[strictnein]

That is the understanding that you've been presented with, likely by people looking to mislead you, but that's not at all what our actual budget reflects. The social safety nets that we supposedly don't have take up around 2/3rds of our federal budget.

[Loughla]

It's like 50% if you also count the stuff I pay for that is a direct benefit to me at retirement (as does anyone who pays into social security).

So it might be a little nitpicky, and your point still stands. A lot of money is spent on defense and business, but not as much as the before portrays.

Where businesses benefit is in not paying the tax, instead of receiving payments. That's definitely a problem, but it's a different thing.

[john-h-k]

> It's like 50% if you also count the stuff I pay for that is a direct benefit to me at retirement (as does anyone who pays into social security)

It’s not though. The social security you pay is used to fund the current social security payouts. It’s not saved away for you

[Loughla]

Okay? If I pay in and then get that benefit when it's my time to draw that benefit, it doesn't matter if it's my actual dollar or not. Technically right isn't the best right sometimes.

Also my point was that the original claim of 2/3 of the federal budget going to social programs is just wrong. It's well under half unless you count ss. Then it's about half.