$3.7 Trillion On Welfare Since 2009 Is A Culture Problem

[Max E.]

$3.7 Trillion On Welfare Since 2009 Is A Culture Problem

This lagging analysis of welfare spending by the Senate Budget Committee is a leading indicator of a fundamental shift in American economics and culture. Both of these factors put us on the path of dependency on government which then becomes a generational acceptance of any way of life.

It's also reflective of the failed economic policies of the Obama administration and the desire by the administration to make government an even more central participant in our daily lives. A very effective tool for the left is to lower the bar for means testing or participation in any or a multiple of programs such as removing the work requirement for welfare. This makes it easier for more people to get on the system and for many to game the system at taxpayer expense. Welfare then becomes a way of life rather than a bridge to help those in need.

To be fair there have been failures on the right side of the aisle in reforming the systems and in removing duplicate programs which allow many to gain more than a living wage at taxpayer expense. Oversight at the federal and state level for any cooperation for programs becomes an almost impossible task.

The CBO estimates well over $400 billion of duplicate of programs at the federal level.

In the case of the SNAP program when responsible states have attempted to account as required under law for the products that are being purchased with those benefits the USDA has struck down those attempts.

Corporatism plays into this and there are many who benefit at the bottom line whether it's EBT transaction fees and products suppliers within the welfare system.

We should consider a version of the UK system of consolidation into single credit and get a hold of total benefit outlay. They did it after their system failed and we don't want to go that far.

Federal welfare spending is expected to skyrocket some 80% in the next decade. This is unsustainable within our economy.

Democrats are hinting at almost $1 trillion in new taxes in the next decade. With over 90 million adults out of the workforce who will pay for all of this when there aren't enough earnings as middle-class incomes drop and taxing every rich person 100% could not pay for this. We can't tax our way to prosperity.

Solutions: Clean up waste and fraud, duplicative programs, raise the bar to participate, means test and allow the states to clean up individually and prosecute fraud expeditiously. This will make the programs more sustainable for those who truly need it.

 

[fhl]

Why no exit strategy for the war on poverty when the war was initiated?

Incompetence? Or another motive.

 

[Ricter]

"Since 2009" is coincident with the Great Recession.

 

[denner]

Quote from fhl:

Or another motive.

When the Dems go out on the campaign trail, it goes a little something like this:

"Those evil Republicans, they want to starve you, they want to throw your mother out in the street. They don't understand your needs; that you need food for your family, a roof over your head, a cellphone to look for work. If you vote for them, you will LOSE ALL OF IT".

 

[denner]

Quote from Ricter:

"Since 2009" is coincident with the Great Recession.

And yet, remarkably, Krugger and his band of captive idiots continue to argue for moar and moar "borrow and spend", which has done jack squat for those with their hands out.

Yes, it's done wonders for creating yet ANOTHER asset bubble (three in just over a decade).

 

[jem]

You mean the contraction which was caused or execerbated by Obama / krugman / preverted Keynesians?

you mean marketing for people to go on hand out lines is not part of the cause.

you mean paying out jobless benefits past 99 weeks instead of winding them down.

you mean not weaning people off of handouts.

you mean getting people fired by obamacare contraction.

Quote from Ricter:

"Since 2009" is coincident with the Great Recession.

 

[Ricter]

Quote from jem:

You mean the contraction which was caused or execerbated by Obama / krugman / preverted Keynesians?

you mean marketing for people to go on hand out lines is not part of the cause.

you mean paying out jobless benefits past 99 weeks instead of winding them down.

you mean not weaning people off of handouts.

you mean getting people fired by obamacare contraction.

With the exception of this statement, "you mean paying out jobless benefits past 99 weeks instead of winding them down" (why should we wind them down if the job supply has not risen sufficiently?), I say... shrug. Separate debate. Regardless of the cause of the GD, recessions are the reason government counter-cyclical spending surges, by definition.

 

[jem]

but if you do not wean the people off the handouts... you stop market forces from acting.
people would rather take handouts than get back to work and improving their skills for lower pay.

for instance the country does not need as many mortgage and lending industry folks.

Those people should be retooling (probably for lower pay) instead of taking handouts. I know a few of them who have just become Realtors who make no money while getting handouts.

Quote from Ricter:

With the exception of this statement, "you mean paying out jobless benefits past 99 weeks instead of winding them down" (why should we wind them down if the job supply has not risen sufficiently?), I say... shrug. Separate debate. Regardless of the cause of the GD, recessions are the reason government counter-cyclical spending surges, by definition.