2017 Budget Activity

--Read this NYTimes article from 2010, either online or the pdf

--THIS INTERACTIVE ONLINE GAME HAS DESCRIPTIONS ABOUT EACH OF THE DIFFERENT TOPICS.  THEY WILL BE HELPFUL.  There is a pdf at the bottom of this page that explains the different categories.

--Each budget cut will make someone unhappy.  Your decisions will hurt people.  Some of your decisions will make Americans' lives better.  Good luck.  BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOUR CHOICES.

--There are only two ways to balance the budget.  You can cut programs.  Or you can raise taxes.  Or some combination of both.

--On your paper, each square you fill in next to the category should also be filled in on the huge grid.  You are trying to fill in the whole thing.  I'd use a pencil.

--"earmarks" are federal projects brought home to districts.  Like the BART extension to San Jose.  (See: porkbarrel)

--"cap medicare growth" -- make it more difficult for poor people to get medical care.  Either through making it harder to qualify, paying less of the bill, or making prescriptions more expensive.

--You should finish this by the end of class.