70% of U.S. Government Spending Is Writing Checks To Individuals 676
An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Investor's Business Daily:"Buried deep in a section of President Obama's budget, released this week, is an eye-opening fact: This year, 70% of all the money the federal government spends will be in the form of direct payments to individuals, an all-time high. In effect, the government has become primarily a massive money-transfer machine, taking $2.6 trillion from some and handing it back out to others. These government transfers now account for 15% of GDP, another all-time high. In 1991, direct payments accounted for less than half the budget and 10% of GDP. What's more, the cost of these direct payments is exploding. Even after adjusting for inflation, they've shot up 29% under Obama." It's very hard to lay blame on only one part of the U.S. government, though; as the two largest parties are often fond of pointing out when it suits them, all spending bills originate in the House.
Re:And... (Score:1, Funny)
Perhaps "individuals"? (Score:3, Funny)
Goddammit, if the government is going to give money, it should be to corporations. Pah!
Re:And... (Score:5, Funny)
Why is this a problem? You've outlined some interesting results here, but what makes you think there's an issue here?
Because they are paying people, when they should be paying corporations!
Re:And... (Score:5, Funny)
I know several people who make up stories like this and post them anonymously on the Internet.
Re:Makers and takers (Score:2, Funny)
Since the Democrats are so big on propping up social security, then why are they trying so hard to ban smoking, trans-fats and large sodas? It seems the more bad habits people get, the easier it is to make sure that social security is around for future generations.
I kid...
Re:And... (Score:4, Funny)
Time Socialism: a new evil for the right to rant about. It'll take their mind off birth certificates.
Re:And... (Score:4, Funny)
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