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Old 08-20-2013, 01:30 PM
 
32,027 posts, read 36,808,281 times
Reputation: 13311

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Good news or bad news, depending on your point of view.

According to the Cato Institute, the value of Georgia's welfare package ranks as the 42d lowest among the states.

A Georgia family (mom and two kids) would have to earn $19,797 in pretax dollars to equal their average benefits. By comparison, the benefits package in North Carolina is worth $28,142 in pretax earnings, $33,119 in Wyoming, and $43,099 in Washington, DC.

Why are we so stinking low?

The Work vs. Welfare Trade-Off

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Old 08-20-2013, 01:41 PM
 
1,648 posts, read 3,274,976 times
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Why are eight states giving more handouts than Georgia? We have some opportunities to trim the fat.

If a man doesn't work, neither should he eat.

It's pretty simple.
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Old 08-20-2013, 01:50 PM
 
2,685 posts, read 6,049,541 times
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Interesting stats. I am surprised that some states pay such large benefits. Breaking it down to per hour:

Ga - $9.51
NC - $13.53
WY - $15.92
DC - $20.72

Curious - Why is a family defined as Mom and 2 kids or is that a typo. I realize there are many of such families but what if there are two parents?



Quote:
Originally Posted by arjay57 View Post
Good news or bad news, depending on your point of view.

According to the Cato Institute, the value of Georgia's welfare package ranks as the 42d lowest among the states.

A Georgia family (mom and two kids) would have to earn $19,797 in pretax dollars to equal their average benefits. By comparison, the benefits package in North Carolina is worth $28,142 in pretax earnings, $33,119 in Wyoming, and $43,099 in Washington, DC.

Why are we so stinking low?

The Work vs. Welfare Trade-Off

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Old 08-20-2013, 03:24 PM
 
Location: Sweet Home...CHICAGO
3,421 posts, read 5,222,469 times
Reputation: 4355
Quote:
Originally Posted by belleislerunner View Post
Why are eight states giving more handouts than Georgia? We have some opportunities to trim the fat.

If a man doesn't work, neither should he eat.

It's pretty simple.
You do know that most poor people have jobs, right? Many have two or three. You ever heard of the working poor? Apparently not.
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Old 08-20-2013, 03:31 PM
 
32,027 posts, read 36,808,281 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noah View Post
Curious - Why is a family defined as Mom and 2 kids or is that a typo. I realize there are many of such families but what if there are two parents?
I don't know why they defined it that way. I would think the old stereotype that mom gets stuck at home with the kids while dad is out there earning a living is ancient history.
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Old 08-20-2013, 03:53 PM
 
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I guess this fits right in with the ATL being at the bottom of the heap in terms of upward mobility.

Study Suggest the Bootstraps for the Poor May Not be Strong Enough
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Old 08-20-2013, 04:21 PM
 
Location: Atlanta
5,242 posts, read 6,241,774 times
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Is this a bad thing? Taken at face value, I would say no.

But what are these benefits? I'd say spend more if it helps someone get out of their situation.

Spend as much or less if it just helps (an able bodied) someone maintain their current situation.

If more welfare legitimately equals better upward mobility, then it is the right thing to do. I just get the feeling that more welfare spending will not return better upward mobility.
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Old 08-20-2013, 05:27 PM
 
32,027 posts, read 36,808,281 times
Reputation: 13311
Quote:
Originally Posted by tikigod311 View Post
If more welfare legitimately equals better upward mobility, then it is the right thing to do. I just get the feeling that more welfare spending will not return better upward mobility.
We may be driving off a lot of good folks with our low-ball program, however. In North Carolina, you have to make $28,142 before you "beat" the welfare package. In places like Massachusetts, Hawaii or D.C., you've got well over $40,000 in headroom.

Moreover, our benefits have gone down nearly $5,000 since 1995, while many states have gone significantly up.
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Old 08-20-2013, 05:40 PM
 
Location: Macon, GA
1,388 posts, read 2,258,422 times
Reputation: 1858
As someone who works with many poor youth...GA is doing ok. The families aren't wealthy, but they have food, clothing, shelter, heat, air, satellite tv, cell phones, etc. More than enough considering what poor in other countries means. I don't think we need to spend more.
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Old 08-20-2013, 05:44 PM
 
Location: Atlanta, GA
1,050 posts, read 1,692,094 times
Reputation: 498
Quote:
Originally Posted by noah View Post
Interesting stats. I am surprised that some states pay such large benefits. Breaking it down to per hour:

Ga - $9.51
NC - $13.53
WY - $15.92
DC - $20.72

Curious - Why is a family defined as Mom and 2 kids or is that a typo. I realize there are many of such families but what if there are two parents?
I believe they go on the idea that the father is unknown or not paying child support.
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