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Igel

(35,191 posts)
20. I can't let one statement stand.
Sun Oct 8, 2017, 02:06 PM
Oct 2017

"The US spends $600 billion a year on the military. That is over half the federal budget. "

In 2016 the military got 16% of the overall budget. Medicare/health, 27%. Social security and unemployment, 33%.

It's like the cuttlefish video where the narrator says that the cuttlefish's brain is larger than its entire body, including the brain. If 16% is over half, then the 33% spent on social security is more than the entire budget including social security ... and we haven't even considered health spending.

There's a discretionary budget that's part of the overall budget. In that portion of the budget, the military got 54%, but Social Security only got 3% or around $31 billion.

Note that $1,370 billion spent on Social Security/unemployment, not $31 billion. The $1,100 billion spent on health is still real money. And both are separately much larger than the $625 billion spent on the military. (Which also includes health and welfare spending, as well as science/research.) We need to keep clear the distinction between discretionary and total US budgets otherwise we use confusion not just as a tool against enemies but as a tool against ourselves. (I'll leave aside the idea of confusion as a licit tool for use in domestic political arguments in a free and fair society.)

In the discretionary budget the military is #3. #4 is national debt interest, #5 is veteran's benefits (arguably more social benefits, just to a select group, and largely not for wartime injuries). #6 is food and agriculture. I'm not sure if the interest on the debt is just external debt interest or also internal interest, say to the SSA.

But remember, if a cuttlefish approaches your face, cover your nose.

Secret greeny2323 Oct 2017 #1
Maybe American soldiers too. onecaliberal Oct 2017 #3
Republican voters dream about shooting Soldiers? Baconator Oct 2017 #4
Who do you think they're worried about taking their guns. onecaliberal Oct 2017 #5
What? Baconator Oct 2017 #7
They are worried about the government taking their guns. They hate the government. onecaliberal Oct 2017 #8
I'm just trying to determine where you think American Soldiers fit into this... Baconator Oct 2017 #11
They'll be fighting the military. It's not rocket science. onecaliberal Oct 2017 #17
They'd love to smoke one of us legally. HughBeaumont Oct 2017 #15
$$$ Aristus Oct 2017 #2
Fear NRaleighLiberal Oct 2017 #6
We have to face reality. We live in a violent country. Our leaders do not care about us. Irish_Dem Oct 2017 #9
I agree with you wholeheartedly. onecaliberal Oct 2017 #10
I can't let one statement stand. Igel Oct 2017 #20
2017 US budget: military spending 53%, non-military 47%. Irish_Dem Oct 2017 #23
Blame the military and those who volunteer, thereby pushing the narrative of aggression Not Ruth Oct 2017 #12
Maybe the Roots were in the 1950s yuiyoshida Oct 2017 #13
America has always been violent especially toward "underdog" groups. Willie Pep Oct 2017 #14
It's connected, and has to do with the darker side of human (but, frankly, moreso the male) ego renegade000 Oct 2017 #16
It became that way once the NRA was hijacked......... Historic NY Oct 2017 #18
The NRA changed radically in May 1977 at the annual meeting. MicaelS Oct 2017 #22
There's no money in living at peace. lpbk2713 Oct 2017 #19
Life is for women and other weaklings, they think. Orsino Oct 2017 #21
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