So here’s what’s remarkable:Again, discretionary spending totaled $1.7 trillion last year– which includes US military expenditures.However, the other spending categories– mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, etc.) and interest on the debt– were so vast that the federal government still had an enormous deficit for the year.How enormous? $1.7 trillion enormous.Look at those numbers again: Discretionary spending for the year was $1.7 trillion. The fiscal deficit for the year was also $1.7 trillion.Conclusion? The government needed to eliminate ALL discretionary spending last year– including the military– in order to balance the budget.
