Why NPR is Not the New York Times: Really Big Numbers on Food Stamps

Most people have no clue how much the government will spend this year and even less idea of how much money it will spend over the next decade. That is true even of the highly educated people who listen to National Public Radio. That is why it is just awful reporting on NPR's part when it tells listeners about a $5 billion cut to food stamps this year or a Republican proposal to cut benefits by $40 billion over the next decade.

This provides no information whatsoever to the overwhelming majori...