Download - Week 4 db- budget
National budget
Spending and cutting of the National budget
JULY 20, 2015Keiser University
E-campus
HOW WOULD YOU CONTROL THE NATIONAL BUDGET?
What did you find it hard to cut? What surprised you that you kept? How do you justify the cuts that you made? How do you justify what you kept? What are the consequences (intended and unintended) of those programs that you cut? If you were a politician running for re-election, would the budget that you created be
popular with your constituents back home?
CHOICE #1: BUDGET PATH
CHOICE #2: DEFENSE
CHOICE #3: DOMESTIC
CHOICE #4: SOCIAL SECURITY
CHOICE #5: HEALTHCARE
CHOICE #6: OTHER
CHOICE #7: REVENUE
CHOICE #8: TAX EXPENDITURES
RESULTS:
REVIEW:My overall results after completing this incredibly educational simulation was: The national debt
was reduced to 48% of GDP by 2020 and kept it at a sustainable level through 2030. Going
through the different areas throughout the simulation, I found that I chose to increase federal
spending in areas such as defense, specifically veterans’ benefits; a new jobs bill; expanding
research; and extending American Opportunity Tax Credit (Stablalize the Debt: An online
exercise of hard choices, 2014). I found that I cut a lot of spending in the Healthcare area. I can
justify most of my cuts by going back to the Fathers’ view of the role of the government and
realizing that the American Dream has a vital part that states hard work gives access to that
dream. I have found that there are consequences within the newly proposed budget, but I
strongly believe that most of these will make all citizens feel the need to go and work as hard as
they can. I have seen all too many people in my own area sit around and file for benefits for the
needy over and over again without putting in as much work in finding and maintaining steady
employment to keep their families above the poverty level. They live “outside their means”. I
personally struggle to take care of my family but I work hard and understand my financial limits.
I choose to spend money when needed and save money until I can comfortable do other things
such as go on vacation. I also believe that the States should be more responsible for assisting
their citizens rather than the Federal Government shell out all of the money for these programs. I
chose for Federal to give out blocks to the States and have the States choose how those monies
best work for them. People have choices in their life and if they believe that another state could
give them more benefits, than it is their choice to move there (and their responsibility to know of
any time lines the state may have on residency, if any). Talking about the budget is so important
and I know that sitting here in the comfort of my home is a lot less stressful than sitting in a
room and having to debate about each and every choice; however, I think that the question about
being re-elected or not is hindering. It would completely depend on the overall district or area I
would be representing in order for me to say if the decisions I made would be popular to the
constituents or not. After talking to some of close friends and family, I know that the decisions I
made are very popular with them but they have the same, or similar, beliefs that I have, which I
stated above. I also know some people that would absolutely oppose the decisions I made in this
simulation; however, I am the kind of person that fights to do what I think is right in an objective
manner no matter the popularity it causes. I also strongly believe that if you explain difficult
choices in a well worded manner that people are more willing to at least consider that choice
than if you just say because I wanted to or if it appears as if you are not knowledgeable in that
topic. So, yes I believe that I would be re-elected with the decisions I have made in the
simulation concerning the budget. Sometimes there needs to be immediate sacrifices in order to
have a better future. I mean look at the sacrifices of going back to school, but we all do it
because we believe it will make a difference in bettering our futures.
REFERENCESStablalize the Debt: An online exercise of hard choices. (2014). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from
The Committee for a Responisble Federal Budget: http://crfb.org/stabilizethedebt/#