Read the following. A former official with the U. S. Treasury, Peter Fisher, once called the U. S. government “a gigantic insurance company.” This is because more than two-thirds of federal government spending goes toward programs set up to protect people from losses. The government provides a payment program for workers and in return promises to help pay for certain losses during some kinds of emergencies. In the United States, workers pay the federal government a certain percent of taxes, and the money is put into giant funds. The citizens can then turn to these programs for financial help when it is needed.

Source: Pew Research Center’s FACTANK, “What does the federal government spend your tax dollars on? Social insurance programs, mostly,” by Drew DeSilver (4/4/2017)

Explain how the federal government could be characterized as offering forms of “insurance.” Introduce the subject. Make two points. Conclude. Your response should be between 75 and 150 words.

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