tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30216641.post2415971440235201162..comments2023-05-13T09:44:09.456-04:00Comments on Adiaphora - a prologue to things indifferent.: Anyway you slice it this pie is a lieChris Larimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01770607122746467750noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30216641.post-67271464156780672262008-06-09T07:26:00.000-04:002008-06-09T07:26:00.000-04:00Doug,How many more failed surges does the war on p...Doug,<BR/><BR/>How many more failed surges does the war on poverty need? We dpn't need another money-giveaway. What is needed is investment in the things that consistently pull people out of poverty. Strong marriages, father-led families, abstinence until marriage, and sound education. The WoP tends to try stop-gap measures, and they only grow the problem.<BR/><BR/>As for the military budget, it has more than doubled since 2000. That's to be expected. (Take a look at the <A HREF="http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/Issues/issuearea/Defense.cfm" REL="nofollow">graphs here</A> showing spikes in spending at all conflict times.) Unfortunately, there was not enough trimming if government waste to handle that.<BR/><BR/>There's also a lot in that budget for non-soldier activities. For example, $4.4 billion was allotted in 2006 for its expenses to rescue and relieve civilians and to undo damage to DOD contractors from Hurricane Katrina. The military is a huge employer of civilians. Its researchers (again, civilians) churn out stuff that everybody benefits from. (The same was true of the space race - though people said it was a huge waste of cash.)Chris Larimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01770607122746467750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30216641.post-26637895358263891362008-06-09T02:07:00.000-04:002008-06-09T02:07:00.000-04:00I agree that the war on poverty has failed. Wars ...I agree that the war on poverty has failed. Wars tend to do that.<BR/><BR/>I do think that, internal comparisons aside, the fact that we spend more on "defense" than the next ten highest spenders combined...maybe is worth comment? Not to you, maybe, but to me.<BR/><BR/>Let's take ending the war on poverty farther, and just end war.<BR/><BR/>But then, what would we have to comfortably argue about?Douglas Underhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215736448645573566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30216641.post-37525455304835763542008-03-13T12:45:00.000-04:002008-03-13T12:45:00.000-04:00But its a fun program. ;) I took defense down to 2...But its a fun program. ;) I took defense down to 21% and took transportation up to 19% because I'm sick of the potholes...Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10181596200087182006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30216641.post-15509460447521557622008-03-12T21:28:00.000-04:002008-03-12T21:28:00.000-04:00Awesome post. I have a feeling I have had this con...Awesome post. I have a feeling I have had this conversation before...Benjamin P. Glaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728290792232181473noreply@blogger.com