3 ms·

In terms of absolute dollar-outlay amounts, perhaps. But in terms of discretionary spending — the things on which we can choose to spend money — blowing shit up

by rosser 13y ago

In terms of absolute dollar-outlay amounts, perhaps. But in terms of discretionary spending — the things on which we can choose to spend money — blowing shit up accounts for more than half of it. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are monies the government is obligated to spend, and so in terms of a discussion of our priorities, aren't exactly relevant. Source: the same Wikipedia article you used.

nickff 13y ago
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending are all within the discretion of congress to change or eliminate; the only difference between "discretionary" and "non-discretionary" is that the latter do not require annual appropriations. The "discretionary" v. "non-discretionary" divide is a fiction created for the convenience of the congress.