One Third Of Americans And Nearly One Half Of Immigrants Are On Welfare
According to these figures from the Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee, via the Weekly Standard, roughly one third of America’s population is on welfare. Note that this doesn’t include Americans on programs like Medicare or Social Security.
According to the press release enrollment in the over 80 welfare programs included in this measure has exploded over the last decade. “Among the major means tested welfare programs, since 2000 Medicaid has increased from 34 million people to 54 million in 2011 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) from 17 million to 45 million in 2011,” reads the press release. “Spending on food stamps alone is projected to reach $800 billion over the next decade.”
Meanwhile, according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies, 43% of immigrants who have been in the United States for 20 years or longer are on welfare:
The study, based on 2010 and 2011 census data, found that 43 percent of immigrants who have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were using welfare benefits, a rate that is nearly twice as high as native-born Americans and nearly 50 percent higher than recent immigrants.
I don’t have a problem with immigration. In fact, I think it should be easier to legally immigrate. But it’s clear that America has a welfare program. We are creating an underclass of citizens who are dependent on the government, either in part or entirely, and our welfare system is so lavish it’s attracting people from around the world to come here and leech.
This is not the path to prosperity. This is the path to the collapse of our society.
By the way, this isn’t just a Democrat problem. Note the time frame. This explosion in entitlements and dependency took place under Republicans too.