War Feeds The Leviathan

[Extreme Extremist]

Here is an interesting conundrum for conservatives to ponder: Conservatives are supposedly anti-statists, yet they support a large American military to supplement America's interventionist foreign policy. Furthermore, in times of an external threat, conservatives favor a large military mobilization to protect our liberty. The paradox is that every time America goes on the war-footing, our leaders use it as an opportunity to advance the state and, consequently, diminish our liberties.

Case in point: Federal income tax with-holding. During WWII the government decided to with-hold income tax from Americans' paychecks because a constant and immediate cashflow was needed to fund the war effort. The promise was that the with-holding would stop when the war ended. Almost sixty years later, the with-holding is still in effect. Who here doubts the role of with-holding in the growth of the welfare state? Today people think less in terms of their gross pay than in terms of their take-home pay. Money that was never in someone's hands is easier to take than demanding a huge check every April. All those tax increases to fund welfare programs, huge defense budgets and corporate favors were easier to stomach when the people didn't "see" them.

Interesting link:
http://reason.com/ml/ml092001.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Extreme Extremist on 2001-09-20 23:44 ]</font>

[Oak Glaister]

EE, do you ever get any of the facts straight? Why should opposition to a highly centralized economy and support of a large military be a contradiction? Further, are you sure that it is conservatives that support a large military was to to supplement an interventionist foreign policy? Finally, when an external force threatens our liberty, a large military mobilization is typically favored by almost all. (The Communist from CA voted against it.)

[Extreme Extremist]

On 2001-09-21 02:07, Oak Glaister wrote:
EE, do you ever get any of the facts straight?


I always get all of my facts straight.


Why should opposition to a highly centralized economy and support of a large military be a contradiction?


Think about it. What is needed to create a large military? Funds. A governemnt gets funds through taxation, in almost all probability an income tax. Once an income tax exists, governmet grows by leaps and bounds.


Further, are you sure that it is conservatives that support a large military was to to supplement an interventionist foreign policy? Finally, when an external force threatens our liberty, a large military mobilization is typically favored by almost all. (The Communist from CA voted against it.)


Yes, and yes. But there wouldn't be a need for military mobilization of we didn't have an interventionist foreign policy in the first place. Please consider educating yourself, it might save lives.

[Oak Glaister]

EE, is your head up the same orifice as DA's?