USA Facts – Federal, state, and local data from government sources
I&#x27;m seeing many things (if this data is accurate, which assuming it is as it&#x27;s from all government sources) and trends that go against a large percentage of what the media on both sides are perpetuating. That is my first takeaway at a glance.<p>My second takeaway at a glance is the giant problem that is Social Security. It&#x27;s been said over and over, and the aggregation of more data into charts comes to the same conclusion. The way Social Security works is not sustainable. Period. Something has to give. A $405 B shortfall on SS in 2015. If that was at least half, we would actually not be running a deficit. We would have a budget surplus if we actually made Social Security&#x2F;other Gov. retirement program replacement actually sustain itself perpetually. What. A. Concept.<p>A quick third take away seems to be the unprecedented rise in non-cash government aid (food stamps) during the Obama administration. The data is there, needs more analyzing of course.<p>Lastly, it seems that Government revenue for Federal and State&#x2F;Local has actually increased pretty linearly with the population. Despite all the different changes in the income tax rate&#x2F;other progressive taxes. This supports an overhaul to the tax code to a more simple, flat tax system. From another data source outside this report, I&#x27;d have to find it, but historically, no matter the top bracket tax rate, the Federal government collects about 15-17 % income tax. Including when the top rate was 90%+.<p>As far as the presentation, my favorite part is each piece of government data is tied to 4 distinct duties of government outlined in the Constitution. That&#x27;s pretty brilliant.