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People Are Awake- Just Too Dependent on Gov't To Make a Move

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posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 12:14 PM
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I have seen many threads about how people need to wake up to what is really going on and more importantly do something about what is going on.

I feel like people are awake, whether they want to admit it or not, to the global meltdown,lying, cheating, freedom stealing, fear mongering events that are rocking our country to its core. And I really feel that many people do and are willing to take some kind of action but are in fear of doing so. This fear is a result of Americans becoming too dependent on government.


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


www.americanprogress.org...

Do you think these 48 plus million people receiving some kind of social security assistance will rock the boat anytime soon?

Think of all the people who currently have a government job at the Federal, State, City, or County level. Do you think these individuals will put their jobs at risk?

What about all the people who get subsidized or funded by the government? Is speaking out about the government worth losing the subsidy or funding?

Call it greed or survival, but Americans will take care of themselves and their family's self interest even if that means losing more freedom.

We, as a Nation, have just become too dependent on our government and fear losing that government assistance if we take action. This is the reason I believe that people are AWAKE to the problems we face, but will never take serious action against the government. Complain, complain, complain is all you will hear.

The heritage foundation did a study and found the dependency rate to be about 18%. I personally feel it is higher because there are many different ways government assists the public.


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.


www.aapsonline.org...

I believe this current meltdown will only lead to more rules that will only make us even more dependent on government. That IMO is the ultimate agenda so that they can control the population with little to no resistance.

Do you really think people will risk losing their government assistance and take on the government?

Why are people always waiting on others to take the lead?

Are you dependent on your government for survival?



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 01:50 PM
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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.


www.fff.org...

Could getting Americans hooked on government be counted as one of the greatest conspiracy ever?



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 02:02 PM
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It has been known to me for along time now that the government has gotten to big and placed its hands in to much.
As a repercussion of them doing this, on purpose I might add, is that now when there is a problem everyone looks to the government.
Another repercussion is that people don't take care of themselves and believe that when something goes wrong that they will be taken care of.

The truth of the matter is though, you can take care of yourself. The government just doesnt want you to know that.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 02:15 PM
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College students can get Social Security? What for?

I'll be irate if I find out that I could have just gone to Uncle Sam for money, rather than pimping myself out for food.


On topic though, getting people hooked on government is a horrible problem that they want to get away from, because they can't afford it anymore. That's why they won't go to Socialism -- we don't have the capital to fund Socialism, and we don't have the borrowing power to secure the capital needed for a Socialist system.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 09:05 PM
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reply to post by theWCH
 



College students can get Social Security? What for?


I believe this means children who received benefits because of a death of a parent are still eligible for that aid as long as they are still enrolled in college. Kinda an incentive for them to further their education.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 09:13 PM
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reply to post by jam321
 


You are so right is not funny, even my husband when he gets tired of me telling him about the situation in the nation he answers with "and what you want me to do? lose my job and start something? you think we can afford it?

After all he does received military retirement money so he depends also on the government beside his full time job.

I believe that this is the same sentiment of many around.

Usually is the younger generations the ones that starts the uprising in many oppress countries not the older generations that are already use to be oppress.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 09:19 PM
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reply to post by marg6043
 


What I find ironic is that many of those who caused chaos during the Vietnam years are soon to be very dependent on the government.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 09:22 PM
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You are right but those are the ones now that are all conservative doing the oppression that they tried to fight so much during their younger years.

We people tend to have very short memories.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 10:47 PM
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reply to post by jam321
 


You bring up a very pertinent factor as to why many people are afraid to do anything in protest to the treasonous activities of the last and current administration...the banking cartel aka Fed Reserve, and the sham of our Congress.

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.
As an example, the citizen who sent tea bags to a few government agencies for the "tea party protest"...that person was arrested. Most folks do not need that or could not afford that...it would wipe them out.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 10:54 PM
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reply to post by burntheships
 



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.


Appreciate the contribution. This quote you added is priceless and very true.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 11:41 PM
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reply to post by jam321
 


I will add my thoughts to your brilliant thread...rather than start a new one with this idea...

Government employees, Federal, State, County, City/ Town...
outside of the "elected" there is not one job/ position that could not be handled by the millions of those currently unemployed. If you look at the job requirements/ descriptions, any number of qualified individuals could step right in and perform the same duties.

I am not suggesting that those currently employed in the public- that is what government jobs are called, is it not?- lose their position, but rather a "job-share program" be instituted. The employed worker would work 2 to 3 days per week alternating with a currently unemployed worker. The salary of the position would be split between the two, as well as the benefits.
Training would be minimal, for qualified individuals.

