Americans typically want bigger defense budgets until they are informed about how much is actually spent on defense, at which point they overwhelmingly favor cutting military spending by considerable margins, according to a new opinion poll released Thursday.
Three-quarters of Americans – about 67 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats – said they supported cutting defense to reduce the federal budget deficit, according to the survey published by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland.
Polls often show broad public support for robust defense spending and even a reluctance to make cuts to the budget, as reflected in Congress’s almost complete refusal to scale back in recent years.
But after respondents were given actual figures about the size of the current defense budget compared with other budget items and historic defense spending levels, “and presented with arguments that experts make for and against cuts,” they favored an average of an 18 percent cut in the current fiscal 2012 budget levels.
Defense spending takes up about 65 percent of the discretionary budget, which adds up to more than the rest of the world’s military spending combined. Most of those participating in the survey claimed, after being presented with the facts, that defense spending was greater than they expected.
“This suggests that Americans generally underestimate the size of the defense budget and that when they receive balanced information about its size they are more likely to [want to] cut it to reduce the deficit,” said Steven Kull, the center’s director.
cut it and half and give people free health care.
With all due respect, GovCo needs to get out of the medical field entirely. It's their involvement that's screwed it up, more of it ain't gonna fix it. Start by repealing the Pure Food & Driug Act of 1906 and the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914. Imangine that the feds gave the United Auto Workers control of the nation's auto manufacturing and road building, that's what they did with the AMA and FDA in medicine.
Less Government = More Freedom
Every modern society should provide health care and education up to the level of attainability for every citizen without bankrupting a family. This is not the case in the USA. The Canadian system has many faults, but it prioritizes health care according to an annual budget and in most cases does not descriminate against the poor. Having worked in the health care system on both sides of the border, each for 13 years, I prefer the Canadian system. American rules only continue to build up an aristocracy of the haves versus an ever impoverished working class. Go to the history books and learn that the French Revolution and a not so violent revolution in the UK presumably settled this matter years ago. The average incomes of our Congress people that was recently published shows that our representatives and senators will always watch out to support their favored positions. When will America become democratic.
Government providing services for people is a legitimate function. You need to remember when you make these comments that you are basically telling millions of people to just go die or suffer. I'm being polite but I wouldn't if we were face to face.
Since the average American citizen has no more influence over their government than the average citizen of the Soviet Union had over theirs…who realy cares what the majority of Americans think?
Oh but they are safe! Just like the people of the Soviet Union. Very well stated JLS, very well stated.
Reminds me of the old ironic line, "When I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you".
At least the people of Europe are "really" rioting in the street,not this camp out on wall street,I'am
71 a disabled vet & wishing I was 50yrs younger I could make some sparks fly.
cut it in half, free healthcare for all.
When will the "huge" majority understand that their opinions mean shit to the elites in the US?
More importantly, cut the BLACK BUDGET now!!!