My question provides another litmus test. The neocon answer is “Every bit we ‘re spending is necessary. Indeed it’s not enough.”
A constitutional answer appears in the Second Amendment: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State…” What’s necessary is a militia HERE in the States, not overseas.
I could devise my own answer, but a state of laziness precludes it at this time. Besides, I think that everyone should think through this question and research it themselves. Read, for example, Harry Browne’s proposal. He wrote: “In reality, we need only two things to make you, me, and every American safe from the world’s turmoil: (1) a missile defense that will repel a nuclear attack, and (2) a border patrol that will protect us from those rampaging Canadians when they charge across the border from Ontario.” Read this by Nick Bradley. If you are a glutton for words, read this by me. Then there is the private defense solution set. Maybe the Mises Institute could devise a reading list and offer a course focused on this one question: How much and what kind of defense will, with honor, defend freedom here in the States?
