Today the conservative Heritage Foundation released its 2010 version of the Index of Dependence on Government. In a word, YIKES!

Americans’ dependence on government grew by 13.6% in 2009. That’s the biggest increase since 1976 and the fifth largest going back to 1962, when Heritage began tracking dependence.

The index measures federal government programs that can crowd out or constrain private sector or local government alternatives. It comprises programs in five broad categories: housing; health care and welfare; retirement; higher education; and rural and agricultural services. For a more extended discussion of how the index is constructed and the reasoning behind it, go here.

According to William Beach, director of Heritage’s Center for Data Analysis, it is tempting to attribute the increased dependency on the sharp recession, which increased jobless and Medicaid rolls.

But he adds that policy changes also can have a big impact. Thus, new programs under the Obama administration aimed at helping people facing foreclosure boost the index. So did the Medicare drug benefit created during the Bush administration.

The latest index does not include the massive ObamaCare program, which doesn’t really kick in until 2014. That, along with massive baby boomer retirements over the next few decades, means government dependency is going to keep surging in the coming years.

“We are on the eve of a tsunami of growth in these programs like we’ve never seen,” Beach said. “The 13% to 14% increase we’re recording for this past year will look small as we look back 10 years from now.”

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Because I'm an American  - Concerned Conservative   |06-29-2010 10:51:48 Some of us, myself included are doing what ever we can to surivive through November's election, but in order to do so we have no choice but to seek help. Unfortunately government dependency is our only choice at these times. What would you suggest we do as we struggle to preserve our credit ratings, save our homes and keep our families together? I asked this in all seriousness for I'm at a point I know of no where else to turn- and that is exactly what the current government wants. You guys are extremely smart- please give us some suggestions. Reply 0   0

fostercool  - Loan Modification   |06-29-2010 03:22:18 Mortgage Loan Modification is the only solution to save your home and stop foreclosure. Some 650,000 troubled borrowers have been put into trial loan modifications under the president's foreclosure rescue plan, the Treasury Department said Tuesday. That number represents only 20% of eligible homeowners. Mortgage Home Modification Program is the solution to save your house and stop foreclosure process Use this free tool to see if you qualify for loan modification http://bit.ly/b8C0iS Reply 0   3

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