The percentage of Americans receiving a monthly check from the Government is rapidly approaching 50%.
Nearly Half Of Americans Live In Households With Government Aid
Families were more dependent on government programs than ever last year.
Nearly half, 48.5 percent, 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 percent 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 percent 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).
That is true, and that would be a great thing for R/R to include in their interviews. This wonderful safety net will not be there if we don’t get government spending under control.
Of those on government checks, it is not just moochers. Some need help, others are on social security, which they paid for. Others are on disability or unemployment and not happy about it. Then, there is a huge chunk of people milking the system.
We know we won’t get the votes of the later group, but we can get the majority of every other group. If the economy implodes, the safety net is going to be gone. The Dem/media are going to pretend all is peachy keen and just scare people about everything being taken away. The fact is, endless government is the only thing that threatens the real safety net. No one is talking about ending or cutting any legitimate aid. We need to a growth economy to reduce independence from the government, we need to clean up the waste, and we need to change the 50 year old Medicare program and 80 year old social security program so that it survives and doesn’t bankrupt the country. We need to get back to being aggressive on these issues, and get off the defensive.
And by November it should be 60%. See no reason to believe that Romney will win. The GOP is letting us down with a plan of attack that is old and worn out. Unless a fire is lit under Romney and his Pac to attack King Obama we are in trouble.
Exactly. The takers will soon out number the makers. That is why we are screwed no matter who wins.
Which doesn't mean anything unless it is welfare related, people on SS, or military pay, or military retirement, are the most conservative of voters.
You got it. If you’re on the public teat, the only thing that matters is who is going to give you more. The recession doesn’t matter because you don’t plan on getting a job anyway.
I read through the first 50 comments and did not see any mention that conservatives (Freepers included) are not susporting Mitt. I see that O has a very high percentage of “his base” committed to vote for him, but factions of Romney’s “base” are (a) not enthused, (b) will “never” vote for him or (c) will not vote at all in 2012.
Mitt leads by 15% among Independents (the hallowed target group). I assume Mitt’s campaign has not yet begun to fight, and that should make a difference.
He has the money and hopefully the smarts. Much better ready to go than McCain was. But Mitt may not pull more of his base if he keeps saying things like he will not repeal ALL of Obamamacare because he likes “some parts of it”. Why does he say such stupid things? Yes, I know he is the father of government Health Care, but is he trying to win or stay ocnsistent?