Monday, November 12, 2012

Lies I've heard recently: $60,000 for each poor family. Right...


   
Recently someone sent me an article from the Weekly Standard claiming the USA spends $60,000 per poor family in the USA.  Some people (i.e., journalists) really need to check out that commandment against bearing false witness, in other words lying.

The facts of the matter are that TANF [Temporary Aid to Needy Families] gives much less than welfare AFDC [Aid to Families with Dependent Children] ever did.  There is no welfare, AFDC, since Clinton "ended welfare as we know it."   A person is only eligible for TANF for five years and then she and her kids are on their own (usually it's the woman who is left to care for the children).

The truth is TANF and food stamps do not add up to more than two thirds of the poverty line, $23,031 for a family of four (http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb12-172.html).

The idea that the USA spends an inordinate sum to aid the poor is bogus.  The entire budget only spends 38% on all Human Resources costs.  AFDC never cost more than 1% of the federal budget.  The military this year will cost 48% of the federal budget (https://www.warresisters.org/sites/default/files/FY2012piechart-color.pdf ).

Here's the  link to the Weekly Standard story. 


Compare the above to articles blowing the Weekly Standard article out of the water

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/peter-edelman/poverty-social-safety-net_b_1980431.html


http://www.thenation.com/blog/170849/week-poverty-bigfoot-nessie-and-paul-ryan

Here's the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities with all the graphs and facts.
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3700 





Vital Statistics
US poverty (less than $22,314 for a family of four): 46 million people, 15.1 percent of population.
Children in poverty: 16.4 million, 22 percent of all children, including 39 percent of African-American children and 35 percent of Latino children.
Number of poor children receiving cash aid: one in five.
Poverty rate for people in female-headed families: 42 percent.
Single mothers with incomes under $25,000: 50 percent.
Single mothers working: 67 percent.
Deep poverty (less than $11,157 for a family of four): 20.5 million people, 6.7 percent of population. Up from 12.6 million in 2000.
Increase in deep poverty, 1976-2010: doubled—3.3 percent of population to 6.7 percent.
Americans with no income other than food stamps: 6 million, 2 percent of population.
Twice the poverty level (less than $44,628 for a family of four): 103 million people, roughly 1 in 3 Americans.
Families receiving cash assistance, 1996: 68 for every 100 families living in poverty.
Families receiving cash assistance, 2010: 27 for every 100 families living in poverty.
Impact of public policy, 2010: without government assistance, poverty would have been twice as high—nearly 30 percent of population.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/170849/week-poverty-bigfoot-nessie-and-paul-ryan 

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Howdу! I just noticed your web pаge: Blogger: A Jesuit's Jottings when I was surfing around stumbleupon.com. It looks as though someone loved your blog so much they decided to bookmark it. I'll definitеly be
coming baсk here more often.

http://wwω.singlеgiгlstravеl.
com/useг/4619
My page bucket truck sales

Fri Nov 30, 05:48:00 PM 2012  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.

Look into my web page - 24 hour payday loans

Thu Feb 21, 11:19:00 PM 2013  
Blogger Unknown said...

huangqihang0529ray ban uk
tory burch shoes
tory burch handbags
air max 90
pandora jewelry
prada outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors handbag
jordan shoes
ray ban sunglasses
burberry sale
true religion outlet
michael kors handbags
fitflops outlet
oakley sunglasses
gucci outlet online
michael kors outlet online
coach outlet online
abercrombie outlet
ralph lauren outlet
burberry handbags
burberry outlet
chanel bags
kate spade outlet
michael kors
chanel outlet
ralph lauren
cheap jordans
q

Fri May 29, 01:46:00 AM 2015  
Blogger chenlina said...

chenlina20151209
adidas superstars
canada goose
ugg boots outlet
adidas originals
replica rolex watches
louis vuitton outlet
mont blanc legend
cheap oakley sunglasses
kids lebron shoes
the north face
coach outlet
coach outlet
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory outlet
ray bans
cheap toms
gucci outlet
cheap uggs
hollister
supra shoes
louis vuitton purses
louis vuitton outlet
coach outlet online
replica watches
michaek kors outlet
coach outlet
timberland outlet
michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
michael kors outlet
ray ban sunglasses
uggs outlet
cheap jordans
uggs outlet
celine outlet
coach factory outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
celine handbags
louis vuitton handbags
jordan concords
as

Wed Dec 09, 12:22:00 AM 2015  
Anonymous The Burn Notice said...

There are no secret economies that nourish the poor; on the contrary, there are a host of special costs. -Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed

Sat Jul 02, 08:54:00 AM 2016  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home