In As We Go Marching, John T. Flynn detailed the progression from liberty to fascism in Italy. In a World Magazine interview with Marvin Olasky, possible presidential candidate Rick Santorum rehearses his version of a vintage 1920′s Italy stump speech.
First, Flynn:
For imperialism flows as logically from militarism as militarism from spending.
Second, Santorum:
Q: Will [Obamacare] spending have an effect on our military? No European socialist country has any military to speak of, because they can’t afford it. We spend $650 billion a year on the military. You’re going to hear in the next year or so that we must dramatically cut the military because we can’t pay for it: “We can’t afford to be the policeman of the world. America’s role has to change.” The Chinese and the Russians are sitting there licking their chops. This is exactly what the left would like to see, since they see America as an oppressive imperialist country.”
Finally, Fedako:
Does anyone really believe that on-the-books military spending of $650 billion per year is for anything short of imperialism?
A question on Santorumian logic: Are China and Russia no longer socialist? Hmmm.