Where the money goes

In 2008, the U.S. government collected $2.5 trillion in taxes and spent $2.96 trillion. Three departments spent roughly two-thirds of the money: The Department of Health and Human Services received $770 billion; $650 billion went to the Department of Defense; the Treasury received $550 billion, 75 percent of which paid annual interest on the national debt.

The Social Security Trust Fund is a separate $2.4 trillion account funded through payroll and employee contributions. More money goes into Social Security than is paid out, so Congress routinely borrows the "surplus" for the general budget.

And it will never be paid back. This has been going on for years.

Vernon Carles

Spring Hill