How Government Spending Skyrocketed

Reader Comments

Back to blog

I don't know how many white folks I've seen fornicating with their neighbors and other white mens coming by all the time.

The have so many babies and when they grows up to HS age, why they act like whores too and spend time on Facebook and Twitter meeting up with other worthless crap.

Honest to me except for St Louis, Kansas City and Columbia all of Missouri is white trash.

I created both Black and White Trash so don't criticize one over the other, they're both there it's just your location.

My problem is with the ones who can't use the gray matter I gave them between their ears w/o an I-Pad, I-Phone, laptop or desktop.

And all the video game fools too...get a real life or I'll have to go all Sodom and Gommorah on you

JWH of IL 1:27PM March 07, 2011

just blame it on Obama, he did it all and was behind the scene when Reagan ruined this country.

goofy of OK 1:04PM February 27, 2011

Lets get this straight: I worked over 30+ years paying 7.2% of my salary with an equal 7.2% employer match into a Federal "Trust fund" so I could have a retirement from Social Security. Now you want to go back on the contract having the promise of my having financial support when I am old. The same thing is done with Medicare...I paid every year into that "Trust Fund" and now the Fed's spent the money, they want to cut back the benefits??? Perhaps so I can die early!!!!

This is absolute mis-management by the so called Federal management core. The folks who made these decisions should be paying the price. I am still working full time in my mid 70's AND also continue to pay a full portion into the Social Security Trust Fund AND Medicare WITHOUT any increase in benefits. I even lay $1000+ out every year from my "Trust Fund" payments as a "pre-payment whether I use the system or not!!! My first social security payments were in 1953 which I guess the Washington, DC political honchos immediately spent!!!

Divide out the numbers to show retirement benfit payments separate from survivor benefites, disability payments and other draining expenses. If Congress desires to have these benefits, make them a separate function, fund them and DO NOT confuse the system by finger pointing at us paid in retiree's. I paid my dues, now can I trust you to deliver the money you took from me over many years. Lets get the story straight and let every citizen be allowed to sue any Federal employee who attempts to steal our earned payments. I shall not hold my breath!!!!

Dr. Richard Ray Shreve of FL 9:02PM February 26, 2011

Too many people feel the government should ''take care of them.'' Fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid systems alone has been part of the cause, yet, not enough money is given to investigate, so the checks keep going out. I've seen generations of families who consider it their right to keep having children, collecting food stamps and welfare checks, living in government supported housing, which the working people pay for by increased taxes. There is no motivation for change among these groups of people, and why should there be when you can make more money selling drugs or even your food stamps. Also, I have not yet met a person receiving welfare who does not have a large flat screen TV, cable, cell phone, and smokes cigarettes! Yet, the government wants to cut funds to programs which investigate fraud and abuse, as well as police protection and jail/prison systems. Why do we never hear of cuts being made to the politicians' salaries as a way to ''balance the budget?''

seen it all of OH 4:34PM February 25, 2011

The stats about military increases are way off in the chart above.

It should read 400% increase. Actually more. 2.3 trillion dollars is completely unaccounted for. see the youtube of Rumsfeld's speach on 9/10/2001 !

That was BEFORE our 2 very questionable wars.

This is a CBS news repor, not an off the wall website.

Defense spending went from $300 billion to $700 billion from Clinton to Bush.

that is from 90s to 2005.

This is the sacred cow no one has the courage to discuss with honesty.

Darian L. Smith of NC 3:52PM February 16, 2011

How's George Soros doin these days? Billions ontop of Billions, How those oil rigs that were closed down in the Gulf doin for ole GEORGIE BOY in Brazil? Why don't you people talk about that ?

Vinnie of FL 6:19PM February 15, 2011

I just love how all this debt we now face is OUR job to suffer for when it was not US that benifitted from the robbery, but the rich and american Corpoacy, just look at this little video to explain how it works world wide, and now its comming to your town... enjoy.

http://www.truth-out.org/austerity-comes-america67747

rod of AL 11:28AM February 15, 2011

Although you have posted a sound logical argument, I have to point out that you do not have your facts straight; ergo you have come to an incorrect conclusion. The "wealthy" in this country pay more taxes than your low to middle class earners. This is due to the fact that taxes in this country are bracketed; Here is a link to an article that expains how it works:

http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm

Now if you couple this with the fact that most low to mid range earners receive most of their money back in the form of a tax return, due to deductions that are designed to reduce the burden on these low earners(I.E. earned income & other programs), you can quickly begin to see that the group of citizens dealing with the majority of the tax burden are the upper middle to high wage earners.

