Welfare Rolls Increasing In 23 Of The 30 Largest States

Wall Street Journal:

Welfare rolls, which were slow to rise and actually fell in many states early in the recession, now are climbing across the country for the first time since President Bill Clinton signed legislation pledging "to end welfare as we know it" more than a decade ago.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[pltmcs]

Lets not get crazy about what is going on. As I document on my blog at www.ProudlyMadeInAmerica.com the numbers have some good in them. The unemployment numbers will lag a bit, but the increase in production at Ford along with the reopening of Chrysler plants, and feeder plants, will help the numbers in the short term.

What we, as Americans, need to do is buy American. Buying a Toyota built in Mississippi counts. Just pay attention to country of origin. When the US economy improves, we will lift other countries with us.

[fleaba]

I am really unhappy with the turn of events. There have not been the huge political changes that need to happen. I'm talking about serious financial reform, serious changes in the bankruptcy laws. serious help and not just a bandaid for the foreclosure issues and as for healthcare, don't get me started. What the Dems don't seem to grasp is that if they pass universal healthcare for ALL and take out the insurance companies, the left will be in power for decades to come. THis happened in the UK.
Any more procrastination on Obama and the Dems part here is going to lead straight to a revolution in the streets. For everyone who is preaching patience they can shove it. I'm not alone in saying that I'm dead tired of all of it.

[sc92705]

What would Obama know about combating unemployment? He is been a public servant his whole life, never operated a lemonade stand. Yeah, he feels your pain, small business owner. He is reeming the small business owner. Just like Bush, he is taking a top down approach. He is content to view unemplyment as a lagging indicator. Change you can believe in????

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

Ah dude his mom was on food stamps and he had to repay back school loans plus his work as a community
organizer told him lots of info on how people deal with unemployment and what's effects are.
Plus there is all the following and guess what a lot of it deals with businesses and their employees. Bother to do some research before you open your mouth. Oh wait conservatives never do any fact checking.


From http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/apr/15/joe-scarborough/heres-scoop-obama-has-worked-ice-cream-business-am/

1975 or 1976 — ice cream scooper, Baskin-Robbins — Honolulu — Obama claims to have lost his taste for ice cream during this, his first job, the duration of which is not publicly known.

Date unknown — deli counter clerk, business name unknown — Honolulu — Obama had a summer job at a deli counter in Hawaii, making sandwiches, his spokesman said during the presidential campaign.

1980 — gift shop sales clerk, business name unknown — Honolulu — Obama worked at a gift shop in Hawaii selling island souvenirs the summer after his freshman year at Occidental College in California.

Sometime between 1981-1983 — construction worker, business name unknown — New York — Obama cleared a construction site for a summer on Manhattan's Upper West Side while attending Columbia University, the Associated Press reported. Obama referred to this job in Dreams From My Father .

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Many haven't operated a lemonade stand, but understand unemployment. I bet you did not operate a lemonade stand.

And every family is like a small business, budgeting, prioritizing, and setting goals. The Prez is taking a multifaceted approach, making sure the banks do not pull the economy under further and helping the middle class (see www.whitehouse.gov for legislation passed since January).

[kalimuzo]

Everybody needs to relax. This is going to be a tough year but what did you expect? We had a melt down of the entire financial markets, a credit squeeze and a lot of bankruptcies. This is what happens. We are lucky we are not on the streets. This is what a tough year means but we will get through this.

[rabiddog6708]

Hard to relax when you are losing your jobs, your life savings and your home. "We are lucky we are not on the streets," you say......us posting here perhaps, but tent cities aren't springing up because people enjoy camping in the great outdoors.

[PhilipTaylor]

Very unfair and sad!

We must stop all these Foreclosures that are also hurting the Wall Street Banks.

We must see the building of Main Street Industries and Jobs! Enough with the useless Wall Street Banks!

[Mildmannered]

Yes, tough to relax.

[PhilipTaylor]

TRUE with a rebuilding of Main Street!

We have seen Bush and Obama spend $1 on Main Street for every $306 that was pumped into Wall Street!

Simply reverse the Numbers in the Future to:

$306 to Main Street for every $1 to Wall Street!

[PhilipTaylor]

Dear Wizz,

Bush will always be the "CREATOR OF THE CRISIS" as long as HP Exists just like President Hover has retained his Cr0wn as the Creator of the Depression!

So try to Bu_ry the past with your "BS" but it will always resurface again everywhere there are a few Americans!

