Government Spending What Can Be Done Essay example

As a taxpayer, I wonder where all my hard earned money is spent. My biggest concern is the expenditure on welfare, the War on Drugs, and the War on Terror. I understand welfare can help those in need, that the war on drugs can prevent violence, and some may not view the spending wasteful. Although, these expenditures can be useful to an extent, I believe the spending should be decreased and monitored. Some argue welfare is pertinent to all who receive aid and that it should not be limited. However, welfare has increased significantly over the years with no measurable decrease in the national poverty level. Welfare expenses have increased from â€Å"$445 per person [†¦] in 1960† to â€Å"$13,061 per person† in 2012, which is an extremely large†¦show more content†¦Those who use drugs will go through any outlet to get drugs, but some outlets sell stronger drugs or even drugs laced with poison and other substances that kill. Those arrested for drugs have increased from â€Å"50,000 in 1980† to â€Å"half a million today,† which is more than twenty percent of all the people in jail (Drug Policy Alliance). The United States government alone has spent almost fifteen billion dollars on the War on Drugs this year add in state expenditures that adds up to more than 50 billion dollars. Legalizing marijuana alone could â€Å"bring in $45 to $100 b illion a year,† some economists say (Huffington Post). The legalization of drugs would bring about new jobs for the growing, selling, distribution, and quality control of drugs, which also would decrease the drug trafficking and decrease in death by accidental overdosing. Ending the war on drugs alone would save the United States fifty billion dollars a year. As George Santayana once said, â€Å"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.† Those who oppose me believe the War on Terror has been well worth the investment. I stand on the other side and believe that the war has not been very effective. Washingtons Blog states that terrorism â€Å"has been skyrocketing since 2004,† instead of decreasing like the United States would hope. Along with the increase in terrorism the death toll wasâ€Å"estimated at 225,000† back in 2011, which ImShow MoreRelatedCorruption Of Corruption And Corruption1445 Words   |  6 PagesHow can countries that are seen as corrupt function today? Why has corruption not constantly and consistently fallen and proved to be an inadequate way to rule? The role of corruption in today’s countries has proven to be weak, yet has held as a way of life for many around the world. As money and greed increase worldwide, the desire for these things increases as well. Learning what works, and what doesn’t is essential to the upkeep of many countries and their well-being. Does th e increase of theRead MoreDeficit Spending During The Great Depression768 Words   |  4 PagesDeficit Spending During the Great Depression, many people tried to save money and were spending less. Businesses produce less, unemployment rises and household incomes decline. There are few options available to reverse the effects of a recession on the economy. One specific option is deficit spending. Deficit spending is a government tool used to address serious economic issues. Deficit spending refers to government spending that exceeds federal income and taxes over a period of time. The governmentRead MoreNational Debt Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pagescountry would be for the US government to do things such as reform the tax code, reducing other spending, slow the growth of entitlement spending, and help the economic growth. In order to be able to complete these things the government will have to create an all-inclusive plan to successfully reduce the debt. 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In 2015 the Government revenue was approximately $3.18 trillion, but spent approximately $3.8 trillion. The government has accumulated a massive amount of debt and interest from borrowing money from other countries and the federal reserve. The evident problem is that spending is more than revenue, thus, requiring the government to borrow and with interest of course. Once a debt is owed it is not impossible to recover fromRead MoreThe Impact Of Austerity On Its Effects On The Economy931 Words   |  4 PagesAusterity Austerity as defined by Investopedia is a state of reduced spending and increased frugality in the financial sector. As defined by Merriam-Webster austerity is a situation in which there is not much money and it is spent only on things that are necessary. So what exactly do these two definitions mean and how do they correlate to what happens in an economy that is in a recession or depression? 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