“The Dept. of Commerce states that, in 2006, a single person was in poverty...”
...what’s your point? You rattled off DOC stats which would certainly equate to poverty. So? When I drive through section 8 housing(which I do from time to time in my job)I see young adults sitting on the porch on weekdays, bags with large bottles in them in their hands, satellite dishes on the roofs, cadillacs out front and a hundred kids hoppin around. That’s not poverty. That’s soaking the tax payer. If you’re at poverty level in this country, it’s either by choice or you’ve been convinced you’re at poverty level because you don’t own enough nice sh&%.
My point is the amount of money that someone has, to be in poverty, according to the federal government. I agree with you, that many poor people choose to be poor. I agree that the government, espcially the federal government, spends too much on welfare. About four years ago, I wrote to about 15 U.S. senators and reps., and I said that each state government should be responsible for the welfare needs of its residents. I asked them to elminate HUD, food stamps, TANF, and unemployment benefits. That would save about 5%, from the federal budget, so they would pass an across-the-board 5% income tax cut. After they do that, some state governments would change their tax rates, if they want to increase welfare spending. I didn’t receive any responses.