Fact Checking Sullivan
Posted August 14th, 2008 at 4:31pm in Entitlements, Protect America 
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At the tail end of an extremely long diatribe that is completely not worth reading, Andrew Sullivan asserts that America’s “military consumes more and more resources.” This is a common trope on the far left and is simply not true. Below is a chart showing national defense spending as a percentage of GDP since 1962. As you can see, at 4 %of GDP, defense spending is 1.5 percentage points of GDP below the 45-year historical average and well below Cold War and Vietnam War levels:
If Sullivan wants to know why “America’s fiscal standing continues to slide down and down” he should educate himself with this chart on total mandatory spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (in billions excluding net interest):
UPDATE:
Some in the comments are claiming we are “misleading” by showing one graph in percentage of GDP and another in actual dollars. Well here are three more charts, two showing spending as percentage of GDP and one which compares total spending. All three charts show that entitlement spending, not defense spending, is our financial Achilles heal.
First, Federal Spending for Mandatory and Discretionary Programs, 1965–2008, as Percentage of GDP:
Second, Spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as a Percentage of GDP, 2005–2050:
Finally, Total Discretionary Spending vs. Mandatory Spending, 1965–2007, in Billions:
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4 Responses to “Fact Checking Sullivan”
Michael O’Rourke, Palm Beach Gardens, FL on August 14th, 2008 at 4:31pm said:
The military is always the target of the socialist left. Another interesting observation on the military spending as a percentage of GDP is that after our nation was attacked on 9-11 the military spending increased only 1%. Is that any way to fight a war?
Darvin Dowdy, Houston, TX on August 14th, 2008 at 4:31pm said:
Interesting that when our defense spending was at its lowest, thats when we got attacked with 3000 of our citizenry murdered by outside forces. The charts are very telling, Conn. Thanks.
Also, we all know who was responsible for gutting /hamstringing our military during the 1990’s. DD
John R Welch, Melbourne FL on August 14th, 2008 at 4:31pm said:
I agree with the sentiment, but I laugh at the chartsmanship. Defense chart is in percentage GDP. Socialism chart is in actual dollars, not a percentage of GDP. You can hide an elephant under that picture. Why can’t the good guys be truly honest and demonstrate integrity?
Donna Rook, Chicago on August 14th, 2008 at 4:31pm said:
The charts are a teeny bit misleading since the “defense spending” is shown as a % of GDP and the entitlements as dollars. It would be really helpful to see them with the same scale.