It will be taught in High School and possibly Middle School!

Sincerely,

The Bush Watcher

PS: I thought Elephants never forget!

[PhilipTaylor]

To be FAIR!

Obama this is what happens when you FUND the "FAKE" Wall Street Economy instead of

The "REAL" MAIN STREET Economy!

Why does Wall Street always PUT us in the DITCH?

Why does Main Street always Tow us out?

But that was before Wall Street shipped all our production jobs out to save a few dimes!

Obama must rebuild Main Street Manufacturing, High Tech, Energy, Health Care, and Education for us to get our of this DITCH!

Otherwise it is back to consuming our way INTO the Bankruptcy of AMERICA!

[PhilipTaylor]

Facts: Took Bush-WallSt just 5 Years to Create Housing Crisis (watch Video)

Graph= http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/images/us-subprime-mortgage-market-growth.png
2002=Video: Younger Bush Pushing "EASY Loans" on Minorities
2002=Bush Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNqQx7sjoS8&feature=related
2002=Bush Enlisted Investment Banks issue "EASY SURE FAIL" Mortgages
2002=Bush Proclaims Enlisted Fannie/Freddie to buy Garbage Mortgages
2002 FED+Bush Admin=high priority on "financial innovation"+Bush"s "ownership society"
2002 FED=Used housing boom to prop up economy after 2000 market collapse
2002 FED governor=warned: lenders breeding fast-growing risky mortgages
2002 FED examiners=­investigat­e mortgage lenders of WSBanks
2003+2004=FED analyst: deteriorating lending standards+higher defaults+ foreclosures
2003+2004=FED encourage development of alternative mortgages=sub-prime loans+ adjustable
2004=Comptroller Curr (OCC) used 1863 law=prevent enforcement state predatory lending laws
2004=OCC=prevent enforcing consumer protection laws against Big Banks
2004=Link: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/02/spitzer-bush-administration-blocked.html
2007=FED+F­DIC+OCC=is­sue guide=No new loans to poor after 'teaser' rates expire 2-3 years
2007=FED+F­DIC+OCC=Bl­ock Half of Subprime borrowers from refinancing=Insure Casino Bets
2007=FED decisions=too late to tame industry"s excesses=Help Banks win Casino Bets
2007-2009=20-30% Subprime didn't meet Refi thresholds,But 70-80% would without new rules
2007-2009=2 million teaser-rate loans expired without refi http://www.bloomberg.com
2002-2008=Graph of Housing Bubble showing straight up line 2003-2007 (below)
2007=Bubble fed by "Easy SURE FAIL" Mortgages BURST creating CRISIS
2008=Green­span=sayin­g FED ill-equipped to investigate deceptive lending=False
2009=Greenspan consulting gig PIMCO

Research:CarolAB

[wizzardly]

This is Obama now and on. No more Bush. Come on Obama be a hero or a failure. Own up to what you are doing and claim it. Good or Bad. It is your mega policies that is driving our country. Just NO MORE BUSH blaming. You are the Man in charge.

[Ponderus]

Feeble.

[Ponderus]

Pit

iful.

[sean6886]

He's cleaning up Bush's mess!

[miriamfl]

I love the way the rightwingers never want to take ownership of problems. It was Clintons fault, it's pres Obamas fault. In the mean time we have had the worst administration in my lifetime with Bush/Cheney at the wheel. The illegal was in Iraq, the war in Aphganistan which have been costing over 11billion every month. The fact that Bush pushed for easy credit for the public so they could buy homes. He bragged about it. The fact that Greenspan lowered interent rates to 0 to make credit available. ( I recommend watching house of card on cnbc) it explains it very clearly. I will not blame the Bush administration for the dot com bubble, but you can be sure he is responsible for the real estate crash which the led to banking crash and the fact that we owe China for the war in Iraq is scary . The people who need to own this problem are the Repubs who voted these clowns into office and the Bush administration.

[rabiddog6708]

That's right.....the party of personal responsibility never takes responsibility for anything they mess up.....It is always someone else's fault.

[Ihatecats]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/54/facepalm2.jpg

[Concerned American99]

OMG, I know you just didn't say this. BUSH wanted easy credit??? Check your facts.

ACORN held protests at banks demanding banks lend money to unqualified buyers
Clinton and Barney Franks put in many of the easy credit polices during the Clinton admin.

The problem with BUSH IS HE DIDN"T STOP THEM

[blakestone]

Um...Maxine Waters (D) and Barney Frank (D) slammed the B.Admin for suggesting regs on Fannie/Fre­ddie....Ge­t your facts straight.

