Before We Consider a War Surtax . . .

Some congressional Democrats, like David Obey, contend that we need a special “war surtax” on Afghanistan.

Last year the government spent $43 billion in Afghanistan; there are some estimates that the government will spend $68 billion next year.

In fiscal 2008, the government made $72 billion in improper payments — i.e, overpayments, payments made for services and goods never received, benefits and tax credits paid to people who didn’t qualify, etc.

Hey guys, try to stop spending billions of dollars on nothing first before you ask for more, even for a good cause like fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.