Welfare State: Handouts Make Up One-Third of U.S. Wages

Government payouts—including Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance—make up more than a third of total wages and salaries of the U.S. population, a record figure that will only increase if action isn’t taken before the majority of Baby Boomers enter retirement.
Even as the economy has recovered, social welfare benefits make up 35 percent of wages and salaries this year, up from 21 percent in 2000 and 10 percent in 1960, according to TrimTabs Investment Research using Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
www.cnbc.com...

I am sad for America. She has lost her luster. She has lost her optimism. She is dazed and confused and is being led astray. And like my mom, she has cancer. I just hope that this time there is a doctor out there who can remove it all and that she survives to live another day.

America was founded by a group of the most amazing men. I doubt the world has ever seen a such greatness at one time and perhaps never will. They designed a political system with power where it is needed (local, state, or federal) and with the necessary checks and balances to keep its guiding principles of liberty and justice for all safe. But despite their greatness, they failed in predicting the influence of lobbyists and the “licensed corruption” of legislative riders.

Maybe that is because the economy is getting worse not better. Well, I am off to the store to get some bread, milk, and eggs. With any luck I won't pass out when I reach the register to see that I have to pay even more than I did a week ago. At this rate even people with high paying jobs are going to need food stamps, and dare I bring up the price of gas?

Instead of just giving out those handouts, why can't we make them available, but you have to work for them. It's not there isn't stuff that needs to be done. Government jobs > Government handouts Helps the rest of the economy too.

I'm not in favor of starving the masses (like some on this site), but I am in favor of reasonable changes that make sense.

I can not believe someone posted this trash.
Social security is not a handout it is automaticly removed from everyone paycheck and everyone deserves to get it back when they retire, even those that don't need it want theirs back.

reply to post by Surfrat

A most excellent book on the formation of this Union is titled "Founding Brothers" by Joseph Ellis. With the tendency to turn the memories of the men who founded our country into mythical sainthood, this book explores the genius and the folly of their time. One thing I found enlightening was the differences between these guys. The origins of national schisms we see today are clearly portrayed in the thinking of the individuals and groups at that time. These men were not monolithic. The fought and bargained and pushed and pulled each other. They even killed each other at times fighting for their version of what was the best in this new Union. And to their credit, they still managed to form a more perfect union. Thanks fellas.

reply to post by OLD HIPPY DUDE

Social Security is not a hand out.

Thanks for that OHD. This point needs to be made loudly and clearly, over and over again due to the constant harangue of portions of the MSM

Originally posted by pirhanna
Instead of just giving out those handouts, why can't we make them available, but you have to work for them. It's not there isn't stuff that needs to be done.

Isn't that socialist heavy?

They should just kill em - you ain't worked you ain't eating!

simple

reply to post by OLD HIPPY DUDE


My gradmother has been drawing social security for 14 years. She has seen recieved more money then she ever put in. How is that not a handout?

Bernie Madoff went to jail for doing the same thing that social security does, correct?

I think its great we can harp on benefits for people yet care less about the ones which eradicate people around the world. So I guess I should be pissed at my neighbor on SS not criminal Central Banks around the world who have given trillions in tax payer loans to cooperations. I think its great we have spent trillions because we have some weak people who are afraid of the boogie man under the bed and cry to the government for protection damn I feel so much safer.

reply to post by GeechQuestInfo


Wrong and opps, wrong again

reply to post by TerryMcGuire


Please explain? What is "wrong again"?

Originally posted by GeechQuestInfo
reply to post by OLD HIPPY DUDE

 

My gradmother has been drawing social security for 14 years. She has seen recieved more money then she ever put in. How is that not a handout?

Bernie Madoff went to jail for doing the same thing that social security does, correct?

Don't see how it's possible to get more than you pay in - especially in just 14 years.

Not sure about you, but everyone I know gets a statement showing how much you've paid in over the years and how much you can expect to receive. Plus, the government was supposed to have invested that money instead of using it like an ATM for non-social security costs.

Originally posted by Janky Red

Originally posted by pirhanna
Instead of just giving out those handouts, why can't we make them available, but you have to work for them. It's not there isn't stuff that needs to be done.

Isn't that socialist heavy?

They should just kill em - you ain't worked you ain't eating!

simple

Obamacare is getting around to that. Just wait a few years as they implement that policy gradually enough that the sheeple won't realize it until it's too late.

reply to post by Surfrat


For the retards:

Social Security, unemployment and Medicare aren't handouts.

Corporate subsidies and tax breaks are.

Damn, I get tired of having to repeat it for the pathetically ignorant.

Originally posted by centurion1211

That is so true it made me laugh and cry at the same time!
Obamacare is getting around to that. Just wait a few years as they implement that policy gradually enough that the sheeple won't realize it until it's too late.

reply to post by centurion1211


She stayed at home as a housewife until 50ish, when she was then hired and subsequently retired from said job. She only paid in or a handful of years an still recieved social security. That's how.

You can never work and still pull disability. Or am I mistaken on this?

The average person draws $1,177 a month on social security. Does anybody pay that amount into social security a month? No. In fact it's not possible because everyone who makes $108,000 or more only has to pay the equivelent of a person who makes $108,000 dollars. So someone who makes $300,000 pays in the same as someone who makes $108,000, and even at $108,000 you will not pay in the $1,177 AVERAGE payment.

It's math, for us "retards"


ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov...

Originally posted by GeechQuestInfo
reply to post by OLD HIPPY DUDE

 

My gradmother has been drawing social security for 14 years. She has seen recieved more money then she ever put in. How is that not a handout?

Bernie Madoff went to jail for doing the same thing that social security does, correct?

What is her return based on cost of living? Probably lower than she would recieve had she invested in gov bonds instead. If anything social security has saved our country money. Of course we spent it all already and that is the only reason why it is a problem. It has nothing to do with cash flows in and out. pay workers what theyd eserve on a cost of living basis and s.s. will be sound for a long time. Pay everyone peanuts and much less gets put in.

Ok I get it.

Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment benefits are handouts.
Road construction and repair is a handout too, look at all the useless eaters driving on the roads that the top 10 percent pay for. Defense spending is a handout as well. Think of all the free defense other countries get while our nice corporations do business with them. They really are benevolent and loving bunch those CEO's running them.

Heres an idea.

I think those Corporations should go find a deserted island somewhere and then they can have everything they produce and make all to themselves. They don't even have to worry about dealing with anyone else in the world either and should be left alone in their riches.

Then, we back in the USA, can raise up small business's that benefit everyone, and work together locally, and we won't need their defense spending overseae's either, but just local national guard protection. Sounds like a win win situation to me. So when do they start packing