Quote:
Originally Posted by JWsleep
I think there's some question about that, though this is certainly a source with an agenda. The bigger pie is calculated by including debt incurred from military spending, including the supplemental support for the war, and trying to more accurately gauge what is being spent on the war on terror that's buried in other outlays. The smaller pie is the one you refer to, I take it.
We could argue the accuracy of this stuff, no doubt, but if you don't think the gov't is downplaying military spending to some degree, I think you should look more closely.
In any event, my point was more general: if you're against gov't intrusion and taxation, what about military spending? Should there be more or less? Why is it acceptable to a libertarian? My guess is that it's because it's for the common good. But that same reasoning can be used to promote gun control and welfare. The main issue is not whether taxation and government programs are allowed, it's a question of what is in the common interest. There is no blanket prohibition against the government acting in this way, which I take it was JoeRedskin's point.
(And I think a pie hijacking might be appropriate now...)
The Federal Pie Chart |
Yes the cost of Iraq does currently drive up defence spending but that will drop off when the war is over. Take WWII and what that must have done to the budget in its years. I'm talking in general we spend more on other programs than defense. The libertarian party does not believe that all fuctions of the fed gov should be done away with they are more against its ever expanding role in our everyday life. They feel that it sould be left up to the states. One example is health ins. If you could buy health ins by picking you coverages you could save a bunch of money. I don't need addiction coverage, mental health cov. (well my wife may say differently) or aids coverage. I could go on and on but the federal goverment mandates that health ins. co provide these coverages in every policy and it drives the cost way up.