Social Welfare In America

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Some may wonder; Where do all of our tax dollars go? American citizens pay taxes every year to federal and state governments. Money transferred through the tax payers to the government helps pay an array of government affairs that range from things such as construction projects and funding federal agencies. The government also uses tax dollars to enact social welfare programs that help Americans such as food stamps, social security or Medicare. Welfare is a type of financial aid that goes to American citizens to promote a healthy stress-free lifestyle. Other times, our tax dollars come to Americans back in refunds. The majority of the benefits go to the poor and middle class, however just how sufficient are these benefits? The kinds of welfare …show more content…
Many middle class and poor Americans rely on what is known as social welfare. Social welfare is the types of health care programs and benefits Americans receive. Confusion arises among the subject of the difference of social welfare and general welfare. Social welfare includes programs such as Medicaid and Medicare or programs like workers compensation. General welfare is a basis of what is written in the constitution. The government must protect its people and make sure that they receive such benefits of social welfare. Under Article 1, section 8 of the constitution, its purpose intended by our founders was to protect Americas citizens and make sure that they are healthy and prosperous. The social welfare programs are not exactly what is stated in the constitution in order to protect the citizens of America. The general welfare of America is often referred to the social welfare programs that we have, although there is a very large difference. Social welfare and general welfare are correlated in a sense that they cannot exist without each other. Because general welfare and awareness of the public was stated in the …show more content…
Americans can receive an array of benefits if you are at or below the poverty threshold. These programs come back to Americans and are known as withholding taxes. If you are in poverty, you do not have to pay taxes to receive these benefits. The difference with middle class Americans is that they are not below the poverty line, therefore they still have money to pay the taxes. These Americans pay withholding taxes to get benefits such as Medicare or food stamps. The poor do not make enough money to pay for the taxes, so they receive the benefits as promised by the constitution without having to pay. Americas median household income is around 55,000 with the poverty line at 24,000. To be considered in the poverty level is not based solely on the amount that one person makes. If a two or more-person household made 24,000 a year that would be considered as below the poverty line. If the 24,000 was made by a single individual, then that person would not be in poverty. Poverty levels are on the rise with the poverty rate in America being at 15.1%. While the poverty rate is so high, the median household income is not exactly
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