So you fully admit there are more welfare recipients in blue states than red states. Also the average money per recipient in blue states is greater than red states. Take some time, learn the facts. We can debate policy related to welfare -- only if there is reasonable agreement on the documented facts regarding it.
https://apnews.com/article/2f83c72de1bd440d92cdbc0d3b6bc08c AP FACT CHECK: Blue high-tax states fund red low-tax states WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders have spent months promoting the myth that red low-tax states are subsidizing blue high-tax states because of the deduction for state and local taxes. An Associated Press Fact Check finds it’s actually the other way around. High-tax, traditionally Democratic states (blue), subsidize low-tax, traditionally Republican states (red) — in a big way. Republicans are trying to eliminate the deduction as part of the sweeping tax package working its way through Congress. They added back a deduction for up to $10,000 in property taxes, in a concession to Republicans from high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey. California Republicans are pushing to extend the deduction to local income taxes, too. More: AP Fact Check It is true that taxpayers in high-tax states benefit the most from the deduction. However, these states send far more tax dollars to Washington than residents in low-tax states. In fact, most high-tax states send more money to Washington than they get back in federal spending. Most low-tax states make a profit from the federal government’s system of taxing and spending. HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: — Ryan said the rest of the country is “propping up profligate, big-government states.” — “States that got their act together are paying for states that didn’t,” the Wisconsin Republican said. TREASURY SECRETARY STEVEN MNUCHIN: — “We are getting the federal government out of the business of subsidizing states. That is going to impact high-tax states.” THE FACTS: Connecticut residents paid an average of $15,643 per person in federal taxes in 2015, according to a report by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. Massachusetts paid $13,582 per person, New Jersey paid $13,137 and New York paid $12,820. California residents paid an average of $10,510. At the other end, Mississippi residents paid an average of $5,740 per person, while West Virginia paid $6,349, Kentucky paid $6,626 and South Carolina paid $6,665. Low-tax red states also fare better when you take into account federal spending. Mississippi received $2.13 for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington in 2015, according to the Rockefeller study. West Virginia received $2.07, Kentucky got $1.90 and South Carolina got $1.71. Meanwhile, New Jersey received 74 cents in federal spending for tax every dollar the state sent to Washington. New York received 81 cents, Connecticut received 82 cents and Massachusetts received 83 cents. California fared a bit better than other blue states. It received 96 cents for every dollar the state sent to Washington. On average, states received $1.14 in federal spending for every tax dollar they sent to Washington. That’s why the federal government has a budget deficit. ___ Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at http://twitter.com/stephenatap ___ Find AP Fact Checks at https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck
The concept that 'red' states are the 'takers' that "depend on federal benefits" is absurd. Let's eliminate military base spending, farm subsidies, and other non-welfare federal spending from the accounting. The red states do not really want the military bases that were forced on them. These bases take up large tracts of land that are useful for other economic purposes and require local money spent on policing & other services because they tend to be high crime / low income areas. Let's put a large military base in NYC or Boston - and bulldoze all the existing homes. The displaced residents can survive on the 80%+ of large farm subsidies that are sent to the owners of corporate farms who reside in blue states (but is seen as red state money for some reason). Let's focus on federal welfare spending--defined here as childhood nutrition programs, food stamp programs, WIC benefits TANF benefits, and other similar benefits. This article from USA Today "New Yorkers lead pack in government benefits" compiled data showing which states had the highest per capita expenditures for every type of government-provided benefit and blue states top the list and red states made up most of the bottom 10. Top 10 - Most dependent on government aid 1 New York 2 West Virginia 3 Rhode Island 4 Maine 5 Pennsylvania 6 Massachusetts 7 Vermont 8 Kentucky 9 Michigan 10 Connecticut Bottom 10 - Least dependent on government aid 41 South Dakota 42 Nebraska 43 Wyoming 44 Idaho 45 Georgia 46 Texas 47 Nevada 48 Virginia 49 Colorado 50 Utah
Looks like gwb-trading beat me to it. He stole my thunder! It’s all good, though. You were disseminating Leftist propaganda. Do you agree with this now?
Of course states with more people will have higher numbers. Now, since you've alleged unfairness; give us the per capita stats...otherwise your post doesn't carry much significance.
My post dealt with per capita stats, which is fair. @gwb-trading responded about woulda coulda shoulda used some land for some other stuff; yet, provided no evidence to support his woulda coulda shoulda argument. He then wanted to compare benefit usage, without doing it on a per capita basis. Unless either of you can actually properly refute the FACTS the AP presented, it stands.
You can try to wiggle like a worm on hot pavement, but in the end, you are on the losing side of an argument. The question is, how much of a credibility hit are you willing to take before you admit you are wrong? Divide state public assistance budget by number of people receiving public assistance and compare it to other states. There might be a special bonus corruption indicator if you do this. Can you figure out what it is? Edit: I will give you and the rest of “The crew” at least a few hours to work on this before putting the hammer down on this subject.