"Very Large Numbers": This is REALLY important.

[ambitious_wench]

I'd like to share something that will put the war on Iraq into disturbing financial perspective. You can find the original page here: http://www.centristsinners.org/2003/vln-print.html The following information was researched and presented in low-bandwidth, printer-friendly html format by Susan Franz. Information presented here in the spirit of free information, and all copyright is retained by Susan Franz. Please don't sue me, Susan! *power grovel*

I M A G I N E $167 BILLION 8 Times the budget for Space and Science Research 14 Times the budget for Foreign Aid 16 Times the budget for Special Education 24 Times the budget for Head Start 30 Times the budget for Cancer Research 55 Times the budget for Veterans' Pensions 80 Times the budget for AIDS/HIV Research 83 Times the budget for Substance Abuse Treatment 100 Times the budget for Community Health Centers 480 Times the budget for Court-Appointed Attorneys That's a Lot, Right? BY SUSAN FRANZ 14 SEPTEMBER 2003. WEB VERSION Recently some Very Large Numbers (VLNs for you policy types) have been thrown around regarding the cost of the U.S. operations in Iraq. I have to admit, I didn't really understand these numbers so I did a little checking. To have something to compare with, I looked into 56 services our government provides and what they cost. The current request from Mr. Bush is: $79 billion Initial Attack on Iraq $66 billion New Military Contracts and Spending for Iraq $21 billion Rebuilding Iraq $800 million Reconstructing Afghanistan Are these proposals- even considering we are talking about "government money" here - really that big? They are indeed. Who's on First? The number one budget item, until recently. was $390 billion for the elderly through Social Security Retirement Benefits. This has now been overtaken by this year's Deficit which shortly will shoot past $401 billion (probably while you're reading this article). The Initial Attack on Iraq comes in at number eight. Rebuilding Iraq (19) checks in right between Farm Subsidies and Space Exploration. The bottom thirty items combined cost less than the $66 billion requested by Mr. Bush for military operations. The new request for Military Spending in Iraq (10) sits between Unemployment and Social Security Disability Benefits. The bottom thirty items combined cost less than the additional $66 billion requested by Mr. Bush for military operations in Iraq. This is more than all the money spent on Cancer Research, Federal Prisons, Veterans' Pensions, Bioterrorism Research, Community Health Services, Special Education, Job Corps, Charter Schools, Testing of School Children, Pay Raises for the Troops in Iraq, Head Start, the Ryan White AIDS Fund and the Compensation Fund for 9-11 Families - combined. Federal Highway Funds (13) come in just ahead of the Department of Homeland Security (14). Foreign Aid (23) is near the middle at $11.4 billion and Taxpayer Refunds (41) are near the bottom. We could have $66,000 for college for every child in the country. The Pentagon Budget(3) at $355.5 billion sits between the Budget Deficit(4) and Interest Payments on the Debt(2). Playing with the Big Boys This year Deficits - that's new loans in English - are increasing at $13,000 per second. Next year that accelerates to $15,000 per second to $480 billion. We have (collectively) 95 million children. 26. This creates an additional debt burden of $5000.00 per child each year we borrow. Plus interest. If this money were invested at 5% for ten years instead of being poured into deficits we could have $66,000 for college for every child in the country That is a number I understand. Rounding out the big boys are Medicare, the Pentagon, Debt Interest Payments, and Social Security. Together they make up about three-quarters of the total budget. Is the $167 billion dollars Mr. Bush wants a lot of money? You bet your sweet bippy. By anyone's count it is a huge sum with a lot of hidden costs and far too many unanswered questions. If this concerns you, you need to tell at least three people. Your representative and