One measure of a good budget, April 13, 2011.

Tonight, President Obama will put some ideas on the table about the national budget.  About time.  I was very disappointed when he totally ignored the recommendations of his own National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.  Now we have the Paul Ryan proposals which are so extreme that they cannot be taken seriously, although Ryan is taking some credit for at least having the guts for saying something.  So my question is:  “what are the elements of a good budget”?

I will leave the full answer to others who know a lot more about these subjects than I do.  Undoubtedly, there are many.  Of the top of my head, here a re a few:

• How well we protect the national security of our country?
• What do we do to have more energy independence (hence more national security)?
• How do we make sure there are good jobs for everyone?
• How do we take care of those who cannot afford (not because of laziness) decent food, shelter and health care?
• How do we play our responsible part for protecting the environment?
• How do we promote education for young and old (especially the very young where it makes the most difference)?

There are probably many more, but you get the idea.

What I look for in a budget is one more thing that we hardly talk about, at least in the context of a budget.  And that is, the growing disparity of income and wealth in America.  For a thoughtful discussion of this problem, see Timothy Noah’s 10-part series on this subject. Basically, I believe that any proposed national budget has to have an analysis attached to it that projects how it affects this growing inequality.

I hasten to add that a budget is not the sole factor in income inequality.  However, it in one factor that cannot be ignored.  The budget elements that determine what we do with education, job creation, energy policy, environmental policy, etc., all affect income inequality.

So, I will be listening to President Obama’s speech and try to tease out whether it contributes positively or negatively to this important problem.  Oh yes, I should have said that growing inequality is a problem… a problem that has historically led to the collapse of nations as the masses (middle class) sense that the system no longer works for them, but for the super-rich who seem to be controlling everything.

Ultimately, this is the challenge we face in our national security.