Friday, June 25, 2010

Buying Government Dependency

Subject: txt lbrty sclm mny bbro -

"[T]he long night of rule by the most reactionary groups on the political spectrum has ended... we extended and deepened our mass connections, we contributed to the historic victory in 2008, we enhanced our presence and visibility, and we increased our membership. We didn't grow as much as we would have liked, but we have a firm foundation on which to increase our size, visibility and readership of our publications in the period ahead. Provided, of course, that we further build and unite the working class based coalition that came together to elect President Obama."
Sam Webb, Chair of the Communist Party USA, June 3, 2010.





Increase in federal payments to individuals (current dollars), from 2000 to 2008:

  • All payments to individuals: 73%
  • Social Security old age & survivors: 44%
  • Low income home energy: 78%
  • Social Security disabled: 92%
  • Unemployment assistance: 105%
  • Veterans' education benefits: 120%
  • Medicare supplementary health insurance: 165%
  • Student assistance (other than veterans' ed.): 197%
  • State children's health insurance: 466%
  • Public assistance payment where child credit exceeds tax liability: 4,105%
Data source: US Statistical Abstract, Table 462.

"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. "

Gerald Ford, 1974 address to Congress
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