Conservatives and Liberals

[Bart]

Thank for this. In your estimation is it percentage per capita or total number? If my math is correct on the top 100 counties list you provided I get the following: (my math may be a bit off)
Total Number of Metro on SNAP: 1066168 or 64.16% of total in top 100
Total Number of Rural on SNAP: 595523 or 35.83% of total in top 100

Is it more telling the total percentage of a counties people are on SNAP or the total number? I do not know.

It's the percentage of residents on the program vs. residents that aren't on the program, expressed as a percentage.

But again---this is ONLY SNAP. This doesn't add in all the other programs that are sent their way that are specific to rural areas.

And remember, what has happened over the last few decades? When these rural resident finally give up economic hope? Where do they go?

That's right. Large cities like Baltimore Metro, where they can find work and fully functional charities.


Had this discussion with a guy at a dinner party the other day who lived on the western side of Colorado who thinks that his rural town is self-sufficient.

I asked him: why do we have States and Counties? Why not simply cities----all fending for themselves, and operating independently? He chuckled when he realized he was stuck, and knew EXACTLY why I asked the question.

The ENTIRE economy in the US is built-----literally built-----to pool resources and to to redistribute wealth. So the answer to my question is, we have the State of Colorado so that we can take money from Federal and State taxes, and redistribute them in the form of government services that benefits the State as a whole. And these taxes, obviously, start in large cities, and flow OUT to rural areas.

The problem is, we have a nation of voters who think that it's the other way around. What they think----and this is reinforced by FoxNation---- is that money starts in rural America, and flows to large metro areas, where it is spent by deadbeats who don't want to work. And these deadbeats socialists ONLY exist in large cities.

This is, of course, laughable on its face. And long time posters will know, I've explained this dozens of times for more than a decade.

Not disagreeing with what you have written above. You would get a completely different table if you just put total number of recipients in a country. I would have asked a similar question.

[a fan]

I understand, thanks.

[MDlaxfan76]

Good conversation guys, actually using data and analytics to discuss these issues rationally, rather than based on pre-supposed assumptions.

It's also rather illuminating, as it certainly runs counter to the narrative many have assumed to be the case.

[a fan]

It's also rather illuminating, as it certainly runs counter to the narrative many have assumed to be the case.

The entire Republican platform is built on sand. Their base cannot. function. without. handouts. and heavy socialism.

So what have Congressional Republicans chosen to do instead? Simple. Lie. And their supporters are OVERJOYED to pretend like their economies are based on hard work and gumption.

Nope. Government handouts and heavy borrowing...and now protectionist tariffs. Sorry, kids.

[Bart]

It's also rather illuminating, as it certainly runs counter to the narrative many have assumed to be the case.

Nope. Government handouts and heavy borrowing...and now protectionist tariffs. Sorry, kids.

I remember a time when people talked about balanced budgets.

[a fan]

If you're asking me? That would be THE single best thing we could do for this country.

Picture the announcement of the Iraq war with a balanced budget amendment. "Here's how much your taxes WILL go up if we choose to invade."

Decisions like these would be entirely different. Same goes for handouts and subsidies. It would make Americans THINK about our spending and taxation levels.

I'd LOVE to have a forced balanced budget.

[youthathletics]

If you're asking me? That would be THE single best thing we could do for this country.

Picture the announcement of the Iraq war with a balanced budget amendment. "Here's how much your taxes WILL go up if we choose to invade."

Decisions like these would be entirely different. Same goes for handouts and subsidies. It would make Americans THINK about our spending and taxation levels.

I'd LOVE to have a forced balanced budget.

I agree.

Should we do the same thing for medical research...."This is how much your taxes WILL go up if we chose to invest in research".

[a fan]

Yes. That number will be insignificant. But yes!

[Bart]

Yes. That number will be insignificant. But yes!

I'd agree. How far would you break the entire budget down would be the question.

[Peter Brown]

You probably don’t want to read this incredible and positive article about the state of the world if you’re a Democrat or neverTrumper. I’m always told the world stinks but it seems facts don’t support that thesis.

https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/am ... ssion=true

the world has reduced poverty, increased incomes, and improved health more than at any time in history

Why are these changes not more widely recognized? In part it reflects our penchant for bad news. In other words, you know it, orange man bad. The cure-all for the perma-complaining class.

Carry on.

[a fan]

Why are these changes not more widely recognized? In part it reflects our penchant for bad news. In other words, you know it, orange man bad. The cure-all for the perma-complaining class.

Maybe because this article is from 2016 when Trump wasn't President, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Trump.....even though you're trying desperately to link anything and everything to Trump?

