MSNBC has a sobering article on the outlook for socialist spending in the United States over the next few decades:
Consider the outlook. From 2005 to 2030, the 65-and-over population will nearly double to 71 million; its share of the population will rise to 20 percent from 12 percent. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—programs that serve older people—already exceed 40 percent of the $2.7 trillion federal budget. By 2030, their share could hit 75 percent of the present budget, projects the Congressional Budget Office. The result: a political impasse.
The 2030 projections are daunting. To keep federal spending stable as a share of the economy would mean eliminating all defense spending and most other domestic programs (for research, homeland security, the environment, etc.). To balance the budget with existing programs at their present economic shares would require, depending on assumptions, tax increases of 30 percent to 50 percent—or budget deficits could quadruple. A final possibility: cut retirement benefits by increasing eligibility ages, being less generous to wealthier retirees or trimming all payments.
Stop and think about this for a minute.
Social security, Medicare and Medicaid--three programs that constitutionally should not exist and should make up 0% of our budget--already exceed 40% of our federal budget. And are projected to hit 75% of current levels by 2030. That should stun even the most fervent lover of socialism.
Also consider the statement that in order to maintain the current ratio of federal spending to the economy, you'd have to ELIMINATE all defense spending, including homeland security, and almost every other category of domestic spending--including the environmental programs so dear to Leftists. Remember: there is is a constitutional mandate to defend the country, but there is no provision for for public charity.
Is it any wonder the Founders of the United States knew we shouldn't engage in socialism and do for people what they should be doing for themselves?
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