Interactive, very detailed flash chart of Obama's proposed budget, broken down

[irishScott]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/13/us/politics/2013-budget-proposal-graphic.html?hp

I especially appreciated the "Department Totals" view. Really shows the drain that Social Security and Medicare currently are.

 

[MotF Bane]

SS, Medicare, and interest on the ever increasing debt are killers.

 

[Craig234]

Household expenses could save a lot if they stop buying food and medicine and shelter.

Social Security is NOT a drain. Paying back the Reagan-started borrowing out of it is.

 

[a777pilot]

I found at least $1 trillion in areas that I would cut and I didn't even try hard. It was east to find areas to cut and money to save.

Too bad and very sad we are "lead" by fools.

 

[Patranus]

LOL - 997% increases in "allowances - mandatory spending"
No wonder this country is bankrupt.

God, just go back to 2006 spending levels already!

LOL - 8% increase in the Internet Revenue Service and then another line item for 4.7% increase in...wait for it.....Internal Revenue Service.

 

[Patranus]

Social Security is NOT a drain. Paying back the Reagan-started borrowing out of it is.

Sure it is, you are giving the federal government an interest free loan.
It takes TONS of money out of the economy that could be better invested by the individual.

 

[Patranus]

I think its funny how the classify some of these programs as "mandatory" like "Food and Nutrition Services" or "Administration for Children and Families".

LOL.

 

[Patranus]

100 billion for the "Office of Personal Management" - ug.

 

[a777pilot]

The only item that is mandatory is Defense.

 

[manimal]

You realize giving the IRS more money allows them to collect more money and thus help balance the books?

 

[a777pilot]

You realize giving the IRS more money allows them to collect more money and thus help balance the books?

No it does not.

 

[werepossum]

The only item that is mandatory is Defense.

Oddly enough, most of Defense is discretionary spending, the big exceptions being military personnel contractual costs.

Thanks, Scott, that's pretty neat. Looking at all the things marked "mandatory" shows us just how screwed we are.

 

[Patranus]

How about the $2 billion in "mandatory" spending for the Administration on Aging. LOL.

 

[MotF Bane]

You realize giving the IRS more money allows them to collect more money and thus help balance the books?

Giving the IRS more money just means the Congresscritters will think they can spend more.

 

[irishScott]

Household expenses could save a lot if they stop buying food and medicine and shelter.

Social Security is NOT a drain. Paying back the Reagan-started borrowing out of it is.

So Social Security is as efficient as it can get and no meaningful reform can be done? I don't think so Craig.

 

[PeshakJang]

No sane person can look at this and not yearn for the "responsible" deficits of the Bush years.

 

[shadow9d9]

Cut 600 billion from the "bullying the world" budget.

Helping our own people= bad.

Spending over 4x the military budget of china while having 1/3 the people and being surrounded by 2 huge oceans, canada, and mexico= essential!

 

[woolfe9999]

How about the $2 billion in "mandatory" spending for the Administration on Aging. LOL.

Do you even know what mandatory spending is? By definition the spending is mandated by laws passed mostly under other Congresses, other administrations. It can't be changed unless other laws are passed. It cannot be altered in a budget.

Let me know when we have the votes in Congress to change all these mandatory spending laws.

Truth is, most of the discretionary spending is being cut in this budget. That's the only thing that can really be addressed with a budget like this.

Oh, and thanks to the OP for linking this. It's a nice visual aid.

 

[Patranus]

Do you even know what mandatory spending is? By definition the spending is mandated by laws passed mostly under other Congresses, other administrations. It can't be changed unless other laws are passed. It cannot be altered in a budget.

And?

Purpose a budget and accompanying law to address the issue instead of sitting on your hands only adding to the problem.
That is unless you are a coward and don't have the balls to address the real issues.

 

[rudder]

Social Security is NOT a drain. Paying back the Reagan-started borrowing out of it is.

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/TRSUM/index.html

Sure sounds like a drain to me. Of course it won't be a drain when benefits are cut and taxes are raised.

 

[thraashman]

Do you even know what mandatory spending is? By definition the spending is mandated by laws passed mostly under other Congresses, other administrations. It can't be changed unless other laws are passed. It cannot be altered in a budget.

Let me know when we have the votes in Congress to change all these mandatory spending laws.

Truth is, most of the discretionary spending is being cut in this budget. That's the only thing that can really be addressed with a budget like this.

Oh, and thanks to the OP for linking this. It's a nice visual aid.

woolfe, I'd recommend against expecting the person you're addressing to say anything that rings close to true or intelligent considering who it is.

 

[Genx87]

Cut 600 billion from the "bullying the world" budget.

Helping our own people= bad.

Spending over 4x the military budget of china while having 1/3 the people and being surrounded by 2 huge oceans, canada, and mexico= essential!

We spend probably 10x on social spending compared to china with 1/3rd the population. Lets cut it all.

 

[Patranus]

woolfe, I'd recommend against expecting the person you're addressing to say anything that rings close to true or intelligent considering who it is.

So what is the issue with purposing a budget with accompanying legislation to address these issues?

 

[K1052]

We spend probably 10x on social spending compared to china with 1/3rd the population. Lets cut it all.

Because our goal is to be like China?

 

[K1052]

So what is the issue with purposing a budget with accompanying legislation to address these issues?

You know it would be fantastic if we had some sort of national legislative body elected on a regular schedule who's sole purpose was to craft, debate, and vote on legislation on behalf of the people and that was ultimately responsible to those very citizens.

But what would we possibly call it? :hmm: