There are people who genuinely need social assistance. And there are others for whom it's a convenient lifestyle.
Thirteen previously exempted Alabama counties saw an 85 percent drop in food stamp participation after work requirements were put in place on Jan. 1, according to the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
The counties - Greene, Hale, Perry, Dallas, Lowndes, Wilcox, Monroe, Conecuh, Clarke, Washington, Choctaw, Sumter and Barbour - had been exempt from a change that limited able-bodied adults without dependents to three months of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits within a three-year time frame unless they were working or participating in an approved training program.
As of Jan. 1, 2017, there were 13,663 able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food stamps statewide. That number dropped to 7,483 by May 1, 2017. Among the 13 counties, there were 5,538 adults ages 18-50 without dependents receiving food stamps as of Jan. 1, 2017. That number dropped to 831 - a decline of about 85 percent - by May 1, 2017.
Greene County is 81% African-American. It voted 82% for Hillary.
Hale voted 59% for Hillary. It's 59% African-American. 38% of black people in Hale are on food stamps.
Perry is 68.7% African-American. It voted 72% for Hillary. 44% of black people in Perry are on food stamps.
Dallas is 69% African-American. It voted by 68% for Hillary. 42% of black people in Dallas are on food stamps.
Lowndes is 73% African-American. It voted 73% for Hillary. (These statistical overlaps are interesting.)
Wilcox is 72% African-American. 71% voted for Hillary. 41% of black people in Wilcox are on food stamps.
Monroe County, Harper Lee's self-righteous stomping grounds, is 41% African-American and voted 42% for Hillary. 31% of black people in Monroe are on food stamps. As are 9% of white people.
Conecuh is 46.5% African-American and voted 46.9% for Hillary. 42% of black people in Conecuh are on food stamps. 13% of white people are.
Clarke is 44% African-American and voted 44% for Hillary. (That's the third one that lines up so neatly.) 35% of black people in Clarke are on food stamps. Only 9.5% of white people are.
Washington is 25% African-American and voted 28% for Hillary. Choctaw is 43% African-American and had a 43% Hillary vote. (That's 4). Sumter is 75% African-American and Hillary won it by 74%. Barbour is 47% African-American and Hillary scored 46.7% of the vote.
The work requirements drop make it quite clear that this isn't about real poverty. It's about social welfare as a way of life.