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From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Government waste
Message-ID: <218@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Nov-84 16:57:42 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.218
Posted: Tue Nov 20 16:57:42 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 03:24:56 EST
References: <20300001@hpfcla.UUCP> <331@whuxl.UUCP> <651@loral.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 33

> In article <331@whuxl.UUCP> orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) writes:
> >I would like to see the list of programs being included in this 
> >Tim Sevener whuxl!orb

     My source is the "Statistical Abstract of the United States", 1982-3
edition, pp 319, and 446-7.  The aggregate income deficit in 1980 was
$29.7 billion.  This is the total amount you would have to give (in cash
or benefits) to all individuals below the poverty line to bring them all
up to the poverty line.  By the government's definition of poverty, then,
it would be eliminated.  
     Before counting government programs, there were 23.62 million poor
people in 1980.  After counting the benefits from government programs,
13.6 million people were still below the poverty line.  If you assume
that government assistance is distributed equally to all poor persons
(it isn't, but the distribution data aren't in my source), then the
average poor person moves up to just about the poverty line.
     The following list is in billions of dollars.  It includes significant
programs primarily to help the poor, and specifically excludes unemployment
insurance, and social security:

Medicaid $25.8 , Misc Health Programs $1.7 , AFDC (welfare) $13.4 ,
SSI $8.4,  Veterans Pensions $3.6 , Earned Income Credit $2.0,
General Assistance $1.4, Food Stamps $9.6, School Lunch $2.7,
Misc Food Programs $1.1, Job Programs $8.7, Subsidized Housing $8.4,
Subsidized Education $4.6, Energy Assistance $1.7
TOTAL - $93.1 billion

     My personal opinion is that the government assistance programs are
achieving their goals, but that they are spending three times the amount
required, i.e. 200% overhead.  Clearly there is room for improvement.

Dani Eder / Boeing Aerospace Company / ssc-vax!eder / (206)773-4545