your two senators might be a very good start. Fifty-Six Ways to Leave Your Dollar 56. $49.5 million Federal Election Commission21 55. $50 million Faith Based/Compassion Capital Fund1 54. $65 million Abstinence Education Fund1 53. $160 million Int'l Mother/Child HIV Prevention1 52. $220 million Charter Schools1 51. $348 million Court Appointed Attorneys16 50. $390 million Math and Reading Testing for Schoolchildren 1 49. $800 million Rebuilding Afghanistan7 48. $1 billion After School Centers1 47. $1 billion Additional Pay for Troops in Iraq (ends in Oct.)6 46. $1.1 billion Reading 1st Program1 45. $1.5 billion Job Corps1 44. $1.6 billion Community Health Centers1 43. $1.7 billion Bioterrorism Research 1 42. $1.8 billion Winter Heat Assistance1 41. $2 billion Ryan White Aids Program1 40. $2.1 billion Substance Abuse Treatment1 39. $2.2 billion Government Sponsored Enterprises (Fanny Mae/Freddie Mac)2,12 38. $2.7 billion Taxpayer Refunds4 37. $2.93 billion Improving Teacher Quality1 36. $3 billion Veteran's Pensions 2 35. $3.4 billion First Responders - Fire and Police 19 34. $4 billion Student Loans 2 33. $4.6 billion Federal Prisons 3 32. $4.9 billion Worker Training1 31. $5 billion Compensation Fund for 9-11 Families10 30. $5 billion Airlines 9-11 Direct Aid20 29. $5.5 billion Cancer Research 8 28. $6.8 billion Head Start1 27. $9.9 billion Special Education1 26. $10.6 billion Rebuilding the World Trade Center9 25. $10 billion Loan Guarantees to Airlines20 24. $11 billion Child Nutrition 22 23. $11.4 billion Foreign Aid 5 22. $16.7 billion Department of the Treasury 4 21. $19 billion Farm Subsidies 11 20. $21 billion Rebuilding Iraq 23 19. $21 billion Space and Science Research 2 18. $24 billion Food Stamps 2 17. $27.3 billion National Institutes of Health 1 16. $28.9 billion Department of Justice13 14. $31.8 billion Federal Highway Funds14 13. $34.7 billion Supplemental Security Income (SSI)18 12. $37.5 billion Department of Homeland Security 24 11. $50 billion Unemployment2 10. $66 billion New Military Spending for Iraq23 9. $68.8 billion Social Security Disability Benefits18 8. $79 billion Attack on Iraq 23 7. $79 billion Administration of Social Security Benefits18 6. $152 billion Health Care: Medicaid2 5. $263 billion Health Care: Medicare2 4. $356.9 billion Interest Payments on Debt2 3. $368.6 billion Pentagon Budget 2, 25 2. $390 billion Social Security Retirement Benefits18 1. $401 billion Deficit15 References 1. U.S. House of Representatives. Press Release: House Approves FY04 Labor, HHS, and Education Spending Bill. 10 July 2003. 2. Congressional Budget Office. The Budget and Economic Outlook. January 2002. (Section 6 esp table 4-5) 3. Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations for FY2004. Vol 3. No 14. 21 July 2003. 4. Total Treasury Department Budget: FY 2004, Supplemental Information 5. Markle Foundation/Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Aid: Has the debate on foreign aid shifted since September 11. 6. Air Force Link: Targeted pay raises: Who gets them. Aug 2001. 7. IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affirs). Afghanistan: US aid package leaves Afghans feeling short changed. 10 September 2003. 8. NCI: Congressional Activities for the 108th Congress. 10 June 2003 9. U.S. Mayor: New York Journal: It's Green Versus Michael R. Bloomberg in November 6th General Election. 14 October 2001 10. 1010 - Infinity Broadcasting: Deadline Nears for WTC Compensation. 6 Sept 2003. 11. CNN: Bush $190 Billion    Farm Bill. 13 May 2002 12. The GSE Report. 19 May 2000. 13. Department of Justice: Budget Trend Data (1975 - 2000). 14. Highway Funding for FY 2003. 26 February 2002. 15. NewsHour: Federal Deficit to Hit Record $480 Billion    in 2004, CBO Predicts. 26 Aug. 2003. 16. Tuscaloosa News: Legal Services Avoid Budget Cut. 26 Jan 2003. 17. FEC: FEC Submits FY2004 Budget Request of 50.4 Million    18. Social Security Administration: FY2003 Budget. 4 Feb. 2002. 19. FCW Media. First Responders in Dire Need. 13 Feb. 2003 20. CNN: Airlines get some tax help. 21. BNA: FEC Budget Request to Congress 25 March 2003. 22.

