U.S. spent $10,612 per person in 2010

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Times

The federal government spent $10,612 per person domestically last year, including more than $5,000 per person on direct safety-net programs such as Social Security, unemployment benefits and housing assistance, according to the latest tally from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Broken down by states, Alaskans fared the best, with an average of nearly $18,000 per person in federal domestic spending, followed by Virginia, where a huge defense procurement industry meant the government spent more than $17,000 per person.

Were it a state, the District of Columbia, which is the seat of the federal government, would have topped them all at $102,904 per person in spending.

Nevada got the least federal spending at less than $8,000 per person.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/27/us-spent-more-10000-person-2010/

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Yes I know, but this is the only source I could find reporting the story.

[DrunkenBoat]

1. "The federal government" didn't spend *shit* on Social Security. US workers fund every penny.

And Social Security is *by far* the biggest chunk of that "safety net".

What a load of horseshit.

[valerief]

2. Bingo! nt

[geckosfeet]

3. Agreed. Bagger spin.

on edit: the federal government took/takes the excess money intended for future social security benefits and spends it on something else - then they claim that SS is underfunded.

[PSPS]

11. Not quite

The excess money collected by Social Security is used to buy special treasury bonds, where they accrue interest. What the treasury does with the bond proceeds is the same as any other bonds purchased by anyone.

[geckosfeet]

16. So, where does the underfunding myth come from?

[joeglow3]

18. And a company using that type of accounting would be slapped with SEC fines

[DrunkenBoat]

19. you mean companies can't lend out their money in exchange for government

bonds?

do tell.

[RantinRavin]

10. wrong

the employee funds 1/2 of that penny.

[PSPS]

12. The other half is paid out of employee's potential salary, so it's the same thing.

[DrunkenBoat]

14. Wrong: employer contribution is part of workers' compensation. It belongs

to the workers, not the employers.

[Doremus]

4. When the only source is the Moonie Times, isn't that enough reason not to repeat it? nt

[Robbie88]

13. Have to agree with you on this one...

n/t

[xchrom]

5. Unrec

[quakerboy]

6. Why do I feel that this is deceptive

DC is 10 times the average? Is that because all government function is Federal?

How about military spending? Does that count towards these totals. Where does money for our bases oversees count in? How about the salaries of our politicians. I suppose the whole of the Secret Service is probably considered a DC cost, right?

I dunno. I doubt this article is fair in it apportionment.

[creeksneakers2]

7. That was my complaint too

They didn't mention what the military costs per person. They didn't say if military retirements and VA care were included in the safety net costs.

[Doctor_J]

9. Maybe because you saw that the URL belongs to Rev Moon and his nutty cult?

Just a wild guess.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MineralMan]

15. Right wing propaganda from the right wing newspaper of record.

Read something else. That's my advice.

[Javaman]

17. I'm not going click on the link, but how much of that 10K was spent on the military? nt