Why Are Politicians Spending 4.7 Times More Than During Vietnam?

All dollar amounts below are inflation adjusted to 2012 dollars, per federal government “chaining” practices.

At a time of full employment (the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 9.6 million unfilled job openings at the end of August and a 3.8 percent unemployment rate for September), and with National Defense consuming a near record low percentage of federal spending, why is the federal government spending 4.7 times what it spent during the Vietnam War and 1.7 times what it spent during the Iraq War? Who is getting all this money?

These spending increases are being funded by piling more debt on the shoulders of all future generations, it’s a massive Buy Now Pay Later scheme handed to us by glad handing politicians.

From 1966-70 we had over 300,000 troops in Vietnam. During those years federal spending averaged $1,046 billion per year and National Defense consumed 44.3 percent of federal spending. Annual deficits averaged $47 billion.

From 2003-08 we had over 100,000 troops in Iraq. During those years federal spending averaged $2,915 billion per year and National Defense consumed 19.9 percent of federal spending. Annual deficits averaged $380 billion.

2023 federal spending is projected to be $4,937 billion with National Defense consuming only 12.8 percent of federal spending. There is an old saying that “Figures don’t lie, but liars sure do figure.” The Treasury Department has reported that the 2022FY deficit was $1,400 billion and that the FY2023 deficit was $1,700 billion. According to a CNN article the Treasury Department inflated the 2022 deficit because it included the cost of President Biden’s student loans bailout plan, which courts stopped. The actual 2022 deficit was about $1,000 billion. Then it reduced the amount of the deficit reported for 2023 by counting the unspent student bailout money as income for 2023. The “real” annual deficit nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023.

1996 was the last time that Congress actually passed a budget in regular order. Instead they cram a bunch of self-serving pork into a 4,000+ page bill and force a vote before people can examine it. It’s a great way to grease palms to buy votes and solicit campaign contributions?

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