Liberal Talk Radio

James Kirchick flags a Joe Lieberman speech calling for a “terror tax” to fight the war on terrorism. Kirchick says this harkens back to the big-government internationalism of FDR and JFK, and wonders whether Democrats will “have the courage to come out and support this proposal.”

I’ll be the first to admit that it has been grossly irresponsible for President Bush to cut taxes during wartime. Especially since he’s had to make up for it with some rather impolitic cuts to things like Veterans’ Affairs. But the idea of imposing a tax now, after nearly a trillion dollars has been spent, seems a bit like closing the barn door after the cow has left.

We should be making plans to get out of Iraq, not trying to figure out how we can fund the war perpetually. War should always be a last resort. There’s quite enough in our culture, in our political system, and in our military-industrial complex driving us toward war. The last thing we need is a big pot of “war money” sitting around begging to be used.