What’s Wrong with Welfare?
January 18th, 2010 at 11:50 am (General, Rants)
If you live in Missouri, the median income (i.e. the amount of income which 50% of people make either more or less than) is $63,274 for the average 4 person household. If we assume no other deductions, filing jointly that puts you in the 15% tax bracket. So, let’s do some math.
15% of $63,274 = $9491.10
In 2009 the US Federal Government spent the following:
Housing assistance: $41,387,000,000 1.3% Total Outlays
Food and nutrition assistance: $62,431,000,000 2.0% Total Outlays
Other income security: $136,630,000,000 4.4% Total Outlays
An outlay is what the government spends irrespective of how much they collected in taxes, duties etc. Thus if we spend more than we collect there is a deficit, if we spend less there is a surplus.
Obviously in 2009 we had a deficit. But let’s assume that if we hadn’t had a deficit that the percentage of the federal budget spent on the previously mentioned items has an equal analogous amount removed from an individual’s taxes. Thus:
In 2009 the average Missouri family paid the following:
Housing assistance: $123.38
Food and nutrition assistance: $189.82
Other income security: $417.61
Grand Total: $730.81 or $60.90/month
Why do I bring this up? I’ve heard a number of people suggest that welfare programs generally benefit the unworthy. Well, here is the average cost of taking care of the unworthy if you are a Missourian.
I now challenge you with the following questions.
1. Are all recipients of welfare unworthy of aid?
2. If so what are the criteria for judging worth in this instance?
3. Many people on welfare, worthy or not have children. Should we deny all aid to these people if even a small percentage ultimately goes to helping their children?
4. Some have argued that individuals and community organizations should be responsible for social welfare programs. Is it not more advantageous to leave these programs in the hands of the government which is capable of providing aid even during hard times like an economic recession?
5. Even if these programs are wildly inefficient and ineffective, do they not employ some amount of people in an attempt to distribute aid?
6. What are the causes of poverty? Before actually answering this question, do you have proof, or is this just what you think causes poverty, or what is commonly held as the cause of poverty?
Some Sources:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/guidance/SMI75FY09.pdf