Grease Teh Vote

slippery slopes

[NYT] The share of benefits [gubbmint dependency dollars] flowing to the least affluent households, the bottom fifth, has declined from 54 percent in 1979 to 36 percent in 2007, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis published last year.

…Politicians have expanded the safety net without a commensurate increase in revenues, a primary reason for the government’s annual deficits and mushrooming debt. In 2000, federal and state governments spent about 37 cents on the safety net from every dollar they collected in revenue, … A decade later, … spending on the safety net consumed nearly 66 cents of every dollar of revenue.

…Almost half of all Americans lived in households that received government benefits in 2010, according to the Census Bureau. The share climbed from 37.7 percent in 1998 to 44.5 percent in 2006, before the recession, to 48.5 percent in 2010.

When the earned-income credit was introduced in 1975, eligibility was limited to households making the current equivalent of up to $26,997. In 2010, it was available to families making up to $49,317. The maximum payout, meanwhile, quadrupled on an inflation-adjusted basis.

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5 Comments!

  1. mojo
    Posted February 14, 2012 at 8:55 am |

    Iranians go “BOOM!” in Bangkok :

    Update:

    One or more Iranians rented a house about a month ago. Evidently, their sole purpose was to set up a bomb-making center.

    Legless idiot bomber (by name of Saerb Morabi) arrived into Thailand on February 8th, on a flight from Seoul.

    Shortly after noon today, there was a “factory glitch” – and the house went “boom goes the dynamite” – photo at: http://twitpic.com/8jq16y

    Two Iranians then departed in a hurry – photo of one chap captured by a local security camera: https://twitter.com/#!/fm91trafficpro/status/169423257907372033/photo/1

    But – one Iranian (the recent arrival) departed a couple of minutes later – bleeding, and carrying a large black bag.

    This chap tried to flag down a taxi – but the driver evidently decided that a bleeding Middle Eastern-looking foreigner carrying a black bag was not an ideal passenger, and declined the fare.

    Being a highly rational individual, the Iranian reacted by tossing an explosive into or under the taxi – causing this: https://twitter.com/#!/fm91trafficpro/status/169423257907372033/photo/1

    Said Iranian then proceeded down the road, presumably looking for another taxi. At this point, police were showing up – and a local citizen pointed out the miscreant to the Police. A Policeman then proceeded to approach the subject.

    The bleeding Iranian then decided to throw an explosive (grenade?) at the policeman. Unfortunately, as the the grenade following its graceful arc toward the intended target, it struck a tree branch and rebounded to the feet of the Iranian – and then detonated – removing said Iranians lower legs. Photo at the original link.

    I understand that there is also a video of the hapless Iranian, twitching on the ground as local Thai residents loudly curse him from the sidelines.

    One of the other two Iranians was picked up at the local international airport around sundown today, as he was attempting to board a Malaysia-bound flight. Carrying identification as Mohammad Hazaei.

    Police inspecting what was left of the abandoned house found a number of other explosive devices that had been assembled.

    Quds force operatives? Four Lions wannabes? Time will tell.

    Posted by Lone Ranger 2012-02-14 10:36

  2. Lord of the Fleas
    Posted February 14, 2012 at 9:26 am |

    (Interesting little story, mojo. ‘Tis true – our greatest asset is the terrorists’ own stoopidity and incompetence.)

    Politicians have expanded the safety net …

    Safety net? Or hammock?

    Or, more likely, a snare with no easy escape …..

  3. TheOldMan
    Posted February 14, 2012 at 9:56 am |

    The wife of a friend of mine stormed into the local school office demanding that their children get subsidized (free?) lunches. The school agreed probably just to get her out of there. Their house is appraised at 1.6MM, they own two BMWs and a Land Rover, a boat, etc… Yes I would say that tax bribe money is flowing to the wrong people.

  4. snap-e-tom
    Posted February 14, 2012 at 1:19 pm |

    When the takers can out-vote the makers, the fall will begin.

  5. dick, not quite dead white guy
    Posted February 14, 2012 at 1:30 pm |

    Greece – coming to a theater near you this summer.

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