Writes Robert Higgs on HNN: "In the just-distributed Cato Policy Report for January/February 2006, the featured article, beginning on p. 1, is Bartlett's "How Bush Bankrupted America," which is identified as based on his just-published book. In this article, Bartlett condemns Bush for his runaway spending and for his prescription-drug entitlement in particular, but he never mentions the military-spending surge or the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yes, non-military spending has surged, too, although a bit slower than military spending, but anyone who supposes that the two surges have been independent is either incompetent or disingenuous. Evidently somebody--the author, the editor, or the publisher--does not wish to mention the elephant stomping about the fiscal living room and, not just incidentally, smashing our liberties with its every move. The idea of restraining, in virtually any regard, an activated warfare state is too far-fetched to merit serious discussion."
