From Forbes:
[T]hree-quarters of all state economic development subsidies
went to just 965 corporations since the beginning of the study in 1976.
The Fortune 500 corporations alone accounted for more than 16,000 subsidy awards, worth $63 billion – mostly in the form of tax breaks. Think about that. The largest, wealthiest, most powerful
organizations in the world are on the public dole. Where is the outrage?
Back when I was young, people went into a frenzy at the thought of some
unemployed person using food stamps to buy liquor or cigarettes. Ronald
Reagan famously campaigned against welfare queens. The right has always
been obsessed with moochers. But Boeing receives $13 billion in
government handouts and everyone yawns, when conservatives should be
grabbing their pitchforks.
According to Good Jobs First, there are 514 economic
development programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. More
than 245,000 awards have been granted under those programs. I ask
again, where is the outrage? The system is antithetical to the idea of
free markets. A quarter of a million times, state governments decided
what is best for producers and consumers.
Where Is The Outrage Over Corporate Welfare?
I think that the reason for the weak outrage against corporate welfare is our pride in our capitalist system. Although we hate to think that those on the top are further cementing their spots as some of the richest individuals, we respect them because they have obviously utilized the system in a way that was effective. Furthermore, we love the idea that anyone can become rich in our system through hard work and some intelligence (and some luck too). Therefore, when we respect those at the top (while envying their position), we have to redirect our blame for our lack of upward mobility on someone else. Thus, it’s easier to blame those on the bottom. It’s easy to blame them because we place these people in a stereotype in which they are not hardworking are smart. Since this qualities go against are ideal of an American capitalist, we continue to blame them rather than corporations.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think the average American realizes how much benefits corporations receive. They know it's big, but I don't think they actually know the numbers.