Mark Stewart on Homeland Security

I err on the side of more for the military

A: The Military is our first priority. That might not require more funding though. There are areas where we can spend less. Thousands of swarming, nimble fighter jets are probably more effective than three or four Joint-Strike fighters, and the cost is equivalent. We feed, house, train, and pay an abundance of soldiers abroad that are probably unnecessary. (There are eight US bases in Italy; there are 22 in Germany.) The 30,000 "man" DMZ is almost certainly over-bloated. Defense is the PRIMARY reason we form a government, for mutual protection. Defense, courts, and environmental protection are the only truly worthy federal functions, so we should give them their due. And because well-trained, bad-ass soldiers, and the willingness to use them if necessary just may deter bad foreign actors, I err on the side of more for the military.