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I'd like to share something that will put the war on Iraq into disturbing financial perspective. You can find the original page here: http://www.centristsinners.org/2003/vln-print.html The following information was researched and presented in low-bandwidth, printer-friendly html format by Susan Franz. Information presented here in the spirit of free information, and all copyright is retained by Susan Franz. Please don't sue me, Susan! *power grovel* <lj-cut text="Read More..."> <html> <title>Centrist Sinners</title> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000030" link="#0000a0" vlink="#993333" alink="#c0c0c0"> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr><td> <a href="/"><img src="http://www.centristsinners.org/images/title-cs-sm.jpg" width=700 height=91 alt="Centrist Sinners: Stuck in the middle with you" border=0></a> </td></tr><tr><td> <table width=535 cellpadding=10 border=0><tr><td align="top"> <table cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=535><tr><td align="center" valign="top" width=200> <pre>&#160; </pre> <h2><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#666699">I M A G I N E</font></h2> <h4><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">$167 BILLION</font></h4> <table cellpadding=4><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>8</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Space and Science Research</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>14</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Foreign Aid</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>16</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Special Education</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>24</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Head Start</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>30</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Cancer Research</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>55</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Veterans' Pensions</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>80</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for AIDS/HIV Research</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>83</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Substance Abuse Treatment</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>100</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Community Health Centers</font> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+3"><b>480</b></font> <td><td valign="top"> <p><font color="#333399" size="+1">Times the budget for Court-Appointed Attorneys</font> </td></tr></table> </td><td valign="top" width=380><p><h3><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">That's a Lot, Right?</font></h3> <p><small>BY SUSAN FRANZ</small><br> <small>14&#160;SEPTEMBER&#160;2003.</small> <p><a href="vln.html"><small>WEB VERSION</small></a> <p> Recently some Very Large Numbers (VLNs for you policy types) have been thrown around regarding the cost of the U.S. operations in Iraq. <p>I have to admit, I didn't really understand these numbers so I did a little checking. To have something to compare with, I looked into 56 services our government provides and what they cost. The current request from Mr. Bush is: <ul> <li>$79 billion&#160;Initial Attack on Iraq <li> $66 billion&#160;New Military Contracts and Spending for&#160;Iraq <li> $21 billion&#160;Rebuilding Iraq <li> $800 million&#160;Reconstructing Afghanistan </ul> <p>Are these proposals- even considering we are talking about "government money" here - really that&#160;big? <p>They are indeed. <h4><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">Who's on First?</font></h4> <p> The number one budget item, until recently. was $390 billion for the elderly through Social Security Retirement Benefits. This has now been overtaken by this year's Deficit which shortly will shoot past $401 billion (probably while you're reading this article). <p> The Initial Attack on Iraq comes in at number&#160;eight. <p> Rebuilding Iraq (19) checks in right between Farm Subsidies and Space Exploration. <hr noshade> <table><tr><td align="center"> <p><b><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333" size="+1">The bottom</font><br><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#333399" size="+1"><i>thirty items combined</i></font><br><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333" size="+1">cost less than<br>the <font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#333399" size="+1">$66 billion</font> requested<br>by Mr. Bush for military operations.