>In general, I'm all for free market solutions and only free market solutions, but they don't work as well when you're talking about defense and things that are

>In general, I'm all for free market solutions and only free market solutions, but they don't work as well when you're talking about defense and things that are in the commons like air and water. I understand the "public good" argument in favor of governments, but when I see governments producing so many "public bads" I question whether they are doing any net good at all, let alone enough good to justify their cost. For example, the United States "defense" department doesn't produce defense, but rather produces useless destabilizing wars on the other side of the globe. Is that worth the $600 billion that we spend on defense each year? Hardly. Congress just passed a $300 billion farm bill to subsidize people with average family incomes of over $200,000. An effective use of my money? I don't think so. They spend an additional $100 billion or so each year to spy on me and make sure I don't get high. I'd like my money back. Yes, I am an anarchist. It's a pleasure to meet you.