Unseen Burden: How Excessive Government Spending Is Draining the American Middle Class

America was once known as the land of opportunity. It was common knowledge that if you worked hard and persevered over obstacles, you could find success here for you and your family. But this is no longer the case. Excessive government spending, often cloaked in the guise of progress and public benefit, is steadily eroding the financial stability of millions of citizens. This burden weighs on us all, diminishing our savings and inflating our expenses. Economic freedom is becoming a thing of the past. This article will explore the unseen consequences of government profligacy, advocating for a more prudent approach to ensure a sustainable future for all.

This article is brought to you by the Middle Class Party, dedicated to building a unified America through practical solutions and shared commitment. Our mission is clear: to bridge societal divides and empower the backbone of our nation—everyday Americans. This piece highlights the spendthrift nature of our government and why we need accountability.

How The Government Spends Your Money

This isn’t the first time we discussed wasteful spending. In fact, the U.S. government wastes so much money that there is an annual list of grievances released at the end of every year by Senator Rand Paul known as the Festivus report. The total amount of our money the U.S. government spent in 2023?

$900,000,000,000

That is nearly double that of 2022.

While we struggle with an economic existential crisis that is seeing both the eradication of the American Dream and the middle class, the government is spending nearly a trillion dollars on worthless projects. Here is the list:

Barbie Doll Photo Used to Get COVID PPP Funds-portion of $800,000,000,000

In the RED: Interest on Our National Debt is Expensive-$659,000,000,000Dr.

Fauci’s Monkey Business on NIH’s “Monkey Island”-.$33,200,000

USAID Fund to Boost Egyptian Tourism-.$6,000,000

USDA’s Cutting-Edge Research: Walking Dogs in the Summer-Unknown

DHS Training Employees to Be Their “Authentic & Best Selves”-Unknown

Russian Cats-On-A-Treadmill Studies Funded by NIH-portion of $2,700,000

The Government Pays Dead People … Again!-.$38,000,000

DOD’s Lobster Tank-$8,395

How to Ruin Expensive Military Equipment Part 1: Engines-$89,000,000

How to Ruin Expensive Military Equipment Part 2: Transmissions-$12,600,000

How to Ruin Expensive Military Equipment Part 3: Tank Treads-$68,000,000“

Real Fake”: DHS’s 1st Graphic Novel About Disinformation-Unknown

DHS’s 2 nd Graphic Novel: COVID Disinformation-Unknown

NIH’s Meth-Head Monkeys-portion of $12,000,000

Treasury’s Pot of Cash for Political Campaigns-$400,000,000

NIH’s Monkey Casino: Gambling for Drinking Water-.portion of $3,700,000

SBA’s Ticket to Backstage-$200,000,000

Studying COVID-19 “Misinformation” On Social Media In Black & Rural

Communities-$3,800,000

Dr. Fauci’s Transgender Monkey Study-$477,121

Whoopsie: Improper Federal Payments-$236,000,000,000

Now let’s delve into what we are getting for $900,000,000,000.

Barbie Doll Photo Used to Get COVID PPP Funds

During the pandemic many Americans needed relief. Yet there were also many fraudsters who also needed to fleece the government for every penny that they could. The AI system the government had in place to verify proof of identity showcased just how lax the system was. The system did not catch images of dolls and approved the applicants, releasing improper COVID-19 PPP payments.

Interest on Our National Debt

In fiscal year 2023, the government overspent by $1.7 trillion, resulting in a staggering $659 billion in interest payments. Yes, you read that correctly. The U.S. Department of the Treasury spent $659 billion solely on interest for the national debt. Since we lack the funds to cover this, we have to borrow—much of it from China. Essentially, we are borrowing from China to pay the interest on money we couldn't afford to spend in the first place.

This isn’t a sound strategy as China is not only an economic rival, but nearly 42 percent of Americans see China as our enemy.

NIH’s “Monkey Island”

"Monkey Island" is a South Carolina island that is home to approximately 3,000 monkeys, established by the federal government in the late 1970s. This monkey colony, situated on a state-owned island, is under the purview of Dr. Fauci and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Recently, the NIH signed a $33.2 million contract with a local business to house, feed, and care for the monkeys before they are sent to research labs across the country. Over the years, the multi-million dollar contract to manage the colony has changed hands several times, with the NIH also paying millions to a large pharmaceutical company for its upkeep.

If only our government wasn’t monkeying around with our money.

$6 Million to Boost Egyptian Tourism

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has approved spending $6 million to boost tourism in Egypt. We suffer from crumbling infrastructure and crippling inflation yet millions are spent to increase tourism to a foreign country that nearly half the country can’t afford to visit.

Research Into Walking Hot Dogs

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated funds for a "cutting-edge" research project that involved a summer study where 16 dogs of two different fur colors were walked, and their rectal temperatures were measured. The researchers discovered that the fur color of the Labradors did not affect their body temperatures after the walk. This taxpayer-funded study was supported by the Agricultural Research Service at the USDA, which receives $1.7 billion annually from Congress. There is no data on the specific cost of this study.

