Entitlements Crowd Out Defense Spending, and It’s Only Getting Worse

Mackenzie Eaglen / December 07, 2009

Last week’s Wall Street Journal called attention to an issue that most policymakers in Washington don’t want to talk about: President Obama and Congress’ ever-growing welfare state will quickly undermine national security and military strength similar to many European countries.

Indeed, declining military strength will limit the choices available to any U.S. President. Yet, providing for the defense of the American people should not be a choice. Rather it is the fundamental responsibility in government, but few would know it these days.

The U.S. government is set to run overwhelming bud­get deficits long into the future, and the principal reason is the growth in entitlement costs, not increased defense funding since 9/11. (more…)