Due to today’s economy, more and more Americans are forced into financial strain causing to rely heavily on government benefits in order to make it day to day. This article provides a great deal of insight into the financial problems that Americans are faced with daily. Some benefits explained in the article that Americans have to rely on include unemployment benefits, social security, subsidized housing, and other benefits provided by the government (Murray, 2010). The biggest concern with what some deem as “handouts” is the debt incurred by the government and the financial strain that will be placed on taxpayers to relieve America of the debt.
The article outlines government assistance funding beginning with the New Deal that was implemented by President Franklin Roosevelt. The offer of benefits that many Americans are able to thrive on dates back to the 1930s. Since the implementation of such plans, the government has incurred a great deal of debt and such debt has caused financial strain on taxpayers who are faced with struggling to survive during a recession. Many Americans are forced out of the labor market due to layoffs, businesses not being able to thrive during difficult times, etc. These individuals have no other choice but to rely on such benefits in order to survive. “The unemployment rate is the most widely reported measure of the nation’s economic health” (McHearn, 114). This only points out that many are willing and desperate for employment, but for various reasons are unsuccessful at finding a job.
Americans are fortunate to have available assistance during the tough times. Such assistance has been around for years to assist with healthcare for the elderly, tuition assistance for college students, and income for the unemployed. There are many different views towards government spending, many of which criticize it to a certain degree. Many taxpayers question the logics of the government’s spending habits instead of creating more jobs so that the Americans can work and have to rely so heavily on government funding. In essence, this will strengthen the economy. Many feel that such funding is abused by many not helping the issue of unemployment. One such argument as presented in the article was from a real-estate developer who felt that many are “gaming the system” (Murray, 4).
The government has implemented many plans to assist the Americans in need in regards to healthcare, housing, finances, etc. The greatest concern as pointed out in the article is the method in which the economy will continue to thrive with the constant spending. More action need to be taken to build up the economy and can begin with creating more jobs for the American people. Otherwise, constant spending can end up causing the United States to become a third world country.
Works Cited
McHearn, William. Econ Macro 2. Ohio: South Western Cengage Learning, 2010.
Murray, Sara. “Obstacle to Deficit Cutting: A nation on Entitlements.” The Wall Street Journal. September 2010.
Cited: McHearn, William. Econ Macro 2. Ohio: South Western Cengage Learning, 2010. Murray, Sara. “Obstacle to Deficit Cutting: A nation on Entitlements.” The Wall Street Journal. September 2010.
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