If you are sick and tired of the garbage that's in charge of our country, then check your state/city and join one of the many tea parties happening on April 15th. http://taxdayteaparty.com/
That's only official grants, not including externalities and long-run costs caused by war (example: wounded medical costs). According with Nobel laureate J. Stiglitz could be estimated in more than 3T. http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/27/three-trillion-dolla.html http://threetrilliondollarwar.org/
This problem, like every other problem, has a simple solution. You have to start with the basics. In this case its money. Right now the government has control over its citizens through taxation. We must put he power of taxation into the peoples hands through the FAIRTAX. If you don't know what it is go to FairTax.org. Its a 23% retail consumption tax that would eliminate the federal income tax, SS tax, estate tax, corporate tax and the IRS. Yes I know, its revenue neutral, but it's the best starting point. Once its in and revenue is limited, then the budget can be worked on. There is an estimated 8 - 13 Trillion dollars overseas owned by Americans and American companies that could possibly come home very quickly if the FairTax was passed. This is just one positive of the FairTax. Libertad, come on board. There's no sense in trying to reinvent the wheel. $22 mil. has already been spent on top economists researching the FairTax idea. It's already got two books written about it and its already on the radar with congressman. Tell your Rep & Senators that to get your vote next time, they need to be on board with the FairTax. These guys don't care about teabags, they care about votes. That's how to get their attention. If you want to really get their attention, get hundreds of signatures from people in their district, saying they will only vote for a candidate that pushes the FairTax. You've got to start by limiting their power. I don't know of any better way than to limit their money.