We've Crossed A Tipping Point: Most Americans Now Receive Govt. Benefits (Happy Dependence Day!)

Forbes ^ | 7/02/2014 @ 4:45PM | Merill Matthews

[quesney]

Obamacare has pushed us over the entitlements tipping point. In 2011 some 49.2 percent of U.S. households received benefits from one or more government programs—about 151 million out of an estimated 306.8 million Americans—according to U.S. Census Bureau data released last October.

Currently, around 6 million to 7 million Americans who have signed up for Obamacare are receiving taxpayer-provided subsidies (though the administration’s numbers cannot be trusted, it’s all we have to work with). There are another 3 million who have signed up for Medicaid.

That means some 10 million Americans—or a total of about 161 million—are now getting government subsidies (though the final number might be somewhat lower since some may have been receiving benefits already).

Thus, perhaps 52 percent of U.S. households—more than half—now receive benefits from the government, thanks to President Obama. And Mr. Entitlement is just getting started. If Obamacare is not repealed millions more will join the swelling rolls of those dependent on government handouts.

[yorkiemom]

The point is the money is or will be gone soon. They’re making it up to you now by printing money out of thin air. This is going to end badly. I don’t want anyone to not get what they deserve, but what I want and reality don’t even have a passing acquaintance at this point. The point is, if you take money from the government, prepare for the day when it will stop. Because the cupboard is bare, capische?

Excellent post. There is not enough money to be saved in eliminating ALL welfare, food stamps, etc. - to cover SS payments anyway, even IF we weren't printing money.

I think a lot of otherwise smart people are in denial about our inevitable crash because it is too scary for them to contemplate. But it won't stop it from happening. We all must prepare.

[yorkiemom]

“Two wrongs don’t make a right. Your contributions to SS were taken and spent by politicians. Many seniors are now in the awkward position of arguing that this wrong should be compounded by the wrong of taking an ever growing amount of the labor of younger people who never signed on to the system and were not in a position to oppose it and stop it before it became the growing financial monster it is today.”

Excellent summary of the problem.

[yorkiemom]

“I don’t usually say this, but all three of you are idiots.

---

Maybe, I mean, I sometimes think I’m an idiot for believing what we were told about what America is in grade school, but in this case, feel free to point to one thing I’ve said in this thread that’s wrong.”

Classy response to an insult, quesney

2ndDivisionVet, you have reduced yourself to using liberal tactics. That is way beneath you and your abilities, from the little I’ve seen.

And you’re not clearly reading what is said - if anyone said vets should not get their pensions or medical while welfare types get freebies, they belong on another forum.

The priority for government payments if I ran the country would be vets first, SS next with no means testing, free handouts dead last with lots of requirements to get those.

Problem is, we are in debt up to our eyes balls while Obama is spending like crazy, adding to that debt.

I hope this economy-on-a-cliff can hold on for years, but at some point it will crash. And I want people like you to recognize the problem so you are prepared and can weather the storm.

Perhaps you in the anger phase of the grief process? or bargaining? Either is good because that means you will quit being in denial that we have a real and unavoidable problem. Those that will suffer the most are those that don’t see it coming and have a normalcy bias that paralyzes them when they need to react.

[delapaz]

You can call it sacred trust or whatever you want.

Words won’t put money back in the pot.

Money’s gone, spent, kaput, its being paid for via money printing, just like zimbabwe and will end the same way.

How else can I explain it? You can’t get blood from a turnip? Does that help.

Money’s gone dude. If you have no way of surviving except by government checks you’ve put yourself and you’re loved ones in severe danger.

Note that this is not fair, or right, or the way it should be, it just is.

[delapaz]

It sure as hell matters to me, since I paid into it, and am collecting it, now.

It’s all the darn porch-sitters, lazy, and system-grifters that are making this a mess.

---

Totally agree with you.

And it doesn't matter. They will not vote for their benefits cut. And neither will you (rightfully) So this proceeds until the moneys gone.

And as I pointed out, the money is actually gone and we are proceeding on through inflationary printing at the current time.

I don't know how it ends or when, but I predict badly.

Figure out how you can survive without a government check. Hopefully for you and yours you don't really need it and will survive. I suspect that's the case. But while it's coming, by all means get all you can!

[delapaz]

There’s money to keep all these promises until there isn’t.

They will all stop around the same time. By application of reality.

Until then keep getting as much government checks as you can, but make sure you are setup so you can survive without it.

[quesney]

What we’ve encountered here is a far cry from the greatest generation that went through the first depression without whining and without government handouts. Then they fought a war to preserve democracy, again without whining. Then after the war, they built a booming economy and a standard of living unsurpassed anywhere. The only thing they did wrong was raise a bunch of spoiled brats that will dismantle it all. (And they voted for the New Deal, which started our slide into fascism.)

