Welfare-Warfare State

Men Find Careers in Collecting Disability

"In 1960, some 455,000 workers were receiving disability payments. In 2011, the number was 8,600,000. In 1960, the percentage of the economically active 18-to-64 population receiving disability benefits was 0.65 percent. In 2010, it was 5.6 percent. Things have changed. Americans have grown healthier, and significantly lower numbers die before 65 than was the case a half-century ago. Nevertheless, the disability rolls have ballooned. Eberstadt points out that in 1960, only one-fifth of disability benefits went to those with 'mood disorders' and 'muscoskeletal' problems. In 2011, nearly half of those on disability voiced such complaints." Continue reading →

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Why the Poles keep coming: The British welfare trap

"If I was in a position of a British single mother I have not the slightest doubt that I would choose welfare. Why break your back on the minimum wage for longer than you have to, if it doesn’t pay? Some people do have the resolve to do it. I know I wouldn’t. Until our policymakers start to see things through the eyes of those ensnared in welfare traps, nothing will change. The Poles are not caught in this welfare trap. For then, the work premium is far higher. If you had designed a system to keep the poor down, in would not look much different to the above." Continue reading →

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In France’s Welfare State Status Quo, Are We Seeing America’s Future?

"In 2009, 11.2 million French persons received welfare payments, out a total population of 65.3 million. This amounted to $78 billion in payments. Moreover, these 11 million beneficiaries have families (parents, spouses, children); thus, more than 35 million people are actually benefiting directly or indirectly from welfare payments, which is more than 50 percent of the French population. If this rate were applied to America, about 157 million Americans would be relying on welfare. Owing to the amount of money poured into welfare, should it be expected that there is a 'social return on investment' and that the living conditions of French citizens are improving?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn France’s Welfare State Status Quo, Are We Seeing America’s Future?

France’s Jean-Marc Ayrault slams flight of the ‘greedy rich’

"These individuals are leaving 'because they want to get even richer,' he said. 'We cannot fight poverty if those with the most, and sometimes with a lot, do not show solidarity and a bit of generosity,' he added. Announcing plans to spend up to 2.5 billion euros by 2017 to help the poor, Mr Ayrault said that poverty affected 12.9 percent of the population in 2002 and rose to 14.1 percent in 2010. Mr Hollande has since introduced other hefty new charges on capital gains and inheritance, while increasing France's wealth tax and an exit tax for entrepreneurs selling their companies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s Jean-Marc Ayrault slams flight of the ‘greedy rich’

D.C. house inspires 168 bids in red-hot real estate market

"Bidding wars have become commonplace along H Street NE, in Trinidad and in Eckington, among other areas. So have multiple cash offers and sales that soar past the asking price. In certain neighborhoods, buyers once again are snapping up unbuilt units based on floor plans. And more are forgoing inspections or appraisals. Homes in Arlington, Fairfax and Montgomery counties — all of whose median sale prices are up more than 4 percent from last year — are reaping battlefield premiums. One Maryland couple beat out the competition by agreeing to adopt the seller’s dog." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C. house inspires 168 bids in red-hot real estate market

Hunger and homelessness rise dramatically in the U.S.

"The most striking increase in homelessness was among families, and shelters had to turn away about 17 per cent of people seeking a place to sleep due to lack of space. A lack of affordable housing was the most common reason for homelessness among families with children, followed by poverty, unemployment, eviction and domestic violence. Some 51 per cent of the people seeking food assistance were families, 37 per cent were employed, 17 per cent were elderly and nine per cent were homeless. Unemployment was nonetheless the leading cause of hunger, followed by poverty, low wages and high housing costs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHunger and homelessness rise dramatically in the U.S.

U.S. House approves sweeping $633 billion defense spending bill

"The US House passed a $633 billion defense authorization bill that includes fresh sanctions against Iran and funds the war in Afghanistan. In addition to covering standard national security expenses, it also provides a 1.7-percent pay raise for the military, authorizes the Pentagon to pay for abortions in cases of rape and incest and lifts a ban on same-sex marriage ceremonies on military bases. The legislation, which passed 315-107, ended an indefinite restriction on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States or other countries, instead extending the current restrictions by one year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. House approves sweeping $633 billion defense spending bill

Bill Bonner: Promises Will Be Broken

"Growth rates began to decline at least 40 years ago. Today's rates are not extraordinarily low. And nobody really knows why this is happening. A steadily declining GDP growth rate seems to defy our assumptions about the way the world works. This discussion might be merely inconsequential; instead, the future of the United States of America, Europe, Japan and the entire world economy hangs on it. Growth − more GDP... more jobs... more revenue... more people − is also what every government in the developed world desperately needs. Without it, their deficit spending (all are running in the red) leads to growing debt and eventual disaster." Continue reading →

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Why Your Take Home Pay WILL DROP in 2013

"The headlines all talk about taxes being increased, as a result of Obama and Boehner scheming, for those earning over $400,000 per year, perhaps $1 million per year. Nothing for you to worry about, right? Not so fast. Little discussed is the fact that the payroll tax is very likely to go up. Letting the payroll tax rate revert to the old 6.2% from the current 4.2% would raise government revenue by about $125 billion next year, equivalent to 0.8% of total U.S. economic output, according to J.P. Morgan Chase. WSJ estimates that it will mean an average tax increase of about $1,000 a year for the typical American household making about $50,000 annually." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Your Take Home Pay WILL DROP in 2013