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FBN’s Lou Dobbs on the growing number of Americans on food stamps and disability and its impact on the government.
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As we watch -- daily Washington spends seemingly out of control.
It's hard to believe -- even in some cases to imagine that once things could get done in Washington DC.
And by a democratic president by the way it was almost two decades ago.
The President Bill Clinton declared that the era of big government had ended.
The Clinton administration.
Reform.
Two cut welfare rolls was dramatic.
Cutting those well for our roles from former.
-- point it's thank goodness four point six million.
-- In the 1996.
Cut from two to us.
Point.
One.
By 2002.
Is it and if that is not growth.
Dramatic I don't want -- we can you imagine.
Even suggesting in Washington DC right now that we're going to take half the problem.
And deal with -- and fix it and that shorter and order.
Those numbers by the way include everyone who participated and welfare programs over that period of time food stamps child care medical assistance.
Programs that help pay utility bills just as we have now.
But a decade later.
We're looking at some very different numbers and at an alarming prospect for the nation.
A report from the Congressional Budget Office confirms that we are more than ever in our history.
An entitlement nation.
Last year nearly 45.
Million America.
-- 45.
Million.
America.
It.
We're on -- stance of I mean it's just staggering human -- directives that -- That one -- seven Americans.
Is on food stamps.
And yet.
This is not the discussion.
That's a 7% increase from 2007.
-- and by the way.
There will be -- -- in those numbers anytime soon of the Congressional Budget Office is right in its projections it's not just food stamps either.
Disability claims are also continuing to rise even as the economy and -- According to -- -- -- data released this week they're now ten point eight million.
People.
In this country.
On disability.
And the real number.
Is.
That one half of those people.
Have signed up and have been approved for disability.
In the last three and a half years.
That is stunning.
In just the time that President Obama has taken office.
Who says that things have gotten better that the era of big government is over.
The massive entitlement culture and our country is measured in these big numbers.
Enable.
-- won't -- dollar signs eventually and under President Obama the national debt has exploded.
I think this is unbelievable from ten trillion dollars.
To almost sixteen.
Trillion dollars -- By the end of his term the national debt will -- risen by a staggering almost 70%.
70%.
And our federal government is related to spend three point seven trillion just this year three point seven -- That's almost up fourth.
One the fourth.
Of our GDP.
It's now going.
To -- out.
And all of its programs but we're back in 2002 the government was spending two trillion dollars.
GDP then well a percentage of GDP.
19%.
Our culture.
Has never been stronger more pervasive.
At least our culture of dependency.
And the words that were once powerfully descriptive of our people and our nation of fallen into disuse.
What all this amounts to is.
Dependence.
And the two words are won't write them because they don't wanna shocked -- But I'll just ask you this what is the last time you heard one of our political leaders one of our congressmen or senators have a president for example a candidate for any office talk about those simple simple words.
Independence.
And self -- -- Independence is self reliance founding values.
That summer trying to render absolutely politically -- Let's hope they don't succeed let's do better than no let's make sure they don't.
