Where Does The Money Go?
Ever wonder where all your money goes that you pay to the US Federal Government? What are the big money suckers? Are you eager to determine for yourself which political side of the spectrum is telling the truth about what will make our American economy “roll” again? Do you know the difference between debt and deficit when policy makers speak?
The decisions that are being made on our behalf do affect us and the future of our children. They affect our savings, our retirement, our mortgage, our health care, and whether or not our children can afford to go to college and if they will have a job available to them when they graduate. Therefore, it is in our best interest to come to a basic understanding of the enormity of this issue so we can make an informed decision at the polls and when speaking with our political representatives.
The United States national debt just jumped to over $16 trillion dollars in September 2012 and it is growing daily. We don’t have enough money to pay for all the programs we take on, so what programs should we cut or change so we don’t run a deficit every year and have enough money to pay off the debt we owe to others? The answer will amaze you because it’s right in front of your eyes.
The authors Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson, are editors of Public Agenda, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps educate American citizens with factual information on public policies. They provide resources and avenues in which we can engage in working towards solutions together.
Here’s a pre-test.
True or False? If it weren’t for the war in Iraq, the federal budget would have been balanced the last 6 years (p. 12,13).