The federal government spends twelve times more on the elderly than on children, yet 7 percent of the elderly are poor while almost a quarter of all younger Americans live in poverty. 20 percent of our children are living under the poverty line. By the year 2005, it is projected that one in three children in America will live in poverty. Rising health care costs are making basic care a luxury item. While every person over 65 is covered, one in eight children are without any protection at all.
Entitlements are the largest piece of our national budget pie.
Entitlements are all government programs for which we automatically pay out benefits like Social Security, Medicare, farm subsidies, some student loans, and veterans assistance. Entitlements were first established primarily as a means to help people out of poverty. Today, however, the largest chunk of entitlement spending goes to those who live above the poverty line. The Truth About Social Security America's Social Security system is in trouble. Any reduction in Social Security benefits will hurt poor Americans.