Federal budget for 2000: $1.8 trillion. Federal budget for 2011: $3.8 trillion

[Rage for Order]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget

We'll say Iraq and Afghanistan are $250 billion a year, and keeping up with inflation is another $250 billion from 2000 - 2011. What are we spending the other $1.5 trillion on? Is there hope for a balanced budget on the horizon? I can't see a light at the end of this tunnel.

Total outlays in recent budget submissions

* 2012 United States federal budget - $3.7 trillion (submitted 2011 by President Obama)
* 2011 United States federal budget - $3.8 trillion (submitted 2010 by President Obama)
* 2010 United States federal budget - $3.6 trillion (submitted 2009 by President Obama)
* 2009 United States federal budget - $3.1 trillion (submitted 2008 by President Bush)
* 2008 United States federal budget - $2.9 trillion (submitted 2007 by President Bush)
* 2007 United States federal budget - $2.8 trillion (submitted 2006 by President Bush)
* 2006 United States federal budget - $2.7 trillion (submitted 2005 by President Bush)
* 2005 United States federal budget - $2.4 trillion (submitted 2004 by President Bush)
* 2004 United States federal budget - $2.3 trillion (submitted 2003 by President Bush)
* 2003 United States federal budget - $2.2 trillion (submitted 2002 by President Bush)
* 2002 United States federal budget - $2.0 trillion (submitted 2001 by President Bush)
* 2001 United States federal budget - $1.9 trillion (submitted 2000 by President Clinton)
* 2000 United States federal budget - $1.8 trillion (submitted 1999 by President Clinton)
* 1999 United States federal budget - $1.7 trillion (submitted 1998 by President Clinton)
* 1998 United States federal budget - $1.7 trillion (submitted 1997 by President Clinton)
* 1997 United States federal budget - $1.6 trillion (submitted 1996 by President Clinton)
* 1996 United States federal budget - $1.6 trillion (submitted 1995 by President Clinton)

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Did you count the interest on the national debt???

All that money that we pay to people who hold the Treasury bonds?
They do want to be paid their interest, ya know.

[lonestarnot]

3. People. Hecho en China.

[Rage for Order]

4. Good point. Here you go:

Interest on the debt in 2000 was $362 billion. In 2010 it was $414 billion

http://treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm

Available Historical Data Fiscal Year End

2010 $413,954,825,362.17
2009 $383,071,060,815.42
2008 $451,154,049,950.63
2007 $429,977,998,108.20
2006 $405,872,109,315.83
2005 $352,350,252,507.90
2004 $321,566,323,971.29
2003 $318,148,529,151.51
2002 $332,536,958,599.42
2001 $359,507,635,242.41
2000 $361,997,734,302.36

[KurtNYC]

2. when you adjust for inflation it isn't as bad as I thought

growth wise.

And you don't see a blip there for the start of the Afghan or Iraq war, just steady growth.

[BzaDem]

5. Adjust for inflation, and higher social welfare spending that occurs in all recessions

and it won't look as abnormal.

[Rage for Order]

6. So when do we cut social welfare spending back to pre-recession levels...

And end the wars...all 3 of them now.

Also, weren't we told there was no inflation for a couple of years, hence the reason for no COLAs on social security payments?

[Bigmack]

7. Two words....

Revenue enhancement.

Three words... tax the rich.

See.. that wasn't so hard.

[revolutionnow45]

8. Homeland Security is HUGE!

This is one we need to keep hitting the republicans with- HUGE BIG GOVERNMENT Department of Homeland Security created to illegally spy on americans, x-ray you and grope your granny at the airport.

It is absurd.

The hypocritical Republicans need to be Hit hard with the reality of this, hit hard and often.

Seriously, if they want to cut the budget, end this entire illegal/unconstitutional department that Bush started.