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Totally agreed treestar Dec 2012 #1
If it's military "RELATED" expenses then it's even more than 60% CIA, DIA, NSA etc... uponit7771 Dec 2012 #2
Homeland Security... (3.5%) grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #3
Look at all the costs nineteen50 Dec 2012 #19
America's afraid of it's own formidable shadow. We are a nation at fear. AAO Dec 2012 #88
Thank you. woo me with science Dec 2012 #68
Some of the military budget is hidden in strange places DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #76
+1, Used to work for DOD...money is spread out uponit7771 Dec 2012 #77
Almost any science / technology program is dual purpose, even medical research... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #98
That's what I was told when I worked there, 1967-1971 DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #105
Thanks for the info. When LBJ said that we should seize the "high ground" of space... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #110
Media and pundits always say that Social Security/Medicare is ~40% of the budget TheProgressive Dec 2012 #4
Not true. You are the one not telling the truth. guardian Dec 2012 #23
But it is... please read the 'Highlights' TheProgressive Dec 2012 #26
Disgree. That issue does not happen for 21 years! Simple fix: grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #28
+47% (n/t) klook Dec 2012 #35
Agree!!!! Grins Jan 2013 #141
Those trust fund assets came from FICA contributions over the years (and interest). spooky3 Dec 2012 #72
And, what about the funds that have been borrowed? tecelote Dec 2012 #50
What borrowed funds are you referring to? TheProgressive Dec 2012 #56
You mean the funds that were invested jmowreader Dec 2012 #65
There are two ways to look at the budget jmowreader Dec 2012 #63
+1000 n/t a geek named Bob Dec 2012 #5
knr. bunnies Dec 2012 #6
+10,000 smirkymonkey Dec 2012 #7
Fear and greed versus the wellfare of the people. Gregorian Dec 2012 #8
Something's not right here ... Scuba Dec 2012 #9
You left out the military golf courses for all the generals Coyotl Dec 2012 #10
The golf courses can be used by any military personnel of any rank SnowCritter Dec 2012 #48
Those are general-funded, not taxpayer-funded jmowreader Dec 2012 #52
The Military-Leisure Golf Complex = officials are tee-ing off at taxpayer expense at hundreds Coyotl Dec 2012 #64
Take anything Proxmire ridiculed with a grain of salt jmowreader Dec 2012 #89
Thank you. Cannot kick and rec often or strongly enough. woo me with science Dec 2012 #11
Agree with you ONE HUNDRED percent Ian62 Dec 2012 #125
That's my 2naSalit Dec 2012 #12
Could you provide a link to the data source? TheProgressive Dec 2012 #13
You should try The Google. valerief Dec 2012 #102
+10^100 n/t RoccoR5955 Dec 2012 #14
K&R closeupready Dec 2012 #15
Exactly. ellisonz Dec 2012 #16
Hell yes! daleanime Dec 2012 #17
Mostly agree, though I think the VA department needs to be left out of that 60% Bucky Dec 2012 #18
absolutely! Ligyron Dec 2012 #44
The increase required to the VA budget due to going to war Ian62 Dec 2012 #126
Been sayin it. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #20
Great video. woo me with science Dec 2012 #25
Wow. War eats $95,000 PER SECOND! grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #42
De nada. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #54
It cost $300 million TOTAL in the period from 1967 to 1980 to eradicate small pox. leftlibdem420 Dec 2012 #80
I agree. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #83
An excellent quote and very prescient for America today Ian62 Dec 2012 #124
This is such a great statement on the purpose of war. Thank you for posting it. Overseas Dec 2012 #130
1000% Agreed. No cuts to safety not at ALL!! on point Dec 2012 #21
hey, killing a noun (terror) isn't free. JEB Dec 2012 #22
cese cese Dec 2012 #24
Chart is a picture of only the discretionary budget. korak Dec 2012 #27
Correction korak Dec 2012 #34
The pie chart in the OP represents the GENERAL FUND (programs paid for by income tax) Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #119
Total military spending for 2012 is $1,219 bn - that is 35% of TOTAL government spend Ian62 Dec 2012 #127
'Total Govt spending" includes SS payments that grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #137
100% spot on. ileus Dec 2012 #29
It's not just the "elephant" in the room, it's the pig in the room, considering more is paid to mother earth Dec 2012 #30
K&r... spanone Dec 2012 #31
yep heaven05 Dec 2012 #32
I count the military, homeland security, and TSA in the same bucket. airplaneman Dec 2012 #33
Absolutely!!! Plucketeer Dec 2012 #36
And how about a link that breaks out the defense budget into war related items mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #37
Largest single source of corporate welfare as well. K&R n/t Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #38
Great charts! ReRe Dec 2012 #39
War is 60% of our budget. That's the ONLY place cuts need to come from Denise21 Dec 2012 #40
