Amazing graph of how US income tax gets spent
2007 version just put out
direct: http://www.thebudgetgraph.com
via BoingBoing: http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/18/amazing_graph_of_how.html

Quote :

"Eva says: The website, http://thebudgetgraph.com , houses the huge visual representation of how the US federal government spends our income taxes. Not only does it show the amount spent on each item, but it also shows the percentage change from last year so you can see what is emphasized and can spot trends. It is well researched and justified in supporting materials. You can also buy a poster or send one to congress for 10 bucks. The graph is the star here, it puts things into perspective. In fact, this is data that many people do NOT want to see, since all of us in the US have paid for part of everything on there."

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really interesting to see a lot of these things actually - especially the dept. of state and dept. of defense

9/19/2006 1:36:02 AM

For better or worse, they have our resources. And nobody has any disagreements with how they're allocated?

9/19/2006 2:04:32 AM

direct link to the actual poster, it is a lot of clicking involved to get there--
http://thebudgetgraph.com/poster/

needs flash player on your browser

9/19/2006 4:26:34 AM

Gamecat, I can't really bitch about how they are allocated based on that graph alone.

For instance, something like the Bridge no Nowhere would be counted in that graph, but probably not in a category easily linked to pork barrel spending.

It is an interesting visual aid, but it is hard for me to attack specific points on it without further knowledge. Also, it is a 1 year % change, which says nothing about the trends. Perhaps a certain program got an enormous, one-time project financed last year and now has returned to normal levels, even though it appears to be a major decrease in funding.

9/19/2006 6:16:50 AM

We spend a lot on defense apparently.

9/19/2006 7:49:34 AM

thats pretty cool

9/19/2006 8:07:31 AM

^^ True, but they are lumping DoD with Homeland Security, large chunks of DoJ, and big slices of the State Department as well.

9/19/2006 1:09:01 PM