standard of living in the usa is sinking ...., page-4

Skol,

According to the US 2010 census:

73.9 million people were beneficiaries of "SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI), CASH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INCOME, OR FOOD STAMPS/SNAP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS BY HOUSEHOLD TYPE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS IN HOUSEHOLDS"

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B09010&prodType=table

Total US population 308.7 million.

That makes 23.9% of Americans receiving some form of welfare.

That is a very big proportion for a country that is notoriously stingy when it comes to looking after its weakest people.