Absolutely! It looks by your graph that our best years were during low defense spending. The Wielding Truth Dec 2012 #41
That is a very interesting observation, grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #69
Too many profiteering warmongers npk Dec 2012 #43
You make an excellent point humbled_opinion Dec 2012 #45
The military budget ought to be sliced down to 15% Panasonic Dec 2012 #46
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2012 #47
Damn Right !! Maineman Dec 2012 #49
Until we rid ourselves of our current plutocracy, Rex Dec 2012 #51
Hear! Hear! Raster Dec 2012 #53
''Money trumps peace.'' -- George Walker Bush, Feb. 14, 2007 Octafish Dec 2012 #55
I would post these on Facebook but... Tanta Dec 2012 #57
Someone tell the president n/t whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #58
What exactly is operations and maintenance? Is this the money spent on Cleita Dec 2012 #59
Operations as in "Operation Iraqi Liberation" (OIL) aka War on Terra grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #60
The Pentagon can't even provide accurate accounting for the funds it receives. think Dec 2012 #61
"The bloated Pentagon budget has increased a staggering 95 percent dating back to 2000." grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #71
Bingo Auggie Dec 2012 #106
K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Dec 2012 #62
Part of the same culture of fear that brings us the "gun culture" Scootaloo Dec 2012 #66
Agree libodem Dec 2012 #67
We borrow 800-million a week from China to continue the war in Afghanistan rustydog Dec 2012 #70
100th REC! JaneyVee Dec 2012 #73
Absolutely! (nt) ehrenfeucht games Dec 2012 #74
and about half of the world's total lilitary spending pokerfan Dec 2012 #75
The fact that we don't talk about cutting military spending demonstrates the need for Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #117
Hell, Rmoney wanted to increase the military by $2T pokerfan Dec 2012 #121
Yeah, Rmoney was a corp whore too! Let's see who Obama pays back. Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #136
The wars have not ended. Have you seen the budget for Afghanistan? dkf Dec 2012 #78
I suppose a Republican would include Social Security benefits even though they don't come from the JDPriestly Dec 2012 #79
God damn soooooo right. Too far right. xtraxritical Dec 2012 #81
DURec! bvar22 Dec 2012 #82
That's a good way to put it Canuckistanian Dec 2012 #84
I completely agree adieu Dec 2012 #85
Can't help but agree. Shrike47 Dec 2012 #86
How much is the total discretionary budget? andym Dec 2012 #87
A truly excellent article - spread it FAR AND WIDE Ian62 Dec 2012 #90
+++ Sancho Dec 2012 #91
Agreed. Phentex Dec 2012 #92
It's long past time to dismantle the empire FlyByNight Dec 2012 #93
yes cut the military till it stays in America! Civilization2 Dec 2012 #94
And.....? Iggy Dec 2012 #95
So true! another_liberal Dec 2012 #96
I wonder how much of that Operations and Maintenance goes to the oil industry. valerief Dec 2012 #97
Great! as long as _none_ of the cuts come from veterans benefits. Agony Dec 2012 #99
It would not be dfficult sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #100
Yes, it would be easy to save large amounts in operations & procurement Ian62 Dec 2012 #131
All this stuff sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #135
Absolutely! nt ladjf Dec 2012 #101
Absolutely agree! Owl Dec 2012 #103
This is why no deal is best. ProSense Dec 2012 #104
No it doesn't Ian62 Dec 2012 #132
Hi, do you have a link for the diagrams please? Rosa Luxemburg Dec 2012 #107
This 4 minute YouTube video should be required viewing for all Americans. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #108
Thank you november3rd Dec 2012 #111
first of all, there is still one war going. Second lemme educate you as a soldier... pasto76 Dec 2012 #109
+1. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #116
K&R nt. abelenkpe Dec 2012 #112
I don't see debt retirement, interest on debt. Rolled in with military? Festivito Dec 2012 #113
Good points /nt think Dec 2012 #114
There's also 38 billion in increased Social Security costs from vetrans who can't grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #122
And, that would raise that 60%, AND, we the NON-rich have to pay for it. Festivito Dec 2012 #123
As a federal worker I have been stating the same fact for YEARS,, benld74 Dec 2012 #115
another rec and kick. n/t BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #118
I can't help thinking of the contrast between Britain and Norway Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #120
A very good point Ian62 Dec 2012 #133
At the very least, bill Big Oil for the US military's "muscle" to get their product to market. Old and In the Way Dec 2012 #128
Sickening. Arugula Latte Dec 2012 #129
+ trillions...K&R! n/t AntiFascist Dec 2012 #134
Amen again. Cannot kick this enough times. nt woo me with science Dec 2012 #138
Keeping it up top. nt woo me with science Dec 2012 #139
kick No Compromise Dec 2012 #140
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