[insane_dreamer]

That depends on your definition of "welfare". For most Americans that means the government providing support for those who can't afford it (taking from the taxes of others).

Social Security isn't really welfare -- it's more like a nationwide retirement plan, whereby I'm getting X back in future dollars for Y paid in now.

Medicare isn't really welfare either -- it's medical insurance that I am paying for in advance.

(Now you can argue that a percentage of SS and Medicare is welfare because there is a floor on how much you receive regardless of what you put in, though you have to have paid in for at least 10 years to be eligible to receive anything.)

So that really just leaves Medicaid and Safety Net as true welfare: 17.1%.