Breakdown of Federal Expenditures:

Social Security: $337.0B

Medicare Benefits: $177.1B

$514.1B

are ~59% of Entitlement Programs

~34% of total budget

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version

Let’s take a look at two of the big drains on the budget. Social Security and Medicare benefits. These two programs totaled $514.1 billion in 1995, representing approximately 59% of all entitlement programs and about 34% of the total federal budget. The future demands on these two programs are obvious due to the increasing number of retirees in this country. Don’t forget the baby boomers that are quickly approaching their “golden years”. How many of you want to cut your grandparent’s social security benefits and increase the premiums they must pay for medicare? On top of that, the elderly population in this country is a formidable political force that is growing as I type. The population has a record of high voting participation to accompany their growing numbers. How many of you seriously participate in the electoral process? How many of you seriously keep up with what is going on in the political arenas that will have an impact on your futures, and pocket books?