18% of all "personal income" comes from Government Aid

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-04-26-government-payments-economy-medicare.htm

Americans depended more on government assistance in 2010 than at any other time in the nation's history, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data finds. The trend shows few signs of easing, even though the economic recovery is nearly 2 years old.

A record 18.3% of the nation's total personal income was a payment from the government for Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, unemployment benefits and other programs in 2010. Wages accounted for the lowest share of income — 51.0% — since the government began keeping track in 1929.
The income data show how fragile and government-dependent the recovery is after a recession that officially ended in June 2009.

From 1980 to 2000, government aid was roughly constant at 12.5%. The sharp increase since then — especially since the start of 2008 — reflects several changes: the expansion of health care and federal programs generally, the aging population and lingering economic problems.

pretty crazy stats.

 

[maxiep]

It's times like this that we need to understand that a government that can do anything for you can also do anything to you.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Well its because we have the softest income taxes since the great depression!!!