US Federal Budget - On One Page - DPChallenge Forums

11/28/2008 12:56:37 PM · #1

Let me start by saying this is not a rant. I found something interesting and wanted to share.

2009 Federal Budget Wall Chart

Here on one page is the proposed 2009 US Federal budget. It's a graphic depiction of the entire budget on one page. It's scrollable and zoomable. For those in the US, it is pretty fascinating to see where our tax dollars go and a sobering lesson for those who think it would be easy to trim the federal budget.

For those outside the US, it may add factual color commentary to the USD 3.2 Trillion the US Federal Government will spend. Pay special attention to the Defense Department's budget line item "Other Activities."

neophyte

Nikon D810

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

11/28/2008 01:39:27 PM · #2

I want a copy for my wall!

one2one

Olympus E-5

11/28/2008 02:56:22 PM · #3

That's phenomenal. How big is that image btw?

Imagine what could be done with all that money that's being injected into the defense budget?

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/29/2008 12:56:48 AM · #4

Originally posted by neophyte:

I want a copy for my wall!

Actually

neophyte, I think you can buy it on the site. And

Jac, you're right it must be huge. But it's quick to load and zooms in and out smoothly.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

11/29/2008 01:05:00 AM · #5

So we could save 17.614 billion if we did away with NASA. Not to start a rant or fight here, but I just do not see spending this much money to explore space when we cannot take care of the planet we live on, or feed all the people who live here.

one2one

Olympus E-5

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

11/29/2008 01:10:09 AM · #6

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

I agree. Give them big telescope but stop the Mars and Moon projects until further advancement is made in understanding what is going on in our planet's own atmosphere.

JMart

Nikon D80

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon

11/29/2008 08:45:41 AM · #7

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

Let me start by saying this is not a rant....Here on one page is the proposed 2009 US Federal budget.

Not a rant yet, but wow, talk about rant fodder! Great find. This should keep the rant sections occupied for weeks. :P

JMart

Nikon D80

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon

11/29/2008 08:57:47 AM · #8

Originally posted by Jac:

Originally posted by ShutterPug:
So we could save 17.614 billion if we did away with NASA. Not to start a rant or fight here, but I just do not see spending this much money to explore space when we cannot take care of the planet we live on, or feed all the people who live here.

I agree. Give them big telescope but stop the Mars and Moon projects until further advancement is made in understanding what is going on in our planet's own atmosphere.

But look close and you'll see that only 3.5 bil (using only & bil. doens't feel right) is for exploration while much of the rest of that money is difficult to parse out and may be for things that are more practical towards solving Earth-bound problems. What I'm curious about is why every NASA department is being cut by 8-28% except for the "Cross Agency Support" which is at 3.3 bil, an increase of 777%. It sounds to me like a way of cutting all of the programs back and then awarding some sort of discretionary spending account for a net increase. :-/

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/29/2008 12:40:43 PM · #9

I'm with you Jac. Let's cut the defense budget down to only the direct defense of the United States mainland, Alaska and Hawaii. I'd say if we did that, we could cut the defense budget by at least 75%.

Pull all troops from every country and deploy them on the U.S. borders. Use them to check everyone entering the country.

Also, we could cut our nukes out all together. We could use the money saved for a U.S. only missile defense system to stop incoming missiles. We should make laws to this effect and punish severely any American president or service person who shoots down incoming missiles aimed at other countries or otherwise defends any country from any kind of missile or ground attack.

We would be perfectly safe here in the U.S. because we would have our entire military in our borders.

The money saved can also be used to create government jobs to build roads, bridges and schools right here in the U.S. We could send every U.S. citizen to college for FREE ! Healthcare could also be free.

I feel that just cutting the defense budget is not enough. Let's pull all of our money back to the U.S. The billions we spend in Africa fighting AIDS should be one of the first to go. We need that money here in the U.S. Our children need medical care and also are at risk for AIDS. Let's keep all that money right here.

I could go on and cut some other items on that wall poster but I feel this post could get too long!

Originally posted by Jac:

That's phenomenal. How big is that image btw?

Imagine what could be done with all that money that's being injected into the defense budget?

Message edited by author 2008-11-29 12:44:38.

geoffb

11/29/2008 01:48:25 PM · #10

Originally posted by kenskid:

I bet you'd feel exactly the same way if you were born as a malnourished African baby, rather than an American, right?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

11/29/2008 02:06:54 PM · #11

Originally posted by Jac:

That's phenomenal. How big is that image btw?

24 x 36 inches

R.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/29/2008 02:54:52 PM · #12

I wasn't born starving in Africa so it doesn't matter to me.

Also...we need to cut off Isreal. They are the biggest taker of American Aid. No more money for their defense. If they're attacked...then so be it. If it is the will of the other countries in the middle east then let them wipe out Isreal. Stop defending the world with my tax dollars.

