Real winners and losers
So the budget battle ended a couple of days ago. Who won? Who lost?
Glad ya asked!
Who won?
In a word - Washington.
With "the largest budget cuts ever" line floating around, some people actually think they did something. They did nothing!
Fact is, only $38 Billion was cut. In a budget of $3,456 Billion (also known as $3.456 Trillion). I write it this way to help illustrate a point - the media knows well that most people are not experts in math. Throwing around terms like "billion" and "trillion" mean nothing to a person who will never see a million.
Our government is celebrating the fact that they cut just over 1% of the budget. Problem is, they are spending $1.60 for every $1 that they bring in. Even if spending was completely in line with revenue, it is still way too much!
Let's look at it this way:
Suppose you are a family who brings home $2000 per month after taxes and other payroll deductions. This would indicate an income level of about $35K - $40K - or roughly average here in Tennessee.
Now suppose that your monthly spending is $3200.
In short - you've got some problems.
(This is the same level the federal government spends at, compared to its revenues.)
You and your spouse have a serious conversation about spending over the dinner table. You agree to cut things. Each of you makes cuts. You both claim to "dig deep."
In the end, you agree on cutting $22 out of your budget. Then you go and yell it at the top of your lungs to your family and friends. Kinda silly, huh?
Facts is facts
The reason folks in Washington won is simple - they avoided a government shutdown. Had the .gov shut down, we the people would have seen how very little it would have affected our daily lives - and people might realize how much we need to really cut in Washington!
Now, they can keep up a modicum of alternate reality in which .gov is needed and where we have made "deep cuts" even though it is but a drop in the bucket.
So, who lost?
We, the people did.
Again.
In the end, you just look silly.
Glad ya asked!
Who won?
In a word - Washington.
With "the largest budget cuts ever" line floating around, some people actually think they did something. They did nothing!
Fact is, only $38 Billion was cut. In a budget of $3,456 Billion (also known as $3.456 Trillion). I write it this way to help illustrate a point - the media knows well that most people are not experts in math. Throwing around terms like "billion" and "trillion" mean nothing to a person who will never see a million.
Our government is celebrating the fact that they cut just over 1% of the budget. Problem is, they are spending $1.60 for every $1 that they bring in. Even if spending was completely in line with revenue, it is still way too much!
Let's look at it this way:
Suppose you are a family who brings home $2000 per month after taxes and other payroll deductions. This would indicate an income level of about $35K - $40K - or roughly average here in Tennessee.
Now suppose that your monthly spending is $3200.
In short - you've got some problems.
(This is the same level the federal government spends at, compared to its revenues.)
You and your spouse have a serious conversation about spending over the dinner table. You agree to cut things. Each of you makes cuts. You both claim to "dig deep."
In the end, you agree on cutting $22 out of your budget. Then you go and yell it at the top of your lungs to your family and friends. Kinda silly, huh?
Facts is facts
The reason folks in Washington won is simple - they avoided a government shutdown. Had the .gov shut down, we the people would have seen how very little it would have affected our daily lives - and people might realize how much we need to really cut in Washington!
Now, they can keep up a modicum of alternate reality in which .gov is needed and where we have made "deep cuts" even though it is but a drop in the bucket.
So, who lost?
We, the people did.
Again.
In the end, you just look silly.
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