A 38 billion dollar cut is 0.01% of the federal budget.

[TheWraith]

Just for a little perspective. The federal budget is $3.7 trillion dollars a year. The cuts to the Democratic proposal that they won tonight amount to one tenth of one percent, or slightly more than the US spends every year

One tenth of one percent of the US population would be the population of Aurora, Illinois. One tenth of a percent of the average salary in the US would be $44 per year.

[ingac70]

1. kick.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. But discretionary non-defense is only 12% of the budget....

...so you'd have to multiply that by about eight.

It's more like 0.08% of the Federal budget.

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

5. I thought it was 43%

I thought non-defense discretionary was 43% and defense spending was 57%. I think these numbers are from 2009, I doubt the percentage for the military has gone down.

The reason why I ask is that I'm always getting mailings from the American Friends Service Committee. When I open the envelope, there is a "banner" that is folded several times. Once you unfold this "banner", it shows who gets the money from the discretionary budget.

Here is a link to it: http://www.countdowntowithdrawal.org/pdf/15ftx13.5in-Tax-Banner.pdf

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. The definitions vary..

...there are untouchables within that 43%. DHS, for example -- Heimatsicherheitshauptamt is untouchable. A lot of HHS is for all practical purposes non-discretionary because it involves entitlements, just not SS/Medicare. Pensions, too. VA -- that's quasi-defense spending.

[joshcryer]

7. Yeah, there'd be a crapload less disabled vets...

...and spouses with lifetime death benefits.

Note, I am not saying these people don't deserve their benefits, but if it wasn't for the war machine those benefits would not need to be met out.

GI Bill shouldn't count because it pays for itself (an educated person will contribute back to society).

[ohheckyeah]

3. Politicians are so full of shit.

Congressmen act like they are just victims of circumstances when in fact they are responsible for the ills of the country.

Here's a thought.....maybe they could quit taking money from lobbies and actually represent the American people. Maybe they could actually represent the majority of Americans instead of the rich and powerful only. Maybe they could quit playing games and actually do what they were elected to do. Maybe they could quit worrying about passing bullshit laws designed to keep us under control and get control of their own greed and corruption.

Yeah, like that will ever happen.

We need to kick almost all of their asses to the curb.

[The Magistrate]

4. Actually, Sir, It Is One Percent

Divide 3,700,000,000,000 by 100, you get 37,000,000,000.

[girl gone mad]

8. math...

3.8 x 10^10
-------------- = 1 x 10^-2
3.7 x 10^12

1 x 10^-2 x 10^2 = 1

:shrug:

eta: that's 1%

[dems_rightnow]

9. That was a lot of work

For the wrong answer.

[girl gone mad]

10. sorry..

I clarified it. Should make sense now.

[dems_rightnow]

12. If by "clarified it"....

..... you mean "changed to the right answer", I concur.

[girl gone mad]

18. Yes, yes..

I interpreted it as 3.8 billion rather than 38 billion. I realized this number was wrong after looking at the OP again, but thanks so much for keeping me honest. The answer was right both times. 3.8 billion is .1% of 3.7 trillion. 38 billion is 1% of 3.7 trillion. 38 billion is most assuredly not .01% of 3.7 trillion.

[Festivito]

11. 37B$ is 1% of 3.7T$, not .01%. /nt

[SidDithers]

13. K&R...

perspective is good.

Sid

[CreekDog]

14. But wrong perspective? 37B is not .01% of the budget

it's 1% of a number that includes defense which was barely touched.

[Logical]

15. Your math is off a lot. Times 10. Recalculate. n-t

[CreekDog]

16. Strongly unrecommend --OP has posted a completely wrong number

it is NOT .01%

:hi:

[Juche]

17. They are coming after the other 99%

Medicare, medicaid and SS are on the block soon when Ryan and his fellow GOPers get their chance.

[L0oniX]

19. Yep ...and they are going act like they really did something too ...

like a baby that shits its pants and is happy about it.