---

Here are two things about the Greatest Generation that say it all:
—The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor practically annihilated the Pacific Fleet. I think it was rebuilt in less than a year (how long did it take this generation to build the new World Trade Center, or a darn health-care website?)
—Within hours of news broadcasts of the attack, long lines at enlistment offices popped up spontaneously across college campuses across the country, **including** all the Ivy League universities. No distinction. And no draft required.

There’s just no comparison. Two different Americas.
That was America. This is Amerika.

[quesney]

Very well said.

[Ghost of SVR4]

I recall “welfare reform” and as you say, we tax payers paid for their schooling. I know as well as I was paying my way through a very nice college and in some of my classes was a “welfare mom” attending for “free” while I was coughing up 13K a semester. Take a wild guess what she is doing today..

[yorkiemom]

Your tagline says it all.

[redgolum]

In that regard, we have all failed miserably.

Which was my point. There is no money. The only way out is for all of us to get some pain. However, as many on this thread have said, it becomes "I want MY MONEY!"

I have seen this play out in small firms and large. Seen it in small town and county governments first had, and I am sitting next to Illinois who seems determined to go down that same path.

I don't like it. But we are screwed.

[redgolum]

You laid out the situation so well - and, boy, it’s pretty bad. How do you think it will all shake out over the next 50 years?

Here is what I fear.

Democracies die when one group figures out they can vote themselves money. At some point, the situation gets so messed up people beg for a leader. They get conditioned to someone else providing for them, that they accept the idea of an overseer.

That is the path of democracy. The typical life span is 200 to 250 years. Then on to tyranny, civil war, or a massive Imperial state. The founding father's knew this.

My fear is that we are past the tipping point. At some date not to long from now the welfare recipients (which are the fasting growing class right now) new immigrants, and others dependent on the state will cede what freedom remains in order to get what they perceive is theirs. It may even work for awhile. But at the end of the day the new State will move to kill those it no longer needs. The Great Terror in France, the Red Terror in Russia, and a host of others show the path we are on.

All because we are no longer a nation of "Can do!" but of "DO FOR ME!"

[delapaz]

you are dead on.

Tyranny, Civil war, massive imperial state. how about ALL OF THE ABOVE.

The problems will be so massive, that when the Caesar comes, we will hail him as a hero.

This is the path Rome went on. Republic->unstable corrupt republic->Caesar with pseudo republic trappings.

We are in phase two. Next phase is civil war, bloodshed to prepare the way of the new caesar.

Unfortunately it may take awhile. The good news is that Rome teaches us that an emperor/strongman can stabilize the situation and bring about peace and prosperity for another 100-200 years.

But that’s the best case scenario. More often the entire civilization just falls apart and gets invaded.

And on that cheery note. AVE IMPERATOR!

P.S. If anyone tries to apply the above to current events. Obama is NOT the new caesar. Too stupid, too divisive, we are not ready yet. Read the history of Augustus. He was brilliant and smart and popular. That’s what it will take.

[RatRipper]

Why rob a C-store? Democrats steal it and give it to you.

[2CAVTrooper]

As far as military retirement/disability those are earned IMO and should never be touched except to crack down on those who scam the system (applies mostly to the disability side).

Social Security on the other hand has been distorted from it’s original intent of a supplimental income. There are people today who think that SS should be a livable income that pays as much if not more than their salary was before they retired.

Social Security to an extent is earned BUT people are getting more out now than they paid in, and that’s not even counting those who have yet to pay one red cent into it but still draw checks such as scammers, illegals and professional sofa anchors.

[2CAVTrooper]

“The time to argue about that is long past, after years of government spending more or taxing less and saving less than it should have and never treating your contributions as your property in the first place.”

Hell, the government thinks that the money you “earn” is not even your money.

Just over the past decade how many times has it come up where they want to take your 401k’s and IRA’s because it’s really not “your” money and you can’t be trusted to spend it wisely?

[2CAVTrooper]

“I used to have respect for the military. They have sat by and watched the Klown for far too long at this point. A military coup in the US would not be good but the Klown is worse.”

That’s because most of the field grade and almost all of the flag grade officers are political puppets.

There may be a few holdouts in the ranks who still adhere to “Duty, Honor, Country” but they have to keep a low profile, stay tight lipped and bend over like the rest of us in order to stay in.

[mikrofon]

I’m only just receiving SSD for a profound disability, after having worked for over 35 years & “contributing” nearly a quarter-million dollars in the process ... The break-even point based on the monthly receipts would be about 9 years – if I’m graced to live that long. So I’m well past the point of feeling any so-called “guilt” for getting this benefit.

What those running the show now want to do is to paint every recipient with the same brush, and particularly for the low-information crowd to remember WHO it was that started this gravy train 80 years ago.

[wastoute]

“Never trust an officer above the rank of Major...”. Funny, that is as far as I got...

[Eagles6]

All three of who?