CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY OCTOBER 2, 2024
IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF WHY GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME SO BIG, SO EXPENSIVE, SO REMOTE AND SO DYSFUNCTIONAL. CONSIDER A RECENT WALL STREET JOURNAL STORY: “AMERICANS’ RELIANCE ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS SOARING, DRIVEN BY PROGRAMS SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. THAT SUPPORT IS CRITICAL IN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE U.S., MANY OF WHICH LEAN REPUBLICAN AND ARE CONCENTRATED IN SWING STATES CRUCIAL IN DECIDING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. NEITHER PARTY HAS MUCH INITIATIVE TO DIAL BACK THE SPENDING.
“THE COUNTRY HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN THIS RELIANT ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. IN 1970, GOVERNMENT SAFETY-NET MONEY ACCOUNTED FOR SIGNIFICANT INCOME IN FEWER THAN ONE PERCENT OF AMERICA’S COUNTIES.”
WE HAVE ABANDONED THE NOTION OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GOVERNMENT AS A LAST RESORT. NOW GOVERNMENT IS A FIRST RESOURCE IN OUR ENTITLEMENT AGE. THE BREAKUP OF THE FAMILY HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO AN OVER RELIANCE ON GOVERNMENT.
THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU – IN THIS CASE GOVERNMENT – WAS FOREIGN TO THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION AND THEIR ANCESTORS. POLITICIANS WANT PEOPLE TO RELY MORE ON GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT HELPS THEIR CAREERS. BUT IT DOESN’T HELP OURS, OR THE NATION’S. I’M CAL THOMAS.
