Has anyone ever played the National Budget Simulation?

[dorktv]

http://www.nathannewman.org/nbs/ It is quite fun.

[Robeson]

1. Interesting, by reducing the military budget, and reducing the budget....

...for Iraq and Afghanistan, I was able to increase all social programs, and still reduce the deficit by $269 billion. Gosh, so we could actually raise benefits to Americans, AND REDUCE military spending at the same time, while cutting the deficit. Who'd of thunk?

[dorktv]

4. I cut the procurement budget and that freed up quite a bit of cash.

And then I was able to fully fund all the other programs we Ds like.

Why not make the military industrial complex have to save some money?

[catbert836]

2. I cut the deficit by $397.89 billion

W00T!

[dorktv]

3. Hi five! You rock!

[Nicole]

5. I have cut the deficit by $502.59 billion.

Budget Totals
Old budget was $3747.36 billion
($2672.527 billion in spending, $1074.833 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).

New budget is $3244.77 billion
($2551.73 billion in spending, $693.04 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).
You have cut the deficit by $502.59 billion.
Your new deficit is $-101.58 billion.

Oops!
You've cut so much that the federal budget now contains a substantial surplus. Many economists warn that this budget may help induce or prolong a recession, and ordinary citizens demand a refund. You might want to cut taxes or raise spending.

We are so screwed!!!!!!!:scared:

[Robeson]

6. Why do you hate the Military Industrial Complex? Uh, I mean....

...America?....

[Nicole]

8. I'm bad!

Please don't tell anyone!

[bicentennial_baby]

7. I have cut the deficit by $154.41 billion

Budget Totals
Old budget was $3747.36 billion
($2672.527 billion in spending, $1074.833 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).

New budget is $3592.95 billion
($2742.7 billion in spending, $850.25 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).
You have cut the deficit by $154.41 billion.
Your new deficit is $246.59 billion.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spending ($2742.7 billion: increased $70.17 billion)

$223.05 billion .... Military Spending
Cut $223.05 bil. from base of $446.105 bil.(-50%)
$67.11 billion ..... Iraq War and Afghanistan Operations
Cut $44.73 bil. from base of $111.851 bil.(-40%)
$150.13 billion .... Veterans & Retired Military Pensions and Services
Increased $34.65 bil. from base of $115.482 bil.( 30%)
$25.27 billion ..... International Affairs
Cut $6.31 bil. from base of $31.590 bil.(-20%)
$31.16 billion ..... General Science, Space, and Technology
Increased $7.19 bil. from base of $23.967 bil.( 30%)
$3.18 billion ...... Non-Defense Energy Spending
Increased $1.06 bil. from base of $2.121 bil.( 50%)
$40.51 billion ..... Natural Resources and Environment
Increased $9.35 bil. from base of $31.163 bil.( 30%)
$23.42 billion ..... Agriculture
Cut $2.59 bil. from base of $26.020 bil.(-10%)
$84.81 billion ..... Transportation
Increased $14.14 bil. from base of $70.673 bil.( 20%)
$24.83 billion ..... Community and Regional Development
Increased $5.73 bil. from base of $19.097 bil.( 30%)
$96.1 billion ...... Education
Increased $32.03 bil. from base of $64.068 bil.( 50%)
$47.81 billion ..... Training, Labor and Unemployment Programs (No Change)
$329.32 billion .... Non-Medicare Health Spending
Increased $76 bil. from base of $253.320 bil.( 30%)
$414.9 billion ..... Medicare
Increased $69.15 bil. from base of $345.746 bil.( 20%)
$79.13 billion ..... Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded)
Increased $7.19 bil. from base of $71.940 bil.( 10%)
$310.16 billion .... Aid to Low-Income Families
Increased $103.39 bil. from base of $206.773 bil.( 50%)
$25.62 billion ..... General Family Support (No Change)
$7.5 billion ....... Commerce and Housing Loan Programs
Increased $0.68 bil. from base of $6.816 bil.( 10%)
$544.82 billion .... Social Security (No Change)
$25.86 billion ..... Administration of Justice
Cut $17.23 bil. from base of $43.099 bil.(-40%)
$21.3 billion ...... General Government Administration
Increased $3.55 bil. from base of $17.754 bil.( 20%)
$211.08 billion .... Net Interest (No Change)
$-44.37 billion .... Undistributed Offsetting Receipts and Allowance (No Change)

Tax Expenditures ($850.25 billion: cut $224.57 billion)

$0 billion ......... 2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts
Cut $294.59 bil. from base of $294.6 bil.(-100%)
$36.22 billion ..... Corporate Tax Breaks
Cut $24.13 bil. from base of $60.360 bil.(-40%)
$86.71 billion ..... Personal Business and Investment Benefits (No Change)
$185.32 billion .... Pension and Retirement Tax Benefits
Increased $16.85 bil. from base of $168.470 bil.( 10%)
$169.19 billion .... Health Insurance Tax Benefits
Increased $28.2 bil. from base of $140.990 bil.( 20%)
$212.82 billion .... Housing Tax Benefits
Increased $49.11 bil. from base of $163.710 bil.( 30%)
$159.99 billion .... Other Individual Deductions and Expenditures (No Change)

[dorktv]

9. cool for you but you should cut um...I have no idea.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. I'm a big spender...

I cut a bunch, but I love to give, give, give...Hence why I'm not a politician...hehe, I'm an Econ major! :rofl:

[dorktv]

11. Remember to add in some reality. Personally I cut the stupid tax credit

for health insurance. All part of my plan to get nationalized health insurance.

[Crabby Appleton]

12. me too, big spender

You have increased the deficit by $729.85 billion.
Your new deficit is $1130.85 billion.

[Lasher]

13. The Social Security Game

Might as well play the Social Security game while you're at it. I almost totally eradicated the future shortfall just by removing the cap on income that is subject to Social Security taxes.

http://www.actuary.org/socsec.asp

I played the National Budget Simulation too. I eliminated the cost of the Iraq war and Afghanistan operations costs, and also the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts:

New budget is $3340.93 billion
($2560.7 billion in spending, $780.23 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).

You have cut the deficit by $406.43 billion.
Your new deficit is $-5.42 billion.

The deficit is all Junior's fault. He and his cronies are the only fiscal problem we have.

[dorktv]

14. "it's not that simple." yes it is.

93% removal of the problem by eliminating the cap. Gee...hmmm...simple to do.

[Lasher]

15. The complications are contrived.

Can't have all those blue hairs and disabled folks figuring out what they're really up to.

[dorktv]

16. I did the privatization one and only 50% of the problem was solved.

Which just goes to show: Republicans cannot be trusted with money, the military, the government...maybe some chickens?