The very first entitlement program in American history was to care for the wounded soldiers and widows of the Revolutionary War. If you look at the current federal budget and programs, it's clear, entitlements have grown over the centuries. We wondered how it all got out of hand, so we talked with author John Cogan, about the High Cost of Good Intentions.
Scott: Do you think people would be surprised to know, a) how big the problem has gotten and b) that there doesn't seem to be a great solution on the horizon?
John Cogan: It's a gradual process that takes place over many, many years.
Scott: Good intentions?
John Cogan: Good intentions, So we start with a group that everyone agrees is very, very worthy. And then the people that are just outside the eligibility circle, well they're nearly as worthy.
Scott: How badly has it ballooned?
John Cogan: In 2016, the last year from which we have data, 54 percent of all US households were receiving benefits from at least one federal entitlement program.
Scott: More than half of American households were getting some sort of entitlement?
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