According to a 2011 Congressional Budget Office study, the share of government benefits going to the bottom fifth of Americans has declined from 54 percent in 1979 to 36 percent in 2007. According to the conservative Tax Foundation, in 2010, 60 percent of Americans were receiving more in government benefits than they paid in taxes. (Of course, many of those people paid higher taxes in subsequent years.)
a. Other than aid to those who are poor, disabled and/or aged, what government benefit programs are you aware of that provide support to working and middle-class Americans?
b. Do you think it is “fair” that more than half of Americans receive more in government benefits than they pay in taxes? Explain.