</font></b> </td></tr></table> <hr noshade> <p> The new request for Military Spending in Iraq (10) sits between Unemployment and Social Security Disability Benefits. <p> The bottom thirty items <b>combined</b> cost less than the additional $66 billion requested by Mr. Bush for military operations in Iraq. <p> This is more than all the money spent on Cancer Research, Federal Prisons, Veterans' Pensions, Bioterrorism Research, Community Health Services, Special Education, Job Corps, Charter Schools, Testing of School Children, Pay Raises for the Troops in Iraq, Head Start, the Ryan White AIDS Fund and the Compensation Fund for 9-11 Families - combined. <p> Federal Highway Funds (13) come in just ahead of the Department of Homeland Security (14). Foreign Aid (23) is near the middle at $11.4 billion and Taxpayer Refunds (41) are near the bottom. <hr noshade> <table><tr><td align="center"> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333" size="+1">We could have $66,000 for college for <i>every child in the country</i>.</font> </td></tr></table> <hr noshade> <p> The Pentagon Budget(3) at $355.5 billion sits between the Budget Deficit(4) and Interest Payments on the Debt(2). <h4><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">Playing with the Big Boys</font></h4> <p>This year Deficits - that's <i>new loans</i> in English - are increasing at&#160;$13,000 per second. Next year that accelerates to $15,000 per second to $480&#160;billion. <p> We have (collectively) 95 million children. <a href="vln.html#26">^{<small>26</small>}</a>. This creates an additional debt burden of $5000.00 per child each year we borrow. <p>Plus interest. <p>If this money were invested at 5% for ten years instead of being poured into deficits we could have $66,000 for college for <i>every child in the&#160;country</i> <p>That is a number I understand. <p> Rounding out the big boys are Medicare, the Pentagon, Debt Interest Payments, and Social Security. Together they make up about three-quarters of the total budget. </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 align="center"><!-- --><p><img src="http://www.centristsinners.org/2003/bigboys-sm.gif" width=468 height=260 alt="Big Boys"><!-- --></td></tr><tr><td></td><td valign="top" colspan=2 bgcolor="#ffffff"> <p>Is the $167 billion dollars Mr. Bush wants a lot of money? You bet your sweet bippy. <p>By anyone's count it is a huge sum with a lot of hidden costs and far too many unanswered questions. <p>If this concerns you, you need to tell at least three people. Your <a href="http://www.house.gov" target="_new">representative</a> and your <a href="http://www.senate.gov" target="_new"> two senators</a> might be a very good start. </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2> <p> <table cellspacing=1 cellpadding=2 border=1 bgcolor="#ddddff"><tr><td> <table cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr><td colspan=2> <h4><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">Fifty-Six Ways to Leave Your Dollar</font></h4> </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width=150> 56. $49.5 million</td><td valign="top"> Federal Election Commission<a href="vln.html#21" target="_new">^{<small>21</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 55. $50 million</td><td valign="top"> Faith Based/Compassion Capital Fund^{<small><a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">1</a></small>}</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 54. $65 million</td><td valign="top"> Abstinence Education Fund^{<small><a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">1</a></small>}</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 53. $160 million</td><td valign="top"> Int'l Mother/Child HIV Prevention^{<small><a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">1</a></small>}</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 52. $220 million</td><td valign="top"> Charter Schools^{<small><a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">1</a></small>}</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 51. $348 million</td><td valign="top"> Court Appointed Attorneys^{<small><a href="vln.html#16" target="_new">16</a></small>}</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 50. $390 million</td><td valign="top"> Math and Reading Testing for Schoolchildren <a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 49. $800 million</td><td valign="top"> <b>Rebuilding Afghanistan</b><a href="vln.html#7" target="_new">^{<small>7</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 48. $1 billion</td><td valign="top"> After School Centers<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 47. $1 billion</td><td valign="top">Additional Pay for Troops in Iraq (ends in Oct.)