The winds of change in the U.S. are blowing around the budget proposals in Congress. Everybody wants the government to bring spending under control, but nobody wants to loose access to the government funded programs that we value. Everyone cannot be appeased, but everyone should speak up for what they think the best decisions are. Congress is a representative of the people, there to make decisions for the country on our behalf, which means we have a responsibility to express our needs and wants to them. Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to do!
Being informed is the best first step. Below, I have pulled some numbers from Obama's proposal for each department. I encourage you to look at the full document. Each section begins with bulleted highlights of what that money would be used for, so it doesn't necessarily require extensive reading. Obviously, the GOP proposals are VERY different. There is heavy debate going on, and everything from NPR to fighter jets to NASA to Pell Grants is on the chopping block. You can follow the progress of certain amendments highlighted in the New York Times.
The numbers below are meant to provide an overview of expenditures. How does it compare with how you think our money should be used? It's easy to say what shouldn't get cut, but cuts are being made so it is most productive to identify where to make them. Since we all have different interests and are impacted in different ways (as teachers, social workers, entrepreneurs, students, homeowners, parents, etc, etc), I invite you to share your ideas.
Once you've identified what you'd like to fight for, and what you think should be sliced and diced, then visit Congress.org. All you have to do is enter your zip code and it'll tell you who your representatives are. From there you can either contact them through the Congress.org website, or follow the link to the individual's website and access their contact form. Tell them what you think! It is their job to listen!
Personally, I'm a big advocate of participation, so as long as you take action, whatever your opinion is, I'm happy. Debate is a useful tool for developing and testing opinions, which is why I've asked for you to share your thoughts. If you've seen my recent Facebook posts, you know that I find it disturbing that our biggest budget item (by hundreds of billions of dollars!) is the Dept. of Defense. I don't think that investing in the nuclear weapons complex, weapons delivery systems and fighter jets makes us, or anyone else in the world, safer or more free. I'm not suggesting that medical care for servicemembers should be cut, I am suggesting that we wouldn't have thousands of soldiers coming home with traumatic brain injuries if we weren't involved in violent conflict (and gearing up for more in the future). National security, in my opinion, means investing in the wellbeing of the American public (meaning health, education, a safe and comfortable standard of living, innovation...) and using our resources to invest in the wellbeing of other nations. Why should we care about the wellbeing of other nations? Becuase we need them! Each of us does business with the world at large every single day as we buy gas, food, electronics, clothes, etc. And since I believe in responsible business practices (as opposed to exploitation or oppression), that means spending/investing money in ways that has a positive impact on the people with whom we do business. Now THAT would make the world a safer place.
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| Obama's 2011/12 Budget Proposal |
