Sad and Startling Statistic

[Churchmouse]

More people in the United States receive some sort of food assistance than work in the private sector. One hundred and one million receive food assistance compared to ninety seven million working.

This is a large voting block which will vote to keep these programs going. Once a free program is starting it is nearly impossible to end. This includes all programs including free school meals and the WIC program.

For the first time ever advertising is being used to encourage people to sign up for these programs.

While it is a blessing that we live in a country of such abundance, it could cause real problems in the future. Each taxpayer pays $834 per year in support.

[Just_A_Guy]

The problem, IMHO, isn't that the programs (at least, the ones you mention specifically) exist. I want there to be a functional safety net. Frankly, I don't even mind a limited amount of advertising for these programs - lots of people who really, really need this stuff have no idea that it's available or how to apply.

The problem is that individuals are coming to believe that they cannot, and never will be, able to get along without those programs and stand on their own two feet.

[Windseeker]

The problem is that individuals are coming to believe that they cannot, and never will be, able to get along without those programs and stand on their own two feet.

That and elected officials who's best interest is to keep them on their knees.

[Backroads]

I know a few wonderful people that aren't sure how to move away from these programs. They're on them, but afraid to try for further self-support at the fear of losing them.

I don't mind these programs--in fact, I'm grateful for them--but if JaG is correct that people become fully dependent on them, we have a big problem. The statistic might be simply an unfortunate but how-things-are sign of our time period. Or we might be moving toward an unsupportable welfare state (yes, that's an extreme measure, but the spectrum towards it is realistic).

[annewandering]

It would make more sense to focus on living wage jobs instead of worrying that the very poor, including children, will have food to eat from using food stamps.

[Leah]

More people in the United States receive some sort of food assistance than work in the private sector. One hundred and one million receive food assistance compared to ninety seven million working.

This is a large voting block which will vote to keep these programs going. Once a free program is starting it is nearly impossible to end. This includes all programs including free school meals and the WIC program.

For the first time ever advertising is being used to encourage people to sign up for these programs.

While it is a blessing that we live in a country of such abundance, it could cause real problems in the future. Each taxpayer pays $834 per year in support.

Could you share your sources, please?

[LittleWyvern]

Could you share your sources, please?

From what I've been able to find, this statistic is attributed to a tweet by Allen West. In that tweet, West links to this article from CNS News, a spinoff of the conservative group Media Research Center.

This claim, however, has a fatal flaw in that it simply tallies up the reported number of participants in all food assistance plans. That means that if a person participates in three different programs, that person will be counted three times. A much more accurate counting would exclude this overlap, but unfortunately CNS News has not done so and makes no attempt to even identify the overlap.