A Welfare Nation

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Dec 10, 2012

A Welfare Nation

The United States is rapidly becoming a welfare nation. Government handouts now account for one-third of the total income in the U.S. – one-third of our income! The payouts, including Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance, are placing an increasing burden on the country at a time when we have never been in deeper debt.

According to a study by Trimtabs Investment Research, social benefits make up 35 percent of wages and salaries this year, up from 21 percent in 2000 and only 10 percent in 1960.

This is good news for liberals because people are becoming more dependent on government. It’s bad news for the country, because the more people receive handouts, the less productive we will be.

This should be issue No. 1 in the coming presidential campaign. Do we want to continue to be a debtor nation, a welfare nation, a nation of dependents? Or do we need a new declaration of independence from government?

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.



A Welfare Nation