Federal Budget: 53% Socialism

The Heritage Foundation released an interesting report today: Federal Spending 2007: By the Numbers.

To me, the most telling figure is found in the chart above. It shows in 2006 we spent 20.75% of the budget on defense (one of the few constitutionally authorized areas of government spending) versus 53% on pure, unadulterated socialism…which incidentally is NOT authorized by our U.S. Constitution.

Consider these statements by the men who helped forge this nation and write its constitution:

A wise and frugal government…shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. – Thomas Jefferson

Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated. – Thomas Jefferson

With respect to the two words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators. – James Madison

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. – James Madison

Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government. – James Madison

So take a look at that budget (click it to enlarge it) and tell me: what’s wrong with this picture?

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