[Katzencats]

Here's the drill:

"Jimmy Carter was the cause of everything bad in the '70s.

Everything Good that happened in the Reagan Administrations was because Reagan was President.

Everything Bad that happened in those terms was because of the Democratic Congress.

Ditto the Bush I years.

Everything Good that happened during the Clinton Administrations didn't happen until two years in when Congress became controlled by the Republicans.

Everything Bad that happened in those terms was because Clinton was President & also the first two years with a Democratic Congress.

Everything Good that happened in the Bush II Administrations was because he was President & because of the Republican Congress the first 6 years.

Everything Bad that happened was either Clinton's fault, Carter's fault, or because of the slim majority of the Dems in Congress the last two years.

Everything Good so far in the Obama Administration - oops! There isn't anything Good.

Everything Bad right now is Obama's fault, Clinton's fault, Carter's fault or the fault of the Democratic Congress."

Remember it any time you talk to a Republican (they'll let you know, in any case).

[PhilipTaylor]

Dear Wizz,

Bush will always be the "CREATOR OF THE CRISIS" as long as HP Exists just like President Hover has retained his Cr0wn!

So try to Bu_ry the past with your "BS" but it will always resurface again everywhere there are a few Americans! It will be taught in High School and possibly Middle School!

Sincerely,

The Bush Watcher

PS: I thought Elephants never forget!

[disgusted48]

do you know how broke you have to be to collect welfare now, after clinton and the republican congress got through dismantling it? Really, really destitute, and you must have children to qualify. If you are elderly and destitute you can collect SSI. everybody else is S O O L.

[Ponderus]

fanned and faved

[Ihatecats]

"Fanned and Faved" doesn't want to pay for for it out of his own pocket, I bet.

[SonofLiberty1]

And most obviously Mr "I hate cats" is either a student or still is gainfully employed.

[PhilipTaylor]

If you are a Wall Street Bank you get from welfare from $10 Billion to $50 Billion by phoning up the Treasury Department.

Even easier is go to the FED Window and borrow a cool $Trillion at next to zero Interest!

Welfare has morphed into helping the Wealthiest and Wickedest in our Society!

[mike63]

More wonderful news from California! Just out today. Too bad they can not print their own money!
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090621/D98V7T001.html

[Tom95134]

"Honestly, I think California has lost its way,..."

California lost its way when Howard Jarvis managed to misuse the initiative process to sell the people on Proposition 13. This one action reduced the value of property in California and, at the same time, required a 2/3 majority to increase taxes. If you want to see what happens to the best educational system in the nation when poorly crafted laws are put on the book just look at the California education system.

Now, because there is no political will or advantage to either side to fix the system California will simply spiral into the status of a 3rd world country. California, the new Alabama.

[rfshunt]

Bingo!!!!

Absolutely fanned and faved. Excellent analysis of the REAL problem.

[PhilipTaylor]

When ENRON was allowed by BUSH to steal California dry on ENERGY!

Did you know the ENRON Loophole has NOT been Closed?

That was the real turning point for California!

[Ponderus]

The entire Monterrey Peninsula is on sale on Amazon for $133.00 + tax and shipping.

I ordered two.

[BBC9nch]

how disgusting is this after we have shelled out over 3 trillion to bail out the wealthy bankers?

[rabiddog6708]

Repubs are OK with corporate welfare. They just don't want the huddled masses to get any.

[Ponderus]

It's not called "welfare" when it goes to repu.bs.

It's called a no bid contract.

[rabiddog6708]

This is America folks in her declining days. We have been a nation for over 230 years. We will not be around 200 years from now. Rome lasted a lot longer than we will. No country conquered us....we are destr0ying ourselves.....a slow, ag0nizing d eath.

[cdnnewsjunky]

I think your right, if America doesn't make some fundamental adjustment to the path it's been taking since WW II then 200 years may be optimistic on your part.

The recent election, was a good sign that America may be ready to make that fundamental change, but like all change it's bound to be heavily resisted. Still all in all, there is a better chance of it positive change happening with your current administration than there would have been with the former administration.

[rabiddog6708]

Unfortunately, we are not getting real change....just more of the same. That credit card bill is the ultimate proof. They did not cap the interest rates credit card companies can charge, thus making the bill window dressing. Wait and see....we won't get real health care reform....no real banking reform.....just more token gestures and half measures.

