According to current U.S. government spending statistics, total government spending in the United States, including federal, state and local governments of this fiscal year are as follows: healthcare is at 19 percent share of spending, pensions at 18 percent, education at 15 percent, defense at 13 percent, and Welfare at nine percent.
All other functions, including interest on the debt, take only 26 percent of spending. The total spending in 2013 as of September is $6.36 trillion. As disturbing as that is to a taxpayer like myself, a more fixated issue to arise from the government spending is Welfare.
Many people are accepting the falsehoods and stereotypes that shadow the reality of Welfare. According to the United States Department of Commerce, Welfare “is the organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups. Aid could include general Welfare payments, health care through Medicaid, food stamps, special payments for pregnant women and young mothers, and federal and state housing benefits.”
As of Sept. 10, 2013, the total number of Americans on Welfare is 12.8 million; that’s 4.1 percent. The next disturbing fact is that the majority of Welfare recipients are African American. In fact, the majority of recipients are closely tied between Blacks at 39.8 percent and Whites at 38.8 percent, meaning there’s only a one percent difference.
As a society we focus more on the stereotypes that are in sight rather than the source responsible. It’s easier to blame someone that has no real authority or control over your life rather than confront an elusive government that holds zero prudence in regards to the words of an underdog. But the public budget is entrusted to the government. Therein lies the real conflict.
“When they could make one call, federal workers call a meeting. When they could find an answer on the Internet, they form a study committee. Instead of appointing one supervisor, they appoint five,” said Ronald Kessler, journalist for News Max, March 4, 2011.
There have been studies that show the government saves about a third of public budget balance merely by hiring private contractors for government work; things like maintenance or data processing, etc.
“But instead of looking for ways to save money, government agencies actually look for ways to spend more money near the end of the fiscal year so their outlays won’t be reduced by Congress in the following year,” said Kessler.
That preceding sentence bothers me more than watching someone on food stamps buy name brand cereal at Wal-Mart. So, why are we more concerned with stereotypes and blaming those who receive government assistance when government officials are getting paid anywhere between $50,000 and $180,000 depending on job and rank?
It’s time to address where the conflict really lies. The ability to persuade myself that these issues don’t concern me is gradually fading away. Because if I don’t care, then how many others will care in my place? And what kind of people are they? Are they satisfied with how things are currently when I am not?
I have to care, or I could be working three jobs, one of which most likely involving the smell of burning grease, until I’m 80 as a result of blatantly ignoring the issues happening now.
