That the military gets the job done isn't open to much argument. That they do this for a reasonable, competitive, and cost-effective price certainly is. Take an informal survey of your friends and ask them what comes to mind when the words "defense spending" are mentioned.

Government hospitals? Not sure what that means. Can you clarify?

Everything else on your list comes almost exclusively out of local taxes, and believe me, I've heard a lot of complaints about corruption and cost overruns on that level, too.

I can think of a couple of actual cases where a highway or municipal construction project was lauded for coming in on time and under budget. I can think of a lot more that didn't.

Remember, it isn't just about getting the job done. It's about getting it done right without spending a lot more money and time than you should have to.

The Space Shuttle is a technological miracle, but I don't think anyone would stand it on a pedestal as a cost-effective way to get things into space.

"Taxes are what we pay for civilized society" was actually said by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in 1927. (You wouldn't believe what a bitch it was to track the original source down--there must be a dozen versions and dates for this quote.) At the time he said this, the Federal tax rate was 1.1 percent for those with taxable incomes under $4,000, or what would be about $46,500 today. At the time the deduction for married couples was $3,500 ($40,700) and $400 ($4,600) per dependent. I think it's fairly obvious that most average Americans weren't exactly burdened by the income tax back then.

The rich paid 25 percent on taxable incomes over $100,000 ($1.16 million).

I've pointed this out so many times I've lost count, but it never sinks in. The Federal budget is currently over twice what it was when Reagan was elected. In constant dollars. In 1981 we had interstates, national parks, a space program, and everything we've got now. My grandparents were getting their Social Security and Medicare. Nobody was dying in the streets.

You tell me. Think there's any fat in the budget at all?