Posted on 10/06/2011 3:47:58 AM PDT by tobyhill
Families were more dependent on government programs than ever last year.
Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4% lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008.
The share of people relying on government benefits has reached a historic high, in large part from the deep recession and meager recovery, but also because of the expansion of government programs over the years. (See a timeline on the history of government benefits programs here.)
Means-tested programs, designed to help the needy, accounted for the largest share of recipients last year. Some 34.2% of Americans lived in a household that received benefits such as food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare or Medicaid (the federal-state health care program for the poor).
Another 14.5% lived in homes where someone was on Medicare (the health care program for the elderly). Nearly 16% lived in households receiving Social Security.
High unemployment and increased reliance on government programs has also shrunk the nations share of taxpayers. Some 46.4% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Thats up from 39.9% in 2007, the year the recession began.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
I don't know that it's "eventually". The information about how to play the system is on the street by now, and is passed down from one generation to the next. I've done some tax preparation work and the folks who claim EITC come in pretty well informed about it and just rubbing their hands together waiting for that check of around $5,000.
“I don’t know that it’s “eventually”. “
You’re absolutely right about the generational folks. I was referring to erstwhile “hard-working” folks where life with a government check is a new, formerly abhorrent thing.
It will take them a while to join the welfare party, but join it they will.
My wife and I get S/S and Medicare.
To get the percentage that high, they must be counting extended family collecting social security as part of the “household”.
“Thats how this crazy gravy train works - rewarding dishonesty at every turn.”
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You are absolutely right and we should not be surprised when we get more of what we reward and less of what we punish as we punish hard work and productivity and reward sloth and cunning.
“The easiest way to bring that number down is by means testing Social Security.”
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It may seem so but it would be punishing years of hard work by some to reward sloth by others. We don’t need more of that.
Personally, I think we are at the point described by Jerry Clower in his tale of the coon hunt, “Knock Him Out, John”. He tells of how Mr. John Eubanks would climb a tree and knock the Raccoon off the limb so that he would fall into a pack of as many as two dozen hound dogs. This was known as giving the coon a “sporting chance”. Clower said that at least the coon had the option of, “Whuppin’ every one o’ them dogs if he was of a mind to.” The nation has gone so far down the road to socialism that we have as much chance of solving our financial problems as that Raccoon would have of beating two dozen hound dogs.
A great nation may once again arise on the soil where the United States of America stood and it may be called by the same name but it will not be in the near future. I an 67 and in generally sound health but I don’t expect to live that long.
Those who did that hard work bought the lie and voted accordingly. Accountability is rough, but reforming entitlements is where this must begin. It's going to cost. Between my wife and I, we paid $20,000 a year into Social Security and don't expect to see a dime.
The nation has gone so far down the road to socialism that we have as much chance of solving our financial problems as that Raccoon would have of beating two dozen hound dogs.
So immediately after not budging an inch, you give up because "It's hopeless."
Coward. Then you follow with a hand wave.
A great nation may once again arise on the soil where the United States of America stood
So your solution is to kill people or just watch them die? You sure give up easily on the last best hope for humanity.
I an 67 and in generally sound health but I dont expect to live that long.
I guess you give up easily because you care only about yourself. No wonder we're in this deep. I have two great kids who will live that long thank you. Start by means testing and raising the retirement age. Privatize the system for those under forty. That's reality.
Okay, that’s reality, good luck making it happen.
We’re not talking about tax abatement. We’re talking about buying politicians with donations that sure look like bribes.
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