I can't believe that I am asking this here but I have seen how quickly some people on the board can quote statistics so here goes:
On a walk to get coffee this morning a well meaning but somewhat naïve co-worker made what I thought were some incorrect blanket statements about poverty and welfare in the United States. Basically that over 70% of people receiving welfare are ??of color.? While I have no statistics ready to point out saying that she is wrong, this seems like it is totally off base. It seems like the kind of thing certain politicians would like you to believe when they make campaign speeches but never actually quote hard numbers so as not to look like they are playing the race card to get votes. (i.e. ??we have to make ??those?? people work). My own belief is that a fair percentage of people receiving social aid are white, even if poverty strikes some groups harder then others.
So my question is ?? where can I find statistics (the key being credible statistics) on who actually receives welfare? Also on the number of Americans living below the poverty line?
Thanks.
