DD...I think we must define our terms before we can definitively paint the welfare picture in the US....
apparently, you choose to believe that it is declining....that may be true under the definition which uses a "welfare check" as it's basis.....
I'm saying it is rising....
because the "welfare check" has been replaced by a group of programs....and, most of welfare comes thru the states.....
as I posted earlier, this was very cleverly done to "hide" the welfare numbers and point to the erroneous conclusion that "welfare" is decreasing.....
for example....the "free" cell phones from the government are "welfare"....
Medicaid is "welfare"......
the WIC program is "welfare".....
the daycare program/scam is "welfare".....
yet, many people would argue that these are simply social service programs and NOT welfare per se......
in order to find the numbers of people and dollars, data must be gathered from a number of sources....making the task almost impossible (which was the intent).......
would you or someone please explan to me how the US can have a mediocre to failing economy, high unemployment (and, people that are no longer counted in the stats because they stopped looking for work), an illegal immigration problem (they use our system, too), the housing market is still experiencing many many foreclosures, and more.....yet, have a declining "welfare" system payout....
a math teacher once said to our class: if your answer doesn't pass the test of "logic", then, it is most likely incorrect....
your conclusion that there is less "welfare' today doesn't pass the test of logic....simply because I do not see the increase in wealth generation.....but, the incidence of hardship and decline in prosperity is glaring....
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