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/#