Now I know your thinking," That only addresses the federal tax, what about Social Security?" Lets take a closer look at how S.S. tax is calculated:

S.S. is calculated on a wage base, the table can be seen here:

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/77xx/doc7718/EffectiveTaxRates.pdf

The same data is contained below, But I find this table is easier to read:

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

As you can see, with the exception of a tax break effective 2011 for the highest wage earners, once again, the mid to high wage earners pay higher rates; & if you look at the maximum credit contribution column even the highest earners will still contribute more.

Now as much as my liberal friends hate to admit it, small to mid-size business drives this country's GDP; More than 50% of all non-farm GDP is earned by this group(as well as 97% of the jobs in this country

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/businessfinance/a/sbatopten.htm), and can you guess who owns these businesses? mid to high wage earners. Increasing taxes on this group & the companies they own only stifles economic growth by forcing business owners to play more conservatively with their capital.

As for the rest of the claims about legal, political & economic bias, please feel free to provide some documentation to support your claims & I will be happy to rebuke them.

The problem we have today in this country is a question of character,moral fiber & fortitude. The entitlement class of this country is threatening to overrun it. No one can argue that our political process does not work, the current economic conditions are clear evidence of the politicians pandering to their constituents. The proliferation of bad information as well as the tragically under informed "average citizen" is the root cause. Do you think that anyone would have allowed the banking system to be deregulated during the Clinton administration if anyone had a clue that it happened? The entire sub-prime lending fiasco could have been avoided if your average citizen were just a little more diligent.

Ladies and gentlemen the American Dream is still alive & well if you are willing to pay attention & work for it!

Ryan of TX 12:35AM February 13, 2011

One Last comment, has anyone heard of a checkbook.... you put your money (tax-dollars)in, and are allowed to spend it on the THINGS YOU NEED till the money is gone. If you have extra, you get to buy THINGS YOU WANT, again till the money is gone.

The answer it to apply this simple practice to the Government and force the return of deficit funds, and borrowed Social Security monies..... You don't get to send money to other countries or fund other programs, till everything is paid for with-in our borders, our defense, our social programs, and our infrastructure.

You don't subsidize projects and companies with borrowed money, let them borrow the money. The term to "big to let collapse", is just one way of tell the little guy, he/she doesn't matter. You remember the little guy... he's the one that voted for you....

Tom B of VA 7:02PM February 12, 2011

The mere mention of Social Security being mismanaged and borrowed from boils my blood. Any firm that takes money from people for a specific investment and re-directs it for its own benifit, is quickly prosicuted, at least we would hope. Understanding that additional government projects require funds, taking these funds directly from the future of those who will need it the most, it nothing short of criminal.

We have created an incredible vortex of spending to support the public effected by the decreased federal revenue caused by the the incredable tax breaks for companies that place their jobs overseas. These companies also save billions cutting positions and benefits to Americans, by hiring in countries that have a history of not providing public benefits.

1. We now have great programs to offer education to lower income families, that will also graduate to find few jobs available.

2. And, a welfare program that pays more than minimum wage to those who would earn minimum wage anyway.

3.Extended unemployment benefits to those who haven't found the motivation to change career fields. Of course there aren't any jobs there either.

At a particular dollar figure, still considered poverty, medicaid and other programs are completely cut off from the recipient. Then we CLAIM A NEED for a national health care system to assist all these Americans with no coverage. All we need to do is provide a graduted, income based, payment/co-pay scale to offer healthcare to every american. With the use of computers, we can make enrollment as easy as stepping into a doctors office, give him your social security number, and sign up. As it stands we crush someone trying to better themselves, with an enourmous COBRA payment that pushes them back into poverty before the first payment is due.....

I tend to lean to the fair tax and flat tax programs, and a lock box for Social Security. And, do believe ZERO is a number... If you pay zero taxes, you get zero back, if your have a refund coming, it can do no more than bring you back to zero. And the idea of a rebate program with a 14 trillion dollar deficit shouldn't even be discussed, take that money and invest it in the school systems and back to social security....

we can tax corperations, for each position they send out of country, by at least half of the saved wage, and benefits package, to help fund the unemployment it creates. And, continuing to offer breaks to foriegn corps. that create U.S. jobs.

We elect officials to protect OUR best interests, and they seem to spend more time working on special interests. Then, when other world leaders, such as Mubarac, come under the microscope of public debate, they are ostrisized for "stealing" from the people.... If I pay into Social security, and it is not there for me, OUR GOVERNMENT stole it from me....!!!!

Tom B of VA 6:25PM February 12, 2011

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

Rick Newman

Rick Newman

The global economy is mysterious, even scary. Chief Business Correspondent Rick Newman connects the dots. In addition to his writing for U.S. News, Rick is the co-author of two books: Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11, and Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail.


Read Rick's latest blog entries here.

advertisement

advertisement