As President Obama Promises to 'Pivot' to Jobs & Economy, Food Stamp Enrollment Skyrockets

Here’s a stat you rarely (if ever) hear about: The three-month delayed figure regarding food stamp and disability enrollment.

Why do you suppose this number goes largely unreported? Could it have anything to do with the fact that it may reflect poorly on Washington?

Consider the following (via Zero Hedge):

Since [President Obama’s] inauguration, the US has generated just 841,000 jobs through November 2012, a number [that] is more than dwarfed by the 17.3 million new [food stamps] and disability recipients added to the rolls in the past 4 years.

Yes, you read that correctly: 17.3 million.

But wait! There’s more.

“And since the start of the depression in December 2007, America has seen those on [food stamps] and disability increase by 21.8 million, while losing 3.6 million jobs,” the report adds.

The following charts from the Hedge will help you visualize the expensive and growing trend toward government assistance.

First, the total number of people on food stamps:

Courtesy Zero Hedge

Second, a look at the monthly change in food stamp enrollment and job creation starting December 2007:

Courtesy Zero Hedge

Lastly, a look at the growing gap between job creation and enrollment in government assistance programs:

Courtesy Zero Hedge

What does it all mean?

It means that as of November 2012, the total number of food stamp recipients is 47.7 million, “an increase of 141,000 from the prior month, and reversing the brief downturn in October, while total US households on [food stamps] just hit an all time record of 23,017,768, an increase of 73,952 from the prior month,” the report explains.

And here’s the part that should have you worried: “The cost to the government to keep these 23 million households content and not rising up? $281.21 per month per household.”

Courtesy Zero Hedge

But don’t worry. The president says he’s ready to “pivot” back to focusing on jobs and the economy -- again [h/t Byron York]:

• "Obama to return to jobs and the economy" (Washington Post, Feb. 10, 2013)
• "President Obama pivots to jobs -- and dares GOP to follow" (Politico, Sep. 8, 2011)
• "After bruising debt battle, Obama pivots to jobs agenda" (Agence France Presse, Aug. 3, 2011)
• "Obama pivots from bin Laden's death to economy" (Reuters, May 7, 2011)
• "Obama Pivots to Job Creation With Few Tools to Spur Growth" (Bloomberg, Aug. 10, 2011)
• "Obama pivots to job creation in speech" (San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 28, 2010)
• "Obama pivots to the economy and jobs" (Christian Science Monitor, January 8, 2010)

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