October 31, 2011
THE WELFARE STATE IS THE TRIBUTE THAT BUYS THE MILITARY COMPLEX:
The Pentagon vs. the Welfare State (Robert Samuelson, 10/31/11, Washington Post)How much we spend is a political decision. In the 1950s and 1960s, when the country was much poorer, 40 percent to 50 percent of the federal budget routinely went to defense, representing 8 percent to 10 percent of our national income. By 2010, a wealthier America devoted only 20 percent of federal spending and 4.8 percent of national income to the military. Social spending replaced military spending; but that shift has gone too far.
5% was perhaps justifiable in wartime, but with Cold War long over and the end of the WoT it should fall back to 2%. We don't need a large military to dispose of Assad and Kim and having one was what caused most of the mistakes in Iraq.
Posted by oj at October 31, 2011 6:46 AM
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