Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Gov't Dependents: The New Majority
Investor's Business Daily ^

Posted on 03/03/2010 3:02:51 PM PST by TigerBait

Welfare State: A major newspaper looks at the data and finds that Americans have become more dependent on government than at any time since the Depression. Something's gone terribly wrong in our country.

We Americans pride ourselves on our independence. Our nation's founding document even uses that in its title — the Declaration of Independence. But this spirit is fading with each new year, each new state and federal program, each new unkeepable promise made to a growing throng of citizens looking to government — not their own abilities, savvy, learning and hard work — to get by in life.

A Washington Times report underscores this shift. Last year, "for the first time since the Great Depression, Americans took more aid from the government than they paid in taxes," it has determined.

Transfer payments — unemployment, Social Security, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare and other forms of government welfare — grew $231 billion last year to just over $2.1 trillion. Meanwhile, individual taxes shrank $325 billion to $2.1 trillion, slightly less (before rounding) than transfer payments.

Let that sink in for a moment: We, as a people, are taking more in welfare than we're paying in taxes.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: editorial; frontpage

1 posted on 03/03/2010 3:02:51 PM PST by TigerBait
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TigerBait
Nothing unusual about it in a recession. We have to see what happens when the recession ends.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

2 posted on 03/03/2010 3:04:49 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerBait

People who are dependent on the government are not citizens. They are subjects.


3 posted on 03/03/2010 3:09:45 PM PST by RonF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RonF
People who are dependent on the government are not citizens. They are subjects.

Hardly. Taxpayers are the subjects. "Serfs" is probably even more accurate.

4 posted on 03/03/2010 3:16:35 PM PST by GeorgeSaden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TigerBait

The Threat Within (Voting ourselves largesse from the public treasury)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133115/posts

old thread, but always relevant—

the quote usually attributed to Alexander Frazier Tytler is great...and spot-on. (and I don’t care if it was him, Ben Franklin, or Fuzzie Bear who said it- It’s a true statement.)

Despite budget cuts and layoff warnings, California still hiring and workforce still growing

http://www.sacbee.com/politics/story/2094403.html

The Sacramento Bee
Aug. 9, 2009

The job growth for state workers contrasts with the loss of 759,000
jobs in California’s private industry in the past 12 months

http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12984385?nclick_check=1&forced=true

not to mention gubermint employees and their pensions:

Reform advocates are spotlighting those with extravagant pensions
— $100,000 or more — as a way to get the public’s attention and
emphasize that the current system is unsustainable.

http://www.modbee.com/editorials/story/803636.html

CHART OF THE DAY: How The Government Payroll Replaced Goods-Producing Jobs

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2422342/posts

Beyond reckless / Sacramento, Washington pile up the debt

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/24/beyond-reckless-sacramento-washington-pile-debt/

House votes 218-214 for short-term debt ceiling increase

CHART OF THE DAY: Bureaucrats Have Way Better Benefits Than You

http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-employer-cost-per-hour-worker-2009-12


5 posted on 03/03/2010 3:17:22 PM PST by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerBait

Republic’s gone. When someone like Medina can’t even get into the runoff in place like Texas (barely 20% of Republican primary vote), you can (almost) forget someone like Palin making national.

It’s over, folks. Obama knows what he’s doing. My fear is that he knows America better than the rest of us think we do.


6 posted on 03/03/2010 3:18:47 PM PST by quesney
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerBait
‘Something’s gone terribly wrong in our country.’

Thine name is Barack Husein Obama!

7 posted on 03/03/2010 3:27:09 PM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
It's not going to end any time soon, despite what the Obammunist says. I get the sinking feeling we're headed for a second dip, deeper than the first. I hope I'm wrong.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

8 posted on 03/03/2010 3:35:35 PM PST by wku man (Who says conservatives don't rock? Go to www.myspace.com/rockfromtheright)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson