Spending on Welfare

Obama has criticized the spending under Bush, and many conservatives agree. I am one of them. But it's disingenuous to consider Obama more fiscally responsible than Bush. He has proven to be a bigger spender than any other president in history.

During the entire administration of Bush, the Iraq war cost a total of $622 billion (1). Compare that 8-year total to the one-year Obama has spent on welfare alone, $888 billion, and we begin to understand (2).

By 2014, annual spending on welfare programs will reach $1 trillion for the fiscal year (3).

Welfare spending has taken its toll on the federal debt. Since the beginning of the “war on poverty,” $15.9 trillion has been spent on welfare programs. The total cost of every war in American history, starting with the American Revolution, is $6.4 trillion when adjusted for inflation (4).

In a speech in West Virginia in 2008, Obama said, "Because of the Bush-McCain policies, our debt has ballooned. This is creating problems in our fragile economy. And that kind of debt also places an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren, who will have to repay it." (5) The full text of his speech can be found here.

At least you got one thing right, Mr. Obama.

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1. Belasco, Amy (2009, May 15). "The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11". Congressional Research Service.
Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CRS

2. Lucas, Fred (2009, September 23). "Obama Will Spend More on Welfare in the Next Year Than Bush Spent on Entire Iraq War, Study Reveals". CNS News.
Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CNS News

3. Lucas, Fred (2009, September 23). "Obama Will Spend More on Welfare in the Next Year Than Bush Spent on Entire Iraq War, Study Reveals". CNS News.
Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CNS News

4. Lucas, Fred (2009, September 23). "Obama Will Spend More on Welfare in the Next Year Than Bush Spent on Entire Iraq War, Study Reveals". CNS News.
Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CNS News

5. Obama, Barack (2008, March 20). "Obama's Speech on the Cost of War". Council on Foreign Relations.
Retrieved September 23, 2009, from CFR