<a href="vln.html#6" target="_new">^{<small>6</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 46. $1.1 billion</td><td valign="top"> Reading 1st Program<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 45. $1.5 billion</td><td valign="top"> Job Corps<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 44. $1.6 billion</td><td valign="top"> Community Health Centers<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 43. $1.7 billion</td><td valign="top"> Bioterrorism Research <a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 42. $1.8 billion</td><td valign="top"> Winter Heat Assistance<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 41. $2 billion</td><td valign="top"> Ryan White Aids Program<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 40. $2.1 billion</td><td valign="top"> Substance Abuse Treatment<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 39. $2.2 billion</td><td valign="top"> Government Sponsored Enterprises (Fanny Mae/Freddie Mac)<a href="vln.html#12" target="_new">^{<small>2,12</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 38. $2.7 billion</td><td valign="top"> Taxpayer Refunds<a href="vln.html#4" target="_new">^{<small>4</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 37. $2.93 billion</td><td valign="top"> Improving Teacher Quality<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 36. $3 billion</td><td valign="top"> Veteran's Pensions <a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 35. $3.4 billion</td><td valign="top"> First Responders - Fire and Police <a href="vln.html#19" target="_new">^{<small>19</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 34. $4 billion</td><td valign="top"> Student Loans <a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 33. $4.6 billion</td><td valign="top"> Federal Prisons <a href="vln.html#3" target="_new">^{<small>3</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 32. $4.9 billion</td><td valign="top"> Worker Training<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 31. $5 billion</td><td valign="top"> Compensation Fund for 9-11 Families<a href="vln.html#10" target="_new">^{<small>10</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 30. $5 billion</td><td valign="top"> Airlines 9-11 Direct Aid<a href="vln.html#20" target="_new">^{<small>20</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 29. $5.5 billion</td><td valign="top"> Cancer Research <a href="vln.html#8" target="_new">^{<small>8</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 28. $6.8 billion</td><td valign="top"> Head Start<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 27. $9.9 billion</td><td valign="top"> Special Education<a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 26. $10.6 billion</td><td valign="top"> Rebuilding the World Trade Center<a href="vln.html#9" target="_new">^{<small>9</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 25. $10 billion</td><td valign="top"> Loan Guarantees to Airlines<a href="vln.html#20" target="_new">^{<small>20</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 24. $11 billion</td><td valign="top">Child Nutrition <a href="vln.html#22" target="_new">^{<small>22</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 23. $11.4 billion</td><td valign="top">Foreign Aid <a href="vln.html#5" target="_new">^{<small>5</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 22. $16.7 billion</td><td valign="top"> Department of the Treasury <a href="vln.html#4" target="_new">^{<small>4</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 21. $19 billion</td><td valign="top"> Farm Subsidies <a href="vln.html#11" target="_new">^{<small>11</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 20. $21 billion</td><td valign="top"> <b>Rebuilding Iraq</b> <a href="vln.html#23" target="_new">^{<small>23</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 19. $21 billion</td><td valign="top"> Space and Science Research <a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 18. $24 billion</td><td valign="top"> Food Stamps <a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 17. $27.3 billion</td><td valign="top"> National Institutes of Health <a href="vln.html#1" target="_new">^{<small>1</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 16. $28.9 billion</td><td valign="top"> Department of Justice<a href="vln.html#13" target="_new">^{<small>13</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 