Inflation-adjusted per capita federal spending went up $822.90 from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2012, according to official data from the U.S. Treasury and the Census Bureau.
Real federal spending also increased $2437.64 per household between 2008 and 2012.
In constant 2012 dollars, the federal government spent $3,176,376,470,000 in 2008 and $3,538,446,000,000 in 2012, according to the U.S. Treasury. (The 2008 spending number was adjusted to 2012 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.)
On April 1, 2008 (the midpoint in the federal fiscal year which ends on Sept. 30), there were 303,381,938 people in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and on April 1, 2012 there were 313,336,712.
The $3,176,376,470,000 that the federal government spent in fiscal 2008 equaled $10,469.89 for each of the 303,381,938 people who lived in the United States that year. The $3,538,446,000,000 the federal government spent in fiscal 2012 equaled $11,292.79 for each of the 313,336,712 people who lived in the United States that year.
Thus from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2012 inflation-adjusted federal spending per person increased by $822.90.
That means that over the past four years, the federal government has increased its spending on average by about another $206 each year for every man, woman and child in the country.
But that’s Bush’s Fault!!
Alternatively, it’s the “obstructionist” Republicans fault for not letting the Democrats do what they “needed to do”.
There were 111,115,000 households in the country in April 2008 (the midpoint in the fiscal year) and 114,055,000 households in April 2012. The $3,176,376,470,000 the federal government spent in fiscal 2008 equaled $28,586.39 per household. The $3,538,446,000,000 the federal government spent in fiscal 2012 equaled $31,024.03 per household. Thus from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2012 inflation-adjusted federal spending per household increased by $2437.64.
That means that over the past four years, the federal government has increased its spending on average by about another $609.41 each year for every household in the country.
In order to cut real federal spending in fiscal 2013 back to the level it was at in fiscal 2008, the federal government would need to cut actual spending this year to a level that is $362,069,530,000 below what it was last year.
But all we get is OMG! THE SKY IS A FALLING! THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!
Over a cut in the Increase in Spending….
So Doomed!
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