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100% of Americans benefit. Half of us pay for them.
The whole notion that half of Americans pay tax is bunk. Everyone pays sales tax, in most states there is property tax on cars, federal gasoline taxes, renters pay real estate taxes indirectly through higher rents, etc.
Plus, of the 50% who do pay federal income tax, their likely burden is quite low.
100% of Americans benefit. Half of us pay for them.
You do realize that half consists almost exclusively of the elderly, part time workers, families of 4 making under $26,400 and single parents, all of whom pay a variety of other federal taxes on things like gasoline, airline tickets, cell phone bills, etc?
Liberals work for a living, but feel that those who truly need help shouldn't be thrown out on the streets.
Right wingers live off of those social programs for a living, while whining and complaining non stop about the lazy bums whom are also living off the exact same programs they are
Oh if the world were as simple as that!
There are at least two type of government programs.
One type we are all enrolled in involuntarily by a government which helps itself to our earnings, like it or not.
The other type requires no contribution and no effort. Participation is strictly voluntary and those who receive these benefits receive them as a consequence of others being taxed.
Not everyone who ends up on a the second type is a freeloader, but they do exist and expanding these programs only encourages their abuse.
I'll go off of the reservation here and provide more than just social programs...
Medicare, indirectly. Without this program I and my brother would have to support my father's medical issues on our own.
Social Security, again indirectly. My father's pension is not enough for him to live on without the supplemental income from this program.
Farm subsidies provide cheaper food and milk.
The FDA. I've never gotten food poisoning or bad medicine.
The EPA. I drink clean water and breathe clean air even though I live in the middle of a city.
Oil subsidies keep me from paying European gas prices.
Energy and water subsidies provide for low utility bills. I wish they would do the same for those lousy phone bills.
There are many more that I can't think of, I'm sure.
I was on unemployment 30 some years ago, in addition to my public school education and all the public benefits that we all enjoy on a daily basis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyegirl
Other than public roads, public school for my children and a $500 Pell Grant, I've never utilized any type of social programs.
Public parks
Public transportation
Lower homeowners and auto insurance because of police protection
Lower homeowners insurance because of fire protection
Roads and sidewalks
When our kids were ages 9 months and 4 years old, DH was laid off and collected UI for a few months.
He went to a private college; I went to one that got state money, but part of that time I was an out-of-state student. He worked for the University of Illinois for 10 years, part of that as a Teaching Assistant and part of it as a Research Assistant. Neither job paid squat. I was a public health nurse for several different health departments.
Katiana reminded me of a couple of other things.
I went to a publicly funded university with a cheaper cost per credit hour than a private school that allowed me to develop the foundation to succeed in the profession that I am now in.
Going even further back, I was educated in the public school system. Again my parents could not afford private or religious school tuition.
I'd like to thank all who have supported my endeavors. Maybe I could have succeeded without the help of my fellow citizens, but it would have been infinitely more difficult. I am more than glad to return the favor to your children and grandchildren (parents and grandparents).
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