US Budget

[Jaboney]

*Originally posted in the jokes thread because... well, you know. But since it's starting to look like there might be a real run at this thing it deserves it's own thread.

Philip Greenspun divided the U.S. 2011 federal budget by 100,000,000 and wrote a little parable:

We have a family that is spending $38,200 per year. The family's income is $21,700 per year. The family adds $16,500 in credit card debt every year in order to pay its bills. After a long and difficult debate among family members, keeping in mind that it was not going to be possible to borrow $16,500 every year forever, the parents and children agreed that a $380/year premium cable subscription could be terminated. So now the family will have to borrow only $16,120 per year.

Understanding Congress's solution to the federal deficit problem"

And spent $6,638 on guns and ammo, but cuts to that part of the family budget are ruled right out. In fact, they're looking to spend more.

heh. Good luck with that, guys.

[suiyuan31]

Philip Greenspun divided the U.S. 2011 federal budget by 100,000,000 and wrote a little parable:

We have a family that is spending $38,200 per year. The family's income is $21,700 per year. The family adds $16,500 in credit card debt every year in order to pay its bills. After a long and difficult debate among family members, keeping in mind that it was not going to be possible to borrow $16,500 every year forever, the parents and children agreed that a $380/year premium cable subscription could be terminated. So now the family will have to borrow only $16,120 per year.

Understanding Congress's solution to the federal deficit problem"

And spent $6,638 on guns and ammo, but cuts to that part of the family budget are ruled right out. In fact, they're looking to spend more.

heh. Good luck with that, guys.

Haha, nice parable. I've always said if I ran my finances the way the US runs its budget, they would probably find a way to throw my ass in jail. It doesn't look good for the US by any measure. Any chance we could reelect Bill Clinton?

[Gao Bohan]

Any chance we could reelect Bill Clinton?

No, but we can elect Hillary Clinton in 2016. And then again in 2020.

[Dr. McCoy]

Microphone open and Obama speaks candidly.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... 03544.html
Says Republicans are using budget to push agenda. He goes up in my estimation. You tell them Mr. President.

[CraigTPE]

I don't think the finances of a government can be compared to that of a family or even a business.

[Gman]

I don't think the finances of a government can be compared to that of a family or even a business.

So, where does the anology break down then? It's pretty hard to dispute that the US government spending is a problem. Of course you can't make a direct comparision. Any family or business that conducted themselves in the same financial manner as the government would be jailed.

[Gman]

Microphone open and Obama speaks candidly.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... 03544.html

Says Republicans are using budget to push agenda. He goes up in my estimation. You tell them Mr. President.

Sooo this whole budget debate actually had nothing to with the government getting it's deficit and debt under control but was instead all about politics? ........ Seriously? This is news to you?

[CraigTPE]

Neither a family nor a business carries the responsibility of supporting or protecting a nation. A government, unlike a corporation, does not exist for the sole purpose of making a profit.

[Gman]

Neither a family nor a business carries the responsibility of supporting or protecting a nation. A government, unlike a corporation, does not exist for the sole purpose of making a profit.

So? That doesn't mean that government is somehow immune to the laws of economics. Like any family or business no government can continously spend more than they take in. Oh and you have it backwards, it's the nation that supports the government not the reverse.

[CraigTPE]

Neither a family nor a business carries the responsibility of supporting or protecting a nation. A government, unlike a corporation, does not exist for the sole purpose of making a profit.

So? That doesn't mean that government is somehow immune to the laws of economics. Like any family or business no government can continously spend more than they take in. Oh and you have it backwards, it's the nation that supports the government not the reverse.

No, it does not mean the government is immune to economics, and you are right, the government can't continuously spend more than it takes in.

However, neither a family nor a corporation has to provide society with infrastructure, national security, police & fire protection, a safety net (depending on your political beliefs), etc. A family just has to put food on the table and a business has to make a profit. Not a fair, or even rational comparison.

Additionally, sometimes a government will run a deficit, like when the economy is in the toilet. If the public sector stops spending AND the government stops spending, the problem is exacerbated. When the economy rebounds, the government's financial balance sheet will likely improve.

That is not to say that there aren't structural problems, but so far the discussion has been a little irrational: Keep cutting taxes for corporations and the rich while reducing services to the needy. Sorry, but this is nuts.

And perhaps "support" is not the best word to use for the government's responsibility to society. We are a society.