Cato document on federal spending

Just a quick post here, on a tip from my brother Steve, that the Cato Institute (libertarian group) put out a good short piece (pdf document) on the growth in federal spending in recent years. A good read for those who want to understand how we’re wasting money.

The shocker for me was how much we’re spending on “defense” — well over $500 billion a year. I put defense in quotes because we’re not defending ourselves, and I’m not sure who or what we are defending. Mostly looks to me like we’re offending and squatting. Not only are we losing in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but every day we’re there we inspire more people to hate us.

In a wild tangent, I have to comment on the recent terrorist plot that was foiled in London. It seems that a number of Muslim communities are home to groups of anti-US (and anti-UK and anti a whole lot of other Western and Judeo-Christian things) people who are willing to go beyond merely disliking us and are willing to attack us.

I see what’s coming here and I don’t like it. For now governments and politicians are trying to deal with these communities in an even-handed manner, only going after the bad seeds. This will not work and more terrorist attacks will come out of these communities. Sooner or later the average American is going to get angry in a nasty way. If you live in one of these communities, you had better start eliminating the bad seeds. If you don’t, your whole neighborhood is going to get stomped, burned, and otherwise subjected to a genocidal rage from ordinary folks who will have become fed up. That process will make America a much more unpleasant place for all of us, but we in our nice suburban homes will be just fine.

I’m referring in particular to the mosques and other elements of the Islamic community who allow and even foster rabid anti-US ideologues and their followers. The Jews in Germany did nothing to provoke the Holocaust. By contrast, the redneck and blue collar rage that’s coming will have some justification. It will still be wrong. But we have a real problem. Exactly what are we supposed to do when those who aim to kill us hide among those who permit them to plot such destruction? We know they’re in these communities but we can’t identify them from the otherwise peaceable muslims. The answer is that the peaceful muslims have to do more than just remain silent. They have to stop tolerating the radicals. They have to kick the troublemakers out.

I much prefer the path that would result from an American foreign policy that does not provoke such hatred. I support Israel unequivocally, but the rest of our foreign policy is out of line – wasting money and provoking hatred.