Just heard an interesting breakdown on where ...

http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/102817/How-Your-Tax-Dollars-Are-Spent

Found this new story.

This is federal spending:

Some interesting things to think of though.  Remember schools are mostly funded from state and local sources not federal.

Military spending also includes the salaries of all in uniform

Some other things about military spending

You might think a fifth of the federal government's total spending is a lot to put into defense. But in comparison to some earlier periods in our country's history, it's actually a smaller share. During President Ronald Reagan's defense buildup, the military claimed 26 percent of the budget. And at the height of the Vietnam War in 1968, 46 cents of every tax dollar Americans paid was for defense.

Of the remaining discretionary spending, the Department of Homeland Security claims about 1.5 percent of the budget, or $43 billion. Foreign aid spending, though it raises the ire of many taxpayers, accounts for just half of one percent and is likely to be reduced by Congress even further.

Also:

Next year, the deficit will run about $300 billion. Coincidentally, that's just about the same amount that the government figures it's being stiffed by individuals and companies who don't pay all the taxes they owe, either by intent or by error.

True enough, Steve.  But it's not so much the amount of military spending that bugs me - it's the fact that education always seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Who do the "powers that be" think is going to be running the show in another 20/25 years?

Joyce

This may make me sounds like a money-hound (but looking at a 120,000K debt in the next two years from school, I think I have a right to be) but the large amount of my tax dollars going "to the needy" bothers me. Who decides who is needy? A severely down on her luck single mom, sure. But some lazy kid claiming unemployment because they spent their money on dope, or someone who is living off welfare with no plans to get a job (and oh yes, there are quite a number of those) Shouldn't I *choose* how much of my money I want to donate my money to the "needy"? But then again, I tend to lean towards the Darwinian logic side.  It isn't my responsibility to pull others up by their bootstraps when they won't to it themselves (not all, but many) and basically are drains on society and evolutionary dead-ends.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

True enough, Steve.  But it's not so much the amount of military spending that bugs me - it's the fact that education always seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Who do the "powers that be" think is going to be running the show in another 20/25 years?

Joyce

The rich that can afford to pay for good schools?  Who then can afford to attend college?  Who then can find the high paying jobs?  Who then rise to the 1% that holds most of the money in the US?  Seems like a pretty good way to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. 

As someone else said, schools receive most of their funding on state and local levels, and not at the federal level. This is why the schools in rich areas are usually better than the ones in poor areas not too far from them. I doubt it's ever going to change, because the rich are more likely to vote than are the poor (actually, it's education that correlates highest with voting, but who's most likely to be educated?) When people with lower incomes start voting more, this might change.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

our tax dollars are really going.  This was  just on the 5:00 p.m. news - out of every $1.00 we pay in taxes, $0.42 is going to the military, $0.22 is going to health care and a whopping $0.04 is going to education. Some of  them I forgot, but those three stuck in my mind. It kind of made me think that if that trend continues for eduation, it won't really matter what we're throwing at the military or any place else.  In another generation or so there won't be anyone left who's bright enough to know what's going on or to function anyway.

Joyce

That's an interesting breakdown but it's not at all true.

All of our tax dollars go to the Federal Reserve Bank to pay off our nations debt to a semi-private corporation.  Anyone that tells you anything different is not fully aware of our monetary system, nor what tax revenues go towards. 

griffinej5

As someone else said, schools receive most of their funding on state and local levels, and not at the federal level.

As it should be.  And there are a lot of interesting studies out there that show how increased spending in government schools has little to no correlation to improvement in student test scores (ie-more money does NOT equal better education).  I wish the federal government would get rid of the department of education and put complete control back to the states/local governments.  If we've learned nothing else about the federal government, it is that it is completely incompetent in running programs.  Why leave the most important thing...education of our children...up to an organization that can't seem to manage much else of anything right?

Hmmm...Steve...I find it hard to believe only 6% is spent on pork projects (I gather that is what "Other" refers to).  And it bothers me, too, that the largest lump is social security.  This money is not being spent on actual social security.  If it was, the system wouldn't be on the brink of failure.  It is reallocated to other areas.  And don't get me started on aid to the needy.  That translates to welfare programs, which has gotten way out of control and is being given to many more people than actually need it.

aerial1313

Hmmm...Steve...I find it hard to believe only 6% is spent on pork projects (I gather that is what "Other" refers to). 

You know I have heard before about the pork projects (eaqrmarks) before being a huge number but when you compare it to the total budget it isn't really large.  Just shows you how big the budget is.

aerial1313

And it bothers me, too, that the largest lump is social security.  This money is not being spent on actual social security.  If it was, the system wouldn't be on the brink of failure. 

I have heard other places that is accurate.  The 2 largest programs the government run are SS and welfare.  The SS system is in real trouble because for decades the government has borrowed against the SS fund to pay for other government programs, it's a great way to provide more funding for new programs with raising taxes and the national debt.  The government never has paid back any of that money.  Always worked great as long as there were many more people paying into the system than those receiving benefits.  Well now with the Baby Boomers starting to retire the swing is that there are going to be more people receiving benefits than those paying in.  There isn't enough money set aside to handle that situation.

timsdat

I have heard other places that is accurate.  The 2 largest programs the government run are SS and welfare.  The SS system is in real trouble because for decades the government has borrowed against the SS fund to pay for other government programs, it's a great way to provide more funding for new programs with raising taxes and the national debt.  The government never has paid back any of that money.  Always worked great as long as there were many more people paying into the system than those receiving benefits.  Well now with the Baby Boomers starting to retire the swing is that there are going to be more people receiving benefits than those paying in.  There isn't enough money set aside to handle that situation.

