[Siamese Princess]

The expansion of the welfare state was small during the 1950s. It was probably more than balanced out by the massive expansion of the middle class: 30% of the population was deemed poor in 1950, only 15% in 1960. That's phenomenal. SS did not pay much at the time and many elderly were not eligible at all. Believe it or not, people were still expected to stand on their own two feet and family members were still expected to help one another out.

Russia and China win. They don't need to beat us in a military war. All they need to do is wait a few years and let America implode from the internal cancer of social welfare spending and global lottery giveaways.

That has occured to me, as well. More highly socialized nations such as Canada have gutted their military in order to pay for social services.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Like Canada, we are now doing the same. Wait until you see how the defense of this nation will be scaled back.

You made great points.

Thx