expat_panama
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Robert Samuelson: The Real Truth About Washington
ROBERT J. SAMUELSON
1/25/2017
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth." — President Donald Trump, Jan. 20.
Washington is not a swamp.
Since at least the days of Jimmy Carter, presidential politicians have run against Washington, which is — according to the standard indictment — overrun by corrupt politicians, overpaid lobbyists, and self-important media types. Donald Trump is no exception and, indeed, in his sneering description of the nation's capital as a "swamp," has done his predecessors one better.
But his portrait is an absurdity. It bears little relationship to two overriding realities. First, the rewards of government go mostly to "the people" through massive transfer programs such as Social Security. Second, the costs have been borne mainly by the rich and upper middle class, who pay most taxes, and foreign and domestic lenders who cover chronic budget deficits...
...The left-hand column gives the number of recipients, the right hand column their share in the population. For example: In 2012, Social Security had 52 million recipients, representing 16.8% of the population.
Federal Transfer Programs, 2012
Program People Population share
Social Security 52 million 16.8%
Medicare 49 million 15.8%
Medicaid 83 million 26.7%
Food stamps 51 million 16.6%
Jobless benefits 4 million 1.2%
When all transfer programs were included and double counting was eliminated (say, food-stamp beneficiaries on Medicaid), about 153 million Americans received some sort of federal benefit in 2012...
...the notion that the "people did not share" in government's wealth is a preposterous platitude. It's the opposite of the truth...
...both parties have evaded a candid debate on government's role and limits. What programs need to be reduced or expanded? What taxes need to be raised? Trump did not even mention deficits in his inaugural address. On this issue, he may be as bad as his recent predecessors and, perhaps, worse.
* * * * * * * *
fwiw, we don't have to go back to 2012 to see this, here're the 2015 numbers:
ROBERT J. SAMUELSON
1/25/2017
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth." — President Donald Trump, Jan. 20.
Washington is not a swamp.
Since at least the days of Jimmy Carter, presidential politicians have run against Washington, which is — according to the standard indictment — overrun by corrupt politicians, overpaid lobbyists, and self-important media types. Donald Trump is no exception and, indeed, in his sneering description of the nation's capital as a "swamp," has done his predecessors one better.
But his portrait is an absurdity. It bears little relationship to two overriding realities. First, the rewards of government go mostly to "the people" through massive transfer programs such as Social Security. Second, the costs have been borne mainly by the rich and upper middle class, who pay most taxes, and foreign and domestic lenders who cover chronic budget deficits...
...The left-hand column gives the number of recipients, the right hand column their share in the population. For example: In 2012, Social Security had 52 million recipients, representing 16.8% of the population.
Federal Transfer Programs, 2012
Program People Population share
Social Security 52 million 16.8%
Medicare 49 million 15.8%
Medicaid 83 million 26.7%
Food stamps 51 million 16.6%
Jobless benefits 4 million 1.2%
When all transfer programs were included and double counting was eliminated (say, food-stamp beneficiaries on Medicaid), about 153 million Americans received some sort of federal benefit in 2012...
...the notion that the "people did not share" in government's wealth is a preposterous platitude. It's the opposite of the truth...
...both parties have evaded a candid debate on government's role and limits. What programs need to be reduced or expanded? What taxes need to be raised? Trump did not even mention deficits in his inaugural address. On this issue, he may be as bad as his recent predecessors and, perhaps, worse.
* * * * * * * *
fwiw, we don't have to go back to 2012 to see this, here're the 2015 numbers: