Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
Twenty million dollars is an extradinary sum to you and me, but you have to put that number in context. Total spending by the federal government in 2012 is budgeted at $276.1B, so $20M is 0.007% of total expenditures. To put that number in perspective, for an individual making $50k per year, 0.007% of their pre-tax income is $3.50, barely enough to buy a coffee and donut at Tim's.
So yes, in the larger context of federal government spending, $20M is peanuts.
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Looking at this from a 'fiscal' viewpoint is wrong, IMO. It should be about stopping abuse of the system, and not about saving money. The abuse is happening, therefore we need laws to stop the abuse before it gets any worse.
The US has a huge problem with illegal aliens getting illegal refunds for dependents living in other countries. This has been a problem they've known about for a long time, but because they ignored it for so long, now the IRS doesn't have the manpower to actually stop it from happening.
I look at this issue the same way. Might not be a huge problem now, and I agree that $20 million is peanuts, but it is still a problem, and it needs to be addressed before it really gets out of hand.
Burying our heads in the sand because it is only $20 million is extremely stupid, IMO. Perhaps we don't agree on the actual law, but let us at least agree that it needs to be addressed.