[brchr]

There are some semantic issues, e.g., the distinction between "mandatory" and "discretionary" expenditures, but the data is pretty easy to explore.

Essentially you are "both right". > 50% of total spending is Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Whether that is "social services" is another semantic question.

And > 50% of the discretionary budget is defense.

But have a look for yourself: e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget

[throwaway894345]

> Whether that is "social services" is another semantic question.

This is puzzling to me. I don't think I've ever heard anyone argue that social security, medicare, and medicaid aren't social services. As far as I'm aware, everyone agrees that these are all social services. I would be curious to hear arguments for excluding it from the "social services" rubric.