Economist Gary Shilling has calculated that 52.6 percent of Amercans "now receive significant income from government programs," approaching the all-time high of 55 percent in 1980. He's expecting that number to hit 60 percent by 2040. Also,
Mr. Shilling's analysis found that about 1 in 5 Americans hold a government job or a job reliant on federal spending. A similar number receive Social Security or a government pension. About 19 million others get food stamps, 2 million get subsidized housing, and 5 million get education grants. For all these categories, Mr. Shilling counted dependents as well as the direct recipients of government income.
Is it any wonder that neither political party seriously talks about cutting government? As far as they're concerned, it's political suicide, which certainly makes sense when over half the population depends on an ever-growing government.