14. $31.8 billion</td><td valign="top"> Federal Highway Funds<a href="vln.html#14" target="_new">^{<small>14</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 13. $34.7 billion</td><td valign="top"> Supplemental Security Income (SSI)<a href="vln.html#18" target="_new">^{<small>18</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 12. $37.5 billion</td><td valign="top"> Department of Homeland Security <a href="vln.html#24" target="_new">^{<small>24</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 11. $50 billion</td><td valign="top"> Unemployment<a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 10. $66 billion</td><td valign="top"> <b>New Military Spending for Iraq</b><a href="vln.html#23" target="_new">^{<small>23</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 9. $68.8 billion</td><td valign="top"> Social Security Disability Benefits<a href="vln.html#18" target="_new">^{<small>18</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 8. $79 billion</td><td valign="top"> <b>Attack on Iraq</b> <a href="vln.html#23" target="_new">^{<small>23</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 7. $79 billion</td><td valign="top"> Administration of Social Security Benefits<a href="vln.html#18" target="_new">^{<small>18</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 6. $152 billion</td><td valign="top"> Health Care: Medicaid<a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 5. $263 billion</td><td valign="top"> Health Care: Medicare<a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 4. $356.9 billion</td><td valign="top"> Interest Payments on Debt<a href="vln.html#2" target="_new">^{<small>2</small>}</a></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 3. $368.6 billion</td><td valign="top"> Pentagon Budget <a href="vln.html#25" target="_new">^{<small>2, 25</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 2. $390 billion</td><td valign="top"> Social Security Retirement Benefits<a href="vln.html#18" target="_new">^{<small>18</small>}</a> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=2><hr noshade></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> 1. $401 billion</td><td valign="top">Deficit<a href="vln.html#15" target="_new">^{<small>15</small>}</a> </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> <td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 align="center"> <p> <img src="http://www.centristsinners.org/2003/budget-therest-sm.gif" width=480 height=2506 alt="The Budget: All the Rest"> <table><tr><td> <h3><font face="arial, helvetica, sans_serif" color="#993333">References</font></h3> </a> <p><a name="1"></a> 1. <a href="http://wwwa.house.gov/regula/04lhhsebill.htm" target="_new">U.S. House of Representatives. Press Release: House Approves FY04 Labor, HHS, and Education Spending Bill. 10 July 2003. </a> <p><a name="2"></a> 2. <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=3277&sequence=5 " target="_new">Congressional Budget Office. The Budget and Economic Outlook. January 2002. (Section 6 esp table 4-5)</a> <p><a name="3"></a> 3. <a href="http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:vl8va3v_IFQJ:www.house.gov/budget/commjustau072203.pdf+2003+department+of+justice+appropriations&hl=en&ie=UTF-8" target="_new">Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations for FY2004. Vol 3. No 14. 21 July 2003. </a> <p><a name="4"></a> 4. <a href="http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:cZ45lIk6ASQJ:www.ustreas.gov/offices/management/budget/budgetinbrief/fy2004/suppinfo.pdf+2003+treasury++budget+taxpayer+refunds+fiscal+year+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 ">Total Treasury Department Budget: FY 2004, Supplemental Information </a> </a> <p><a name="5"></a> 5. <a href="http://www.terrorismanswers.org/policy/foreignaid.html" target="_new">Markle Foundation/Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Aid: Has the debate on foreign aid shifted since September 11.</a> </a> <p><a name="6"></a> 6. <a href="http://www.af.mil/news/Aug2001/n20010801_1050.shtml" target="_new">Air Force Link: Targeted pay raises: Who gets them. Aug 2001.</a> </a> <p><a name="7"></a> 7. <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=36495" target="_new">IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affirs). Afghanistan: US aid package leaves Afghans feeling short changed. 10 September 2003.</a> </a> <p><a name="8"></a> 8. <a href="http://www3.cancer.gov/legis/june03/appropriations.html" target="_new">NCI: Congressional Activities for the 108th Congress. 