Training Department of Homeland Security To Be Their “Authentic & Best Selves”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated funds for a "cutting-edge" research project that involved a summer study where 16 dogs of two different fur colors were walked, and their rectal temperatures were measured. The researchers discovered that the fur color of the Labradors did not affect their body temperatures after the walk. This taxpayer-funded study was supported by the Agricultural Research Service at the USDA, which receives $1.7 billion annually from Congress. There is no data on the specific cost of this study.

Russian Cats-On-A-Treadmill Studies

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided a $2.7 million grant given to a researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the U.S. which was then sub-granted to researchers in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Cats, who had their brain stem snipped, were filmed walking on treadmills.

Paying $38 Million to Dead People

U.S. officials testified that $38 million in COVID payments, averaging $83,000 each, were mistakenly sent to individuals who were already deceased. This was not an isolated incident of taxpayer funds being sent to the deceased. By April 30, 2020, the U.S. Treasury’s Inspector General had identified that $1.4 billion of the $269 billion in total COVID stimulus payments had been sent to over one million Americans who had previously filed taxes but had since passed away.

The Department of Defense (DOD) $8,395 Lobster Tank

The DOD paid $8,395 for a “Lobster Tank” purchased from a restaurant equipment company in Springfield Virginia. They are supposed to be using taxpayer money for another type of tank, one meant for battle, not dinner.

$89 Million Worth of Engines

The U.S. Army improperly stored 80 gas turbine engines valued at $89.16 million. Each of the $1.1 million engines were improperly stored outside for three years.

$12.6 Million Worth of Transmissions

Once again, the U.S. Army improperly stored military items. This time it was135 hydraulic transmissions that were stored in containers among standing water, oil, and excessive humidity.

$68 Million Worth of Military Tank & Vehicle Treads

The third time for the U.S. Army is a charm. 117,534 vehicular track shoes valued at $68.29 million left outside in the open air. They were not covered or stored properly at all. The officers responsible simply did not follow the storage instructions.

DHS’s Graphic Novel About Disinformation

The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency created a series of graphic novels, called the “Resilience Series,” to help educate the public about misinformation. In other words, they wasted taxpayer money to justify censorship of constitutionally protected speech.

$12 million on Meth Head Monkeys

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved a portion of approximately $12 million in NIH grants to test the sleep habits of monkeys given meth in the morning.

$400 Million Pot of Unused Cash for Political Campaigns

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) directs a portion of incoming tax payments to a fund dedicated to U.S. presidential campaigns. This account is financed by a $3 check box option on IRS tax returns. However, since 2008, no major political party's presidential candidate has accepted these funds. As of November 1, 2023, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Account had accumulated $400.6 million, sitting unused.

A Monkey Casino

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved a $1.9 million grant and an NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse $1.8 million grant to study risk via gambling monkeys. The monkeys were monitored as they gambled between two different options presented to them on two screens.

SBA’s $200 Million Backstage Pass

During the pandemic, The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program was supposed to provide a lifeline to small entertainment businesses nationwide. Instead, it provided over $200 million to So-called “small business owners,” such as Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins and Nickelback.

Investigating COVID-19 "Misinformation" on Social Media in Black and Rural Communities

A $3.8 million University of Pennsylvania study is investigating “COVID-19 misinformation exposure on social media among Black and Rural communities” to help “identify and combat misinformation.

Dr. Fauci’s $477,121 Transgender Monkey Study

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is using $477,121 of your tax dollars to fund the forced feminization of male rhesus macaques.

$236 Billion in Improper Federal Payments

In 2023 the Biden Administration sent out a whopping $236 billion in inaccurate checks, otherwise known as “improper payments.” Federal law defines the term as payments made by the government to the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason.

Here are some of the most concerning examples of improper payments:

Medicaid-$50.332 Billion Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance-$43.551 Billion Earned Income Tax Credits-$21.881 Billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Guaranty Purchases-$4.066 Billion American Opportunity Tax Credits-$1.651 Billion VA Purchasing Long Term Services and Supports-$1.418 Billion

Who Is Responsible?

Who is responsible for our overwhelming spending and debt? Everyone. Last year, members of both parties in Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling, allowing the government to borrow an unlimited amount of money until 2024. Congress continues to spend while we the people face record-high inflation and crippling interest rates.

Are We Getting Our Money’s Worth?

The data above indicates that the American people are not getting their money's worth; in fact, they are being exploited. Amidst crippling inflation, everyday living has become increasingly burdensome. Meanwhile, the government squanders nearly a trillion dollars.

This can’t continue.

We need a solution.

If you're frustrated with the government's wasteful spending and neglect of its citizens' needs, join us. The Middle Class Party is committed to a pragmatic approach, crafting policies that empower Americans and strengthen our nation's resilience. Together, we can ensure our government prioritizes its citizens and makes the middle-class American dream a reality.