So how screwed are we (Fiscal Cliff)?

[wyvern999]

I find it odd how a nation that has no universal healthcare, and a minimalist approach to a welfare state to say the least, manages to get itself into so much debt.
Just what are you spending your money on? because it certainly isn't your people.

[kefkaownsall]

Defense

[Sour Grapes]

The United States spends more on its military than the rest of the ENTIRE WORLD.  Allow that to sink in.  One country spends more on its military than the entirety of all the other countries in the world.

A lot of it is probably contractual waste, thanks to people being fucking bastards, and thinking, HEY!  Free money!  There's a lot of paranoia, there, too, and then there are the dominionists, who think the USA should take over the world to make way for Jesus.

[Veras]

I find it odd how a nation that has no universal healthcare, and a minimalist approach to a welfare state to say the least, manages to get itself into so much debt.
Just what are you spending your money on? because it certainly isn't your people.

The three largest things, in order, are Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, and Defense.  Note that Defense spending does not include Homeland Security or the nuclear program.

Breakdown of U.S. federal spending: 

(click to show/hide)

The United States spends more on its military than the rest of the ENTIRE WORLD.  Allow that to sink in.  One country spends more on its military than the entirety of all the other countries in the world.

A lot of it is probably contractual waste, thanks to people being fucking bastards, and thinking, HEY!  Free money!  There's a lot of paranoia, there, too, and then there are the dominionists, who think the USA should take over the world to make way for Jesus.

The U.S. spends a lot on the military, but it is not more than the rest of the world combined.  It is close though, 42.8% of the world's total.

Major military spending: 

(click to show/hide)

[Askold]

I have seen some statistics where the U.S. spending is closed to 50% of the wolrds military spendings. Either that was old data or one of them is simply wrong.

[Lt. Fred]

I find it odd how a nation that has no universal healthcare, and a minimalist approach to a welfare state to say the least, manages to get itself into so much debt.
Just what are you spending your money on? because it certainly isn't your people.

Largely recessions.

[Distind]

I have seen some statistics where the U.S. spending is closed to 50% of the wolrds military spendings. Either that was old data or one of them is simply wrong.

It's because people go back and forth on just what is covered in defense.