War Vs. Children

POSTED BY FROSTY TROY

According to a book recently released by First Focus, during the past five years children have lost significant ground in the federal budget.

While overall spending on children's issues increased by about 1.4%, in real terms, total federal non-defense spending grew at nearly 10 times that rate.

As a result, the children's share of the federal non-defense budget declined from 11% in 2004 to 10% in 2008. This drop continues a trend in which the budget share allocated to children has declined 23% since 1960.

In fact, spending for children's education, welfare and youth training has been particularly hard hit during the last half decade, with total spending declining by 9.9%, 11.5% and 14.9% in each area, respectively.

Unfortunately, President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal continues this trend.

For example, spending on children's health programs would increase by 2.2%, but discretionary spending in this area would drop by 12% from 2008 levels.

It is sad to note that of every dollar the American taxpayer pays, 42 cents goes to the military, with only 4.4 cents going toward education, training, and social services costs.

George W. Bush has not only been a fiscal disaster for America, he also will be remembered for his wanton attacks on social programs.