June 8, 2009

This piece of news should concern everyone who believes in small government and individual freedom. One of every six dollars of American income now comes from the federal or state governments through checks or vouchers. One of every six dollars.

In all, government spending on benefits will top $2 trillion in 2009, an average of $17,000 for every American household. The recession is blamed for half of that. Liberals say the safety net is working, but I think it is less a net and more a vice. Once people get used to receiving money they have not earned, a significant number of them are likely to become as dependent on government benefits as they become dependent on drugs.

This money is coming from two sources: people who are working and pay taxes and borrowed money, which is up sharply and figures to rise even more with President Obama’s health care restructuring and the various bailouts and stimulus packages.

I fear for the financial and moral future of this country. Even the Fed chairman says we can’t go on like this. He’d better tell that to President Obama.

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