VOTER POWER
Welfare
Myth: Americans believe welfare is a huge part of the budget and estimate that we spend four times the actual price tag.
Fact: Welfare makes up less than 15% of discretionary spending.
Myth: Americans believe welfare mostly goes to lazy people.
Fact: Welfare mostly goes to working people, children, the elderly, and the disabled.
Americans have always respected the concept of an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work, but we also believe in helping those who are less fortunate. Many Americans believe the government dispenses public aid based on the principle of giving a hand up, not a handout.
Others are convinced that welfare programs are bankrupting the nation because they are riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. Some even say welfare programs are counterproductive, hurting the very people they are supposed to help by creating a culture of dependency. Poor people are poor because they don’t work, or don’t work hard enough, and providing them a living enables and encourages laziness.
Do programs like welfare actually enable bad behavior in the “lazy” poor? Are there instances where these programs are wasteful and need to be reevaluated? Is it possible to find a balance between helping those in need while also minding the budget and encouraging self-sufficiency?
Major Democratic Accomplishments in US Government
Although many Americans have become disillusioned with our two-party system—and for good reason—it’s important to take a look back at history and see what has been accomplished by each of these parties. Later today, we’ll have a similar post about Republican accomplishments.
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No, Welfare Benefits Are Not “Big Money”
There’s been a lot of rage-fueled ink spilled over welfare benefits in the U.S., Who gets welfare, how much does welfare cost the government, and who is (and isn’t) eligible for welfare? The truth about government aid is complex and nuanced, and we’ve broken it down here.
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What Does a Welfare Queen Really Look Like?
We’ve all heard it before: someone told a friend of a friend that they saw a designer jewelry-clad woman carrying a brand-new iPhone, who then whipped out her food stamp card to pay for her groceries. But this so-called welfare queen, who is allegedly living high on...
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Your Own Bootstraps?
Myth: Americans believe welfare is a huge part of the budget, and estimate that we spend four times the actual price tag. Fact: Welfare is less than 15% of discretionary spending. Myth: Americans believe welfare mostly goes to lazy people. Fact: Welfare goes mostly...
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Vote for Unemployment Benefits: An Open Letter to my Congressman, the Honorable Edward R. Royce, (R-CA)
To the Honorable Edward R. Royce, I am disappointed in your recent vote against the extension of unemployment insurance and I urge you to vote for any new bills that provide not only unemployment benefits, but any short-term stimulus measures such as infrastructure...
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