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Number of Social Security beneficiaries (in 2004): 48 million
Number of early retirees receiving Social Security (in 2003): 21 million
Number of disability benefit recipients (in 2004): 8 million
Number of survivorship benefit recipients (in 2004): 7 million
Number of children receiving Social Security benefits (in 2003): 4.0 million
Number of college students receiving Social Security benefits (in 2003): 128,000
Heritage calculates that 18 percent of Americans are dependent on handouts, transfer payments, and subsidies from the federal government. It also calculates that dependency increases to 25 percent if federal and state employees are included in the estimates.
In terms of absolute numbers, the 25 percent translates to 81.7 million Americans who are dependent on the government, an increase of 141 percent over the 33.9 million in 1962. That increase is 2.5 times greater than the increase in the U.S. population during the same period.
The underestimate stems from the fact that Heritage did not include three other groups in the 81.7 million total.
First, it did not include dependents of government employees. Assuming that each government employee has, on average, 1.8 other people in the household, there are approximately an additional 38 million people who are dependent in whole or part on the government for their household income and thus have a stake in bigger government. Adding the 38 million to Heritage’s total of 81.7 million gives a revised total of 119.7 million.
No one can say though that federal officials are dumb. People who are bailed out are likely to be very grateful to their federal daddy for having helped them out. How likely is it that bailout recipients will ever challenge the government at a core level? Who’s going to bite the hand that feeds him? Oh sure, people will carp about governmental inefficiency or call for reform of this or that government program, but when it comes to questioning such things as torture, wars of aggression, occupations, warrantless searches, and socialist bailouts, the lips of weak and dependent child-adults are likely to be silent or kissing the boots of their federal providers. That’s why Roman officials used “bread and circuses” as they extended the reach of their Empire around the world.
College students can get Social Security? What for?
I would also like to add that many many good people who are law abiding citizens are afraid of being labeled a terrorist, added to the watch list...etc.
Originally posted by jam321
reply to post by Vyrtigo
Appreciate your contribution nonetheless. BTW, reread the thread, I never told anyone they need to wake up.
Thanks.