The cost of the Ryan/Republican Budget

Paul Ryan has released the Republican budget that cuts taxes for the rich and corporations and cuts spending for...well, on just about everything.

According to Brad Plumer at the Washington Post, if Ryan and the Republicans get there way, over the next decade the federal government will spend...

38% less than Obama has proposed on air-traffic control, roads, bridges
16% less on food stamps and housing assistance for the poor
13% less on help for veterans
6% less on general science, space and basic technology
33% less on education, training, employment and social services.

These cuts will have an enormous impact if enacted.  In what way?

If you fly, expect more than 3,000 additional canceled flights and over 68,000 additional delayed flights annually.

Weather forecasts would half as accurate as they are today.  With less accurate weather forecasts, Governors and mayors will have to order evacuations of areas twice as large and for twice as long as they do today.

A quarter of the bridges that you drive over today are "structurally deficient" and will not just stay that way but likely become even less safe to drive over.

More tainted food will get on the mark because there will be fewer and less frequent food inspections and less money to track down and stop outbreaks from food poisoning. 

Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-paul-ryans-budget-actually-cuts--and-by-how-much/2012/03/20/gIQAL43vPS_blog.html#pagebreak