Social Security Kept 27 Million Americans Out Of Poverty In 2013

[sabrina 1]

Social Security Kept 27 Million Americans Out of Poverty in 2013

Government programs can effectively reduce poverty in the United States. Using the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)—a more comprehensive measure of economic security than traditional poverty thresholds—the figure below illustrates the strength of the government to mitigate the incidence of poverty.

Social Security is, by far, the most effective anti-poverty program in the United States. Without Social Security, an additional 8.6 percent of Americans, or nearly 27 million, would fall below the SPM poverty threshold. Refundable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, kept 2.9 percent of Americans, or 9 million, above the SPM poverty threshold. Other programs, such as SNAP (food stamps), Supplemental Security Income, housing subsidies, and unemployment insurance, also have a significant impact on the ability of families to stay afloat.

Thanks to the Democratic Party, led by FDR, the party that cared about the people enough to initiate these Social Safety Nets, now under attack, not only from the Right, but also sadly from some in our own party.

The Chained CPI would cut SS benefits.

No Democrat should even consider it.

No Democrat WILL consider it.

Democrats must fight hard to protect these Social Programs.

[Bagsgroove]

1. Damn big gummint!

Polls have shown Social Security and Medicare to be two most consistently popular government programs in American history.

What has always struck me as amazing is seeing retired folks living on Social Security who roll their Medicare supplied wheelchairs into Tea Party meetings so they can denounce "socialism."

Go figure.

[sabrina 1]

2. Yes, these are the most popular government program, and yet Democrats won't run on them.

As for the people living on SS and joining the TP. they probably do not realize these are Democratic policies.

Democrats should be out there claiming credit for these programs.

[Enthusiast]

3. There was a Republican on Fox that claimed Republicans started Medicare.

Remember that?

Republicans have been trying to muddy the water on New Deal programs. And the Democrats are helping them. I. Do. Not. Get. It.