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A day before the McClatchy story ran, the Financial Times reported that the "demand for free medicines in the U.S. has increased sharply following the 2008 economic crisis."
Rich Sagall, creator of NeedyMeds.org, a clearinghouse that helps patients find free medication, told the Times that he is "receiving 14,000 inquiries a day, up from 10,000 in late 2008."
This is happening at a time when "pharmaceutical companies say they have expanded donations through 'patient assistance programs' by typically 15% to 25%."
The United States was once a nation of proudly independent people. But now Americans in large numbers think they deserve free access to the Web, no-cost college educations, and jobs they don't deserve and can't be fired from. They believe others should be responsible for their mortgages and feel they have a right to early, cushy retirements at someone else's expense.
This unsustainable condition is perpetuated by a federal tax code that is forcing a shrinking number of taxpayers to fund the government while removing a growing number of Americans from the income tax rolls.
According to the Tax Foundation, 60% of U.S. households were taking in more in benefits and services from government six years ago than they paid out in taxes. That will rise to 70% or more under President Obama's spending hikes.
At some point, there won't be enough independent and productive citizens to keep the freeloaders living in the luxury to which they've become accustomed. That won't be the end of America, but we'll be able to see it from there.
