In case you are not yet convinced that we are screwed, here is some information that we’ve gathered on our tax system and our entitlement society.

• 60 percent of American households now get more in federal transfer income than they pay in all federal taxes. While it is not surprising that low income households receive more in transfer income than they pay in all federal taxes, it was surprising to learn that households in the middle quintile are now over that threshold. Indeed, in 2009, they got $2.14 in transfer income for every dollar they paid in federal taxes. (Tax Foundation)

• Households in the top quintile pay an average of $51,900 in total federal taxes but receive $10,700 in transfer spending. This means they receive 0.21 cents in transfers for every dollar they pay in federal taxes. (Tax Foundation)

• The bottom 60 percent of households now receive more in federal transfer income than they pay in total taxes and … it may not be long until 80 percent of Americans are net beneficiaries of transfer income. (Tax Foundation)

• Defenders of tax credits often say that while non-taxpayers many not pay income taxes, they do at least pay other taxes like Social Security payroll taxes (FICA).  However, it turns out that refundable tax credits have become so generous that their value now exceeds the payroll taxes paid by millions of taxpayers and their employers.  Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that in 2010, 23.1 million filers would receive more in refundable credits than their share in FICA taxes, while 15.5 million filers would get more back in refundable credits than both the employee and employer shares of FICA taxes. (Tax Foundation)

• Between 1992 and 2007, spending on food programs did not vary by more than a few billion dollars, after adjusting for inflation. But according to the Congressional Budget Office, spending on food programs rose from $57 billion in 2007 to $95 billion in 2010 (again, adjusted for inflation), an utterly unprecedented increase of 66 percent. (National Affairs)

• In 2011, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and other safety-net programs cost a combined $1.9 trillion, or 54% of the $3.6 trillion federal budget. (Daily Caller)

BOHICA!