Defense Spending Is America’s Cancerous Bipartisan Consensus
Share
[aggregation-styles]
The Washington Post Subscription
The Washington Post Subscription
You often hear that in these polarized times, Republicans and Democrats are deadlocked on almost everything. But the real scandal is what both sides agree on. The best example of this might be the defense budget. Last week, the Democratic House, which Republicans say is filled with radicals, voted to appropriate $733 billion for 2020 defense spending.
The Republicans are outraged because they — along with President Trump — want that number to be $750 billion. In other words, on the largest item of discretionary spending in the federal budget, accounting for more than half of the total, Democrats and Republicans are divided by 2.3 percent. That is the cancerous consensus in Washington today.
The United States’ defense budget is out of control, lacking strategic coherence, utterly mismanaged, ruinously wasteful and yet eternally expanding.
The Republicans are outraged because they — along with President Trump — want that number to be $750 billion. In other words, on the largest item of discretionary spending in the federal budget, accounting for more than half of the total, Democrats and Republicans are divided by 2.3 percent. That is the cancerous consensus in Washington today.
The United States’ defense budget is out of control, lacking strategic coherence, utterly mismanaged, ruinously wasteful and yet eternally expanding.
By Fareed Zakaria | 18 July 2019
RELATED TOPICS:
Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle
Crime /
11 hours ago
Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing
Crime /
11 hours ago
Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents
Crime /
12 hours ago
House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill
WASHINGTON – Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday struggled to pass President Donald Trump’s massive tax-cut...
Politics /
10 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos

Politics /
10 hours ago
House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

Local /
10 hours ago
SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

Crime /
11 hours ago
Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

Crime /
11 hours ago
Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

Crime /
12 hours ago