mediamatters.org — Yesterday Heritage released an "Index of Dependence on Government" report. Fox and others in the conservative media trumpeted the report. But even a quick look at Heritage's report reveals its true intent: a thinly-veiled attempt to discredit important government programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
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miklkitFeb 11, 2012
They don't care about helping old or sick people.
The greedy bastards just want that money for themselves.
skews13Feb 11, 2012
I'm shocked. This coming from an organization who's vice president happens to be Dick Cheney's old attorney. There's credibility if there ever was any.
hillsfarFeb 12, 2012
Forget about right or left or liberal or conservative.
Think about this for moment:
Roughly half of American households are receiving some form of governmental financial or food assistance to survive. Food stamps, Social Security and Medicare assurances, unemployment benefits, and a consumerist/credit culture that have led our people to choose NOT to save, despite poorer people in China and Vietnam and Romania who make ten times less than us, who save close to 50% of their income.
The entire economy is in similar straits. The Federal government, through FHA, Fannie, Freddie, etc. even the Fed, is on the hook for 95% of all home loans in this country. The banks just originate the loans, collect the fees, and sell them to FHA, Fannie, Freddie. This is the government's strategy to try to keep housing prices from cratering more than it already has. It is supported by realtors and some homeowners, so both parties support this.
Without the government spending $1.3 trillion in deficit, the economy would literally be down by about 10%. Our government is literally keeping us afloat with credit cards. Again, both parties support this - the whole debate they've had is on cutting future increases in spending, not on cutting current spending. That is also why, despite wind-down in Iraq and having killed Osama Bin Laden, the military's budget was further INCREASED by the House Republicans.
Now we may argue about what may have caused this trap we are in. But we ARE in a trap. And this trap is going to be our doom. There's no way out of this because our country's powers and leaders and elite would rather sacrifice all they can to maintain the status quo even as it continues sinking.
hillsfarFeb 12, 2012
Forget about right or left or liberal or conservative.
Think about this for moment:
Roughly half of American households are receiving some form of governmental financial or food assistance to survive. Food stamps, Social Security and Medicare assurances, unemployment benefits, and a consumerist/credit culture have taken its toll.
The entire economy is in similar straits. The Federal government, through FHA, Fannie, Freddie, etc. even the Fed, is on the hook for 95% of all home loans in this country. The banks just originate the loans, collect the fees, and sell them to FHA, Fannie, Freddie. This is the government's strategy to try to keep housing prices from cratering more than it already has. It is supported by realtors and some homeowners, so both parties support this.
Without the government spending $1.3 trillion in deficit, the economy would literally be down by about 10%. Our government is literally keeping us afloat with credit cards. Again, both parties support this - the whole debate they've had is on cutting future increases in spending, not on cutting current spending. That is also why, despite wind-down in Iraq and having killed Osama Bin Laden, the military's budget was further INCREASED by the House Republicans.
Now we may argue about what may have caused this trap we are in. But we ARE in a trap. And this trap is going to be our doom. We can't even grow our way out of this, because outsourcing and technology and debt are harming us. There's no way out of this because our country's powers and leaders and elite would rather sacrifice all they can to maintain the status quo even as it continues sinking.
novenatorFeb 12, 2012Submitter
Debt isn't the issue. Resource allocation is. People are being lured into financial servitude by the lawless, predatory form of capitalism that is allowed to fester. As a consequence the rich keep getting richer, the middle class is getting destroyed by these greedy predators, and the poor are getting screwed.
Working folks need a system in place where they keep more of a share of the pie they bake with their labor. After that, the economy starts moving strongly again, tax revenue starts flowing better (even though we can help this by taxing the hell out of the rich right now), and that debt problem will subside.
Nothing happens until the working class stops getting leeched off of by these plutarchy parasites however.
hillsfarFeb 12, 2012
When the plutocrats win, we get Hong Kong. Low taxes, high standard of living, but the poor living in cages.
When the plebians win, we get Greece. Workers keep demanding more benefits, hairdressers get to retire on full state pensions at age 55 - until the debt implosion, of course.
Balance is the key. But we're too far gone for that in this country. Watch what happens to the U.K. and Japan in the next few years. That's where we're headed.
miklkitFeb 13, 2012
Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.
You say half the people in America are on some form of government assistance.
You then should state that half the people in America are trying to get by on just 2.5% of America's wealth.
You complain about these people not saving, but don't mention that savings accounts deliver less than 1% interest while inflation is 2-3%.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/09/businessinsider-15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4.DTL
You mention Greece without mentioning the $60 billion in unpaid taxes.
hillsfarFeb 15, 2012
So why is it that people in Vietnam or China who make less than ONE TENTH what an American makes, on average, save 50% of their income? Culture.
The rich will buy the politicians. The poor will continue to protest. The truth it, we're still in the trap that I mentioned, as we have been in for several decades now, regardless of what you SAY.
hillsfarFeb 15, 2012
As I said earlier, which you've totally ignored, "There's no way out of this because our country's powers and leaders and elite would rather sacrifice all they can to maintain the status quo even as it continues sinking."
partrowFeb 12, 2012
They are seeing the large increase in people dependent on the federal government.
Many of us find this disturbing.
mitchellkFeb 11, 2012
Media Matters again? Will they give up their tax exempt status and pretense of being a news organization now that David Brock has formed his Obama SuperPAC?Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
Closed AccountFeb 12, 2012
Why thinly veiled? Social security is the very definition of a ponzi scheme. poor novenator. I can't imagine being a suicidal guy so late in life with no family.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.