Just a guess.

[holmes435]

Why are these changes not more widely recognized? In part it reflects our penchant for bad news. In other words, you know it, orange man bad. The cure-all for the perma-complaining class.

Maybe because this article is from 2016 when Trump wasn't President, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Trump.....even though you're trying desperately to link anything and everything to Trump?

Just a guess.

That's just fake news. All this good stuff happening was in anticipation of president Trump.

And we only invented "if it bleeds it leads" style news after Trump was elected as a reaction to him.

[foreverlax]

You probably don’t want to read this incredible and positive article about the state of the world if you’re a Democrat or neverTrumper. I’m always told the world stinks but it seems facts don’t support that thesis.

https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/am ... ssion=true

the world has reduced poverty, increased incomes, and improved health more than at any time in history

Why are these changes not more widely recognized? In part it reflects our penchant for bad news. In other words, you know it, orange man bad. The cure-all for the perma-complaining class.

Carry on.

True...lot's of movement at the very bottom.

Good to see you can post links - even if they are from another decade.

[Peter Brown]

Why are these changes not more widely recognized? In part it reflects our penchant for bad news. In other words, you know it, orange man bad. The cure-all for the perma-complaining class.

Maybe because this article is from 2016 when Trump wasn't President, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Trump.....even though you're trying desperately to link anything and everything to Trump?

Just a guess.

That's just fake news. All this good stuff happening was in anticipation of president Trump.

And we only invented "if it bleeds it leads" style news after Trump was elected as a reaction to him.

That’s the point. When a Trump was elected, all good things ended. We know that. It’s what most of these threads affirm every day. Nothing is good any longer. It’s just a huge shahoot show.

[jhu72]

Nope, had plenty of problems before Trump. Trump didn't invent misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, stupidity, ignorance, corruption, greed or lying politicians.

[RedFromMI]

Nope, had plenty of problems before Trump. Trump didn't invent misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, stupidity, ignorance, corruption, greed or lying politicians.

He just helped perfect them...

[Peter Brown]

Nope, had plenty of problems before Trump. Trump didn't invent misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, stupidity, ignorance, corruption, greed or lying politicians.

Governor Blackface of Virginia applauds your partisanship! So does the esteemed Head Donor Bundler of the Democratic Party, Harv Weinstein! As does that Mensa Poster Girl, Maxine Waters! Shelley Silver says hi!

And not to be left out of the conversation of course, Hil and Bill Clinton!, as they fly on a brand new G-650 compliments of the Saudi Arabian and Russian governments, tax-free alms sent into that incredible non-foundation Foundation private jet charter outfit, established on the premise that Hill and Bill would return every favor under the sun. Alas...the American people balked.

A shame.

[jhu72]

Nope, had plenty of problems before Trump. Trump didn't invent misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, stupidity, ignorance, corruption, greed or lying politicians.

He just helped perfect them...

[holmes435]

And not to be left out of the conversation of course, Hil and Bill Clinton!, as they fly on a brand new G-650 compliments of the Saudi Arabian and Russian governments, tax-free alms sent into that incredible non-foundation Foundation private jet charter outfit, established on the premise that Hill and Bill would return every favor under the sun. Alas...the American people balked.

A shame.

And instead your buddy Trump is returning all those favors to Saudi Arabia and Russia tenfold!

[foreverlax]

Most of them?

Rural residents are more dependent on Food Stamps than urban residents to feed them.

Rural residents are poorer than urban residents. Do you think they're going to fancy private schools, or are they depending on the county to educate them at public schools.

Rural residents are less employed than urban residents, making them more dependent on things like government work programs, unemployment, welfare, food stamps, etc.

Rural residents have higher rates of disability, making them more dependent on Government disability payments.

I have enjoyed living in a small town of 10,000, and in some of the biggest cities in the country. There's great parts to both, but people shouldn't throw stones in glass houses.

I guess the problem is that most people don't know they're living in glass houses when they complain.

I anxiously await your reliable stats and numbers to back those claims up.

Not averages, numbers.

I mentioned a specific city- Baltimore. You mentioned general "most of them"

Just for giggles, which rural city are you thinking of?!

Food Stamps by State in the United States Incredible amount of affirmation at this site.

US average - 13% of the households receive snap benefits

Maryland - 11.1%

11 states are between MD and the national average

States above 15% - GA, NY, AL, MI, RI, ME, LA, WV, TN, NM, KY, MS, OR

Mid West average - 12.9%,

South average - 14.2%

Mid Atlantic average - 13.4%

North East average - 13.2%

North East average - 13.2%

Mountain average- 11.4%

West average - 11.1%