Congress sends Obama $1.1 trillion spending bill

"$1.1 trillion spending bill"

Hasn't the U.S. government already racked up a $17 trillion debt?

Gosh, I hope at least 25 percent of that is spent on the military, as per usual. Its not nearly enough to outspend China by 6 times you know, or spend as much on the military as the rest of the world combined.

Can't tell you how scared I am of the world. We must arm to the teeth and to heck with grandma's medicare and filling potholes! Gah, I just saw another shadow!

And here ends the sarcasm.

Hasn't the U.S. government already racked up a $17 trillion debt?

No amount of deficit spending will satisfy the nuts in the Democrat party like Elizabeth Warren and even a portion in the Republican party.

Gosh, I hope at least 25 percent of that is spent on the military, as per usual. Its not nearly enough to outspend China by 6 times you know, or spend as much on the military as the rest of the world combined.

National defense is the most basic function of government. If there is no nation, the people cannot have the social programs that they desire to have. Despite the size of the US defense budget, which also subsidizes the defense of Europe and Asia and help to guarantee the worlds sea lines remain open, American welfare and social spending dwarf the defense budget.

America now has an $18 trillion debt. The budget forecasts show that after a few years of decline, annual deficits will again rise and continue to rise absent a return of robust economic growth.

"National defense is the most basic function of government."

Judging by its results in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Korea, the US taxpayers may as well flush several trillions of their dollars down the toilet instead.

War is the ultimate "big government" solutions, and one usually favored by "small government" Republicans. Diplomacy is always cheaper.

War is the ultimate "big government" solutions, and one usually favored by "small government" Republicans.

Small government Republicans favor government doing what it is supposed to do and not doing what it does not. Overall government is smaller when a multitude of government bureaucracies are NOT created to solve all of societies problems. All social problems are government problems in the eyes of the "experts" put forth by progressives. But all of the solutions the exports come up with typically cause further problems that make society worse than before. Think of all of the trillions upon trillions of dollars spent on the Great Society programs that have resulted in a poverty level not much lower now than it was in the late 50's to early 60's. Think of the social dislocation and the break down of families that did not exist back then.

Diplomacy is always cheaper.

Except when it isn't. Neville Chamberlain believed as you do. He was wrong. War is thought of as an extension of politics. War, diplomacy, and public policy is conducted by fallible human beings. The devastation to families, the shattered lives of broken families and a dysfunctional culture have many victims - just as in war.

Except when it isn't. Neville Chamberlain believed as you do. He was wrong.

No. He wasn't. He gave peace a chance. A pre-emptive strike on Nazi Germany before their intentions were known would have been disastrous. It would have made us the war mongers.

I just find it hilarious that anyone could so thick as to think my critique of America's out of control military spending means I think the military should be abolished. Any clue as to the mile wide valley in between the two options? How about six billion per year rather than a trillion? And use some of the surplus to ensure vets get their benefits, you know, rather than blow it all on R & D and a place as useless as Afghanistan?

Bank regulation is eased, preparing the ground for another round of massive losses and taxpayer bailouts a few years down the line.

National defense is the most basic function of government.

Indeed. For what other reason did the state develop than collective defense?