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Tea Party pressure on defense spending?

In addition to writing for Sound Mind Investing, I also churn out the "Money" page for WORLD, the bi-weekly Christian-based news magazine.

I mention this because my report in the August 28 issue (already available online) relates to a comment someone made on the SMI member blog a few days ago: "I say 'Thank you Lord' for the rise of the Tea Party movement," he wrote. "Wouldn't it be great if the government had to cut back on spending and lower taxes?"

Many Americans would agree with that sentiment — in theory. But where would such spending cuts be made? Social Security (the biggest area of federal spending)? Medicare? Veterans' benefits? The choices quickly get tough because voters are on the receiving-end of so many federal dollars.

That's why it seems likely that the easiest area to cut will be the defense budget, as Tea Party-inspired conservatives make common cause with Congressional doves. Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates tried to get out in front of the budget-cutting forces by making his own proposals for defense-spending reductions.

If you're interested in this sort of thing, read the WORLD story, "Tea Party at the Pentagon."

Update: Tuesday's Wall Street Journal provides a brief primer on the Tea Party movement by Dick Armey and Matt Kibbe, authors of the newly released book, Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto (HarperCollins).

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