This week the Christian Science Monitor reported that, according to the latest data, there are now more people in the United States receiving means-tested government benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, etc.) than are working full time.

When the people who received non-means-tested government benefits from programs such as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and non-means-tested veterans compensation are added to those who received means-tested government programs such as food stamps, Supplemental Security Income and public housing, the total number of people receiving government benefits from one or more programs in the United States in 2011 climbs to 151,014,000, according to the Census Bureau.

By contrast, there are 101 million people fully employed.