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From: dlo@drutx.UUCP (OlsonDL)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Revenues vs. spending: calculated per person
Message-ID: <602@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 16-Nov-85 14:19:49 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.602
Posted: Sat Nov 16 14:19:49 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Nov-85 13:02:32 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 56

[]

The following article appeared in the Saturday Nov. 16, 1985 edition
of Denver's Rocky Mountain News.  The entire article is printed, without
permission, in quotes; the words between brackets are mine:

   "WASHINGTON (AP) - The Census Brueau says the typical American paid
$267.04 more in federal, state, and local taxes last year than the year
before.
   Americans paid $3,112.42 each in fiscal 1984 taxes.  That was up 9.4
percent from the prior year, according to the study 'Government Finances
in 1983-1984'.
   The biggest chunk of revenue came from individual income taxes, with
the three levels of government collecting $1,526.85 from each American. 
That was up from $1,470.49 in 1983."
   [What's this about cuts in income tax revenue, Tim?  Remember, federal
level is also included in this.]
   "Sales, receipts, and customs taxes were second at $692.57 per capita,
up from $618.50, followed by property taxes at $408.44, up from $381.46.
   Corporate income taxes, which are actually also PAID BY INDIVIDUALS
INDIRECTLY," [their words, but capitalized by me for emphasis] "cost
Americans $313.09 apiece, up from $219.16.
   Spending per American, totaling all three levels of government, included:
 * National defense and international relations, $1,050.31, up from $977.70."
 [+7.4%]
"* Old age, survivors, disability, and health benefits, $993.05, up from
$946.61." [+4.9%]
"* Education, $798.63, up from $754.97." [+5.8%]
"* Interest on general debt, $583.95, up from $537.57." [+8.6%]
"* Miscellaneous, $465.05, up from $461.04." [+0.9%]
"* Public welfare, $374.43, up from $356.80." [+4.9%]
"* Natural resources, $276.50, up from $234.02." [+18.1%]
"* Employee retirement, $187.91, up from 172.04." [+9.2%]
"* Hospitals, $174.96, up from $167.11." [+4.5%]
"* Highways, $170.68, up from $159.05." [+7.3%]
"* Postal Service, $112.72, up from $100.70." [+11.9%]

Assuming my calculations are correct, the defense + interest on the national
debt (people on the political left keep wringing their hands over those)
+ international relations spending totals $1,634.26, up from $1,515.27,
per person.  Lot of money, but the non-defense/non-interest/non-internaltional
-relations spending listed above totals $3,553.62, up from $3,352.34, per
person.  Interesting.

Before you jump all over me, Tim, "Public welfare" stated above is only a
*part* of the Social Welfare (their words) listed from my favorite almanac.
The fact that the all of the Social Welfare programs do not go directly or
exclusively to poor people does not change the fact that they still are
classified as *part* of non-defense, most of which is controlled by HHS.
I never said all went to poor people; only IF they did.  Associating welfare
with poor people is in *your* head, not mine.  Understand?

My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

David Olson
..!ihnp4!drutx!dlo