A Joe Primer

Because most of us don't have first hand knowledge of how much, say, $177 billion or $12 trillion really buys a government, citizenJoe offers our readers this dollar-o-meter (suggestions for better names welcome) to help put all the numbers on this site in perspective.

Important note: these numbers are very rounded off to make them easier on the eyes. 2005 numbers are also usually estimates to start off with. To get the actual numbers, just click on the source links.

$1 billion - 0.04% of the budget (4 pennies out of 100 dollars)

• $1 billion - federal funding for Amtrak (WP)

• $5 billion - federal funding for community development in 2005 (OMB)

• $8 billion - funding to conduct foreign affairs in 2005 (OMB)

$10 billion - 0.4% of the budget (40 pennies out of 100 dollars)

• $25 billion - federal funding for science research and space exploration in 2005 (OMB)

• $30 billion - cost of federal food stamps in 2005 (CBO)

• $50 billion - one year of military spending in Iraq (CJ)

$100 billion - 4% of the budget (4 dollars out of 100 dollars)

• $200 billion - total national spending on criminal justice in 2001 (BJS)

• $300 billion - Medicare spending in 2005 (CBO)

• $500 billion - defense spending in 2005 (CBO)

$1 trillion - 40% of the budget (40 dollars out of 100 dollars)

• $2 trillion - total federal revenue in 2005 (CBO)

• $8 trillion - total federal debt in 2005 (CBO)

• $12 trillion - U.S. gross domestic product in 2005 (CBO)

Did we miss something, let some slant slip in, lose a link - or do you just have something to say? Drop a line below! In the spirit of open dialogue, cJ asks you keep it civil, keep it real and keep it focused on the message, not the messenger. See our policy page for more on what that all means.