by the 90s the focus shifted away from the root causes of poverty and instead turned to reducing welfare dependence. we have to end welfare as a way of life and make it a path to independence. [ applause ] now, the effort to get more people back to work helped reduce the poverty rate around the turn of the century. but it s been on the rise ever since. the latest numbers from the census bureau show that 15% of americans still live below the poverty line. just four percentage points lower than it was 50 years ago. think about that. despite that, though, the ranks of the poor have actually grown from 36 million in raw numbers in 64 to more than 46 million in raw numbers in 2012. a closer look at the numbers show a mixed bag at best. the number of african-americans below the poverty line has been slashed from nearly 42% in 1966. but it still sits at over 27%. thanks to medicaid and medicare,
they have scenarios where they convince others to get on food stamps or explain how much healthier it is to be on food stamps. most end with an announcement that says tune in to see if the skeptics apply for benefits and see how important food stamps are to their health. not to stereotype the nutrition assistance program applicants. it is promoting equivalent english language series at a time when they are trying to recruit more noncitizens to the programs. illegal immigrants are not eligible but legal or not the ads are encouraging immigrants to assimilate into a culture of welfare dependence and hurting our economy. t they are available on the usda web site. you can listen and decide for yourself. don t forget to keep tuning in here to see how the story plays
so he came up with a solution. tell a story about a poor person who just happens to view the world the same way paul ryan does. joining me now, former secretary of labor in the clinton administration, robert reich, he s a public policy professor. university of california at berkeley. here s what i think is crucial to understand about paul ryan. his budgets that he is so renowned for when you talk about poverty, in 2013, 2/3 of the huge budget cuts according to the center, 2/3 come from programs for low-income americans. he can say whatever he wants and make up whatever stories he wants. that is in the numbers where the priorities are. yes, but you see, chris, that s exactly what he wants to hide. i mean, what he wants to create. and if it requires a story that is made up, so much the better, i mean, if it makes the point he wants to make, is that welfare dependence is welfare dependence. that as nobody wants to make money from the government, well,