That's alright, I saw it anyway
I suspect the discrepancy between my numbers and the WP is largely due to the fact that some economists don't put social security into the budget; it is its own separate thing, call it a lockbox if you will. Once one accepts that point, which I do but I won't get too upset if others disagree, it only takes a small amount of haggling about how individual items are reported to end up with a budget that has defense as over 50. I think quite clearly people can argue about the percentages for a long time without ever being able to tell who wins.
Doesn't change my point that defense can be cut dramatically. Frankly, I am a complete isolationist. I think we cause more problems than we solve by inserting ourselves into the affairs of the rest of the world. We have gotten away with it due to our complete economic and military domination since WWII, but those past wins, I think, will come back to haunt us when we are no longer dominant in those areas. And I think it is becoming clear that while we are dominant in the latter category, we are losing our hold on the economic realm.
Anyway, to attempt to stay on point, it is my understanding that if we decided to cut way back on our defense spending and essentially just sit tight in north america, not spending so much on all those imperialist bases, etc, there is very little the rest of the world could do to harm us other than what they're trying to do right now. Iran and North Korea do not have missiles that could reach anywhere near the US, even if this whole missile shield boondoggle could possibly work, which no one with any expertise in the field believes it is anywhere near able to do. Find me someone who thinks it's a good idea, and I'll show you somebody poised to make money off getting government support for the project, or a sucker. In other words, I think most defense spending, as well as most governmental spending in general, is set up to funnel the moneys of the many to the pockets of a few rich investors.
Hence, if we slash that porkpile, we should have enough to throw at developing alternatives to our overweening dependence on the internal combustion engine. That's about enough ***** droning out of me.
Thanks, btw, for doing what you think you're doing regarding smart defense spending. I very much appreciate bringing that thrifty attitude to government spending - please keep it up.