman profiled by NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/11/155103593/to-beat-odds-poor-single-moms-need-wide-safety-net

But hey she has a job so that makes it okay :rolleyes:

Unfortunately her children are the ones that truly suffer because of her bad choices. Even sadder still is that they're much more likely to repeat those same choices when they're older.

Idiocracy here we come.
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
145
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The "Entitlement Society" myth: 91% of entitlement benefits go to elderly, disabled, or working households: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3677



But, what about all those poor welfare moms spending all their time popping out welfare children?!?! With as much attention as conservatives give this group, you would think they would make up more than 9%.......

The big issue is the outdated american housewife on or not on welfare. Thats some 40 million people that should work that doesnt. Only 112.5 million americans work. There should be close to 200 million. Assuming 100 million are sick, children and elders.
 
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nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
15,669
8
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The big issue is the outdated american housewife on or not on welfare. Thats some 40 million people that should work that doesnt. Only 112.5 million americans work. There should be close to 200 million. Assuming 100 million are sick, children and elders.

Why do you have a problem with housewives?

Is America suffering from some kind of labor shortage?

Why do you seem to be implying that the woman with 3 kids by 3 fathers (2 in prison) is less of a problem than a woman who takes care of her kids while her husband support the family?
 

nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
15,669
8
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Unfortunately her children are the ones that truly suffer because of her bad choices. Even sadder still is that they're much more likely to repeat those same choices when they're older.

Even sadder is that there is a large contingent of people who will fight for her "right" to behave irresponsibly.

And then even saddest I think has to be this:

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/27/prostitution_for_the_price_of_a_happy_meal/

Why in the world are we letting former drug addicts/hookers regain custody of their kids before they are capable of taking care of them?
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
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Why do you have a problem with housewives?

Is America suffering from some kind of labor shortage?

Why do you seem to be implying that the woman with 3 kids by 3 fathers (2 in prison) is less of a problem than a woman who takes care of her kids while her husband support the family?

I dont, the US does.

American is suffering greatly from poor production output as can also be shown here:
Trade_Balance.jpg


The rest of the world slowly took all those jobs. The Eurozone trade blance is positive to compare.

Its very hard for 1 person to support a modern family and to bring the wealth needed into society for that consumption. Specially for unskilled labour. A housewife is simply a negative asset to society that the man needs to outweight. It simply seems that the US didnt realize globalization yet. Its like a timebubble of its own stuck in the past.

So these 112.5 million american workers needs to take care of the other 187.5 million people that doesnt contribute with anything. So either the US family starts to downsize in consumption, or more people start working.
 
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Zstream

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2005
3,395
277
136
The big issue is the outdated american housewife on or not on welfare. Thats some 40 million people that should work that doesnt. Only 112.5 million americans work. There should be close to 200 million. Assuming 100 million are sick, children and elders.

WOW! All I can say is dumb. You think two people working will solve the problem? What about the work pool? What do you think happens when more people work, the wage goes down. In addition, we have an unemployment problem already. You're pretty new at economic policies or just plain dumb and sexists against women.
 

Zstream

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2005
3,395
277
136
I dont, the US does.

American is suffering greatly from poor production output as can also be shown here:
Trade_Balance.jpg


The rest of the world slowly took all those jobs. The Eurozone trade blance is positive to compare.

Its very hard for 1 person to support a modern family and to bring the wealth needed into society for that consumption. Specially for unskilled labour. A housewife is simply a negative asset to society that the man needs to outweight.

Now I know you're trolling.
 

Conscript

Golden Member
Mar 19, 2001
1,751
2
81
I need to just need to create a blog, make up some facts and graphs...and then use them as citations for forum arguments...since credibility and reputation seem to matter not.

Sent from my Lumia 810 using Board Express
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
145
106
WOW! All I can say is dumb. You think two people working will solve the problem? What about the work pool? What do you think happens when more people work, the wage goes down. In addition, we have an unemployment problem already. You're pretty new at economic policies or just plain dumb and sexists against women.

I thought they teached you in economics 101 not to see on a single country only in a globalized world.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
You are very correct to keep in mind the ideology of organizations when people link to them. I'm pretty sure you have linked to things from the Heritage Foundation in the past, do you take that same large grain of salt with what you read from them?

