Sunday, July 17, 2011

Debt Ceiling Update: Math Always Beats up on Words (Dirty Harry Edition)

Ever since Obama couldn't guarantee that Social Security checks would go out, the Washington Examiner has done the unthinkable; they've obtained the hard numbers and done the math.

Actual math below the jump. For those of you who avoid math at all costs, just move along. Nothing to see here.

Here are the facts, as reported by MarketWatch and the Bipartisan Policy Center. You do the math:
* The federal government receives approximately $200 billion in revenues each month.
* Interest on the national debt in August will be approximately $29 billion.
* Social Security will cost about $49. 2 billion.
* Medicare and Medicaid will cost about $50 billion.
* Active duty military pay will cost about $2.9 billion.
* Veterans affairs programs will cost about $2.9 billion.
If you've been punching buttons on your calculator, you know that still leaves $39 billion each month. 
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Wait! We're still going to have $39 billion left over after all that? So what's up with Obama saying he "can't guarantee" that the checks will go out? Easy. He's trying to scare you into accepting his bargaining position - with words. Too bad that words always get their ass kicked by math. I just have one question for the Democrats: Do you feel lucky?

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