I don't know what you guys think of John Stossel or Fox News in general, but I recently watched this special he did on freeloading in the US. I thought it was pretty interesting stuff; I never had any doubt that people took advantage of the social safety net in this country but I think this special puts into context just how many different ways people (and institutions) can abuse the system.
What does this rampant freeloading mean for our economy as a whole? Is freeloading really that big of a deal, or is it just sensationalized because everybody hates how people demand handouts? How do the costs of said freeloading (i.e. corporate subsidies, welfare, etc), compare to the costs of medicare, medicaid, and social security? Aren't we all the beneficiaries of some form of freeloading?
Take a look. I'd definitely like to hear if people find any glaring factual errors or misrepresentations in the special.
Part 1
Part 2
cuz I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-eeeeeeeeeeeeee
freeeeloaaadin'
The only way to learn from this is to just not help people, which is unfortunate for the people that actually need the help. These people ruin it for everyone else.
I know for a fact there are people out there who struggle to hire unskilled labor because what they're offering is less than the handout those people are receiving. This should put it into perspective:
"The Senate Budget Committee reported that between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and other benefits, the average U.S. household below the poverty line received $168.00 a day in government support. What’s the problem with that much support? Well, the median household income in America is just over $50,000, which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now pays the equivalent of $30.00 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average job pays $25.00 an hour."
If only the government did less. Imagine a government that enforced immigration laws so illegals couldn't work for slave wages and if people wanted manual labor they would have to pay more for it or teach people so that they could have adequate labor.
Imagine less government that redistributed less, allowing those who work to have more, to spend or save, thereby creating demand or providing capital for investment.
Imagine a government that didn't provide endless student loans, thereby not allowing students to get into bone crushing debt and by allowing reality to force them to grow up, study something relevant or work to finance their education.
Imagine a government that allowed banks to fail when they took too much risk or allowed people to reap what they sow when they smoke too much, drink too much or eat too much.
I agree at the federal level. I do think that at the city/county/state level it's not only easier to keep track of "freeloaders", but it also allows the people of those areas more say in if and how welfare is distributed to the people.
Yes, I agree. Hence why states > federal government. Except now you have a Federal government which is getting involved in gay marriage (passed and banned at state levels) and drug laws (legalized and outlawed at state levels).
The fact that the Federal Government has put us in the hole by $16T and growing, while bringing in $1.5T is sickening. Everything in this country is manipulated through excessive regulation and spending through the tax code.
If you want to promote fairness, which no one does, you would have a simple, progressive tax code and a far less regulation and restrictions.
+SB for you.
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