10 June 2003 </a> <p><a name="9"></a> 9. <a href="http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_newspaper/documents/10_15_01/nyrace.asp" target="_new">U.S. Mayor: New York Journal: It's Green Versus Michael R. Bloomberg in November 6th General Election. 14 October 2001</a> <p><a name="10"></a> 10. <a href="http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_249105021.html" target="_new">1010 - Infinity Broadcasting: Deadline Nears for WTC Compensation. 6 Sept 2003. </a> <p><a name="11"></a> 11. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/farm.bill/" target="_new">CNN: Bush $190 Billion&#160;&#160;&#160; Farm Bill. 13 May 2002</a> <p><a name="12"></a> 12. <a href="http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:CPxi1LNw8F0J:www.gsereport.com/2000/May6-May19.pdf+cbo+billion&#160;&#160;&#160; +%22legal+aid%222003+federal+matching&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 " target="_new">The GSE Report. 19 May 2000.</a> </a> <p><a name="13"></a> 13. <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/budgetsummary/btd/1975_2002/2002/html/page14-17.htm" border="_new">Department of Justice: Budget Trend Data (1975 - 2000). </a> <p><a name="14"></a> 14. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/farm.bill/ " target="_new">Highway Funding for FY 2003. 26 February 2002.</a> <p><a name="15"></a> 15. <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/deficit_08-26-03.html">NewsHour: Federal Deficit to Hit Record $480 Billion&#160;&#160;&#160; in 2004, CBO Predicts. 26 Aug. 2003.</a> </a> <p><a name="16"></a> 16. <a href="http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:LGkaH2C-8HQJ:www.lsc.gov/Rpress/TN012603.pdf+legal+services+corp.+budget+2003&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 " target="_new">Tuscaloosa News: Legal Services Avoid Budget Cut. 26 Jan 2003.</a> <p><a name="17"></a> 17. <a href="http://www.fec.gov/press/20030321budget.html" target="_new">FEC: FEC Submits FY2004 Budget Request of 50.4 Million&#160;&#160;&#160; </a> <p><a name="18"></a> 18. <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/budget/print2003.html">Social Security Administration: FY2003 Budget. 4 Feb. 2002. </a> <p><a name="19"></a> 19. <a href=" http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2003/0210/web-home-02-13-03.asp" target="_new">FCW Media. First Responders in Dire Need. 13 Feb. 2003 </a> <p><a name="20"></a> 20. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2001/11/14/companies/airlines_bailout/" target="_new">CNN: Airlines get some tax help. </a> <p><a name="21"></a> 21. <a href="http://subscript.bna.com/SAMPLES/mpr.nsf/0/db2814d71d49160285256cf3007bf8fa?OpenDocument" target="_new">BNA: FEC Budget Request to Congress 25 March 2003. </a> <p><a name="22"></a> 22. <a href="http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:hiJfZjrHXRcJ:www.senate.gov/~budget/republican/pressarchive/HelpKids.pdf+%22%2411+billion%22+child+nutrition&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 target="_new">FY2004 Budget Resolution: Investing in Children</a> <p><a name="23"></a> 23. <a href="http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight/archive.asp" target="_new">CSPAN: Armed Services Committee Pushes for Details on Iraq Request. 9 Sept 2003. </a> <p><a name="24"></a> 24. <a href="http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0610/news-bush-06-10-02.asp" target="new">FCW: Bush seeks big picture. 10 June 2002.</a> <p><a name="25"></a> 25. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/16/politics/main563559.shtml" target="_new">CBS News: Senate OKs Defense Spending Bills. 18 July 2003. </a> <p> <a name="26"></a> 26. <a href="http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-97.html">U.S. Census Bureau: Commerce Department News. 12 June 2003.</a> <hr noshade> <p>Below are the same references but with the complete URL codes for electronic copies of the source documents (they may need to be pasted back together) for those printing this article for reference. <pre> 1. Press Release: House Approves FY04 Labor, HHS, and Education Spending Bill. 10 July 2003. http://wwwa.house.gov/regula/04lhhsebill.htm 2. Congressional Budget Office. The Budget and Economic Outlook. January 2002. (Especially Section Six, Table 4-5). http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index= 3277&sequence=5 3. Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations for FY2004. Vol 3. No 14. 