OH, Ok. I see. Well, I am not calling attention to the numbers saying what giant socialists were are. I am not trying to label anything. I am calling attention to the fact that social programs DO take up over half of the budget. I feel like there is this perception that we don’t spend money on social programs, but we do. Now, does that mean we can’t make room for more? No. Does that mean we can’t lower the military budget? No.
But I DO think it is also important to study what we have done moving into the future. All that mandatory spending is mandatory if those programs are going to work. We could slash the budget of the military, make the Dept. of Transportation ride bikes to work, etc, but as you can see with the scope and size of our programs, we need to make sure we properly fund them now and in the future. Sort of like when you get a new phone plan. Sounds awesome at first, but if the budget gets tight that extra expense might make it hard to pay for other things.
I get now more what you are saying as using the budget as a guide as to what the current congress finds important. Though I am not sure that is a great measuring stick, because overall budgets have been pretty similar year to year with gradual increases and decreases, even when we have a changing of who is in power (the Dept of Labor still has to be funded, for example, and probably requires about the same amount it needed last year.) Even when we expand social programs some with Obama Care, I am not sure it accurately reflects our priorities, even though it makes a dent in the budget. But I do understand where you are coming from better now.
Like you said, what congress thinks is important and what we are obligated to are two different things. Say you had a faction wanting to end SS, they still would have to fund it until they changed the law. In our example, yes I am much more passionate about Boba Fett buying than paying rent. Looking at my budget you could call me a big supporter of rent, possibly even an Rentist, but it is just the obligation I have.