If it were up to me, that "poster" at the top of this thread would be the size of an index card.

Originally posted by geoffb:

Originally posted by kenskid:
I'm with you Jac. Let's cut the defense budget down to only the direct defense of the United States mainland, Alaska and Hawaii. I'd say if we did that, we could cut the defense budget by at least 75%.

Pull all troops from every country and deploy them on the U.S. borders. Use them to check everyone entering the country.

Also, we could cut our nukes out all together. We could use the money saved for a U.S. only missile defense system to stop incoming missiles. We should make laws to this effect and punish severely any American president or service person who shoots down incoming missiles aimed at other countries or otherwise defends any country from any kind of missile or ground attack.

We would be perfectly safe here in the U.S. because we would have our entire military in our borders.

The money saved can also be used to create government jobs to build roads, bridges and schools right here in the U.S. We could send every U.S. citizen to college for FREE ! Healthcare could also be free.

I feel that just cutting the defense budget is not enough. Let's pull all of our money back to the U.S. The billions we spend in Africa fighting AIDS should be one of the first to go. We need that money here in the U.S. Our children need medical care and also are at risk for AIDS. Let's keep all that money right here.

I could go on and cut some other items on that wall poster but I feel this post could get too long!

Originally posted by Jac:
That's phenomenal. How big is that image btw?

Imagine what could be done with all that money that's being injected into the defense budget?

I bet you'd feel exactly the same way if you were born as a malnourished African baby, rather than an American, right?

vxpra

Pentax K100D

11/29/2008 03:03:01 PM · #13

The first thing I would look at cutting is the legislative branch funding. 5.13 Billion. I think we can cut a few aides, secretaries and perks- not to mention salaries. How about we start there.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/29/2008 03:17:12 PM · #14

Originally posted by vxpra:

The first thing I would look at cutting is the legislative branch funding. 5.13 Billion. I think we can cut a few aides, secretaries and perks- not to mention salaries. How about we start there.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

11/29/2008 06:57:59 PM · #15

Originally posted by kenskid:

5.13 billion is a mere bag of shells. It would be way down on my list of things to cut.

Back to the military...I'd also cut the budget that maintains the US GPS Satellite System. The US DOD controls this system. Shut it down. Why do we insist on letting everyone in the world use this? I'd gladly give up my GPS in my car to save a few billion a year. If other countries feel it is important, then let them set up a space based system.

Originally posted by vxpra:
The first thing I would look at cutting is the legislative branch funding. 5.13 Billion. I think we can cut a few aides, secretaries and perks- not to mention salaries. How about we start there.

Rapid and drastic cuts to the military are going to leave you with an unemployment nightmare. One that would offset any budget cutting. Withdrawing the military from overseas bases would be a starting point, however, you'd spend tens of millions in housing costs, base expansion, equipment storage...... Unless you plan on cutting the forces currently overseas.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/29/2008 11:14:45 PM · #16

Piece of cake....

Bring everyone back home. Keep them in the military if we need the jobs. We can pay them the same as we pay them in Germany, S. Korea, Kuwait etc...

Bring them home and put them to work on the roads and bridges like Obama wants to do with the current unemployed.

Also, like I said before, stop deploying any defense troops, or defensive missile shields in any country. Defend our own shores. Poland and the rest who currently want our systems are just out of luck. Let them build their own.

Keep in mind that I'm not only against the military. Stop spending billions feeding and preventing sicknesses like AIDS and TB in foreign lands. Keep our billions here in the US only....for our children. The hell with the rest of the world.

Originally posted by vxpra:

Originally posted by kenskid:
5.13 billion is a mere bag of shells. It would be way down on my list of things to cut.

Back to the military...I'd also cut the budget that maintains the US GPS Satellite System. The US DOD controls this system. Shut it down. Why do we insist on letting everyone in the world use this? I'd gladly give up my GPS in my car to save a few billion a year. If other countries feel it is important, then let them set up a space based system.

Originally posted by vxpra:
The first thing I would look at cutting is the legislative branch funding. 5.13 Billion. I think we can cut a few aides, secretaries and perks- not to mention salaries. How about we start there.

Rapid and drastic cuts to the military are going to leave you with an unemployment nightmare. One that would offset any budget cutting. Withdrawing the military from overseas bases would be a starting point, however, you'd spend tens of millions in housing costs, base expansion, equipment storage...... Unless you plan on cutting the forces currently overseas.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

11/29/2008 11:54:54 PM · #17

Originally posted by kenskid:

The hell with the rest of the world.

Oh.... good.... grief.... (sigh) In the words of the great Walt Kelly, as spoken by his creation Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

R.

Message edited by author 2008-11-29 23:55:20.