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Death And Taxes


by turfgrrl


June 23rd, 2008 · 7 Comments

Ever wonder where you federal tax dollars are really spent? Updated for 2009.deathntaxes9.jpg

The 2009 version is worlds apart from the 2006 version which may still linger in your neurons. There is so much more in the six square feet of paper this time. Over 500 line items of federal budget awesomeness. Increased accuracy and aesthetics as well. I am really trying to educate the populace on their investment in the government. Especially since the actual numbers differ so much from the rhetoric. Renewable energy spending cut 27% next year! This is important information, and responsible citizens need to know it. It’s my experiment in DIY government over-site.

Click the link for the ability to zoom in and by a print.

Tags: current affairs

7 Responses so far ↓ “Death And Taxes”



  • 1 Anonymous // Jun 23, 2008 at 10:31 am

    The visual is a good example of how complex hierarchical data can be presented on one page. I wish there was a line item page for how Norwalk property tax dollars are being spent.

  • 2 Anonymous // Jun 23, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Maybe Turfie can provide one since she’s in the biz of visual communications…

  • 3 turfgrrl // Jun 23, 2008 at 10:51 am

    Okay I’ll bite. Imagine pac man. The yellow represents the BOE. The open area, spending on everything else in the City. Okay, I exaggerate a tad on the proportions. These types of things take time.

  • 4 Anonymous // Jun 23, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    I like it. Now I can really get a handle on why my property taxes are so frickin high. As long as us suckas have enough quarters to feed the machine, right?

    Can you use Pong, Super Mario and Donkey Kong to represent other budgets? Why stop there? What other iconic gaming figures can we come up with?

  • 5 Anon432 // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-cHFhKU7c

    The mouse is your money and the trap is the government.

  • 6 1 of the SMD 3 // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Here’s a little news flash from our friend Neil Boortz
    The city of New Haven, CT and that asshole mayor are at it again.

    DISCOUNT GAS? LEGAL RESIDENTS NEED NOT APPLY

    Many residents of New Haven, Connecticut are in a battle with City Hall. Here’s the deal. The government is pondering the idea of offering gas at a Shell Station in New Haven for just $1.99 a gallon for three hours on a Saturday in July. Here’s the catch: this offer will only be available if you have an Elm City ID card … not a driver’s license, but simply an ID card.

    You’re probably thinking, what’s the big deal Boortz? The problem is that New Haven is known as a city of immigrants. Mostly Latino. Mostly illegal. In fact, some estimate that the illegal immigrant population could be as large as 10,000, which is about 12% of the population. And who can apply for city ID cards but not driver’s licenses … illegal immigrants.

    So the legal taxpayers are saying that the government is trying to pander to the illegal population, rather than rewarding the taxpaying, law-abiding citizens of the city. That sounds about right to me. So the government way of thinking is that if a resident has a government issued driver’s license, they must come into city hall, pay $10, and apply for an ID card as well, in order to be eligible for the gas discount.

    Oh and another thing … the mayor’s spokesperson insists that tax dollars will not be funding this program. Instead, the local merchants will make up for the discount. Isn’t government great?

  • 7 turfgrrl // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    Anonymous 4: Pong would better represent the Common Council, Super Mario would be DPW and Donkey Kong would clearly be the BOE.

    Throw in Asteroids representing the blog, and Missile Command representing the other media, and you have the starter set of 80’s arcade Norwalk icons.

    I suspect that this thread will get very interesting shortly. :)

    Digdug?
    Centepide?
    Space Invaders?
    Defender?

    All your base belong to us.:)

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