3 ms·

Where are you seeing that? Or are you counting taxpayer funded and taxpayer paying programs as welfare?

s1artibartfast 2y ago
im counting everything. If the question is "what do we get for 4.5 trillion in taxes, and 6 trillion is spending", the answer is largely "welfare programs".
- merrywhether 2y ago
  Isn’t anything a government does ostensibly classified as working to improve collective welfare? That’s the basis of the social contract.
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    "welfare" [1] is generally a distinct concept from "public goods" [2] Welfare is typically ment to mean policies to alleviate the hardships of poverty. These can be wealth transfers or socialized insurance policies to reduce the variability of outcomes. Public goods are services like roads, courts, or firemen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_good_(economics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_good_(economics)
    - anon291 2y ago
      In that case, neither Social Security and Medicare are welfare. Social Security is given to everyone regardless of income; so is Medicare.
      - s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Both are tools where the point is to prevent poverty. Compulsory and universal participation are the methods used to achieve this goal.
- bobmcnamara 2y ago
  It's also one of the largest revenues, and in most countries non-means tested, self funded programs wouldn't be considered welfare. It's been this was since the 30s and only recently have the terms been spun in the US as some wonky wHoA SaY-NO-To-CoMmUniSm!
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    I'm not really interested in debating different definitions. The point stands that the discretionary budget for building and maintaining public infrastructure is a small part of government, with the vast majority going to alleviating the hardships of poverty.
    - bobmcnamara 2y ago
      Your point is senselessly blunt without context, doubly so with incorrect context.

im counting everything. If the question is "what do we get for 4.5 trillion in taxes, and 6 trillion is spending", the answer is largely "welfare programs".

merrywhether 2y ago
Isn’t anything a government does ostensibly classified as working to improve collective welfare? That’s the basis of the social contract.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  "welfare" [1] is generally a distinct concept from "public goods" [2] Welfare is typically ment to mean policies to alleviate the hardships of poverty. These can be wealth transfers or socialized insurance policies to reduce the variability of outcomes. Public goods are services like roads, courts, or firemen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_good_(economics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_good_(economics)
  - anon291 2y ago
    In that case, neither Social Security and Medicare are welfare. Social Security is given to everyone regardless of income; so is Medicare.
    - s1artibartfast 2y ago
      Both are tools where the point is to prevent poverty. Compulsory and universal participation are the methods used to achieve this goal.
bobmcnamara 2y ago
It's also one of the largest revenues, and in most countries non-means tested, self funded programs wouldn't be considered welfare. It's been this was since the 30s and only recently have the terms been spun in the US as some wonky wHoA SaY-NO-To-CoMmUniSm!
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  I'm not really interested in debating different definitions. The point stands that the discretionary budget for building and maintaining public infrastructure is a small part of government, with the vast majority going to alleviating the hardships of poverty.
  - bobmcnamara 2y ago
    Your point is senselessly blunt without context, doubly so with incorrect context.