Of course.

There's lies, damn lies and statistics. Any one can manipulate economic numbers to back up anything they say.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Why do we think a whoring slut needs more money than a family that is working and paying taxes. Dont try to put a nice face on immorality.
 

nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
15,669
8
0
I dont, the US does.

American is suffering greatly from poor production output as can also be shown here:
Trade_Balance.jpg


The rest of the world slowly took all those jobs. The Eurozone trade blance is positive to compare.

Its very hard for 1 person to support a modern family and to bring the wealth needed into society for that consumption. Specially for unskilled labour. A housewife is simply a negative asset to society that the man needs to outweight. It simply seems that the US didnt realize globalization yet. Its like a timebubble of its own stuck in the past.

So these 112.5 million american workers needs to take care of the other 187.5 million people that doesnt contribute with anything. So either the US family starts to downsize in consumption, or more people start working.

The US ran a positive trade imbalance when fewer women worked.

Also you do realize that we have a 7.8% unemployment rate? Maybe if closed the trade imbalance some of the people who currently wanted a job could have one?

Note, I fully agree with the trade imbalance being a serious problem. If you look at your chart I think you will see that a lot of the imbalance is caused by the rising price in oil driving up the $$$ of oil imports.
 

Olikan

Platinum Member
Sep 23, 2011
2,023
275
126
Well there is 2 options aint there. Either the US spend too much. Or they dont produce enough. Pick anyone.

ahhh... the "Murica Dream"
where you have 2 kids, one boy and one girl...a van car for family and a sport car for your neighboors :sneaky:, your woman don't need to work and a big house with a good mortgage

ShintaiDK, forget about it.... they will never accept others opinion
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
The big issue is the outdated american housewife on or not on welfare. Thats some 40 million people that should work that doesnt. Only 112.5 million americans work. There should be close to 200 million. Assuming 100 million are sick, children and elders.

Where did you get that 112.5 million number from? The real number is just over 150 Million, 40% higher.

Page 6
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
 

nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
15,669
8
0
I didn't see anything about her being a leech on society... Is being a single mother trying to raise your kids now considered being a leech?

She is a charity case:

If their grades are good, their employer — a nonprofit called Opportunity House — will help with tuition. If they graduate, they can get a raise.

...

Her employer, Opportunity House, pays half the rent. It's one of many things her employer does to help her out.

...

Stepp also gets food stamps and medical aid for the kids

...

She says she briefly received welfare benefits a few years ago, but not now

Did you even read the article?
 

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
145
106
Where did you get that 112.5 million number from? The real number is just over 150 Million, 40% higher.

Page 6
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

That includes part-time. I only took full-time, since part-time can be anything in terms of working time as far as I know in the US.

http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpsee_e04.htm

Also its not above 150 million combined. Its 143 million americans with a job. 112.5 million of those full-time.

The entire workforce is estimated to 155 million. Thats awfully low. But its artificially low. Since you aint registered as unemployed unless you register yourself unemployed. A neat little trick to cover up real unemployment rates. (Used in all countries).

Essentially unemployment rate is irrelevant. Its only relevant to know how many people are actually in job. I guess that the BLS actually estimates that 244 million americans are able to work (Out of the ~315 million or so). And explains the participation rate of 64% or below.

Even if we say part-time workers gives atleast 30 hours of work per week. Then the ratio in the US, that contains of a very high amount of unskilled labour, is 2.20. So 1 worker feeds 2.2 people. Even in Denmark, where the young traditionally got longer and higher education for better pay and earlier pension. The ratio is 2.07.

Denmark scaled up to US size would have a GDP that was 33% higher due to the higher amount of skilled labour.

Its interesting to see what the politicians in the US will do about it. Because right now the loss of jobs cant be blamed on China anymore. It can only be blamed on the US itself that (sofar) failed to transform into a globalized economy.
 
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PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
101
A housewife is simply a negative asset to society that the man needs to outweight.

Utter and complete fail.

A mother who takes care of her family and children is more valuable to society than just about anyone else. The lack of good parenting by a mother or a father who is there for their kids is one of the biggest problems in society. Kids are essentially getting raised by people making minimum wage instead of by their parents.