The expensive War on Poverty

When the War on Poverty was launched in the early 60s, the goal was to make people self-sufficient, not government dependent. Now we've spent $19 trillion and what do we have to show for it? A very well paid bureaucracy with fat pensions and excellent health benefits that keep people poor and dependent.

"The federal government runs over 80 means-tested programs providing cash, food, housing, medical care and social services to around 100 million Americans.  That’s a third of the U.S. population.  Combined federal and state expenditures on these programs come to roughly $9,000 per recipient per year." 

http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2012/10/welfare-is-at-an-all-time-high