Budget documents provided by the Obama administration show that in Fiscal Year 2009 50% of all federal spending went to national defense, Social Security and Medicare. When the cost of veterans affairs are included, that number grows to 53%. Five percent (5%) paid interest on the federal debt, and 42% was used for everything else in the budget.

However, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 35% of voters believe that the majority of federal spending goes to just defense, Social Security and Medicare. Forty-four percent (44%) say it’s not true, and 20% are not sure.

“These figures highlight a massive failure of leadership from both Republicans and Democrats among the nation’s political elite,” says Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports. “Given the amount of political chatter about the budget in recent years, it is almost beyond comprehension that neither party has seen fit to highlight the basics so that the American people can make reasoned choices on the fundamental issues before them.”

A plurality of senior citizens are aware of the numbers, while a plurality of younger voters are not. A plurality of men recognize the reality of the spending dynamics, but a plurality of women do not.

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The realities are even more dramatic when the spending on these primary functions of the government are compared to federal revenue. Defense, Social Security, Medicare and interest on the debt absorbed 98% of all federal revenue in fiscal year 2009.

The Obama administration projects that these areas of spending alone will grow to 102% of federal revenue in fiscal year 2010. In other words, the projections indicate that the federal government will be running a deficit on these programs alone before spending anything on any other government program.

If the administration’s revenue forecasts are accurate, these programs will still account for 82% of all federal revenue in 2015. But spending on national defense is projected to consume a smaller portion of the federal budget over the next five years, while spending on Social Security, Medicare and interest on the debt are projected to consume even more of the budget.

Despite the failures of leadership, voters do have a general sense of perspective. While most favor President Obama's proposed freeze on that portion of federal spending that is discretionary, only nine percent (9%) believe it will have much impact.

President Obama on Monday released a proposed $3.8 trillion budget for the coming fiscal year, which includes a largest-ever $1.56-trillion deficit. In its reporting on the budget, the New York Times projects that the United States will be forced to run unprecedented large deficits for at least the next 10 years.

By a 49% to 39% margin, voters believe it is more important to cut federal spending than to reduce the deficit. Voters also believe that reducing government spending is good for the economy.

A modest plurality of voters (41%) prefer a budget deficit with tax cuts over a balanced budget that requires higher taxes. Thirty-six percent (36%) would rather see a balanced budget with higher taxes.

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