QUICK: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CHART?
Suppose we consider that the average citizen pays taxes and gets something tangible back. That covers Social Security and probably Medicare. These are inter-temporal transfer payments to yourself, mostly, as long as the programs are on solid financing.
THE REAL 'BURDEN' OF GOVERNMENT
If you cross those out (and most everyone who isn't self-financing can and arguably should), the pie - as presented - that measures the burden of government looks like this for middle-America:
Defense: 38%
Everything else: 31%
Interest Due: 16%
Aide Programs: 16%
These are the basic functions of government, that most small-government conservatives would concede.
Therefore, nearly half of every federal tax dollar not paid back directly to middle America goes to the National Defense of America.
Construed aggressively, the larger part of interest due is because of reckless small-government spending on defense, under Ronald Reagan and, now, under Bush-43.Therefore, nearly half of every federal tax dollar not paid back directly to middle America goes to the National Defense of America.
TAX DAY
When the small-government hoo-haa's trot out "tax day" this year, just remember that the lion's share in this country still goes to defense.
