Dbq Federal Budget

“The federal budget is the yearly plan for how the US government will spend the money it takes from taxes and borrowing.” After thoroughly analyzing the federal budget from 2012, it is unquestionably evident that a majority of the money is being put into a few major categories, leaving room for the rest of the smaller categories to be financially neglected. Is this fair? It seems that the money could be more fairly distributed, and that there is room for cuts in some of the larger categories, to improve the littler ones. In each of the three budget clusters, the US Government should make adjustments in the way it is distributing money; changes involving the big five, the middle five, and the little guys. The largest category that the money

This category includes: Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security, Defense, Safety Net Programs for the Elderly and Poor, and Interest on the national debt. One concern that automatically stuck out, that needs to be changed, is that the smallest amount of money in the big five, 6% or 225 trillion according to Document C of the DBQ packet, is going to paying off the interest on national debt, and that that amount of money needs to increase to benefit the United States. One might advocate for this by saying that putting more money into paying off the national debt more quickly, would have a positive effect on every aspect of the country, and help the US to flourish with an even greater strength as a country. “..So that all people could live a good life by working, buying property, and pursuing happiness.” (DBQ packet Pg. 87) The fact that the government is providing Medicare/caid, Social Security, and Safety net programs for the poor, is undoubtedly important and an element of the budget that backs up our preamble by promoting the general welfare of the country, therefore there is no legitimate reason for those programs to receive budget cuts. That singles out defense as the only category with some room to move some

The middle five includes: Veterans benefits and services, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Homeland Security. It is hard to look at these, and try to decipher which ones could be cut in order to provide more in other categories, because they all serve a different purpose in supporting each different goal of our preamble. One point that is evident is that there is not enough money going to education from the federal government. Referring back to Document D of the DBQ packet the federal government is contributing only 1.8% of the budget to the education system. Being able to fund education is so incredibly important because the education that is provided to the children in the US is what shapes and forms the future of America. Not being able to provide these kids with a proper education is a matter that will ultimately have a negative effect on the country. That being said it’s hard to decide where the money needed to better the education system should be taken from, seeing as the big five has already been deciphered, and the five different categories here in the middle cluster are all so important. The most substantial chunk of the money here in the middle five is going to veterans benefits and services, and at first thought, it does seem that maybe some money could be taken from there. However, when one thoroughly analyzes where that money is going to (medical costs, support for