The economic recovery has a long way to go before many Americans resume life as normal
The greatest recession since the 1930's Great  Depression has many Americans relying on government assistance like never before.

Figures from the Commerce Department indicate that our nation is becoming a welfare state.

People long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives.

Without record levels of welfare, unemployment and other government benefits as well as tax cuts last year, the income of U.S. households would have plunged by an astonishing $723 billion — more than four times the record $167 billion drop reported last month by the Commerce Department. --The Washington Times

With more than 8 million workers laid off during the recession, unemployment benefits have quadrupled from $34 billion in January 2008 to $124 billion at the end of last year.

Millions of Americans are now relying on unemployment benefits as their only source of income other than food stamps. They are unable to find work because there are more than six job seekers for every opening. There is literally nothing that most of these workers can do to get a job today. Unemployment benefits are often the only way they can make ends meet for their families and keep a roof over their heads. --Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute

Via: The Washington Times Read the full story | Image by Francis Storr