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2011 National Budget

President Obama recently sent his 2011 budget request to Congress.  Now it is up to Congress to decide what the nation will spend in 2011.  The national budget is extremely important because it sets our priorities for the coming year.  For example, it determines how much money we spend to help pay teachers, police, and soldiers, as well as to protect the environment, cut taxes, and provide services for the poor.  Often, the federal government spends more money than it collects and has to borrow funds.  If you could make the budget, what would you spend more money on and how would you try to save money?

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February 17, 2010
Katarina F. , 6th, WI
This doesn't really have to do with the question, but I am doing a report on you for school... challenges you had achieving your goals and how you changed the world. p.s. We should spend more money, well not on things that are unimportant, but we should save up or only use the minimum needed in case of a natural disaster. I realize that that may sound like I think thatb will be easy but it probably isn't and thats why we aren't doing that. :)
February 17, 2010
Steve, 13, Illinois
I'd take several drastic steps. First I would bring the troops home, which would be the right thing to do, but would also save money. Next, I would crack down on defense contrats, which are extremely bloated. I would not allow the Social Security trust fund to be raided. I would end agricultural subsidies to the big corporations. I would allocate more money towards healthcare, but I would return control of education back to the state and local governments, where it constitutionally belongs. Finally, do not allow for bailouts or stimuli that fall outside of the budgeted spending. I think Congress is going about it all wrong. What we need to do is have a balanced budget amendment so we don't have the problems of deficits. A reasonable supermajority could overturn the ban in wartime. It's either raising taxes or cutting spending or both, but there can not be a budget deficit.
February 13, 2010
Danielle, 8th, CO
i think wwe should be investing more in solutions for climate change and alternative energy sources besides oil
February 02, 2010
Jt Price, 9th , Texas
Well i would spend the money on more important things like police, teachers, soldiers, ect. and i would cut back on less important things. It would help the economy get better and not crumble the way it did in the great depression.