Contributed by Matt Bonner (Reporter)
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:34

The total number of Americans dependent on the government for their daily housing, food, and health care is a staggering 60.8 million.

We are rapidly approaching the point where more than one third of Americans do not pay taxes for benefits they receive.

In 1980, 20 million tax filers paid no taxes; in 2008, 48 million paid nothing.

Since 2001, dependency on government has soared 31%.

Starting in 2016, Social Security will not collect enough taxes to pay all of the promised benefits; this spells serious trouble for HALF of the American workforce that has no other retirement program.

Government grows, Freedom contracts” – Ronald Reagan

Americans are more dependent on government today than ever before and according to a recent study by The Heritage Foundation, we are dangerously close to the tipping point of losing our republican form of government. Consider these alarming facts as presented by the Heritage Foundation’s 2009 Index of Dependence on Government study:

The author of the study, William A Beach, writes, “Dependence on the federal government for life’s many challenges strips civil society of its historical and necessary role in providing aid and renewal through the intimate relationships of family, community, and local institutions and governments”

Beach is exactly right. And the unprecedented quality of life we enjoy today is greatly threatened because of this breakdown in the way our free republic is supposed to work.

“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.” – Thomas Jefferson

Our federal government was designed to serve as protector, not provider. Most of our problems can be traced to ignorance (or blatant disregard) of this simple concept. And it’s important to understand that the increasing dependence of our citizens on the government is directly tied to the ever expanding size and scope of that same government.

For example, according to The Patriot Post, the U.S. economy shed another 36,000 jobs in February while the federal government payroll increased by 7,000 jobs. Think about this for a moment – as the private sector contracts, the government continues to grow. This is incredibly ominous when you consider that the government does not make money, nor does it produce anything, without first confiscating an increasing amount of the hard-earned money of the producing class. (Connect the dots, and you’ll see that this system will eventually collapse as the entitlement/welfare class outnumbers and overburdens the producing class.)

Meanwhile, as this trend continues, the exceptionalism of America will diminish. The products of free market capitalism – technological and medical breakthroughs, and the entrepreneurialism to solve society’s problems – will vanish. Gone will be our freedom to flourish in these life-enhancing (and life-saving) endeavors – all of which have greatly benefited our citizens and millions around the world.

“Americans have always expressed concern about becoming dependent on government, even while understanding that life’s challenges make most people, at one time or another, dependent on aid from someone else,” writes Beach. “This concern stems partly from deeply held views that life’s blessings are more readily obtained by independent people and that growing dependency on government erodes the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement.”

If we do not change the hearts and minds of the people who refuse to break this cycle of dehumanizing and freedom-killing dependency, then we may as well sign our own death warrants. The more we depend on government, the more control they have over us. The more control they have, the less freedom we have to fulfill God’s calling for us – both as individuals and as a nation.

Why not do something about it? Why not urge your representatives to enact legislation to reverse course? Or find just one person who doesn’t understand these basic American concepts and empower them to break free from the chains of dependency that are robbing them of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/24301/Dependence_on_government_death_of_America.html

the government wants the people to be dependent on them - therefore the people must serve the government

The government serves us.

It started that way and is still that way.

The only people screaming otherwise for the most part are the poorly informed who follow too easily those who inspire mistrust in the crowds. If they would stop and research what they are believing they would discover no validity to their agendas.

I believe in monitoring our government. I do monitor it. I make sure that I know what I am looking at first though. You cannot monitor something if you do not know how it works.

That is what I have discovered is going on with most of these groups who are against the government. They hold up signs that show they know not how the government works at the base level and are protesting invalid things.

ROFLMAO!!!
People don't appreciate how much the government provides anymore....worse than that, they EXPECT it. Where is my money attitude....like they actually paid for it or something like that.

It's a worldwide phenomena. I follow several developments. It has to do with the spread of information..and the governments have a hard time keeping up so news and stuff use them for their advantage while the government continues their rhetoric while the public already knows more than they imagine. They have already tried to curb the spread of information but they weren't successful. Maybe in China and some other authoritarian countries. They can't contain it anymore and surely they can't keep up. Those, who are viciously oppose each other are actually 3 groups.
1. Underinformed
2. Informed
3. Misinformed

OP-you would enjoy Butler Schaffer's books and columns, I suspect.

we ARE the government

if we could just get back to a UNITED states instead of all these subcategories(liberal, conservative, right, left, etc,,) and also

1.improve the education so people CAN find careers instead of just jobs

2.improve and promote the community service ethic so people stop just thinking about themself

3.improve and promote ethics like self respect and responsibility , instead of just wealth and money and sex


,,we would be going a far way to having a healthier and happier society AND government

NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, I VOTE FOR msharmony!!!

CAN YOU GIVE OBAMA PIECE OF YOUR MIND? ? ?

lol, Id never take that position,,, too much scrutiny , the perception of being responsible for three hundred milion lives and all their issues,, for a measly four hundred grand and not enough appreciation,,,,,,


,but I like OBama

BUT HE'S GOT VIRTUALLY NO EXPENCES!!!
BESIDES, 4 YEARS FLY VERY FAST...

TOO BAD, YOU'VE GOT SOME BRIGHT IDEAS!

good point, about the expenses
thanx for the compliment

hate to spoil the tea partiers but taxes went down for most this year but keep having your rallies because the president remains black.

