Media Coverage of CA Welfare Debit Card Abuse Hides Racial Element to Scandal
American Third Position, October 8, 2010
The racial element to the use of state-issued welfare debit cards–which have been used to withdraw millions at casinos, holiday resorts, and even on cruise ships–has deliberately been hidden by the mass media in their coverage of the scandal.
Reports in the Los Angeles Times and other major national news outlets have all focused on the shocking news that more than $69 million meant to help the needy pay their rent and clothe their children was accessed in 49 other states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam between January 2007 and May 2010.
More than $11 million was spent or withdrawn in Las Vegas, with $1 million of that at shops and casino hotels on or within a block or two of the famous strip. The data shows that $8,968 was accessed at the Tropicana and $7,995 at the Venetian and its Grand Canal Shoppes.
Incredibly, some $16,010 was withdrawn from ATMs on 14 cruise ships sailing from locations such as Long Beach, Rio de Janeiro, and Beijing. Other out-of-state transactions include more than $1.5 million spent or withdrawn in Florida and $387,908 accessed in Hawaii.
None of the reports dared address the obvious: that the welfare bill has spun out of control due to the massive increase in immigration levels.
According to official figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2000, the welfare use rates for immigrants in California stands at 28 percent (just slightly below New York City at 30 percent, but above Massachusetts and Texas, both at 25 percent).
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Furthermore, data from a Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) report issued in 2008 revealed that 25 percent of Los Angeles County’s welfare and food stamp benefits goes directly to the children of illegal aliens, at a cost of $36 million a month, at a projected annual cost of $432 million.
“The total cost for illegal immigrants to County taxpayers far exceeds $1 billion a year–not including the millions of dollars for education,” the DPSS report said.
“With $220 million for public safety, $400 million for healthcare, and $432 million in welfare allocations, illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact on Los Angeles County taxpayers.”
The figures make it clear that welfare dependency amongst nonwhites in California (legal and illegal immigrants included) is three times higher than amongst whites.
The media is doing a great disservice to the voting public by ignoring the obvious racial and immigration implications of the latest welfare benefits fraud scandal, and should not be surprised when thinking members of the public reach to alternative news sources such as the Internet.
