 the not so great society of lbj the facts are that welfare spending is climbing faster than spending for education defense social security and medicare welfare spending is 13 times higher today than in 1965 when the war on poverty started the average outofwedlock birthrate is 40 while africanamerican under president obama welfare spending is projected to increase 103 trillion dollars over the next 10 years welfare was intended to provide temporary assistance half of all food stamp aid goes to individuals who have been in the program more than 8 years welfare spending like most government spending is on an unsustainable path for the complete article and a video on how the great society of lbj is helping to bankrupt our country click on the following story link from the heritage foundation titled  welfare can and must be reformed  142  the not great society lbj  