The last US budget was roughly $6.75 trillion. Without going into whose sacred cow should or shouldn't be gored, where would you find this gov't fat? I ask because most Americans, conservative and liberal, are woefully ignorant about gov't spending. Roughly 76% of the budget goes to "mandatory" spending obligations, leaving a mere 24% that is discretionary.
Here's a breakdown:
Social Security 21%
Medicare, medicaid 25
Defense 13
Veterans 7
Economic security 6
Education 5
Transportation 2
Ag & nat resources 1
Science & med research 1
Law enforcement 1
International 1
Other 5
Here's your chance; tell us where we can cut, and how much, and importantly, why. I'll start with the generalization that it would usually be a low risk to reduce many areas by 10 to 15%. Congress should start by allowing Medicare & medicaid to negotiate drug prices and other fees like other nations' health plans do. And if Congress hadn't allowed so many violations of the anti-trust act, there would be more competition between defense industries, so defense acquisitions could be way cheaper. My guess is that there is more room in defense than any other category to reduce costs. Since I'm an old guy, I'm not keen on cutting my SS, having paid into it since 1965. Congress deserves a very black eye for mismanaging SS by mingling it with the general fund. So take a shot, Streamer, find that gov't fat that so many talk about, yet consistently fail to identify. Oh, and while you're at it, do show us how that balances out while dissolving the IRS and income tax. Please show your work.
Edited by Salmo g. (01/30/25 10:08 AM)
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