Is it all really all about the Benjamin’s? In government it is.
Which leads many to wonder ‘where do all them tax (and borrowed) dollars actually go?’ Not in a “some bureaucrat’s pocket” kind of way, but in the real, budgeted, federally-approved sense?
Well, I made you a movie so you don’t have to wonder anymore.
In just about a minute, this little animation shows how the composition of federal spending has changed from 1962 to 2025. And maybe it’s just me, but it’s more dramatic than you’d expect for a chart about the gov’s dolla dolla bills.
🎥 Check out a high-res version of the visual here.
Quick highlights:
🚀 In the 1960s, defense spending was king (over 40% of government spending). No shocker there with Vietnam goin’ on.
💊 By the 2000s, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare were elbowing their way to the front of the line.
🧾 Interest on the debt and IRS costs? Quietly creeping into a larger slice of the pie that is only projected to get bigger.
🧰 And the “everything else” category? Squeezed like a lime at happy hour.
This isn’t just fiscal trivia. It’s a visual reminder that what we fund says everything about what we value—and how much of our budget is on autopilot, regardless of who wins the next election.
Then, if you’ve got thoughts (or just budgetary feelings), drop a comment. I’d love to hear how you’d rearrange the pie.
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