Out-Of-Control Spending

At 28% of the federal budget, the military is the single largest benefactor of federal spending:

• Military Personnel $109B
• Operation and Maintenance $164B
• Procurement $67B
• Research and Development $66B
• Construction $6B
• Family Housing $4B
• Retired Pay $44B
• DoE Nuclear Weapons $17B
• 50% NASA $8B
• International Security $8B
• 50% Homeland Security $16B
• Ex. Off. Pres. $10B
• misc. $6B
• Total: $536B

Note that these figures do not include the estimated $50B for the ongoing Iraqi war, nor an estimated additional $349B in military-related spending, including $69B in Veterans' Benefits and $280B in interest on the National Debt, 80% of which is estimated to have been created by military spending.

Any plan to reduce spending must by necessity curtail the costs of the military.

Fortunately, a means to do so already exists -- requiring only a candidate of vision to enact:

Military Vouchers

Nick Esposito proposes to eliminate the Department Of Defense in its entirety, along with the liberal-slanted Peace Corps, and instead create a taxpayer-funded voucher program.  Each of the estimated 100 million taxpayers in the U.S. will be given an annual voucher for $2,400 (married couples would receive $4,500) to be used for that taxpayer's defense, at that taxpayer's discretion.

This credit may be spent on consumer goods and services if that taxpayer feels secure, or may be be used to wage war against whatever country the taxpayer chooses. He may purchase a bomb shelter for his family's defense, or a suitcase bomb if he feels that a regime change on his neighbor will stabilize his neighborhood. For larger purchases, such as a fine Lockheed F-16 fighter jet with optional moonroof and 16-speaker sound system, we encourage each taxpayer to join with his or her gated-community neighbor to pool their funds.

The use of a vouchering system will have the immediate effect of reducing our annual spending on defense by an estimated $296 billion, and will give each citizen of this great country a greater choice in how his or her defense dollars are spent.

With each taxpayer essentially a "militia of one" the Framers' intent of the Second Amendment will no longer be open to interpretation, and each taxpayer will be supplied with a military-grade M16A2 rifle as well as a "quick start guide" (in English and Spanish) which will instruct the taxpayer on the dissembling, reassembling, and worshipping of that rifle. (Note: Corporate sponsorship will minimize the cost of this program, and Mil-Stds will be in place specifying the permittable size and location of logos on the rifle's butt.)

(More of Esposito's economic policy will be posted shortly)