by: Diane Benjamin
This morning I received the following email. I redacted her last name and email address.
On Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 7:29 PM, Katie <> wrote:
My name is Katie, I am 24 years old, and I volunteer at Progressive Public Affairs. Right now I am working on a project to spread the word that government spending is out of control. We need to cut spending and right now it needs to be on the biggest part of the budget which is defense spending. Currently we are spending around 45% of the yearly budget on defense as compared to the 1996 defense budget which was around 16%. Please take a look at the website http://stopspending.nationbuilder.com/
If you are also in favor of cutting spending on defense please show your support by joining our website on nationbuilder. If you are not in favor for cutting spending could you please write me back and explain why you do not believe this is a good idea.Sincerely,-Katie
I don’t know if Katie is misinformed or attempting to misinform other people. The email clearly shows why we are a country in decline. Informed citizens wouldn’t tolerate the government we have now. The uniformed fall for propaganda like this email and website.
This is my response to her:
Katie,
We do spend a lot on defense and much of it is misspent, but your 45% number isn’t accurate. See this site: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1258
Spending consists of discretionary and mandatory. Defense spending is discretionary. The biggest drivers of debt are programs like Social Security, Medicare, Welfare, pensions, and soon the interest on the massive debt will take a much larger share.
Saying that Defense spending is 45% of the annual budget is horribly misleading. Defense took a huge cut under sequester, they are trying to adjust now. The Constitution specifically spells out the roll of the Federal government, protecting the country is their first job. What we need is defense spending aimed at defense, not spending aimed at nation building and interfering in foreign government affairs.
At 24 years old, I feel sorry for your future. Government spending is completely out of control and your generation’s future will be severely limited because of it. The people must learn to be self reliant instead of taking freebies from government. We are rapidly turning into a country of government slaves. Our ancestors came to this country for freedom and liberty, they would be embarrassed by what we have become.
Please talk to your web builder and correct the information listed.
Diane Benjamin
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So, your pro government?
I am pro government when they do the job outlined in the Constitution, not when they assume they have the right to define, nudge, steal, or take any action that violates their job of defending individual liberty.
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
Thomas Jefferson