ABD, I am not in this thread arguing for a specific level of spending on anything. Instead, I am just pointing out: a) government spending almost always grows faster than either inflation or population growth; b) there are few checks to make sure that money is spent efficiently, and only where it achieves the desired tasks; c) governments create obligations for future payment that are neither sustainable nor fair to future taxpayers. Keeping your spending at a sustainable, stable level, working for efficiency and honesty in spending, and paying for things as you go are responsible policies, whether you are right or left.