[miriamfl]

Completely agree! This country has been raped and pilledged by the elites and the middle class will soon be non existant.

[mike63]

BILLIONS spent on illegals every year. Stop it.

Dems foster illegal immigration. They get the votes by brrowing money from the rest of the world, giving all kinds of benefits to Illegals, they get to remain in office, but you get stuck with the bill!
Read it an weep--so compassionate.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersffec
http://www.rense.com/general81/illega.htm

[rabiddog6708]

Lou D0bbs, I did not know you posted here.

[mike63]

Calling me Lou does not remove a stubborn fact.

[cdnnewsjunky]

I noticed that your post was as forthcoming in the political benefits of illegal aliens as it was lacking in the economic benefits. Sorta hard to do that, without involving Republicans isn't it?

[mike63]

There are no net economic benefits for the U.S with Illegal imigration. Only law-breaking business owners benefit--and we should throw them in jail, fine them into oblivion. But...Obama's Dept of Homeland Security stopped ICE raids--upset latino groups.
http://theunapologeticmexican.org/elmachete/2009/03/08/nancy-pelosi-speaks-out-against-ice-raids/

[Concerned American99]

Great post !!

[Joeblue]

Republican hire illigals all the time.

[JerryLevy]

Unfortunately, Obama's stimulus package included a clause that allow illegal aliens to collect welfare. Proof of citizenship is no longer a requirement to get welfare. Not sure if this is the cause of welfare roles increasing, but it was an utterly ridiculous thing to do.

[rabiddog6708]

Billions to bankers, CEOs and auto makers, but begrudge a dime to some poor immigrant trying to make a better life for himself. Americans have their heads up their nether regions.

[hark]

You got it. The American people are the biggest fools in the universe. The rich get them warring against each other, fighting over a few bucks, after they've stolen most of our money and are laughing all the way to the bank.

They used to call it divide an conquer. Now they don't bother, we are so stupid. Like stealing candy from a baby.

[PhilipTaylor]

Obama this is what happens when you FUND the "FAKE" Wall Street Economy instead of

The "REAL" MAIN STREET Economy!

Why does Wall Street always PUT us in the DITCH?

Why does Main Street always Tow us out?

But that was before Wall Street shipped all our production jobs out to save a few dimes!

Obama must rebuild Main Street Manufacturing, High Tech, Energy, Health Care, and Education for us to get our of this DITCH!

Otherwise it is back to consuming our way INTO the Bankruptcy of AMERICA!

[BadHaBritt]

Very true. Why are we spending trillions of the banks who produce absolutely NOTHING they just move our dept around and make money doing it. The media completely ignores the main problem

No production, no asset, no way to generate the means to get ourselves out of this mess.
Multinational corporations are too big to control and most countries have lost all fiscal control because of them.

They are controlled by the people controlling our goverment and those in many countries. That is the root problem to solve.

[JZ735]

Where are the Obamashills? Give him more time and the jobs will come, they will say...

UH...NO...!

[BadHaBritt]

We now have a lot of people falling off the unemployment benefit eligibility list because they have exhausted their entitlement. This is completely skewing the unemployment numbers as only those on the eligibility list are counted as unemployed. The situation is very desperate for millions of people.
Most of these people were on welfare because they had no other choice. Those over fifty have very little chance of getting another job and just as little chance of getting any health coverage.

Those who are quick to label these people as spongers and leeches on society must be very narrow and simple minded not to mention very naive. Come to think of it they seam to be fully qualified to be one of the so called experts for the many news talk shows. There are always some who would cheat the system but to use that to paint every one with the same brush is downright stupid.

[bilderberg2009]

ha ha same ole crap on this site. . . dem's blame repub, and vice versa. . . when people realize BOTH parties have their hands in your pockets and going as deep as they can, you will talk about solutions to getting rid of crooks stealing from you. cmon people, u put someone in jail for stealing 1000 bucks worht of good out of your garage, but wont go after someone stealing TRILLIONS? . . .

[BadHaBritt]

well said.

People need to know what to do to get heard and calling your congressman is NOT THE ANSWER.

[treetracker]

You are so right there! People have been calling, emailing, writing and a few protesting in various places across the country and even in the capitol. But when money has the power, we the people don't get heard.

We need a massive million person march on D.C. to get their attention.

[rabiddog6708]

Because if you steal with a briefcase and computer instead of a g un, you are seen in a different light by the powers that be......they see someone like themselves who just got caught.

[Concerned American99]

Great post !!!