Direct spending on welfare programs alone now tops $1 trillion per year — a stunning figure that goes quite some way to explain our nation’s $14 trillion debt.

The federal government now categorizes no fewer than 30 million Americans as living in “poverty”. And yet the average “poverty-stricken” home enjoys air conditioning, cable television, at least one vehicle, two color televisions, and a DVD player.

Other amenities a significant number of “poverty-stricken” households have been found to enjoy include: More than two televisions, more than one refrigerator, high-speed internet access, video game systems, stereo systems, more than one DVD player, a big screen television, and even a jacuzzi.

No fewer than 65% of “poverty-stricken” homes have at least one DVD player and television. No fewer than 63% have cable or satellite television service. 97% have at least one television. Nearly 55% have cellphone service. Nearly 40% have personal computers. A third have more than two televisions. 18% have a big screen television.

And so you ask yourself: If a household has a big screen TV, cable television, high-speed internet, and cellphone service…is it really poverty-stricken? Does the household really need welfare to buy food and clothing? Maybe cut back on the cable service and cellphone minutes, and instead buy milk and bread?

Maybe before we go about gutting national defense and hiking taxes we should look into welfare reform. Maybe we should look into how many of the 30 million “poverty-stricken” Americans really need taxpayer-funded welfare. How many people with high-speed internet access and big screen televisions really need help buying food.