I know the actual budget bit isn't quite the point. But just to note:
"And believe me, the war in Iraq and national security spending is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we spend on pet projects and simple interest on the national debt. {{{shudder}}}"
In the current yearly operating budget, total discretionary spending (as opposed to mandatory -- so the stuff we can control) is $1.13 trillion. Out of that, $656 billion is security funding. That's 58% of the discretionary budget. Hardly a drop in the bucket. And that does *not* include the amount spent to support the Iraq war, which by very conservative CBO estimates comes out to about $100 billion a year. (More average estimates tend to put the number at around $275 billion.) By comparison, interest on the debt was $244 billion. Definitely not trivial, but definitely not remotely close to security funding.
That Iraq war cost also does not include the skyrocketing cost of actually treating the chronic medical problems of returning veterans. That's rolled into the cost of the "social programs" that are supposedly sucking us dry money-wise.
Numbers are from the White House Office of Management and Budget's annual summary report.
If I recall correctly from the video, there are aspects of the national debt that aren't even calculated into the yearly budget such as emergency spending. I'm not so sure I trust every number I see because they all seem to be spun one way or another. I feel like I can trust Comptroller Walker to "tell me like it is," but I could be wrong too.
On the benefits for military personnel, I've been very concerned to see how poorly they are cared for. I'm not sure if the problem is that the government is tight fisted about it, or that there isn't significant amounts of competition involved in price and quality of treatment for Veterans. It just makes me wonder.
I mostly just ramble my thoughts on here especially when it comes to things that I don't entirely understand like government-stuff. So don't take me too terribly seriously.
"And believe me, the war in Iraq and national security spending is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we spend on pet projects and simple interest on the national debt. {{{shudder}}}"
In the current yearly operating budget, total discretionary spending (as opposed to mandatory -- so the stuff we can control) is $1.13 trillion. Out of that, $656 billion is security funding. That's 58% of the discretionary budget. Hardly a drop in the bucket. And that does *not* include the amount spent to support the Iraq war, which by very conservative CBO estimates comes out to about $100 billion a year. (More average estimates tend to put the number at around $275 billion.) By comparison, interest on the debt was $244 billion. Definitely not trivial, but definitely not remotely close to security funding.
That Iraq war cost also does not include the skyrocketing cost of actually treating the chronic medical problems of returning veterans. That's rolled into the cost of the "social programs" that are supposedly sucking us dry money-wise.
Numbers are from the White House Office of Management and Budget's annual summary report.
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If I recall correctly from the video, there are aspects of the national debt that aren't even calculated into the yearly budget such as emergency spending. I'm not so sure I trust every number I see because they all seem to be spun one way or another. I feel like I can trust Comptroller Walker to "tell me like it is," but I could be wrong too.
On the benefits for military personnel, I've been very concerned to see how poorly they are cared for. I'm not sure if the problem is that the government is tight fisted about it, or that there isn't significant amounts of competition involved in price and quality of treatment for Veterans. It just makes me wonder.
I mostly just ramble my thoughts on here especially when it comes to things that I don't entirely understand like government-stuff. So don't take me too terribly seriously.
Thanks again!
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