Quantifying the shift to government dependence

TheCypressTimes.com ^ | 03/27/2010 | Kevin Price

[Patriot1259]

I love lists, indices, and other interesting compilations of information. However, a recent report by the Heritage Foundation called the Index of Dependence on Government was very disturbing indeed. The numbers this report certainly makes one look and they should be most alarming to even the most casual observer.

The index looks at several indicators when it comes to the growth of dependence on government. For example, how much have federal social programs grown? To what degree have such programs "crowded out" what were once social obligations and services carried out by the family, community organizations (e.g., churches), and local governments? In sum, William Beach, Director of the Center for Data Analysis at the Heritage Foundation, asks, has the civil society yielded significant ground to the public sector? After all, problems are solved by friends, neighbors, family, and religious groups, they are simply maintained when they fall into the hands of government. Quantifying the size of the shift to dependence is exactly what the index attempts to do.

[Freddd]

I’m all for heritage but the sentence that 48 million do not pay one penny in taxes is incorrect. They pay taxes on everything they buy. They may be exempt from paying taxes on income, but since that’s unconstitutional to start with, we all should be exempt! So here is the flip side to taxes on the rich. Decry those who are so poor they don’t pay taxes on income! give me a break.