21 July 2003. http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache: vl8va3v_IFQJ: www.house.gov/budget/commjustau 072203.pdf+2003+department+of+justice+ appropriations&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 4. Total Treasury Department Budget: FY 2004, Supplemental Information http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache: cZ45lIk6ASQJ:www.ustreas.gov/offices/ management/budget/budgetinbrief/fy2004/ suppinfo.pdf+2003+treasury++budget +taxpayer+refunds+fiscal+year+&hl= en&ie=UTF-8 5. Markle Foundation & Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Aid: Has the debate on foreign aid shifted since September 11. http://www.terrorismanswers.org/policy/ foreignaid.html 6. Air Force Link: Targeted pay raises: Who gets them. Aug 2001. http://www.af.mil/news/Aug2001/n2001 0801_1050.shtml 7. IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affirs). Afganistan: US aid package leaves Afgans feeling short changed. 10 September 2003. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp? ReportID=36495&SelectRegion=C 8. NCI: Congressional Activities for the 108th Congress. 10 June 2003 http://www3.cancer.gov/legis/june03/appropriations.html 9. U.S. Mayor: New York Journal: It's Green Versus Michael R. Bloomberg in November 6th General Election. 14 October 2001. http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_newspaper /documents/10_15_01/nyrace.asp 10. 1010 Infinity Broadcasting: Deadline Nears for WTC Compensation. 6 Sept 2003. http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_ 249105021.html 11. CNN: Bush $190 Billion Farm Bill. 13 May 2002. http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/ farm.bill/ 12. The GSE Report. 19 May 2000. http://216.239.51.104/search?q= cache:CPxi1LNw8F0J: www.gsereport.com/2000/May6-May19.pdf +cbo+billion+%22legal+aid%222003 +federal+matching&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 13. Budget Trend Data: Deparment of Justice (1975 - 2000). http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/budgetsummary/btd/ 1975_2002/2002/html/page14-17.htm 14. Highway Funding for FY 2003. 26 February 2002. http://216.239.39.104/search?q= cache:tHjTtVzP6gEJ:www.house.gov/burton/ RSC/HighwayFundsPB.PDF+billions+highway+funds+2003&hl =en&ie=UTF-8 15. NewsHour: Federal Deficit to Hit Record $480 Billion in 2004, CBO Predicts. 26 Aug. 2003. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/deficit_08-26- 03.html 16. Tuscaloosa News: Legal Services Avoid Budget Cut. 26 Jan 2003. http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:LGkaH2C- 8HQJ:www.lsc.gov/Rpress/TN012603.pdf+legal +services+corp.+budget+2003&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 17. FEC: FEC Submits FY2004 Budget Request of 50.4 Million. http://www.fec.gov/press/20030321budget.html 18. Social Security Administration: FY2003 Budget. 4 Feb. 2002. http://www.ssa.gov/budget/print2003.html 19.FCW Media. First Responders in Dire Need. 13 Feb. 2003. http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2003/0210/web- home-02-13-03.asp 20. CNN: Airlines get some tax help. http://money.cnn.com/2001/11/14/companies/ airlines_bailout/ 21. BNA: FEC Budget Request to Congress 25 March 2003. http://subscript.bna.com/SAMPLES/mpr.nsf/0/ db2814d71d49160285256cf3007bf8fa? OpenDocument 22. FY2004 Budget Resolution: Investing in Children. http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:hiJfZjrHXRcJ: www.senate.gov/~budget/republican/pressarchive/ HelpKids.pdf+%22%2411+billion%22+child+nutrition &hl=en&ie=UTF-8 23. CSPAN: Armed Services Committee Pushes for Details on Iraq Request. 9 Sept 2003. http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight/archive.asp 24. FCW: Bush seeks big picture. 10 June 2002. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0610/news- bush-06-10-02.asp </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=3 align="center"> <p> <img src="images/red-square.gif" height=1 width=680 alt=""> <p align="center"><font color="#993333"><b>CentristSinners.org</b><br> <small>Send comments or suggestions to the </small> <a href="mailto:miraweb@nihongo.org"><small>Editor</small></a> </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> </body> </html> </lj-cut>

Comments

[ex-cerebrate131.livejournal.com]

Hm.

Interestingly enough, the cerebrate Patent Things Government Shouldn't Be Paying For Financial Discipline Scheme can grab $176 billion or so out of that right up front.

Maybe only $100 billion or so if the consequences are properly allowed for, but it's an interesting thought.

[revalkorn.livejournal.com]

Seems like a good time to cancel third-world debts owed to the US, eh?

headline

[djfiggy.livejournal.com]

Just thought you'd be interested.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/09/18/gay_customs030918