Article 4 Section 4 of the US Constitution guarantees to the states “a republican form of government”, which makes a socialistic form of government something that must be prevented by the same Constitution and not among the rights reserved to the states or the people by the Tenth Amendment. I believe it is a false dilemma to regard our continuing in socialist behavior a foregone conclusion to be submitted to. It’s also a false dilemma between “tax and spend” versus “borrow and spend” when both are designed to grow government.
Of course, a reversal of what is being done to the military is always welcome, although that comes with the caveat of being wary of a standing military.
My main point is this:
Not one damned cent for anybody, anywhere else until we do any and everything we should (the definition of ‘should’ being an entire other discussion, one you make cogent and interesting points regarding) for our citizens. In PARTICULAR any and everything promised to those who served when they signed up.
To paraphrase Bismark, the entirety of the Middle East is not worth the bones or blood of one American Private.