The reality is that not everyone is capable of going to college and getting a degree.

There were many more avenues available for someone that didn't want to go to college and just wanted to get out of high school and get a decent paying job.

The manufacturing industry was made up of those types of people. You didn't need a degree to get a job and get paid well. You had the auto and steel industry that employed millions of workers.

Then came globalization and free trade agreements..

Say good bye to a large sector of manufacturing..

The construction industry took over for manufacturing. Plenty of good paying jobs requiring no higher education.. just hard work..

Now with the housing bust construction is no longer a safe haven for people that worked hard but didn't have the education..

These are just 2 examples of how outside influences have created the situation where people are forced to work for less..

The underemployed.. When you have a massive job loss like we have had, and you have people with advanced degrees applying for the same jobs that people with no degrees who is going to get the job?

The market is so restricted at this point all you have is chaos.

When you are underemployed with no prospects of improvement in sight, it does not surprise me that a lashing out ensues.

I do not blame these people who are protesting one bit. It wasn't them that signed these trade deals. It wasn't them that made the avenue of escape for big businesses to move their production to another country. It wasn't them that turned this country into a debt driven society. It wasn't them who sat on their a$$ and allowed banks to play the credit default swapping games.

Only a totally ignorant fool would say this is about the race of the president.

This is about the bankers and their business buddies along with the help of the government sucking this country dry.

The guy that lays bricks for a house's foundation doesn't donate $25,000 to a presidential campaign..

Who do you think they really care about?

"We are rapidly approaching the point where more than one third of Americans do not pay taxes for benefits they receive."

what happens when that # grows to 50%????? To 75%????To 90%???And it will unless people once again start to accept personal responsibility AGAIN for themselves and not EXPECT the government to look after them.

I noticed none of the above post provided a way for the government to pay for all that people get free!

That is, unless u call deficit spending sound financial policy.

Too many people are starting to think that government should provide because they think that they deserve something because someone else has it.

I know of nothing that is free. The numbers indicated dont take into consideration any specific time frame or the fact that MOST people do in fact pay quite a bit in taxes over their WORKING lifetime so they arent actually getting FREE anything but having a resource available which they have INVESTED in.

Better budgeting could be done and alot of the EXCESSIVE perks and spending could be re distributed towards better ends, but the taxes americans pay should CERTAINLY Be considered as belonging to americans and utilized in the ways that are most beneficial and helpful to americans.


I do agree that many people do not take personal responsibility(u will notice it on my list). I also think the trend of egocentrism is harming our society. Whether someone feels 'entitled' because they pay taxes or because their parents happened to have more than others , it is the attitude that 'its all about me' that is dividing and conquering what should be a UNITED states.

SIDENOTE: It is an interesting piece and I appreciate the information. Considering the 'implication' however that so many people 'do not pay taxes' it is odd that so many citizens pressure the politicians to feel as if taxes shouldnt be touched or 'raised'..... Seems that if the pool of working people (and working aged people) is diminishing , than raised taxes would be the logical balance.

In lieu of raising taxes though, Id love to see comprehensive policies which address the rate at which the cost of living rises as opposed to the rate at which wages and salaries do and solutions which will lead to these two trends correlating more efficiently.

48 million taxpayers paid ...NOTHING... in 2008

People who pay taxes don't feel entitled....it's the other away around....people that don't pay taxes feel they SHOULD BE entitled...

Government earns basically no money to provide other than from those that pay. And those that pay receive little if any from the government. We are heading in a dangerous direction....Where is the tipping point...

The problem isn't that the pool of working people is diminishing...the problem is those working and paying taxes are trying to support too many that don't pay taxes.

but my point is that if we work we all pay taxes OVER our lifetime, even if there are some years where we are exempt

the money we all pay in is an INVESTMENT which we are all entitled to see some benefit from,,,IMHO


as far as the tipping point,, we just have to bite the bullet. If I earn fifty thousand a year with one child, and suddenly find myself pregnant with three more,, I have to RE BUDGET what I have or get a higher paying job. With taxes, as our working aged pool decreases, we have to RE BUDGET what we have or raise taxes to compensate for that change in our taxpayer family. But thats just my opinion...

but my point is that if we work we all pay taxes OVER our lifetime, even if there are some years where we are exempt

the money we all pay in is an INVESTMENT which we are all entitled to see some benefit from,,,IMHO


as far as the tipping point,, we just have to bite the bullet. If I earn fifty thousand a year with one child, and suddenly find myself pregnant with three more,, I have to RE BUDGET what I have or get a higher paying job. With taxes, as our working aged pool decreases, we have to RE BUDGET what we have or raise taxes to compensate for that change in our taxpayer family. But thats just my opinion...


another option is increasing incentives for better paying jobs.. as I research and find that the MAJORITY of those not paying taxes are earning UNDER 20,000 per year.

I don't think u r seeing the numbers correctly....

"The total number of Americans dependent on the government for their daily housing, food, and health care is a staggering 60.8 million."

That # continues to go up....it has nothing to do with low income years.

The #'s of people not paying any taxes is increasing every year.

Government serves ITSELF. WE are its serfs. Hasn't always been that way, but y' better get used to the 'New Reality' ... or change the people who 'serve' in 'government'. All else is irrelevant. People have forgotten Jefferson's truth that 'A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have.'