You are 100% correct.  There is no "social security trust fund" as politicians would like everyone to believe exists.  I will be 31 in two days.  I'll likely never see a penny of the money the government has stolen from my paychecks for Social Security (that's right...stolen.  It is money I earned that is taken from me against my will).  As for welfare, it probably started out an honorable idea, and some people realistically need the assistance, but it has gotten so out of hand, with so many people abusing the system, that it has simply become one massive income redistribution program.

tashakota

fuzzy_dogs_mom

True enough, Steve.  But it's not so much the amount of military spending that bugs me - it's the fact that education always seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Who do the "powers that be" think is going to be running the show in another 20/25 years?

Joyce

 

The rich that can afford to pay for good schools?  Who then can afford to attend college?  Who then can find the high paying jobs?  Who then rise to the 1% that holds most of the money in the US?  Seems like a pretty good way to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. 

Omg......anybody can go to college ......student loans.....some loans don't even have to be paid back until 6 months after graduation....

snownose

tashakota

fuzzy_dogs_mom

True enough, Steve.  But it's not so much the amount of military spending that bugs me - it's the fact that education always seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Who do the "powers that be" think is going to be running the show in another 20/25 years?

Joyce

 

The rich that can afford to pay for good schools?  Who then can afford to attend college?  Who then can find the high paying jobs?  Who then rise to the 1% that holds most of the money in the US?  Seems like a pretty good way to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. 

Omg......anybody can go to college ......student loans.....some loans don't even have to be paid back until 6 months after graduation....

Gosh, snownose, we agree on something? LOL.  You are right.  That's how I paid for college.  Everyone on federal loans gets an automatic 6 month deferment after graduation.  You can then apply for a 1-year deferment extension.  I did it, it was easy peasy!

Oh, and that top 1%?  Yeah.  They pay almost 40% of income taxes.  Seem fair to ya'll?

snownose

tashakota

fuzzy_dogs_mom

True enough, Steve.  But it's not so much the amount of military spending that bugs me - it's the fact that education always seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Who do the "powers that be" think is going to be running the show in another 20/25 years?

Joyce

 

The rich that can afford to pay for good schools?  Who then can afford to attend college?  Who then can find the high paying jobs?  Who then rise to the 1% that holds most of the money in the US?  Seems like a pretty good way to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. 

Omg......anybody can go to college ......student loans.....some loans don't even have to be paid back until 6 months after graduation....

That's right.  They can.  But if they don't have the desire to face the debt once they get out, they won't.  And only the educated will realize the benefits of facing that debt.  It's a vicious circle that starts with kids in grade school.  Not college.  The chicken or the egg, I guess.

Is it the kid that doesn't want to learn?  Or the teacher that can't teach?  Or the school that doesn't have the right materials for the teacher to teach?  Or the parents who don't encourage the child to study and learn?  Or the parent's lack of education or working multiple jobs to pay off debts and put food on the table, who are so busy they hardly see their kids?  Where does it start and how do we fix it? 

If every grade school was top notch, would it be better?

Or would making college education free to all be a better solution?  For some, maybe, but probably not for all.

The chicken or the egg?   

aerial1313

Gosh, snownose, we agree on something? LOL.  You are right.  That's how I paid for college.  Everyone on federal loans gets an automatic 6 month deferment after graduation.  You can then apply for a 1-year deferment extension.  I did it, it was easy peasy!

LOL.....you never know......

My cousin graduated from college 2 years ago.......he was very good friends with 5 guys before college.......out of the 6, one decided not to go to college, guy number two dropped out after 2 years.....the rest all graduated.......I was not aware at any point that the parents were rich parents....and all the guys who graduated ended up with school loans.......my cousin joined the Navy under the nuclear program and will serve for 8 years....and in return the Navy will pay off his loans.....

It has never been easier to go to college.....but ya gotta want to ......and put the work and effort into it...

snownose

It has never been easier to go to college.....but ya gotta want to ......and put the work and effort into it...

And honestly, those who don't want to go end up not finishing, rich or not.  When I was a senior in high school, future debt was not even a negative when deciding about college, because my desire to go to college was greater than my worry about paying off a debt 5 years down the road.  I'm 31 (well, in 2 days) and still paying.  It's just another bill.  Many states have programs to help those who may not be able to afford college but have that desire to further their education.  Check out Georgia's: http://www.dtae.org/hope.html.  I have a lot of friends who went to college on this.  It is funded by the Georgia State Lottery, NOT taxpayer money, and thousands of kids have gone to college on this scholarship without having to worry about paying back loans.

Oh, and FYI, federal student loans are pretty cheap.  My interest rate is locked in at 4%.  Four percent!!!!  I pay $160 a month.  Not too bad IMO.