Posted: Jun 09, 2013 11:09 pm
Loren Michael wrote:FACT-MAN-2 wrote:Loren Michael wrote:
America actually spends a ton on welfare. It mostly is directed at the elderly though. I think there is a lot of room for specific critiques of welfare policies, and I think I'm reading that that's what you're asking about.
Bollocks.
Nearly all Americans who would be considered "elderly" get a benefit from Social Security and much of their medical care is covered by Medicare and those who are veterans get veterans benefits.
Those are all examples of welfare.
Well, no, actually they're not.
Social Security benefits are earned by their recipients; Medicare has premiums that beneficiaries must pay to receive the benefit; veterans benefits are earned by becoming disabled while serving in the armed forces.
Welfare is a benefit that's received soley on the economic standing of the beneficiary; it doesn't have to be earned, it is awarded based on a set of very strict and narrowly defined financial criteria that potential recipients must show to be factual.