The United States government is expected to receive 1.8 trillion dollars in tax revenue in 2001. After the government spends this initial amount on various federal agencies and programs, they decide how to use the remaining budget. They have estimated a 184 billion dollar surplus this coming year. All of this spending can be put into nine categories: Social Security, Non-Defense Discretionary Spending, Defense Discretionary Spending, Medicare, Net Interest, Medicaid, other Means-Tested Entitlements, and other Mandatory Spending.
             Starting with the biggest chunk of the total federal spending for the 2001 Fiscal year, Social Security accounts for 23 percent, or 422 billion dollars. This seems like an inordinate amount of money to devote to a failing program that needs to be reformed. This program needs to be dissolved and more funding for the benefit of the poor should be allotted. It is not right that some multi-millionaire gets the same social security check that a man in the Bronx does. Those provided for should not be paid just for being old. Their share should go to the Bronx man that is living barely over the poverty line.
             Non-Defense discretionary spending amounts to 19% or 348 million dollars of federal spending. This category is responsible for funding education, job training, science, technology, housing, transportation, and foreign aid. This is not a good figure. In 1966, spending in this category amounted to 23 percent of the budget and now it has been reduced to 19 percent. Why is this the case when public education is faltering? The need for more teachers and more funding is a universal cry in the public education departments of counties the country over. And this is just the education part of this category! More money should definitely be spent here.
             Discretionary spending for national defense made up 16 percent or 292 billion dollars of federal spending. This amount seems a little too h...