Ben Cohen Explains the Federal Budget

Ben Cohen, Co-Founder of Ben and Jerry's, explains the federal budget and how shifting 15% of the Pentagon budget could make all the difference.

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[cybold2]

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist." - Eisenhower 1961

What Ike said in 1961 has come true with a vengence. Put another way, half of all our taxes are going to the military industrial complex and other corporate welfare whores.

[enkelin32]

@lilmac929 True, I dont like myh Tax money going to JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs to give 100 million dollar bonuses to their Executives

[smvdriver]

School districts had total expenditures of approximately $596.6 billion in 2007–08

nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.­asp

School districts had total expenditures of approximately $596.6 billion in 2007–08

[smvdriver]

Here are the 60 cookies.

.

[smvdriver]

Ben Cohen, you are so full of ice cream or did you drink the cool-aid? Federal spending is not the whole picture. Locally/annually we spend ~$10K per student for a total of 60 cookies; your education example is short by about 56 cookies.

To bad you have shortchanged the truth.

[Myuzishin]

@Col316Sing Social Security is not 'discretionary' spending. Really, Defense isn't either, but it's included here so that Ben can make his numbers look like he's smart. Keep in mind what Ben's all about. He's anti-military, pro-social programs, and reaps the benefits of capitalism every day of his life while claiming to support the Occupy movement.

[ghostofzigz]

@dogfight156 agreed. Ben would you get us an updated version? the new numbers are even more staggering.

[crazychubba]

@Col316Sing

SS and HC are entitlement program so basically it shouldn't be budgeted or touched upon. The reasoning for SS and HC not to be touched is that it's the citizens' money to begin with. The fed government is only BORROWING it and they're suppose to give it back.

He clearly stated that he's only talking about the federal discretion budget at 1:16. The leftover or the federal discretion budget which is the amount of money left over to be allocated in different programs.

[dogfight156]

this is only 2007! ben should do this every year. then we'd all wake up

[alika207]

Thumbs up if it's time for changes in our spending!

[Col316Sing]

HOw deceptive! you have pulled Ss and HC out and dont include them in your pie, so that you can say that the military is 50% come on. You have some good points, but they are lost due to your intellectual dishonesty. It is all of those social programs that have caused most of our problems and the costs associated. I agree that we need to cut fraud, waste and abuse in our military spending, as well as in every other area, but some otf the programs you would increase need to be cut altogether

[MrExplosionsHurt]

@metalbucket2 what , he did say "i'm a dessert guy." =)