[nascarnation]

Awesome data, thanks!

I’ve only visited Oregon once, so others will have far more insight, but I perceive it has sort of a slacker culture widespread across the state

[PGR88]

Has there ever been a case with such extreme handouts where people were actually weaned from such programs, the budgets were cut, and they again become productive citizens?

None come to mind

Rather, it seems the likely course that the US Gov’t will expand welfare for all, including favored banks and politically-connected corporations, until it simply can not continue, and then it all collapses

[Carry_Okie]

Based on the state’s income, there’s no reason for more than 20 percent of resident’s to be on the dole.

Yes, there is: the spotted owl, endangered salmon, and Eugene.

[Charles Martel]

A couple of things stand out. I can understand Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico being among the worst states because they have relatively low average incomes. And that’s sort of an excuse for Tennessee, though it’s worth noting that economically and demographically similar states such as Georgia and Alabama don’t fall into the same dependency trap.

Take a look at the red/blue voting maps from 2008 and 2012 - the ones that drill down to the county level. Look at the Mississippi River, from New Orleans to Memphis. Yes, it is a demographic issue, from which springs economic problems. New Mexico's problems are similar overall, despite being demographically different in origin.

[Shark24]

Great post. As a CA Freeper, am I reading this correctly? Texas has a higher SNAP than California?

[LucianOfSamasota]

So how does California have a lower rate of participation that Texas?

[OpusatFR]

“...best thing I can say about the Old Dominion is that we’re not quite as infested with bureaucrats as we originally thought.”

We are certainly on our way though. It’s taken me months to recover my equanimity after November’s horror.

I can see our wonderful state becoming the next infestation of “progressives” hell-bent on destroying it.

[skeeter]

Fewer ‘takers’ in CA than in Texas? Hmm.