Of course, details would need to be worked out, but I believe it to be a win-win alternative. The "win" for the in coming worker is obvious. For the established worker, the "win" would be additional free time, and time to reflect on helping others. Also, it would be a stimulus for the established worker to increase job performance, while on duty, as the in comer would be a threat when times become "flush" once more.

The down side for the established employee would be to the cut in salary/ wage, but it sure beats unemployment.

Whatcha think?



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 11:51 PM
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Jam #

I really see no informational content in your post whatsoever.

You claim that people need to wake up to whats really going on, but you dont specify whats really going on. What is exactly going on? global meltdown economic collapse, etc. Who is causing it? Who exactly are you trying to establish this rebellion against?

Its absolute nonsense.



[edit on 9-4-2009 by Vyrtigo]

[edit on 9-4-2009 by Vyrtigo]



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 11:56 PM
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reply to post by Vyrtigo
 


Didn't realize that I forced you to come in here and make a contribution that does nothing but attack me? Seem like everybody else had no problem with it.

Appreciate your contribution nonetheless. BTW, reread the thread, I never told anyone they need to wake up.


Thanks.



posted on Apr, 9 2009 @ 11:58 PM
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reply to post by pyrytyes
 


Appreciate the compliment on the thread.

I like your idea. Needs a lot of working through but there is potential for a win-win situation. Maybe you ought to start a thread so people might add solutions on how it could work.




posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 12:08 AM
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I agree that people are awake and dependant. how do you push against the very supports that keep you fed or clothed or housed? How do you make changes and express discontent with the current system when you need that income from an employer who is just as dependant or even moreso on the Gov to survive?

No one wants to bite the hand that feeds so we wait. Wait until it gets to be too much to tolerate.

There will be no simple answers and it's not likely to be a single answer answer either. Timing, situations and circumstance all weighed by consequence of actions...for many it's too overwhelming and they feel they have no choice but to try to comply.

It's scary no matter how you look at.



posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 12:10 AM
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There's certainly some truth to this. First of all, most of this stuff is too complicated, I doubt any common citizen knows how to fix the mess we're in, the people appointed to fix it don't even agree on what actions are necessary to fix the economy. Obama was just elected, so the people do want change, whether or not they'll get it from a politician remains to be seen.

Paraphrasing George Carlin, this nation's finished, it's been bought off with gizmo's and toys. nobody wants to rock the boat since they all have cell phones that can flip pancakes.

So if you don't have a better answer than the politicians or bankers, and you still have cable tv, the internet, ipod's, video games, movies, cars, jewelry, etc. you really don't have much choice but to sit back and watch and hope you get to keep some of your stuff while the crooks rob the joint.



posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 01:56 AM
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reply to post by jam321
 


They will when they realize all of those entitlement programs have been fleeced for all their worth. I don't count on money I don't have an beside all of that Americans my age and younger know they will NEVER see a dime of SS benefits and few expect to even retire.



posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 02:03 AM
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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.


Im not attacking you, im just telling you that i think the informational content of your thread is questionable.

And though you may not be telling people that they need to wake up, the obvious intent is to create a pep rally.

You are telling people that they are already awake. Whats the difference?

And my question is, what exactly is your point?

Is it that you want people to be less dependant on the government?



posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 03:06 AM
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Adding some statistics and bringing it to a discussion is what makes this a viable thread.

I didn't consider the millions on Social Security to be timid about loosing freedoms. Never gave it much thought in the big picture of our country being looted.

It makes sense that not biting the hand that feeds would trump freedom every time.

As wimpy as that sounds. Holder was right... American's are a bunch of cowards.

Crap. Thanks for bringing up the thread.

My XWife, the turd that she is, has 2x ½ vietnamese kids from a previous marriage and said long ago that she would get as much of a grant or gov't assist that she could based on their ethnicity.

Their choice would be: subsidized college or uncertainty after revolution?

(Some) People always take the path of least resistance. Even if it's cowardly.



[edit on 4·10·09 by DrMattMaddix]



posted on Apr, 10 2009 @ 03:18 AM
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reply to post by DrMattMaddix
 


Its innuendo.

the statistics do not validate the theory. It just makes it look prettier.

The question is, will people let the government walk all over them to keep their government assistance? Well, first of all, if your government is assisting you, how is it walking all over you? Why would people on government assistance throw up their fists in anger over what the government is doing?

And what exactly is being implied here, i dont see any concrete statement, just someone beating around the bush.

What exactly is the target statement for this post? Seriously? what is the intention? what is the objective? it is not clear.

[edit on 10-4-2009 by Vyrtigo]



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